# Best of the Rest of the Top 40: 1986 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 26, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677 "2015-02-26T16:57:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/1 "2015-02-26T16:57:08Z")
The year is now 1986, and this was another banner year for #1s - I had to go all the way to #53 to compile the 25 songs on this list. What’s your favorite? Previous polls: [1956](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744629) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744819) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744978) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745151) [1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745331) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745525) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745733) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745956) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746118) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746342) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746498) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746735) [1968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746932) [1969](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747152) [1970](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747345) [1971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747517) [1972](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747737) [1973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747976) [1974](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748145) [1975](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748360) [1976](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748527) [1977](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748653) [1978](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748866) [1979](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749060) [1980](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749217) [1981](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749398) [1982](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749610) [1983](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749795) [1984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749949) [1985](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750154) Best #1 single polls: [1955-56](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731649) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731871) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732021) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732199)[1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732526) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732691) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732872) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733112) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733297) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733526) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733750) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733958) [1968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734168) [1969](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734331) [1970](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734535) [1971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734741) [1972](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735107) [1973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735304) [1974](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735502) [1975](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735659) [1976](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735871) [1977](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736076) [1978](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736316) [1979](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736501) [1980](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736705) [1981](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736957) [1982](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737099) [1983](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737315) [1984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737488) [1985](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737732) [1986](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737957) [1987](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738178) [1988](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738403) [1989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738639) [1990](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738829) [1991](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739067) [1992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739360) [1993](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739525) [1994](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739880) [1995](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740122) [1996](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740302) [1997](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740497) [1998](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740709) [1999](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740859) [2000](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741047) [2001](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741267) [2002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741450) [2003](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741604) [2004](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741730) [2005](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741915) [2006](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742069) [2007](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742147) [2008](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742282) [2009](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742467) [2010](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742676) [2011](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742846) [2012](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=675664) [2013](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=710843) [2014](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743899) [1950s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743046) [1960s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743240) [1970s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743399) [1980s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743597) [1990s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743803) [2000s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743981) [2010s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744176) [All-time](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744358) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/2 "2015-02-26T17:20:18Z")
Yeesh. For my money the Top 40 really declined after '84. All the cool kids were listening to college radio: R.E.M., The Smiths, Psychedelic Furs, Jason and the Scorchers, Guadalcanal Diary, Del Fuegos… I voted for The Bangles, because at least they had the jangly guitars going. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/3 "2015-02-26T17:21:16Z")
There are a few good songs this year but Manic Monday is the clear standout. Walk of Life is 2nd for me. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/4 "2015-02-26T17:28:44Z")
This will always be remembered as the year that Eddy Murphy should have been euthanized. I went with Kenny Loggins for the straight-ahead rock effort. I like Robert Palmer a lot, but “Didn’t Mean To Turn You On” wasn’t one of his better efforts. Never could stand Susanna Hoffs’ voice, either. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/5 "2015-02-26T17:34:19Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > This will always be remembered as the year that Eddy Murphy should have been euthanized. [Funny, you’d think 1982 would’ve been the year for that.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07P538K83iU) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/6 "2015-02-26T17:39:07Z")
It’s between Ms. Jackson and Mr. Jones, for very different reasons. Gonna have to go with Janet. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/7 "2015-02-26T17:52:14Z")
After reading the choices, I approached this year’s poll with the mindset of “If forced at gunpoint to listen to one of these songs right now, which would I choose?” So it’s down to OMD or Dire Straits. I guess OMD wins by a nose. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/8 "2015-02-26T17:52:30Z")
“Alive and kicking” all the way. Possibly the easiest choice I’ve had in years. (Well, poll years, that is 😛 ) ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/9 "2015-02-26T18:13:53Z")
Wow. I must’ve missed something 'cause none of those songs really bring back any memories for me. Not a very inspiring list as far as I’m concerned but there’s one song on that list that I’ll still look for the video of online so it’s the one I picked: “I Can’t Wait” by Nu Shooz. ---
**Author:** ![TheInimitableMaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TheInimitableMaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheInimitableMaven)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/10 "2015-02-26T18:33:07Z")
Howard Jones and “No One Is To Blame”…without hesitance among my utmost 80’s favorites. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/11 "2015-02-26T18:34:09Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > Wow. I must’ve missed something 'cause none of those songs really bring back any memories for me. Not a very inspiring list as far as I’m concerned but there’s one song on that list that I’ll still look for the video of online so it’s the one I picked: “I Can’t Wait” by Nu Shooz. I picked that song too. 1986 was one of my happiest years, but yeah, these songs don’t seem that special. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/12 "2015-02-26T18:35:46Z")
Only three votes for the greatest rock jam of the '80s? Sterling Archer would be very disappointed in all of you. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/13 "2015-02-26T18:38:16Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > Wow. I must’ve missed something 'cause none of those songs really bring back any memories for me. … Pretty much the same for me. I think I got more than half way down before I even recognized a title. I voted for _Walk of Life_. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/14 "2015-02-26T18:55:08Z")
I voted for Simple Minds, love that song and I like the change that occurs in the middle. Few others I like such as Sly Fox, Level 42, Bangles, and even the Kenny Loggins song. Level 42 would have been second place to vote. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/15 "2015-02-26T19:13:18Z")
IIRC, I couldn’t vote for **The Bangles** in the “Best #1 polls” so now’s their turn. Not their best song but nice enough. I like **Dire Straits** all right but _The Walk of Life_ is annoying. The video used to make laugh, though. And _Alive and Kicking_ came out in 1986? I’d have sworn it was way earlier than that. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/16 "2015-02-26T19:22:27Z")
Relatively easy vote for the Bangles, but, as a Cubs fan especially, Walk of Life would have been my second choice. (Like Van Halen’s “Jump” before that, “Walk of Life” was used extensively on WGN broadcasts of games.) But that roller rink organ does get a bit grating after awhile. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/17 "2015-02-26T19:26:26Z")
> [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](#): > > And _Alive and Kicking_ came out in 1986? I’d have sworn it was way earlier than that. Well, it’s 29 years old already. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/18 "2015-02-26T19:42:08Z")
Ah, but I’m 40. My memories from 29 years ago (age 11) are very different from those from 33 years ago (age 7) :D. Different worlds, really. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/19 "2015-02-26T19:51:41Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > “Alive and kicking” all the way. Possibly the easiest choice I’ve had in years. (Well, poll years, that is 😛 ) This +12. I haven’t had such an easy choice since 1978. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/20 "2015-02-26T20:01:15Z")
HUGE difference in paying attention to the wider world between those two ages. I love the Bangles, but I love Dire Straights and “Walk of Life” in particular, so that’s where I voted. “Manic Monday” is popular but far from their best anyway. OMD is a good, solid 3rd place. I would have thought that song is three or four years older than 1986. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677.md?page=2)