# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/21 "2015-02-26T20:05:39Z")
For me, it was a tough call between “Walk of Life” And “Mad About You.” Wound up voting for “Walk of Life” because I’d rather slam my finger in a door than have to listen to “Here’s 83 trivial things that went wrong with my day that I’m going to whine to you about,” aka “Manic Monday,” so my vote for “Walk” was essentially a vote against “Manic Monday.” (Talk about a title that’s false advertising, incidentally.) Not to mention “Manic Monday” has got the lamest, stupidest refrain of any pop song I’ve ever heard that _has_ a refrain. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/22 "2015-02-26T22:10:06Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > 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. Same approach I used, except my question was “What’s loaded on my phone?” Belinda Carlisle, that’s who. Don’t judge me. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/23 "2015-02-26T22:23:45Z")
Not a lot I recognize – it’s like a year full of B-sides. Normally I’d go with Dire Straits based on the “Is it on my iPod?” test, but Walk of Life just doesn’t do it for me. So…Bangles, I guess. Praised with faint damns, or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/24 "2015-02-26T22:50:03Z")
“Alive and Kicking” finishes ahead of all other songs in the world-famous **Ponch8 Music Rating System** , beating out “No One is to Blame” and “If You Leave” by a fairly comfortable margin. “I Miss You” and “Secret Lovers” are tied for dead-ass last. Those songs make Eddie Murphy sound great by comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/25 "2015-02-27T00:32:14Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > There are a few good songs this year but Manic Monday is the clear standout. Walk of Life is 2nd for me. There are a few good songs this year but Walk of Life is the clear standout. Manic Monday is 2nd for me. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/26 "2015-02-27T00:47:10Z")
It was down to Simple Minds or the Bangles. Went with the Simple Minds. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/27 "2015-02-27T01:55:36Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > There are a few good songs this year but Walk of Life is the clear standout. Manic Monday is 2nd for me. I like them both but Manic Monday was written by Prince for the Bangles because he really wanted a piece of that tiger tail. That has to count as one of the greatest gifts to anyone in entertainment history. I love Dire Straits but Money for Nothing is a better song than Walk of Life so I deducted points for that. Still, the most happy karaoke act that I ever witnessed was by a disabled person that performed Walk of Life at the Cat’s Meow in New Orleans to a standing ovation. He did an excellent job and you couldn’t help but feel great at the end of it. I don’t care about the order too much. They are both clearly the best songs of the year and most people agree. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/28 "2015-02-27T10:53:57Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I like them both but Manic Monday was written by Prince for the Bangles… Wow, my opinion of Prince just dropped a few notches. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/29 "2015-02-27T11:25:19Z")
What, that he wanted to bang Susanna Hoffs? I can’t really find it in my heart to condemn him for that. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/30 "2015-02-27T13:51:02Z")
I still have a soft spot for Level 42, it seems. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/31 "2015-02-27T17:43:23Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > What, that he wanted to bang Susanna Hoffs? I can’t really find it in my heart to condemn him for that. No, that he couldn’t have given her a better song in hopes of banging her. Seriously, up until today, I could have divided all Prince songs I’ve heard into two categories: (1) those that I really liked, and (2) those that may not have been my cup of tea, but were clearly the work of a talented songwriter trying interesting things. This song, OTOH, reminds me of Goddam in _Bored of the Rings_: > [@](#): > > Suddenly Frito remembered Dildo’s tale of the finding of the Ring. “You must be Goddam!” he squeaked. “What are you doing here?” > > “Oh, well,” said the creature, speaking very slowly. “Not much. I was just looking for a few old pop bottles to help pay for my sister-in-law’s iron lung. Of course, ever since my operation I don’t get around like I used to. Guess I’m just unlucky. Funny how life is, up and down, never can tell. Gosh, it sure is cold. I had to pawn my coat to buy plasma for my pet geese.” > > Spam tried desperately to keep his leaden eyelids open, but with a great yawn, he slumped heavily to the ground. “You fiend,” he muttered, and fell asleep. > > “There I go again,” said Goddam, shaking his head. “Well, I know when I’m not wanted,” he said, and sat down and helped himself to the boggies’ elvish melba toast. > > Frito slapped himself in the face several times and did a few deep breathing exercises. “Look here, Goddam,” he said. > > “Oh, you don’t have to say it. Not wanted. I know. I never was. My mother left me in a twenty-four-hour locker in an enchanted forest when I was two. I was raised by kindly rats. But I guess every cloud has its silver lining. Why, I knew a troll once, name of Wyzinski . . .” > > Frito swayed, drooped, and was snoring before he hit the ground. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/32 "2015-02-27T19:38:05Z")
A lot of good music to me, not something I’d still listen to but I have fond memories. I was in high school at the time. ---
**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 28, 2015, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/33 "2015-02-28T00:01:13Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > No, that he couldn’t have given her a better song in hopes of banging her. Well, it’s one of only four songs to make the top two for the Bangles, so I think he did okay. That said, I know what you’re saying about the lyrics. It’s a good thing I tune out must rock and pop lyrics. That “Monday/Sunday/funday/I-don’t-have-to-run-day” set of rhymes make me cringe a little bit if I listen too carefully. Still, it’s got a nice musical hook and melody, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/34 "2015-02-28T00:35:31Z")
This list had me seriously considering voting for the Bangles. That is a big old pile of suck, so I voted for Alive and Kicking. and all this time I just thought I was nuts for hating pop music in the 80’s. I think I have to go put on some Iron Maiden to get my head straight. ---
**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 28, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/35 "2015-02-28T01:21:46Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > No, that he couldn’t have given her a better song in hopes of banging her. > > Seriously, up until today, I could have divided all Prince songs I’ve heard into two categories: (1) those that I really liked, and (2) those that may not have been my cup of tea, but were clearly the work of a talented songwriter trying interesting things. > … I think you’re looking at this wrong. Ok, it’s a shitty Prince song. But it’s a \*perfect \*Bangles song. He didn’t write it for himself, he wrote it for a “Girl Group” and I think his ability to design songs for other people and other styles speaks very highly of his talent. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/36 "2015-02-28T02:47:31Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I think you’re looking at this wrong. Ok, it’s a shitty Prince song. But it’s a \*perfect \*Bangles song. He didn’t write it for himself, he wrote it for a “Girl Group” and I think his ability to design songs for other people and other styles speaks very highly of his talent. Manic Monday is not a shitty song by any measure. It is one of those songs like Dancing Queen by Abba that almost everyone likes but is too embarrassed to admit it. Prince is one of the most talented singer/musician/song writers that has ever existed and Manic Monday is one of his more notable works.The Bangles were great performers too. Put the two of them together and you have a very memorable song. It isn’t the best song performance ever but it is easily in the top 1% especially for the year in question. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/37 "2015-02-28T21:47:24Z")
Damn, what a comedown from 85. Heck, I can’t even come up with lame snark beyond that while on the one hand at least Lionel Richie did not have yet another weepy choked-up ballad, on the other hand he dropped a track made just so that in the video they could reproduce a Fred Astaire bit from 1951. > [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > It was down to Simple Minds or the Bangles. 3 way with those plus Dire Straits, in my case. Honorable mentions to Kenny and Janet. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/38 "2015-02-28T23:07:04Z")
Gotta be Manic Monday; lord knows we’ve all had enough of them. ---
**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:** [March 2, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/39 "2015-03-02T15:13:06Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Well, it’s one of only four songs to make the top two for the Bangles, so I think he did okay. That said, I know what you’re saying about the lyrics. It’s a good thing I tune out must rock and pop lyrics. **That “Monday/Sunday/funday/I-don’t-have-to-run-day” set of rhymes make me cringe a little bit if I listen too carefully.** Still, it’s got a nice musical hook and melody, IMHO. Yep. I’m not crazy about the unemployed boyfriend with bad timing, either. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677/40 "2015-03-08T01:21:50Z")
Level 42. I’m big on Mark King’s bass playing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1986/713677.md?page=1)