timschochet
Footballguy
It’s a good mix of different genres.
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The 100 Greatest Songs of 1982 #1. Little Red Corvette (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter timschochet
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SFBayDuck
Footballguy
Enjoying this one, as '82 is right when I was first exploring music outside of what my parents listened to, so I have a lot of really specific memories. I was 9-10 this year, and most importantly that Fall we first got cable and MTV. My first tape was Foreigner 4, which came out in July '81 but I distinctly remember getting it in an easter basket from my parents so that must have been Spring '82. My first record was definitely Thriller. I got my first little single-speaker boom box for my birthday in October, and Dirty Laundry by Don Henley was the first song I recorded off the radio on it.
I definitely don't remember a couple of these tunes. Some I discovered much later, notably Afrika Bambaattaa when I got into hip hop in '88 and immediately did a deep dive into its past, and Rush which when I got to college in '90 seemingly everyone listened to. I missed out on seeing any of these groups in concert during the 80s, but have since seen a few of them with the Go-Gos, Bow Wow Wow, Berlin, English Beat, and on that note....
Saw Toto and Journey here in Eugene a few weeks ago, it's amazing how good Toto still sounds after all of these years.
I definitely don't remember a couple of these tunes. Some I discovered much later, notably Afrika Bambaattaa when I got into hip hop in '88 and immediately did a deep dive into its past, and Rush which when I got to college in '90 seemingly everyone listened to. I missed out on seeing any of these groups in concert during the 80s, but have since seen a few of them with the Go-Gos, Bow Wow Wow, Berlin, English Beat, and on that note....
3. Toto “Rosanna” (from Toto IV)
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Time for some yacht rock royalty. As most people know, this song was named for Rosanna Arquette, though the lyrics are more generic. It was the band’s biggest hit to that point, only to be surpassed by another yacht rock classic off the same album.
Saw Toto and Journey here in Eugene a few weeks ago, it's amazing how good Toto still sounds after all of these years.
zamboni
Footballguy
I've a feeling they weren’t into Kansas anymore.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
No & yes.
It was Boomers and Gen Xers who bought their records, though almost none would admit to it. I liked them.
zamboni
Footballguy
Some may not like Toto’s sound, but there’s not a person in the world who can justifiably dismiss their musical chops.
rockaction
Footballguy
Nobody knocking Thriller. Number 28 is fine for the actual song.
rockaction
Footballguy
Actually, Thriller should have more to come, which is fair.
It was my favorite album of 1982 at the time. I was nine.
It was my favorite album of 1982 at the time. I was nine.
John Maddens Lunchbox
Socialism for Dummies
I hope not. That cover (original?) was atrocious. I love Laura, but she butchered it. Probably Solitaire or somethingThe Michael Bolton one?29. Laura Branigan “Gloria” (from Branigan)
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Both this song and the video feel like they belong in an earlier time from a couple of years before 1982: the disco era. Certainly it seems out of place among most of the other music on this list.
Nonetheless “Gloria” is an outstanding pop song which has survived over the decades (apparently in large part to the St Louis Blues, which is a team and sport I don’t really follow.) Laura really belts this one out.
Pretty close to peak Brannigan, she has another song that IMHO is one of the best pop songs of the decade...this one aint bad either.
John Maddens Lunchbox
Socialism for Dummies
28. Michael Jackson “Thriller” (from Thriller)
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The album Thriller, including this song, was released in November of 1982, which is why it’s included on this list and not a future list of 1983 songs. However, the single and connected video wasn’t released until a year later in November of 1983. If ever a strong argument is to be made for @John Maddens Lunchbox’s position that songs should be listed in the year they made the most impact rather than the year they were actually first released, this would be the one. However, I made my rule so I will stick to it. 1982 it is.
That being said, it’s impossible to separate this song from the video which was the most hyped and possibly greatest video of all time. I didn’t like it in 1983, or the song either. I was not a fan of Michael Jackson’s music at the time, and it took me many many years to come to appreciate it. (Ironically, the more I came to both appreciate and actually like Jackson’s the music, the more I also came to detest him as a human being.)
These days I think this song is a dance classic, not the best on the album but certainly up there.
might need to bump this way up buddy
a cultural phenomenon is not an exaggeration
Im not sure if the fact that its not really 1982 plays into Tims ranking. I appreciate the shoutout about why there is no way i could rank this in 1982. The Girl is Mine is probably the only one with a legit claim to 1982 status. I used to be anal about year of release stuff, but it makes no sense. Thriller, the album and single is a 1983 Phenomenom.
I can easily find 27 songs better for 1982 and 1983 than Thriller. Great years for music. Thriller is still a damn fine song too, but theres at least 3 better on the album, let alone the genre or music in general.
Uruk-Hai
Footballguy
Good point. Thriller (the LP) was more of a 1983 event. Especially after the "Motown 25" TV special, when Jackson tore the house down doing "Billie Jean".28. Michael Jackson “Thriller” (from Thriller)
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The album Thriller, including this song, was released in November of 1982, which is why it’s included on this list and not a future list of 1983 songs. However, the single and connected video wasn’t released until a year later in November of 1983. If ever a strong argument is to be made for @John Maddens Lunchbox’s position that songs should be listed in the year they made the most impact rather than the year they were actually first released, this would be the one. However, I made my rule so I will stick to it. 1982 it is.
That being said, it’s impossible to separate this song from the video which was the most hyped and possibly greatest video of all time. I didn’t like it in 1983, or the song either. I was not a fan of Michael Jackson’s music at the time, and it took me many many years to come to appreciate it. (Ironically, the more I came to both appreciate and actually like Jackson’s the music, the more I also came to detest him as a human being.)
These days I think this song is a dance classic, not the best on the album but certainly up there.
might need to bump this way up buddy
a cultural phenomenon is not an exaggeration
Im not sure if the fact that its not really 1982 plays into Tims ranking. I appreciate the shoutout about why there is no way i could rank this in 1982. The Girl is Mine is probably the only one with a legit claim to 1982 status. I used to be anal about year of release stuff, but it makes no sense. Thriller, the album and single is a 1983 Phenomenom.
I can easily find 27 songs better for 1982 and 1983 than Thriller. Great years for music. Thriller is still a damn fine song too, but theres at least 3 better on the album, let alone the genre or music in general.
It'll always be a 1982 album for me, though. I bought it upon release. "Thriller" (the song) was basically a rewrite of "Off The Wall", but the Vincent Price rap and Louis Johnson's bass bring it on home.
It's the last piece of cultural mono-culture I'll ever see.
TripItUp
Footballguy
greatest televised pop performance of all time
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
I am sure others remember that the airing of the Thriller video was always a major event. Because of its length, it was never (IIRC) part of the normal rotation during the week, but usually got aired on Friday night at a special time. Cannot recall if other days and times were part of it as well, but I remember always seeing it on Friday night. As I have said before, I don't think some of the Thriller songs have held up well, but the two biggies (likely still to come) sure have, and I think the title track here has as well.
timschochet
Footballguy
27. Fleetwood Mac “Gypsy” (from Mirage)
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If I had to choose one song that was representative of Stevie Nicks, her singing and musical style, fashion, overall persona, this would be the one.
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If I had to choose one song that was representative of Stevie Nicks, her singing and musical style, fashion, overall persona, this would be the one.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
Ah yes, my favorite song by Fleetwood Mac. The melodies and the early 80s production combine to make this a terrific song (one that was never close to as good live, unlike many of their others).
TripItUp
Footballguy
27. Fleetwood Mac “Gypsy” (from Mirage)
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If I had to choose one song that was representative of Stevie Nicks, her singing and musical style, fashion, overall persona, this would be the one.
My personal favorite song by Fleetwood Mac. Seen them live 3 times, most recently here in SD 4ish years ago.
This would be top 10 for me on the year at a minimum. I'd have it ahead of Thriller.
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shuke
Black Ice Skeptic
This was definitely on multiple times a day at certain times when it first aired.
timschochet
Footballguy
26. Berlin “The Metro” (from Pleasure Victim)
youtu.be
One of the quintessential New Wave classics of all time. It probably deserves an even higher ranking on this list but the top 30 is really loaded. Anyhow, just a great song.
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One of the quintessential New Wave classics of all time. It probably deserves an even higher ranking on this list but the top 30 is really loaded. Anyhow, just a great song.
zamboni
Footballguy
No need to say "sorry".26. Berlin “The Metro” (from Pleasure Victim)
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One of the quintessential New Wave classics of all time. It probably deserves an even higher ranking on this list but the top 30 is really loaded. Anyhow, just a great song.
timschochet
Footballguy
25. Survivor “Eye Of The Tiger” (from Rocky III)
youtu.be
Almost impossible to separate from the movie, which may be the most entertaining of Rocky flicks. I will argue to my dying day that Clubber Lang was the best fighter in any Rocky or Creed Film including Rocky. Yes he would have beaten Drago.
As for the song, it’s so cheesy it’s actually great. I really wanted Game of Thrones to play it when Arya Stark went through her 80s training montage in season 6. That would have been so awesome.
Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger (Official HD Video)
Official HD Video for "Eye Of The Tiger" by SurvivorListen to Survivor: https://Survivor.lnk.to/listenYDSubscribe to the official Survivor YouTube channel: h...
youtu.be
Almost impossible to separate from the movie, which may be the most entertaining of Rocky flicks. I will argue to my dying day that Clubber Lang was the best fighter in any Rocky or Creed Film including Rocky. Yes he would have beaten Drago.
As for the song, it’s so cheesy it’s actually great. I really wanted Game of Thrones to play it when Arya Stark went through her 80s training montage in season 6. That would have been so awesome.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
31. The Kinks “Come Dancing” (from State Of Confusion)
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This album continued the revival of this band (begun with Give The People What They Want the year before.) This warm hearted song inspired by Ray Davies’ sister was quite a hit in 1982.
I’ve never attempted to rank Kinks songs but I regard “Come Dancing” as one of Ray Davies’ finest compositions. I’m pretty sure it would find its way at least somewhere in the top ten.
Love The Kinks and they had a pretty large gap between their mid 60's stuff and then their revival that you mention in the 80's with several great songs. Underappreciated band IMO.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
If this was a list of songs that were cultural phenomenons then I might agree with you. But it isn’t. It’s a list of the greatest songs of the year.28. Michael Jackson “Thriller” (from Thriller)
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The album Thriller, including this song, was released in November of 1982, which is why it’s included on this list and not a future list of 1983 songs. However, the single and connected video wasn’t released until a year later in November of 1983. If ever a strong argument is to be made for @John Maddens Lunchbox’s position that songs should be listed in the year they made the most impact rather than the year they were actually first released, this would be the one. However, I made my rule so I will stick to it. 1982 it is.
That being said, it’s impossible to separate this song from the video which was the most hyped and possibly greatest video of all time. I didn’t like it in 1983, or the song either. I was not a fan of Michael Jackson’s music at the time, and it took me many many years to come to appreciate it. (Ironically, the more I came to both appreciate and actually like Jackson’s the music, the more I also came to detest him as a human being.)
These days I think this song is a dance classic, not the best on the album but certainly up there.
might need to bump this way up buddy
a cultural phenomenon is not an exaggeration
We’re not done with this album. I have songs on it that I rank above “Thriller”. Actually 3 to be exact.
I have Thriller as the 5th best song on the album so I have no issues with the ranking here.
John Maddens Lunchbox
Socialism for Dummies
I agree that this year is loaded. Still top 3 for me.26. Berlin “The Metro” (from Pleasure Victim)
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One of the quintessential New Wave classics of all time. It probably deserves an even higher ranking on this list but the top 30 is really loaded. Anyhow, just a great song.
TripItUp
Footballguy
Okay, I'll buy that argument. I just don't see there being 27 better songs that year, but obviously this is a highly subjective discussion here and we are all just sharing our biased opinions.
My Thriller Album Song Rankings (irrespective of year)
1) Billie Jean
2) Wanna Be Starting Something
3) Human Nature
4) PYT
5) Thriller
6) Beat It
7) Say Say Say
So many bangers...
massraider
Footballguy
Do you find you ever want to hear the song? You're in the car, working out, whatever. You go through Spotify to play Thriller??
It's like a novelty song to me, Vincent Price, the zombie makeup. It's like the Monster Mash.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
Not on Thriller, which got the cheesy Mike/Paul duet.
TripItUp
Footballguy
It was a bonus track add on...I know because our family wore it out.
But you are correct in that it was not included in the original release.
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TripItUp
Footballguy
Fair argument. For me it's more than that, but I have no problem with that take.
Mookie Gizzy
Footballguy
I think the Kinks are the most underrated/unappreciated band of all time.31. The Kinks “Come Dancing” (from State Of Confusion)
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This album continued the revival of this band (begun with Give The People What They Want the year before.) This warm hearted song inspired by Ray Davies’ sister was quite a hit in 1982.
I’ve never attempted to rank Kinks songs but I regard “Come Dancing” as one of Ray Davies’ finest compositions. I’m pretty sure it would find its way at least somewhere in the top ten.
Love The Kinks and they had a pretty large gap between their mid 60's stuff and then their revival that you mention in the 80's with several great songs. Underappreciated band IMO.
Mookie Gizzy
Footballguy
Sounds right to me. Beat it is very overrated to me. The solo by EVH carries it
timschochet
Footballguy
24. XTC “Senses Working Overtime” (from English Settlement)
youtu.be
Andy Partridge is a very smart songwriter, and this might be his finest ever composition. It’s such a brilliant exploration of the human condition, wrapped up in a catchy pop song. Just terrific.
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Andy Partridge is a very smart songwriter, and this might be his finest ever composition. It’s such a brilliant exploration of the human condition, wrapped up in a catchy pop song. Just terrific.
TripItUp
Footballguy
The guitar work by EVH and the music video are the highlights for me as well.
timschochet
Footballguy
Stop spotlighting you guys!
zamboni
Footballguy
It doesn't matter who's wrong or right.
northern exposure
Footballguy
Actually, I think you're wrong. "Girl Is Mine" was the McCartney/ Jackson duet on Thriller. "Say, Say, Say" was the Paul/Michael duet on the McCartney release "Pipes Of Peace".
TripItUp
Footballguy
I know for a fact it was added as a bonus track to later releases of Thriller. But I don't want to sidetrack this fine thread.
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
Even if that is true, it doesn’t make it a “Thriller” song. It makes it a “Pipes of Peace” song.
zamboni
Footballguy
Trip is a lover, not a fighter.
TripItUp
Footballguy
Pip's Invitation
Footballguy
No one on Jeopardy Masters recognized this song or the band last week.24. XTC “Senses Working Overtime” (from English Settlement)
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Andy Partridge is a very smart songwriter, and this might be his finest ever composition. It’s such a brilliant exploration of the human condition, wrapped up in a catchy pop song. Just terrific.
TripItUp
Footballguy
24. XTC “Senses Working Overtime” (from English Settlement)
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Andy Partridge is a very smart songwriter, and this might be his finest ever composition. It’s such a brilliant exploration of the human condition, wrapped up in a catchy pop song. Just terrific.
great song...wouldn't rank it this high, but I get it.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
XTC is awesome, so is Senses Working Overtime. You want a killer new wave album, go listen to English Settlement? That is the album with SWO and it is great from start to finish pretty much (one or two songs I might call just average, but with 15 songs, that is a high percentage of great).
I loved Eye of the Tiger when I was a kid, but I never listen to it anymore. Maybe I have just heard it too many times due to having seen Rocky III 731 times.
I loved Eye of the Tiger when I was a kid, but I never listen to it anymore. Maybe I have just heard it too many times due to having seen Rocky III 731 times.
TripItUp
Footballguy
That's one of the interesting facets of these rankings...how much did radio overplay kill songs like Thriller, Eye of the Tiger and Gypsy to the point you are now gravitating to the lesser played new wave stuff...which seems to be going on here.
DocHolliday
Footballguy
Not a good song and better off if it is forgotten.No one on Jeopardy Masters recognized this song or the band last week.24. XTC “Senses Working Overtime” (from English Settlement)
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Andy Partridge is a very smart songwriter, and this might be his finest ever composition. It’s such a brilliant exploration of the human condition, wrapped up in a catchy pop song. Just terrific.
northern exposure
Footballguy
Only tim can answer your question as they're his rankings. He is listening to these tunes about 40 years later and trying to rank them. Ranking them based on who he is today and maybe remembering his thoughts back in the day.
"Thriller" was a cultural phenomenon because of the video. It was the first long form music video I can remember and it was heavily hyped. It's difficult to rank just the song without being influenced, one way or the other, by the video.
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