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The 100 Greatest Songs of 1982 #1. Little Red Corvette (1 Viewer)

24. XTC “Senses Working Overtime” (from English Settlement)


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.
No one on Jeopardy Masters recognized this song or the band last week. :sadbanana:
Not a good song and better off if it is forgotten.
You must have it confused with Dear God.
 
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.

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.
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.
And all of this was in late 1983. Not 1982. The phenomenon of Thriller didnt happen until 1983
 
23. The Clash “Rock The Casbah” (from Combat Rock)


Drummer Topper Headon wrote the music to this song, which was unusual for the band. Joe Strummer wrote the lyrics. Strummer, an anarchist/socialist, was appalled when the armed forces of the USA made this tune an unofficial theme song of Desert Storm in 1991.

Personally I find the lyrics to this kind of silly and nonsensical. At least one reviewer, quoted on Wiki, tried to suggest that it’s really about the history of Iran from the overthrow of Mossedegh to the fall of the Shah, but I’m skeptical. Strummer had a history of directly attacking western involvement in the third world (“Spanish Bombs”, “Washington Bullets”, etc.) but he’s a lot more vague here.

Anyhow, this rocks.
 
23. The Clash “Rock The Casbah” (from Combat Rock)


Drummer Topper Headon wrote the music to this song, which was unusual for the band. Joe Strummer wrote the lyrics. Strummer, an anarchist/socialist, was appalled when the armed forces of the USA made this tune an unofficial theme song of Desert Storm in 1991.

Personally I find the lyrics to this kind of silly and nonsensical. At least one reviewer, quoted on Wiki, tried to suggest that it’s really about the history of Iran from the overthrow of Mossedegh to the fall of the Shah, but I’m skeptical. Strummer had a history of directly attacking western involvement in the third world (“Spanish Bombs”, “Washington Bullets”, etc.) but he’s a lot more vague here.

Anyhow, this rocks.


Don't hard cord punk fans hate the Clash for polishing the genre up for mass consumption?

I know they are revered in some music snob circles.

As for the song, I like it and always thought of it as quintessential 80s even though I never really understood what the song was about. Heavily rotated on MTV for certain.
 
24. XTC “Senses Working Overtime” (from English Settlement)


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.
No one on Jeopardy Masters recognized this song or the band last week. :sadbanana:
Not a good song and better off if it is forgotten.
It's a million times better than Thriller and like half the other stuff on this list.
 
22. ABC “The Look Of Love” (from Lexicon Of Love)


This might be the biggest surprise on this list for me. Because in 1982, I HATED this song, absolutely detested it and changed the station whenever it came on. And I made it a point not to listen to it for the next 40 years.

Then a few months back, in coming up with this list, I decided to sample it to make sure my decades old hatred was justified. And I found…it was not. Maybe I’m not the callow stupid teenager I was at 17, but what I hear now when I listen is a smooth, finely crafted, sophisticated, jazz influenced pop song as good as anything released in 1982. I can’t believe I’m writing this. But it’s true. Song deserves its ranking.
 
22. ABC “The Look Of Love” (from Lexicon Of Love)


This might be the biggest surprise on this list for me. Because in 1982, I HATED this song, absolutely detested it and changed the station whenever it came on. And I made it a point not to listen to it for the next 40 years.

Then a few months back, in coming up with this list, I decided to sample it to make sure my decades old hatred was justified. And I found…it was not. Maybe I’m not the callow stupid teenager I was at 17, but what I hear now when I listen is a smooth, finely crafted, sophisticated, jazz influenced pop song as good as anything released in 1982. I can’t believe I’m writing this. But it’s true. Song deserves its ranking.

Can't fathom having it ahead of Gypsy and Thriller.
 
22. ABC “The Look Of Love” (from Lexicon Of Love)


This might be the biggest surprise on this list for me. Because in 1982, I HATED this song, absolutely detested it and changed the station whenever it came on. And I made it a point not to listen to it for the next 40 years.

Then a few months back, in coming up with this list, I decided to sample it to make sure my decades old hatred was justified. And I found…it was not. Maybe I’m not the callow stupid teenager I was at 17, but what I hear now when I listen is a smooth, finely crafted, sophisticated, jazz influenced pop song as good as anything released in 1982. I can’t believe I’m writing this. But it’s true. Song deserves its ranking.
Great album, okay song
 
22. ABC “The Look Of Love” (from Lexicon Of Love)


This might be the biggest surprise on this list for me. Because in 1982, I HATED this song, absolutely detested it and changed the station whenever it came on. And I made it a point not to listen to it for the next 40 years.

Then a few months back, in coming up with this list, I decided to sample it to make sure my decades old hatred was justified. And I found…it was not. Maybe I’m not the callow stupid teenager I was at 17, but what I hear now when I listen is a smooth, finely crafted, sophisticated, jazz influenced pop song as good as anything released in 1982. I can’t believe I’m writing this. But it’s true. Song deserves its ranking.

Can't fathom having it ahead of Gypsy and Thriller.
The thing I admire about Tim most is he makes these lists his own. I don’t understand how this song is ranked this high or even made the list but Tim doesn’t care how we would rank these songs. It is his list.
 
22. ABC “The Look Of Love” (from Lexicon Of Love)


This might be the biggest surprise on this list for me. Because in 1982, I HATED this song, absolutely detested it and changed the station whenever it came on. And I made it a point not to listen to it for the next 40 years.

Then a few months back, in coming up with this list, I decided to sample it to make sure my decades old hatred was justified. And I found…it was not. Maybe I’m not the callow stupid teenager I was at 17, but what I hear now when I listen is a smooth, finely crafted, sophisticated, jazz influenced pop song as good as anything released in 1982. I can’t believei I’m writing this. But it’s true. Song deserves its ranking.
Man this year is deep.
This song is a stunner and thank you for reconsidering your opinion. The whole album is amazing.
The band does great work after as well. Not so much the next album which featured the all time classic horrible lyric
“Can’t Complain, Musn’t grumble, help yourself to another piece of apple crumble”

The experimental How to be a Zillionaire features moments of brilliance in Be Near Me, Vanity Kills and Ocean Blue

Their last big album Alphabet City had classic singles like When Smokey Sings (their biggest US hit. A tribute to Smokey Robinson), The Night You Murdered Love and King Without a Crown. Much more sophisticated sound here.

Next album was gay disco, which is fine, but they refused to stick to one sound making the fanbase hard to hold. 5 top 30 US hits is a pretty good career though.
 
Big fan of The Look of Love, even if this does seem a bit high considering some of the heavyweights that finished behind it. Just a fun bit of Brit pop.

As for Rock the Casbah, great song, one of my favorites from my earliest MTV days.
 
21. The Pointer Sisters “I’m So Excited” (from So Excited!)


In the first half of the 1970s, the Pointers were best known for World War II era jazz standards, but that all changed around 1978, when they released one monster pop hit after another.

“I’m So Excited” continued that streak, and I was astonished to read the accompanying musician list: it’s virtually a who’s who of jazz greats.
 
21. The Pointer Sisters “I’m So Excited” (from So Excited!)


In the first half of the 1970s, the Pointers were best known for World War II era jazz standards, but that all changed around 1978, when they released one monster pop hit after another.

“I’m So Excited” continued that streak, and I was astonished to read the accompanying musician list: it’s virtually a who’s who of jazz greats.

You forgot to include this

 
31. The Kinks “Come Dancing” (from State Of Confusion)


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.

Never really understood the Kinks...I remember this song getting a ton of airplay and me changing the channel every time it came on. Just not my bag.
Brutal.
 
22. ABC “The Look Of Love” (from Lexicon Of Love)


This might be the biggest surprise on this list for me. Because in 1982, I HATED this song, absolutely detested it and changed the station whenever it came on. And I made it a point not to listen to it for the next 40 years.

Then a few months back, in coming up with this list, I decided to sample it to make sure my decades old hatred was justified. And I found…it was not. Maybe I’m not the callow stupid teenager I was at 17, but what I hear now when I listen is a smooth, finely crafted, sophisticated, jazz influenced pop song as good as anything released in 1982. I can’t believei I’m writing this. But it’s true. Song deserves its ranking.
Man this year is deep.
Interesting. It was the year that drove me to explore more 70's tunes and then eventually country music for a few years.
 
In the first half of the 1970s, the Pointers were best known for World War II era jazz standards, but that all changed around 1978, when they released one monster pop hit after another.

“I’m So Excited” continued that streak, and I was astonished to read the accompanying musician list: it’s virtually a who’s who of jazz greats.

I much prefer their earlier stuff which I didn't discover until much later in the 90s.
 
20. Crosby, Stills & Nash “Southern Cross” (from Daylight Again)


This was mainly a Stephen Stills effort, with Graham Nash joining on the second verse. As noted earlier, David Crosby was not around; his role of third harmony was taken by Timothy B. Schmit.

Quite simply this is a beautiful tune, one of the bands best. I was pleasantly surprised when on @krista4 ’s most recent international 31 song list, several people selected it as one of their favorites. I had supposed it was forgotten; nice to know I was wrong.
 
19. Peter Gabriel “Shock The Monkey” (from Security)


This guy was just a little bit smarter than everyone else. And this song didn’t sound like anything else on the radio in 1982. Or even now.
 
19. Peter Gabriel “Shock The Monkey” (from Security)


This guy was just a little bit smarter than everyone else. And this song didn’t sound like anything else on the radio in 1982. Or even now.
When Geffen Records rejected Neil Young's Island in the Sun album and asked him to give them "a modern rock product", this is what they had in mind. Instead he gave them Trans (which I presume is not appearing in this countdown).
 
19. Peter Gabriel “Shock The Monkey” (from Security)


This guy was just a little bit smarter than everyone else. And this song didn’t sound like anything else on the radio in 1982. Or even now.
Disappointed that this is probably the only song off Security in this countdown. It is a great album.
 
20. Crosby, Stills & Nash “Southern Cross” (from Daylight Again)


This was mainly a Stephen Stills effort, with Graham Nash joining on the second verse. As noted earlier, David Crosby was not around; his role of third harmony was taken by Timothy B. Schmit.

Quite simply this is a beautiful tune, one of the bands best. I was pleasantly surprised when on @krista4 ’s most recent international 31 song list, several people selected it as one of their favorites. I had supposed it was forgotten; nice to know I was wrong.

My favorite song of theirs although I know their earlier stuff is generally regarded as "better."
 
My favorite Pointer Sisters Songs

1. Automatic
2. Slow Hand (if memory serves this is a country remake) I was very young when released.
3. He's So Shy
4. Fire
 
Southern Cross is a good song, one I remember hearing on classic rock radio a lot in the 90s. I was shocked when I eventually found out it was from 1982, as it sounds right out of the early 70s.

Security is definitely one of Peter Gabriel's top 3 solo albums. Killer from start to finish.
 
18. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five “The Message” (released as a single)


Full disclaimer: I know so little about hip hop music. I was certainly not aware of this song in 1982, and I didn’t hear it until years later. And even then I wasn’t able to distinguish it from other hip hop songs. A lot of people smarter than me regard “The Message” as the greatest rap song of all time. But I have no way of judging that. Still I have take it into account which is why it gets the ranking it does. Some folks here will think it too low. And they might be right. I’m just not comfortable ranking this type of music due to my ignorance of it.
 
Full disclaimer: I know so little about hip hop music. I was certainly not aware of this song in 1982, and I didn’t hear it until years later. And even then I wasn’t able to distinguish it from other hip hop songs. A lot of people smarter than me regard “The Message” as the greatest rap song of all time. But I have no way of judging that. Still I have take it into account which is why it gets the ranking it does. Some folks here will think it too low. And they might be right. I’m just not comfortable ranking this type of music due to my ignorance of it.

one of the more sampled songs I know of. Would be in my top 10 for the year based on historical impact and sampling alone.
 
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18. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five “The Message” (released as a single)


Full disclaimer: I know so little about hip hop music. I was certainly not aware of this song in 1982, and I didn’t hear it until years later. And even then I wasn’t able to distinguish it from other hip hop songs. A lot of people smarter than me regard “The Message” as the greatest rap song of all time. But I have no way of judging that. Still I have take it into account which is why it gets the ranking it does. Some folks here will think it too low. And they might be right. I’m just not comfortable ranking this type of music due to my ignorance of it.
Now we're talking. Feels like a top tenor.

Rolling Stone has it at best rap song ever. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/...-all-time-150547/lauryn-hill-lost-ones-93378/
 
I didn't know this song by title, but I recognized the keyboard melody. Rap and hip hop is not my game, but I get why this would be considered one of the better songs from 1982.
 
Trip is right this time. This is a track that was heavily sampled. It's a cornerstone of hip hop because of its movement away from party lyrics and into more sociopolitical territory.

That said, Grandmaster Flash and the others wanted nothing to do with it, nor did they create it.

From the Library of Congress

"But though “The Message” is credited to Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Flash himself actually had nothing to do with the track. Rather, it was conceived, written, produced, and largely performed by Ed “Duke Bootee” Fletcher, with Skip McDonald on guitar, Jiggs Chase as co-writer and co-producer, and most famously, Furious Five rapper Melle Mel as co-writer and vocalist.

Flash and the rest of the Furious Five objected to the song’s demo, worried that club-goers would resist the slowed-down beat and serious subject matter. “He didn't think people wanted to hear that s***,” Fletcher later remarked to “The Guardian.” It saw its release only at the insistence of Sugarhill Records head Sylvia Robinson, who saw an opportunity to take the genre somewhere new. And “The Message” was both musically audacious and lyrically in-your-face: much of the sonic palette consists of empty space, letting Mel dominate the mix with stark lyrics relating stories from the black experience in the American ghetto."
 

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