ladyislingering
retired
So many good memories for me in the songs you listed! Ahh. It's like a blast from the past. Here are just a few I've selected that had a huge place in my childhood, and are long-standing favourites of mine:
I played the living hell out of those tracks. Many teenage romances attached to those tunes, and little memories of days passed. So good.
For old time's sake (and because I have nothing better to do, I'll add a little commentary to select few tunes).
"Anyway You Want It" is one of those songs that you almost have to be sedated to avoid singing in the car, when you're all alone, and nobody but you wants to hear it. It's just such a great song; I've always loved Steve Perry's vocal talent. I guarantee you'll feel a million times better after playing this song, really goddamn loud, and pretending you can sing, just because it feels that good.
"Refugee" reminds me of the time I spent in Cincinnati, and the 6 weeks that I constantly kept a Tom Petty cassette in the car. Yes, it was literally 6 weeks, or more. Once I get on something that feels that great in the summertime, I obsess or just become eternally hooked.
Who didn't know someone, at some point in their life, who was indeed, "Bringin' on the Heartbreak"? I can trace this song back to a certain point in my life where things would eventually become quite pointless, and inane, but meant everything to me way back when. That, and I just really love that song.
About 8 years ago I discovered the wonders of "Burnin' For You" (and Blue Oyster Cult's catchy persuasion) and for some reason I can't help but get it trapped in my head every time I go after my hair with the straightening iron.
"I'm livin' for givin' the devil his due" is still one of my most favourite lines I've ever heard. Very clever.
"Rapture" was actually the first song I actually learned all the lyrics to, in a day. I was ten years old, bored, and my musical addiction was just in its infancy. From time to time I still love to listen to this one and remember how badass it was when it was still new to me.
I had "No One Like You" as a ringtone for the longest time. The Scorpions were without a doubt one of the greatest German bands to ever become moderately popular in the states.
"Open Arms" is a song I'll never forget - not just because of its moving content, but because I used to work with someone who was positively in love with Journey. One day he snuck up on me and started singing this, and gave me a great big hug. It was precious.
My favourite line from "Photograph": "I don't want your photograph/I wanna touch you!" Perfectly sums up my feelings for a handful of people I know. I played the hell out of that song as a kid, too.
"Shout at the Devil" was one of those songs I'd play just to piss my parents off, back when I wasn't such a nice girl. It's a solid song; I still dig it from time to time, but my parents used to go into fits and piss at the sound of it. Come to think of it, I played a lot of songs back in the day just for the sake of pissing my parents off.
"Down Under" was one of my ex's favourite songs of all time. Aside from that, the line about the vegemite sandwich actually reminds me of a time when I actually tried vegemite. I was mortified. That's all that needs to be said.
My copy of Culture Club's "Kissing to be Clever" LP is in near-mint condition, with the exception of "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" - because I've played it about 300 times more than the other tracks on the record. If you're an 80s fan, and you don't love this song, there's something wrong with you.
I was introduced to "Runaway" when I was a kid sorting through some of my aunt's old cassettes. I must have played the living hell out of Bon Jovi's self-titled album in such a format, because I actually went out and bought a replacement cassette. Since "Runaway" was the first track on the cassette, it was accessible - and my rewind button had never seen more abuse.
I might always have visions of Paulina Porizkova going into hysterics whenever I hear "Drive". That video still gives me a shiver, and the song hasn't really brought a tear to my eye in years, but it always seems to be relevant to my existence no matter when I listen to it. I've been a fan of the Cars ever since I was a little girl (maybe 4, 5 years old) so I've heard this one a few thousand times, though it's still fresh and pleasant.
When I was very young I had the biggest crush ever on a friend of mine who was positively obsessed with "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)". It was the song he'd play whenever I was around, because he knew I loved the new-wave sound, and because he thought he was hot shit anyway. From time to time I still listen to this track, and it takes me right back to more innocent days.
"Take On Me" was when I learned that I deeply enjoyed singing falsetto. These days I think the video is a lot more impressive than the song, but happy times are definitely attached to this A-Ha track.
I was quite a Bon Jovi fan as a kid; at the time there wasn't much deeper than "You Give Love a Bad Name". I still love the line "you paint your smile on your lips/blood red nails on your fingertips/a screwball's dream/you act so shy/your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye". Reminds me of the little hellion I was back in the day.
Also, is there anything much cooler than "West End Girls"? It's one of my most favourite tunes from the 80s, period. The Pet Shop Boys usually don't do it for me, but the way the lyrics flow in "West End Girls" is enough to have kept my attention for the past 10 years.
Back to the days when the Lady was a little harlot, with this song. It reminds me of a night when I actually crawled out the window at 2AM to meet up with a boy I knew from school. To this day I don't think I've ever told too many people about that one - everyone at school knew anyway!
I've always loved the clever lyrics to this song. "I get a jolt from your affection like a monkey on my back!" Simply awesome, hahaha.
Back to my hair metal days with this one - another one I used to play just to piss my parents off. I think I had the "Dr. Feelgood" album in a couple different formats, and probably still do. It's just a cheesy masterpiece with many nice memories attached to it.
Still on-topic. We should do a series of 80s "strips"! I've also recently been thinking of ranking my top 200 tunes from the 80s but it looks so daunting that it might not get done very soon.
Did you write this one out?
Livin' On a Prayer - Bon Jovi
Round and Round - Ratt
You Give Love A Bad Name - Bon Jovi
Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Great White
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
Bringin' on the Heartbreak - Def Leppard
Kiss Me Deadly - Lita Ford
Jump - Van Halen
Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
Where the Streets Have No Name - U2
Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Leppard
Runaway - Bon Jovi
Photograph - Def Leppard
Dr. Feelgood - Motley Crue
Luka - Suzanne Vega
No One Like You - The Scorpions
Talk Dirty To Me - Poison
Cry Tough - Poison
Bad Medicine - Bon Jovi
Send Me an Angel - Real Life
I played the living hell out of those tracks. Many teenage romances attached to those tunes, and little memories of days passed. So good.
Top 25 songs by year:
1980:
Anyway You Want It - Journey
Refugee - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
For old time's sake (and because I have nothing better to do, I'll add a little commentary to select few tunes).
"Anyway You Want It" is one of those songs that you almost have to be sedated to avoid singing in the car, when you're all alone, and nobody but you wants to hear it. It's just such a great song; I've always loved Steve Perry's vocal talent. I guarantee you'll feel a million times better after playing this song, really goddamn loud, and pretending you can sing, just because it feels that good.
"Refugee" reminds me of the time I spent in Cincinnati, and the 6 weeks that I constantly kept a Tom Petty cassette in the car. Yes, it was literally 6 weeks, or more. Once I get on something that feels that great in the summertime, I obsess or just become eternally hooked.
1981:
Bringin' on the Heartbreak - Def Leppard
Burnin' For You - Blue Oyster Cult
Rapture - Blondie
Who didn't know someone, at some point in their life, who was indeed, "Bringin' on the Heartbreak"? I can trace this song back to a certain point in my life where things would eventually become quite pointless, and inane, but meant everything to me way back when. That, and I just really love that song.
About 8 years ago I discovered the wonders of "Burnin' For You" (and Blue Oyster Cult's catchy persuasion) and for some reason I can't help but get it trapped in my head every time I go after my hair with the straightening iron.
"I'm livin' for givin' the devil his due" is still one of my most favourite lines I've ever heard. Very clever.
"Rapture" was actually the first song I actually learned all the lyrics to, in a day. I was ten years old, bored, and my musical addiction was just in its infancy. From time to time I still love to listen to this one and remember how badass it was when it was still new to me.
1982:
No One Like You - The Scorpions
Open Arms - Journey
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
I had "No One Like You" as a ringtone for the longest time. The Scorpions were without a doubt one of the greatest German bands to ever become moderately popular in the states.
"Open Arms" is a song I'll never forget - not just because of its moving content, but because I used to work with someone who was positively in love with Journey. One day he snuck up on me and started singing this, and gave me a great big hug. It was precious.
1983:
Photograph - Def Leppard
Shout at the Devil - Motley Crue
Down Under - Men at Work
Modern Love - David Bowie
I'll Tumble For Ya - Culture Club
My favourite line from "Photograph": "I don't want your photograph/I wanna touch you!" Perfectly sums up my feelings for a handful of people I know. I played the hell out of that song as a kid, too.
"Shout at the Devil" was one of those songs I'd play just to piss my parents off, back when I wasn't such a nice girl. It's a solid song; I still dig it from time to time, but my parents used to go into fits and piss at the sound of it. Come to think of it, I played a lot of songs back in the day just for the sake of pissing my parents off.
"Down Under" was one of my ex's favourite songs of all time. Aside from that, the line about the vegemite sandwich actually reminds me of a time when I actually tried vegemite. I was mortified. That's all that needs to be said.
My copy of Culture Club's "Kissing to be Clever" LP is in near-mint condition, with the exception of "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" - because I've played it about 300 times more than the other tracks on the record. If you're an 80s fan, and you don't love this song, there's something wrong with you.
1984:
Runaway - Bon Jovi
Drive - The Cars
I was introduced to "Runaway" when I was a kid sorting through some of my aunt's old cassettes. I must have played the living hell out of Bon Jovi's self-titled album in such a format, because I actually went out and bought a replacement cassette. Since "Runaway" was the first track on the cassette, it was accessible - and my rewind button had never seen more abuse.
I might always have visions of Paulina Porizkova going into hysterics whenever I hear "Drive". That video still gives me a shiver, and the song hasn't really brought a tear to my eye in years, but it always seems to be relevant to my existence no matter when I listen to it. I've been a fan of the Cars ever since I was a little girl (maybe 4, 5 years old) so I've heard this one a few thousand times, though it's still fresh and pleasant.
1985:
You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) - Dead or Alive
Take on Me - a-ha
When I was very young I had the biggest crush ever on a friend of mine who was positively obsessed with "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)". It was the song he'd play whenever I was around, because he knew I loved the new-wave sound, and because he thought he was hot shit anyway. From time to time I still listen to this track, and it takes me right back to more innocent days.
"Take On Me" was when I learned that I deeply enjoyed singing falsetto. These days I think the video is a lot more impressive than the song, but happy times are definitely attached to this A-Ha track.
1986:
You Give Love A Bad Name - Bon Jovi
West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys
I was quite a Bon Jovi fan as a kid; at the time there wasn't much deeper than "You Give Love a Bad Name". I still love the line "you paint your smile on your lips/blood red nails on your fingertips/a screwball's dream/you act so shy/your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye". Reminds me of the little hellion I was back in the day.
Also, is there anything much cooler than "West End Girls"? It's one of my most favourite tunes from the 80s, period. The Pet Shop Boys usually don't do it for me, but the way the lyrics flow in "West End Girls" is enough to have kept my attention for the past 10 years.
1987:
I Want Action - Poison
Back to the days when the Lady was a little harlot, with this song. It reminds me of a night when I actually crawled out the window at 2AM to meet up with a boy I knew from school. To this day I don't think I've ever told too many people about that one - everyone at school knew anyway!
1988:
Bad Medicine - Bon Jovi
I've always loved the clever lyrics to this song. "I get a jolt from your affection like a monkey on my back!" Simply awesome, hahaha.
1989:
Dr. Feelgood - Motley Crue
Back to my hair metal days with this one - another one I used to play just to piss my parents off. I think I had the "Dr. Feelgood" album in a couple different formats, and probably still do. It's just a cheesy masterpiece with many nice memories attached to it.
Still on-topic. We should do a series of 80s "strips"! I've also recently been thinking of ranking my top 200 tunes from the 80s but it looks so daunting that it might not get done very soon.
Did you write this one out?