#95. "Promises, Promises" - Naked Eyes (1983)

1983 marked the year when electronic music went mainstream, when pop music shifted from the 70s rock stadium sound towards the synthesizers. 

Although 1982 had spawned iconic tunes like "Eye of the Tiger", "I Love Rock and Roll" and "Centrefold", 1983 saw the proliferation of synth-pop. Enter Culture Club, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Human League and the Thompson Twins. 

And dozens of others.

Like a plethora of tunes that year, "Promises, Promises" by Naked Eyes checked off all the boxes. 

Melancholic lyrics. Check.

Layers of synth. Check.

Funky guitar and bass. Check.

Songs like these were a dime a dozen; a reminder we took it all for granted that the good times were going to last forever.  

Go back to #96

#96. "All The Things She Said" - Simple Minds (1986)

Riding on the coattails of the international smash single "Don't You Forget (About Me)" the year before, Simple Minds churned out three singles in North America from Once Upon A Time, one of my favourite albums from the mid-80s. 

Superb from cover to cover, this great road trip album features the epic "Alive and Kicking", the high tempo "Sanctify Yourself", and the big stadium sound on tracks like "Ghost Dancing" and "Oh Jungleland". All of these would make my top 500 80s playlist.

The third single "All The Things She Said" is my fave track from the album. The track has a brilliant arrangement: it opens with a slice of psychedelia before the soaring verses take over. An overblown, beautiful bridge is followed by a stirring ending. 

Fave lyrics: "Tell me 'bout the ocean moving in slow motion"

The video is among the cooler of the decade with the neat duplicating effect, owl and falcon clips and Jim Kerr dance moves reminiscent of Michael Scott from the The Office's classic 'Booze Cruise' episode.

The first song from Once Upon A Time, "Oh Jungleland" is one powerful album opener:

#97. "Sweet Child O' Mine" - Guns N' Roses (1987)

"Sweet Child O' Mine" had to make the list. Yep, it's overplayed but the tune had its place. It was the song played on summer road trips with the gang en route to PEI for a weekend of teenage mayhem. 

On said road trips I’d always get outvoted (new wave anyone? ... anyone? ... Bueller?), then subjected to a tortuous, endless loop of Def Leppard, Metallica and Guns N’ Roses. 

Especially GNR.

Not only did I learn to tolerate the tune, I actually liked it for what it was: a great riff and a bonding moment with the guys. 

Thanks to osmosis, the lyrics are forever etched in some remote netherland in the back of my mind along with state capitals and the times tables. 

Catch me in the right frame of mind after a couple and I'll caterwaul the "Where do we go now" bridge and toss in a bonus chorus for good measure. During a full moon of course.  

#98. "Cloudbusting" - Kate Bush (1985)

"Cloudbusting" by Kate Bush is a brilliant piece of art and a risky single to release; it was so noticeably different from the standard fare on tap in 1985. 

The track also had one of the more innovative storylines in an 80s music video. In fact, it was more of a 'mini-movie'. Starring Donald Sutherland as Kate's father, he invents a machine that makes it rain. After the men in suits take Sutherland away, the 'cloud buster' only works when Kate gives it a go. 

The song itself is spellbinding, dramatic and melodic. 

The instrumentation is off the charts: the dreamy strings and the marching effect at the end are spectacular. It's a nicely-textured soft song I prefer to crank up loud on headphones to hear all the nuances like the ambient drum rolls.

A few years later while in in Vancouver record shop I remember recognizing a sample from "Cloudbusting". Turns out it was from the now classic techno club anthem "Something Good" by Utah Saints.

#99. "99 Luftballons" - Nena (1984)

One of many pro-peace anthems from the Cold War era, "99 Luftballons" by German artist Nena reached #1 in much of Europe, Canada (I think) and #2 on US Billboard, only bested by "Jump" by Van Halen. 

Shout out to the bass plucking to keep things kinda light since the lyrics are dark as hell.

The song is about how balloons were mistaken for missiles on the radar thus instigating a nuclear war. But at the very end of the tune, after the apocalypse, a single balloon is found offering hope.

I prefer the German version to the English remix "99 Red Balloons", much in the same way I'd rather watch Montreal Canadiens home games in French on RDS: for the authenticity. 

Fave lyrics: 

"99 Düsenflieger

Jeder war ein großer Krieger

Hielten sich für Captain Kirk"

Translation:

"99 jet planes

Everyone was a great warrior

Thought they were Captain Kirk"

Below is a great sounding redubbed English version from Nena's appearance on the popular Brit show Top of the Pops. 

Since it's now 2018 and environmentally incorrect to release 99 red balloons into the air, we no longer have to worry about balloons triggering an apocalyptic use of military force.