Top 10 Songs of 1982
January 11th 2009 22:00
Close to the Edge
As we role into another week, we role into another year in the BTTE's Top Ten songs.
As usual, I tried to keep it varied and in no particular order...
SONGS OF 1982
Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
It was nominated for an Oscar, won a Grammy and a stack of other awards and is one of the most popular songs in history. If you ever have to pump yourself up for a fight against a Detroit thug with crazy hair and a huge stash of neck chains – this is the song to do it. It also has an absolute classic video (below), love the intro walk.
Africa – Toto
Toto have some really cool songs, and some really uncool songs. This is a classic. A little heavy on the synth, but otherwise pretty sweet. The album won like five Grammies, but this song was also voted as having some of the worst lyrics ever, with: “Sure as Kilimanjaro (a mountain) rises like Olympus (another mountain) above the Serengeti".
The Message – Grandmaster Flash
Don't push me 'cuz I'm close to the edge. Long before rap and hip hop took over the airwaves, Grandmaster Flash laid down one of the most influential tracks of the last 30 years.
Live Wire – Mötley Crüe
The first hairmetal album; years before hundreds more caught on and still one of the best. I remember I played this song to a friend for the first time in my car and he couldn’t believe it was 20 years old, saying that it sounded so fresh. They never sounded so fresh again either.
If You Want My Love – Cheap Trick
This band is always hit and miss – this one being a near perfect hit. With its Beatlesque melodies and its...well, more Beatlesque harmonies, it has featured on movies and TV shows everywhere. Reminds me most of Dave Spades underrated film Joe Dirt, where this plays in the end.
Great Southern Land – Icehouse
One of my favourite Australian songs ever. It might me a bit cheesy and un-subtle, but it just sums up the whole feeling of...well, the great southern land? Was released as a single years later in the U.S. when it was featured on the Young Einstein soundtrack! But that’s for another post.
Tainted Love – Soft Cell
This is one of the most covered songs in history, and was actually a cover itself, although unknown at the time. Living End did a cool B-Side version that was kicking around on Triple J back in ‘98.
I Love Rock 'n' Roll – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
My fiancé first heard this song blaring out of the speakers in her older sister’s boyfriends HR. They were beyond cool.
Sexual Healing – Marvin Gaye
When I first moved to Geelong, I went to a party here and knew basically no one. I remember standing there uncomfortable and bored out of my head thinking how stiff and lifeless these people were.
Thankfully, soon to be friend, DJP, took control of the stereo and slammed this song down. Miraculously, things started to loosen up immediately. Yeah baby. There’s a life lesson right there.
Down Under – Men at Work
As Australiana started to peak, Men at Work took off with this huge hit and even landed themselves a Grammy for Best New Artist.
Lead singer Colin Hay was nice enough to give me free tickets to see him a few years ago – great, great show. I have seen him again since.
He told us a story about being out in the desert in Arizona and stopping to get gas. The guy at the station thought he recognised him from somewhere and asked. Colin told him he was the guy who sang that song ‘We come from the land down under’, the guy looked him up and down and told him – “You are not Sting!”
Other notable mentions:
Fleetwood Mac – Gypsy, Ozzy – Flying High Again , Iron Maiden – Run to the Hills , KISS – I Love it Loud, Bad Religion – We're Only Gonna Die, Van Halen – (Oh) Pretty Woman ,Tommy Tutone – 867-5309/Jenny, Toto – Rosanna , Toto – I Won't Hold You Back, Huey Lewis & The News – Do You Believe In Love , Clash – Rock the Casbah, Journey – Open Arms , Prince – 1999, John Cougar – Jack & Diane, Stray Cats – Rock This Town, Judas Priest – You've Got Another Thing Comin', Loverboy – Working For The Weekend, Cold Chisel – Forever Now, Goanna – Solid Rock, Split Enz – Six Months in a Leaky Boat, Foreigner – Waiting For a Girl Like You, John Cougar – Hurts So Good, The J. Geils Band – Centerfold, Dexy's Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen , Moving Pictures – What About Me,Toni Basil – Mickey, A Flock of Seagulls – I Ran (So Far Away), Culture Club – Do You Really Want to Hurt Me, Musical Youth – Pass the Dutchie
"He was six foot four and full of muscles. I said, do you speak-a my language? He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich"
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Comment by Nomad
Awesome Food
i know a super cool band who used to do a cover of down under too, they had a wicked lead guitarist who's in a wheelchair, what were they called? Space Man Bob? what ever happened to them?
Comment by Darni
Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
I did, however, include Culture Club for you.
As for SMB, I'm pretty sure they imploded in a myriad of sex, drugs and money.