#68. "Stand Back" - Stevie Nicks (1983)

Looking back, I remember Debbie Harry (Blondie) and Pat Benatar were my first celebrity crushes.

But that was before Stevie Nicks started appearing on my TV screen in the early 80s.

"Stand Back" is a fast and furious funk rocker from a powerhouse sparkplug that demands your complete attention. Stevie Nicks shows off her range with an honest and dynamic delivery that is simply captivating.

Add in those big synths and you have a masterpiece albeit somewhat derivative.

Fun factoid: Stevie was inspired to make "Stand Back" after hearing Prince's "Little Red Corvette". In fact, Prince surprised her by showing up in the studio one day and playing the keyboard track.

#69. "Rapture" - Blondie (1981)

We all remember "Call Me" and "Heart of Glass" from those K-tel compilations albums but it's "Rapture" that I keep coming back to almost 40 years later.

Blondie is one of my fave American artists, born from the new wave/punk scene of New York City in the mid to late 70s as artists congregated from around the globe and transformed music.

"Rapture" is just so cool and original. The soothing vocals, driving bass line, funky guitar and ambient horns create a groovy trance-like quality. It's like slow disco, even somewhat ambient.

Then seemingly out of nowhere the tune turns hip-hop near the end with Debbie Harry rapping about the man from Mars. 

"Rapture" became the first song with some rap in it to hit #1. The lyrics borrows from the classic The Sugarhill Gang "Rapper's Delight' that came out a year earlier­. 

#70. "Under Pressure" - Queen with David Bowie (1981)

"Under Pressure" is simply a classic: a heartfelt anthem that takes stock of the essence of life itself.

The tune magnificently showcases two of the greatest trailblazers and front men in the biz, forever reminding us the power of collaboration. 

This is also a test: the artist you first recognize when you hear that magical opening bass line will tell you how old you are.  

Just ask this guy:

#71. "19" - Paul Hardcastle (1985)

This ironic dance floor hit from the spring/summer of 1985 had a very political message.

Lyrically, Paul Hardcastle's anti-war song "19" had two main takeaways: 1. the obvious being 19 as the average age of an American combat soldier in the Vietnam War, and 2. the harsh reality of PTSD.

Musically, "19" introduced many electronica innovations to the mainstream: sampling haunting sound bites from a Vietnam War documentary, re-dubbing bugle calls and synthesizing the classic "nineteen" stutter. 

Combined with a captivating video clip, the single reached #1 on the UK and US charts (and #2 in Canada). 

I'm always conflicted when I hear "19": my mind wants to pay attention to the message while the body wants to move. 

I read somewhere on the internet that when the song was played in the clubs people would stop dancing and listen to the lyrics. Now that's powerful.

Fave lyric: not really a favourite per se, more insightful: "Eight to ten years after coming home / Almost eight-hundred-thousand men / Are still fighting the Vietnam War"

#72. "Monkey Gone To Heaven" - Pixies (1989)

Lyrically, "Monkey Gone to Heaven" by the Pixies tackles serious subjects like God and the growing environment issues of the day e.g. pollution, ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect.

Musically, the tune sounds breezy and cool with a folky chorus, although it does have a somewhat menacing bassline.

The alternating loud-soft verses preceded and influenced Kirk Cobain and Nirvana's sound from their 1991 album Nevermind. 

The breakdown could possibly be the first time that the alt-rock talk-scream trademark vocal was delivered: 

"If man is 5 / Then the devil is 6 / And if the devil is six / Then god is 7"

So in summary, the Pixies were creating grunge before the official grunge era kicked in.

Another equally popular single from the 80s had been resurrected in the 2009 (500) Days of Summer film soundtrack: