My worst songs of the 80s

michael_m

@AlmostAnonymous said:

@michael_m said:

@Fear2Stop said:

@michael_m said:
Didn’t Chris de Burgh’s ‘Lady in Red’ win some poll to find the worst song of the 80s?

I know that was one of the the "winners" of several polls I've seen....the sad part is, I actually like that song LOL

I guess it’s OK if you’re the sort of person who likes “a little romarnce”.

Chris is still rolling on a pile of money.

I always preferred Bill Bailey’s version in this medley:

animalelder

@jwmmakerofmusic said:

@animalelder said:

@jwmmakerofmusic said:

Okay then, have fun listening to Doja Cat, Bad Bunny, Drake and other animal-named artists as well as to all the "Lil's" out there on the current Billboard 100.

Thank you, I definitely do. I feel like this was meant to be an insulting paragraph, but I like what I like and I love what I love.

Insulting but in the cheeky sense of how your mates take the piss and laugh about it over a couple of pints. 😉 Wasn't meant as anything serious.

Haha it’s cool. I’m the least serious person I know. But right now I’m watching Doja Cat in the vip…havin a great time 😏😏😏

Fear2Stop

Awesome! I actually do like her stuff ^_^

jwmmakerofmusic

@animalelder said:

@jwmmakerofmusic said:

@animalelder said:

@jwmmakerofmusic said:

Okay then, have fun listening to Doja Cat, Bad Bunny, Drake and other animal-named artists as well as to all the "Lil's" out there on the current Billboard 100.

Thank you, I definitely do. I feel like this was meant to be an insulting paragraph, but I like what I like and I love what I love.

Insulting but in the cheeky sense of how your mates take the piss and laugh about it over a couple of pints. 😉 Wasn't meant as anything serious.

Haha it’s cool. I’m the least serious person I know. But right now I’m watching Doja Cat in the vip…havin a great time 😏😏😏

Whoa! Nice mate! I mean if Doja Cat is music you like, then by all means go enjoy. ☺️ I'm not being a sarcastic tosser this time but genuine. Doja is probably for a crowd younger than me. We like what we like in the end.

HotStrange

@animalelder said:

@jwmmakerofmusic said:

@animalelder said:

@jwmmakerofmusic said:

Okay then, have fun listening to Doja Cat, Bad Bunny, Drake and other animal-named artists as well as to all the "Lil's" out there on the current Billboard 100.

Thank you, I definitely do. I feel like this was meant to be an insulting paragraph, but I like what I like and I love what I love.

Insulting but in the cheeky sense of how your mates take the piss and laugh about it over a couple of pints. 😉 Wasn't meant as anything serious.

Haha it’s cool. I’m the least serious person I know. But right now I’m watching Doja Cat in the vip…havin a great time 😏😏😏

That’s awesome! You get to meet her after? I’m a pretty big fan of her music. Haven’t heard the newest album yet though.

mrufino1

@ALB said:

@mrufino1 said:

@ALB said:
I hated "We Are The World" but so many people have torn it down that I don't feel it worth commenting.

It's all low-hanging fruit, but along with the above, my #1 hated is "We Built This City". It masks itself as "rock" song by being about "rock n' roll" without having any kind of rock sensibility (which was pretty broad at the time). While a rock sensibility is not superior to a show tune sensibility, it makes the sentiments expressed incredibly cloying and insincere. I don't like it much as a show tune either, but I have less background in this form. And it's not especially clear which city it's about (San Francisco, LA?). I think Grace Slick trades lead vocals which is just incredibly sad - the last notable remnant of Jefferson Airplane (then Jefferson Starship, then Starship), relegated as a quasi bit player (Hey look everyone - we got Grace Slick to lend this song some cred!) in this Mickey Thomas-led gold lame poop-storm.

We Built this City is written by Martin Page, with Bernie Taupin’s lyrics. His demo has a much different feel, not trying to have a rock attitude. But, I happen to like the song. It is what it is, corny lyrics and all. The production on it is very tight. I bet if this was sung by anyone other than starship, because of the attachment historically to Jefferson Airplane, it wouldn’t be derided the way it is.

This song, and These Dreams, have allowed Martin Page to do whatever the heck he wants with his life, not a bad place to be if you ask me. I love his writing. King of Wishful Thinking is another one I love, and I really really love his second solo album “In the Temple of the Muse.”
As for “We are the World,” whether you like the song or not, it was intended to raise money to fight hunger, and it did (without getting into discussions about politics and such). It was also quite an achievement that Quincey Jones was able to wrangle all of those egos and not have one issue in the studio (he laid the law down right away to check their ego at the door).

The 2 Steve Winwood albums won Tom Lord-Alge some Grammys and led to the evolution of the “mix engineer” as a specialty.

I’m not saying you have to like the songs (that’s up to you), but they all had an effect. I wish I could write a “worst #1 hit” someday.

Anyway, just wanted to add those things.

I would be ok if I never heard New Kids on the Block again though…

Um, fair enough, I guess. Starship had a huge hit with “We Built This City” - that’s the truth, irrespective of who wrote it (which I knew), so I’m not sure what your point is. Glad that Martin Page can wipe his ass with Benjamins as a result of writing this and other pap claptrap. Is this another version of the “If you’re so smart, why ain’t you rich?” argument? I’m really trying to understand your point. You go on to say, “…they all had an effect.” Um, yes, you’re right, and so does everything else - good, bad, and ugly, popular and obscure. I looked into the critical reception of “We Built This City” and it’s interesting - it ends up on a lot of “worst songs of the 80’s” lists.’ As does “We Are the World.” This doesn’t mean that they are objectively bad, but it does mean that one of the “effects” that these songs had was to inspire dislike, hostility and revulsion. Yes, WATW did indeed raise a great deal of money for humanitarian causes. But even the people who sang on it largely thought it was rubbish. So maybe the point is “Bad Art=Good Moneymaker”? Seems reductive, but that’s the best that I can get from your post.

Cool. What are some songs you like from that era?

michael_m

@mrufino1 said:

@ALB said:

@mrufino1 said:

@ALB said:
I hated "We Are The World" but so many people have torn it down that I don't feel it worth commenting.

It's all low-hanging fruit, but along with the above, my #1 hated is "We Built This City". It masks itself as "rock" song by being about "rock n' roll" without having any kind of rock sensibility (which was pretty broad at the time). While a rock sensibility is not superior to a show tune sensibility, it makes the sentiments expressed incredibly cloying and insincere. I don't like it much as a show tune either, but I have less background in this form. And it's not especially clear which city it's about (San Francisco, LA?). I think Grace Slick trades lead vocals which is just incredibly sad - the last notable remnant of Jefferson Airplane (then Jefferson Starship, then Starship), relegated as a quasi bit player (Hey look everyone - we got Grace Slick to lend this song some cred!) in this Mickey Thomas-led gold lame poop-storm.

We Built this City is written by Martin Page, with Bernie Taupin’s lyrics. His demo has a much different feel, not trying to have a rock attitude. But, I happen to like the song. It is what it is, corny lyrics and all. The production on it is very tight. I bet if this was sung by anyone other than starship, because of the attachment historically to Jefferson Airplane, it wouldn’t be derided the way it is.

This song, and These Dreams, have allowed Martin Page to do whatever the heck he wants with his life, not a bad place to be if you ask me. I love his writing. King of Wishful Thinking is another one I love, and I really really love his second solo album “In the Temple of the Muse.”
As for “We are the World,” whether you like the song or not, it was intended to raise money to fight hunger, and it did (without getting into discussions about politics and such). It was also quite an achievement that Quincey Jones was able to wrangle all of those egos and not have one issue in the studio (he laid the law down right away to check their ego at the door).

The 2 Steve Winwood albums won Tom Lord-Alge some Grammys and led to the evolution of the “mix engineer” as a specialty.

I’m not saying you have to like the songs (that’s up to you), but they all had an effect. I wish I could write a “worst #1 hit” someday.

Anyway, just wanted to add those things.

I would be ok if I never heard New Kids on the Block again though…

Um, fair enough, I guess. Starship had a huge hit with “We Built This City” - that’s the truth, irrespective of who wrote it (which I knew), so I’m not sure what your point is. Glad that Martin Page can wipe his ass with Benjamins as a result of writing this and other pap claptrap. Is this another version of the “If you’re so smart, why ain’t you rich?” argument? I’m really trying to understand your point. You go on to say, “…they all had an effect.” Um, yes, you’re right, and so does everything else - good, bad, and ugly, popular and obscure. I looked into the critical reception of “We Built This City” and it’s interesting - it ends up on a lot of “worst songs of the 80’s” lists.’ As does “We Are the World.” This doesn’t mean that they are objectively bad, but it does mean that one of the “effects” that these songs had was to inspire dislike, hostility and revulsion. Yes, WATW did indeed raise a great deal of money for humanitarian causes. But even the people who sang on it largely thought it was rubbish. So maybe the point is “Bad Art=Good Moneymaker”? Seems reductive, but that’s the best that I can get from your post.

Cool. What are some songs you like from that era?

The early 80s was a fantastic time for inventiveness and experimentation in pop music. It kind of fizzled out and the mid-80s had little of the promise of the early part of the decade. I would guess that most people’s favorite songs from the 80s would be from the early or late part of the decade.

ALB

@mrufino1 said:

@ALB said:

@mrufino1 said:

@ALB said:
I hated "We Are The World" but so many people have torn it down that I don't feel it worth commenting.

It's all low-hanging fruit, but along with the above, my #1 hated is "We Built This City". It masks itself as "rock" song by being about "rock n' roll" without having any kind of rock sensibility (which was pretty broad at the time). While a rock sensibility is not superior to a show tune sensibility, it makes the sentiments expressed incredibly cloying and insincere. I don't like it much as a show tune either, but I have less background in this form. And it's not especially clear which city it's about (San Francisco, LA?). I think Grace Slick trades lead vocals which is just incredibly sad - the last notable remnant of Jefferson Airplane (then Jefferson Starship, then Starship), relegated as a quasi bit player (Hey look everyone - we got Grace Slick to lend this song some cred!) in this Mickey Thomas-led gold lame poop-storm.

We Built this City is written by Martin Page, with Bernie Taupin’s lyrics. His demo has a much different feel, not trying to have a rock attitude. But, I happen to like the song. It is what it is, corny lyrics and all. The production on it is very tight. I bet if this was sung by anyone other than starship, because of the attachment historically to Jefferson Airplane, it wouldn’t be derided the way it is.

This song, and These Dreams, have allowed Martin Page to do whatever the heck he wants with his life, not a bad place to be if you ask me. I love his writing. King of Wishful Thinking is another one I love, and I really really love his second solo album “In the Temple of the Muse.”
As for “We are the World,” whether you like the song or not, it was intended to raise money to fight hunger, and it did (without getting into discussions about politics and such). It was also quite an achievement that Quincey Jones was able to wrangle all of those egos and not have one issue in the studio (he laid the law down right away to check their ego at the door).

The 2 Steve Winwood albums won Tom Lord-Alge some Grammys and led to the evolution of the “mix engineer” as a specialty.

I’m not saying you have to like the songs (that’s up to you), but they all had an effect. I wish I could write a “worst #1 hit” someday.

Anyway, just wanted to add those things.

I would be ok if I never heard New Kids on the Block again though…

Um, fair enough, I guess. Starship had a huge hit with “We Built This City” - that’s the truth, irrespective of who wrote it (which I knew), so I’m not sure what your point is. Glad that Martin Page can wipe his ass with Benjamins as a result of writing this and other pap claptrap. Is this another version of the “If you’re so smart, why ain’t you rich?” argument? I’m really trying to understand your point. You go on to say, “…they all had an effect.” Um, yes, you’re right, and so does everything else - good, bad, and ugly, popular and obscure. I looked into the critical reception of “We Built This City” and it’s interesting - it ends up on a lot of “worst songs of the 80’s” lists.’ As does “We Are the World.” This doesn’t mean that they are objectively bad, but it does mean that one of the “effects” that these songs had was to inspire dislike, hostility and revulsion. Yes, WATW did indeed raise a great deal of money for humanitarian causes. But even the people who sang on it largely thought it was rubbish. So maybe the point is “Bad Art=Good Moneymaker”? Seems reductive, but that’s the best that I can get from your post.

Cool. What are some songs you like from that era?

I wasn’t much of a fan of radio at that time, as you might imagine! I was very familiar with pop music because I worked in restaurants and people just turned up the radio in those spaces. On my own I listened to a lot of early Gang of Four, Joy Division and The Smiths. It occurs to me that radio ruined alot of music by overplaying certain songs, so my taste was formed in that context to some degree.

animalelder

@HotStrange
That’s awesome! You get to meet her after? I’m a pretty big fan of her music. Haven’t heard the newest album yet though.

No, I don’t even know what it was. There was a lounge at the arena where we had access and some posters. Honestly, my wife got them and I don’t know much about the details.

But the new album has a lot of nice catchy songs ha

HotStrange

@animalelder said:

@HotStrange
That’s awesome! You get to meet her after? I’m a pretty big fan of her music. Haven’t heard the newest album yet though.

No, I don’t even know what it was. There was a lounge at the arena where we had access and some posters. Honestly, my wife got them and I don’t know much about the details.

But the new album has a lot of nice catchy songs ha

Ah cool experience anyway though. How was the show?

HotStrange

@michael_m said:

@mrufino1 said:

@ALB said:

@mrufino1 said:

@ALB said:
I hated "We Are The World" but so many people have torn it down that I don't feel it worth commenting.

It's all low-hanging fruit, but along with the above, my #1 hated is "We Built This City". It masks itself as "rock" song by being about "rock n' roll" without having any kind of rock sensibility (which was pretty broad at the time). While a rock sensibility is not superior to a show tune sensibility, it makes the sentiments expressed incredibly cloying and insincere. I don't like it much as a show tune either, but I have less background in this form. And it's not especially clear which city it's about (San Francisco, LA?). I think Grace Slick trades lead vocals which is just incredibly sad - the last notable remnant of Jefferson Airplane (then Jefferson Starship, then Starship), relegated as a quasi bit player (Hey look everyone - we got Grace Slick to lend this song some cred!) in this Mickey Thomas-led gold lame poop-storm.

We Built this City is written by Martin Page, with Bernie Taupin’s lyrics. His demo has a much different feel, not trying to have a rock attitude. But, I happen to like the song. It is what it is, corny lyrics and all. The production on it is very tight. I bet if this was sung by anyone other than starship, because of the attachment historically to Jefferson Airplane, it wouldn’t be derided the way it is.

This song, and These Dreams, have allowed Martin Page to do whatever the heck he wants with his life, not a bad place to be if you ask me. I love his writing. King of Wishful Thinking is another one I love, and I really really love his second solo album “In the Temple of the Muse.”
As for “We are the World,” whether you like the song or not, it was intended to raise money to fight hunger, and it did (without getting into discussions about politics and such). It was also quite an achievement that Quincey Jones was able to wrangle all of those egos and not have one issue in the studio (he laid the law down right away to check their ego at the door).

The 2 Steve Winwood albums won Tom Lord-Alge some Grammys and led to the evolution of the “mix engineer” as a specialty.

I’m not saying you have to like the songs (that’s up to you), but they all had an effect. I wish I could write a “worst #1 hit” someday.

Anyway, just wanted to add those things.

I would be ok if I never heard New Kids on the Block again though…

Um, fair enough, I guess. Starship had a huge hit with “We Built This City” - that’s the truth, irrespective of who wrote it (which I knew), so I’m not sure what your point is. Glad that Martin Page can wipe his ass with Benjamins as a result of writing this and other pap claptrap. Is this another version of the “If you’re so smart, why ain’t you rich?” argument? I’m really trying to understand your point. You go on to say, “…they all had an effect.” Um, yes, you’re right, and so does everything else - good, bad, and ugly, popular and obscure. I looked into the critical reception of “We Built This City” and it’s interesting - it ends up on a lot of “worst songs of the 80’s” lists.’ As does “We Are the World.” This doesn’t mean that they are objectively bad, but it does mean that one of the “effects” that these songs had was to inspire dislike, hostility and revulsion. Yes, WATW did indeed raise a great deal of money for humanitarian causes. But even the people who sang on it largely thought it was rubbish. So maybe the point is “Bad Art=Good Moneymaker”? Seems reductive, but that’s the best that I can get from your post.

Cool. What are some songs you like from that era?

The early 80s was a fantastic time for inventiveness and experimentation in pop music. It kind of fizzled out and the mid-80s had little of the promise of the early part of the decade. I would guess that most people’s favorite songs from the 80s would be from the early or late part of the decade.

The 80s had a lot of cool music. Punk and post punk, early industrial, experimental stuff with bands like Cabaret Voltaire, early EDM, some good funk and metal. It’s probably my 2nd favorite decade after the 90s. The 70s is close though. (And maybe unpopular but I love modern music too)

reezygle

My favorite 80s bands are Depeche Mode and Dire Straits.

Fear2Stop

@reezygle said:
My favorite 80s bands are Depeche Mode and Dire Straits.

I love Depeche Mode up until the 2000s

reezygle

@Fear2Stop said:

@reezygle said:
My favorite 80s bands are Depeche Mode and Dire Straits.

I love Depeche Mode up until the 2000s

Agreed. I think their best music was from 84 to 93.