Because I don't know how to count down properly, here we have No. 19-11. Oh, and I have very strong feelings about power ballads, guys, and I won't apologize for them. So nyeah.
19. Faith, George Michael - I loved how peppy this song was when I was a kid, but as an adult I appreciate the "don't stay with someone who treats you like crap just because they're hot - there's someone better out there" message. Also, I'm still really not quite over George Michael dying so young. And, uh, speaking of...
18. So Emotional, Whitney Houston
1980s KB: I make my Barbie and the Rockers play this song! Whitney Houston is so great! She's from New Jersey!
21st Century KB: *is sad*
17. Something About You, Level 42 - Another one of my many "this is a summer song and seemingly played endlessly at the beach circa June/July 1986, and therefore it's a good song" songs.
16. Heaven, Bryan Adams - Ah, one of the 80s' more perfect power ballads, resplendent in all its "I was the prom theme AT SO MANY HIGH SCHOOLS glory." Sidebar: Let's talk about how people drag power ballads and it's like, "Yeah, man, how dumb that a song incorporates longing and earnest feelings and big production?" The condescending undertone of that is "Chicks like this stuff, so how could it possibly be taken seriously? Even though I'll listen to some beanie-clad emo guy with a creaky voice sing creakily about lost love with just his acoustic guitar and it was recorded while standing in his cat's litter box AND IT'S ART." *side eye* /sidebar. Anyway, it's great. But I can't rank it higher than number 15 because...
15. Faithfully, Journey ...it was literally inspired by this song. Maybe the granddaddy of 80s power ballads, and I will fight anyone who 1) ranks the great but done-to-death Don't Stop Believin' ahead of this and/or 2) doesn't have Steve Perry in their top vocalist lists. (You're just very, very wrong if you don't, is all I'm saying. *cracks knuckles*).
14. You're The One For Me, D Train - My mom had this album, complete with amazing cover - an album that's now in my possession since I'm the one with a record player - and it might be the best still-hanging-onto-disco-even-in-1981 song out there. I will also never not think of it when taking the subway to and from Yankee games.
13. Everything She Wants, Wham! - Another spring 85 song, but I actually associate this with late spring 86, returning from a third grade field trip on a school bus, it being one of the first really warm days of the year, this song playing on the bus driver's radio. We got home before the end of the school day and rather than bring us inside, the teachers let us spend the rest of the afternoon on the playground. I guess I associate Wham! with soon-to-be-summer playground feelings and putting the teachers in a good enough mood to let that happen.
12. Tempted, Squeeze - This might be one of most-played songs on my iPod (yes, I still have one) and yet I only recently discovered it's Paul Carrack singing lead. And also singing lead on Mike and the Mechanics' Silent Running and The Living Years. And Ace's How Long, another never-skip song. (I knew Don't Shed a Tear for me, at least). Like, where the hell have I been?
11. Give Me the Night, George Benson - This is one of the first songs I ever remember hearing on the radio, a song I associate with, like, my mom watching Donahue and Sasson jeans commercials. Basically, it just sounds like 1980 to me, and love it.
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