Songs that were huge MTV "hits" in the 80's, but not on the pop charts (1 Viewer)

[zamboni]

Rock Me Tonight  deserves a dishonorable mention - at the very least

Hit #15.

 

[Anarchy99]

Rock songs often struggled to make large dents on the pop charts.  Heck, I remember Rush's Tom Sawyer being played on MTV a lot (the live version from Exit: Stage Left), and it was hugely popular at the time, but it didn't make a dent on the pop charts here in the States.  

The VH dynamic has always been a bit odd. Van Hagar ended up with 9 Top 40 songs. The DLR version of the band had 7. But both were insanely popular. Most people I knew were into them. I remember seeing the Hot For Teacher video over and over, but it only made it to #56.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

I remember seeing the Hot For Teacher video over and over, but it only made it to #56.

Is it blasphemous to suggest that the song--based solely on its musical merits--is not all that good, and maybe that is a reason for why it stalled?

It is more loud than bombastic, with Dave shouting more than singing, and kind of a repetitive guitar riff. 

 

[rockaction]

Is it blasphemous to suggest that the song--based solely on its musical merits--is not all that good, and maybe that is a reason for why it stalled?

No, not really blasphemous -- and I dig the song and Van Halen. 

 

[Ghost Rider]

The VH dynamic has always been a bit odd. Van Hagar ended up with 9 Top 40 songs. The DLR version of the band had 7. But both were insanely popular. Most people I knew were into them. I remember seeing the Hot For Teacher video over and over, but it only made it to #56.

Very true.  DLR videos in the 80's were a gold mine.  

 

[Ed Wood]

Well they blew the horns...

That entire album is stellar...