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@jettywalker58.bsky.social

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A brief daily refuge from the extreme darkness of the current moment. Counting down the 365 Best Songs of the 80s, one day at a time.

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jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 5h

BEST 80s #85 “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” by Hall & Oates
Daryl Hall draws a line in the sand over a funky groove that’s in no hurry; it takes the spotlight and holds it while Hall & Oates back each other up amid a myriad of hooky features, including a soaring sax and Rhodes keyboard sparkle.

Daryl Hall & John Oates - I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) (Official Video)

YouTube video by hallandoatesVEVO

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 1d

BEST 80s #86 “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits
Mark Knopfler overheard disdainful comments from an appliance store worker watching videos by the “yo-yos” on MTV and turned it into pop art - with help from Sting on the hook & ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, who advised Knopfler on the iconic guitar riff.

Dire Straits - Money For Nothing (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by DireStraitsVEVO

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 2d

BEST 80s #87 “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC
Sung by Brian Johnson but with numerous lyrics from the late Bon Scott (Including the poetic “She told me to come but I was already there”), this vein-popping valentine to an earthshaking lover rocketed the Australians into global superstardom.

AC/DC - You Shook Me All Night Long (Official 4K Video)

YouTube video by acdcVEVO

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 3d

BEST 80s #88 “Raspberry Beret” by Prince & the Revolution
It’s all about the details: inside a bouncy, string-laden pop melody, Prince remembers his first time and the whole world around it from Mr. McGee to the horses, but especially, the vintage beret – raspberry – that she wore, with little else.

Prince and the Revolution - Raspberry Beret (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by Prince

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 4d

BEST 80s #89 “Sexual Healing” by Marvin Gaye
Rub the sleep out of your eyes, because Marvin needs sexual healing & you’re his medicine. Over a rhythm track that creates the warm, woozy world of sleepy stimulation, he knows just how to flatter, in sweetly pleading tones. It was the legend’s last hit.

Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing (Official HD Video)

YouTube video by MarvinGayeVEVO

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 5d

BEST 80s #90 “Gloria” by Laura Branigan
A triple threat of crazed mania: Laura Branigan’s soaring, scolding vocals, the cranked-to-eleven synth-happy disco track, and the vivid lyrics, translated from original Italian, about poor, deluded Gloria: “If everybody wants you, why isn’t anybody calling?

Laura Branigan - Gloria (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by RHINO

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 6d

BEST 80s #91 “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House
Neil Finn’s longing tone rides the sway & the rising swell of the instrumental track on this rich, melodic plea to keep our troubles, the world’s troubles, & the imagined troubles in our heads from harming the love that might ease the troubles.

Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by CrowdedHouseVEVO

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 7d

BEST 80s #92 “Straight Up” by Paula Abdul
Paula asks an eternal pop query, “do you really wanna love me forever or am I caught in a hit-and-run?” with self-possessed charm; it’s clear anyone who lets her get away is a fool. The track, filled with hesitation & oh-oh-ohs, says that he might be a fool.

Paula Abdul - Straight Up

YouTube video by PaulaAbdulVEVO

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 8d

This entire administration has spent their entire lives looking *up* at the bottom of the barrel. Worst of the worst serving a nitwit who should be in a nuthouse.

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 8d

BEST 80s #93 “Back on the Chain Gang” by Pretenders
A sparkling track about despair. Chrissie Hynde could sing stronger & tougher than many; when she let her steely resolve soften, as on this gorgeous self-penned memory of bandmate James Honeyman-Scott, lost to an overdose, it was affecting.

Pretenders - Back on the Chain Gang (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by Pretenders

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 8d

Perfect middle school energy!

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 9d

BEST 80s #94 “I Got You” by Split Enz
“I don’t know why sometimes I get frightened.” “I Got You” is a neurotic, spiraling, and relentless ride, a power-pop blend of Squeeze and Cars. The song, written and artfully performed by Neil Finn, quickly became the top-selling record ever in Australia.

Split Enz - I Got You (Official Video)

YouTube video by Split Enz

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 10d

BEST 80s #95 “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi
With a full-throated vocal by Jon Bon Jovi and a chorus made for screaming out the car window, the song, written by Bon Jovi with Desmond Child & Richie Sambora, was inspired in part by the sad impacts of Ronald Reagan’s “trickle-down” economics.

Bon Jovi - Livin' On A Prayer

YouTube video by BonJoviVEVO

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 11d

BEST 80s #96 “More Than This” by Roxy Music
A satiny comforter of a song that champions living in the moment. Written by Bryan Ferry, “More Than This” captures a melancholy longing for, well, more than this. But it ultimately circles back to… maybe there’s *nothing* more than this & maybe that’s OK?

Roxy Music - More Than This

YouTube video by RoxyMusicVEVO

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 12d

“The end” in more ways than one!

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 12d

BEST 80s #97 “Square Biz” by Teena Marie
The first white female artist to perform on “Soul Train,” Teena Marie crafted a unique sound that mixed soul, disco, funk, rock – all of which can be heard on “Square Biz,” which concludes with some very credible rap verbosity, bragging on her own virtuosity.

Teena Marie - Square Biz

YouTube video by BrownPrider Funk

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 13d

BEST 80s #98 “The Glamorous Life” by Sheila E.
Prince was a generous pop genius, gifting the talented drummer (and for a brief time, his fiancée) Sheila Escovedo with a percussion-packed, dizzying #1 dance track, all about falling for the illusions of the good life at the expense of good love.

Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by RHINO

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 14d

Just checked out a few tracks; some very fun reinventions!

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 14d

BEST 80s #99 “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie
Opening with a tip-toe melody, it soon transforms into a soaring piece of epic empathy, emoted by two of rock’s most legendary vocalists. “It’s the terror of knowing what this world is about, watching some good friends screaming ‘let me out!’”

Queen - Under Pressure (Official Video)

YouTube video by Queen Official

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 14d

Will the stench of this shame ever be lifted? Do we have to wait until everyone alive now, all around the globe, has died before America can hold its head up again?

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 15d

BEST 80s #100 “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” by Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield
A rickety rattle of instruments gives way to triumphant fanfare and we’re into the Top 100. A hook-filled, exquisite few minutes of charming post-breakup regret from wry Neil Tennant and wistful Dusty Springfield.

Pet Shop Boys - What Have I Done To Deserve This (Official Video) [HD REMASTERED]

YouTube video by PetShopBoys Parlophone

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 16d

BEST 80s #101 “Just Can’t Get Enough” by Depeche Mode
Written by Vince Clarke, “Just Can’t” is a key moment in dance music’s journey from disco to new wave. With bouncy drums, slippery synths, and boyish chants of desire, Depeche Mode made it – after this one hit big, they all quit their day jobs.

Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough (Remastered)

YouTube video by DepecheModeVEVO

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 17d

BEST 80s #102 “Islands in the Stream” by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
The lyrics might not make much sense, but the melody is so buoyant & overflowing with happiness that the song soars. Originally written by the Bee Gees for Diana Ross, it became a country pop classic in the hands of Kenny & Dolly.

Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers - Islands In the Stream (Official Audio)

YouTube video by DollyPartonVEVO

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 18d

BEST 80s #103 “Don’t Give Up” by Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush
A beautiful, tender song from the “So” LP that pulses with the despair & fears we often keep hidden. Gabriel is a family man who can’t find work; Bush is the wife who responds with love & encouragement. Gorgeous empathy, forever relevant.

Peter Gabriel - Don't Give Up (ft. Kate Bush)

YouTube video by Peter Gabriel

jettywalker58.bsky.social @jettywalker58.bsky.social · 19d

BEST 80s #104 “Burning Down the House” by Talking Heads
David Byrne sings with such boss authority that “Burning” *must* be filled with meaning, right? Nope! Once the band developed the thick, angular track, Byrne simply tossed off random phrases, including the title, inspired by a P-Funk lyric.

Talking Heads - Burning Down the House (Official Video)

YouTube video by Talking Heads