Our survey brings us again to 1987. This was another big year for #1s, and I had to go all the way to #54 to compile this list. (A pity I had to stop there, too - we were this close to having a Kenny G song on the poll.)
There’s a fair amount of vomitus being spewed all over the charts this year with few of these songs standing out for anything other than how bland they are. Some of these songs&artists I’ve outright despised (I’m looking at you, Richard Marx) through the years, but I was able to come up with a list of contenders…
Wang Chung - “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” - Probably the only iconic song on this list, for varying definitions of “iconic”.
Crowded House - “Don’t Dream It’s Over” - A pretty song, in another year it would not even be considered.
Chris de Burgh - “The Lady In Red” - I kid, I kid… this song sucks.
The Georgia Satellites - “Keep Your Hands To Yourself” - Fun, goofy song that was, frankly, played into submission.
Prince - “U Got the Look” - If I didn’t vote for “Raspberry Beret”, a much better song, can I really vote for this? Possibly… after all, I’m comparing it to the other songs on the list, not against his earlier or later work. But while a decent song, it’s not one I think I ever put on a MP3 player, so…
Fleetwood Mac - “Little Lies” - This is probably our last chance to vote for the Mac, isn’t it?
Suzanne Vega - “Luka” - I heard this in the past month or three and, really, it wasn’t as bad as I remember it. See what I mean about it being a lackluster year?
Considering that the greatest singer of all time was born in this year (Kesha turns 28 tomorrow!), there weren’t a lot of great choices here. Plenty are listenable, but few really blow me away. I voted for “Land of Confusion,” one of my favorite Genesis songs. Debbie Gibson was my second choice.
“Lady in Red” finishes in dead-ass last. “Somewhere Out There” is another giant pile of bullshit.
Had to vote for George Michael, it was his prime. In distance behind I also like Wang Chung, Chris Deburgh, Genesis, Fleetwood Mac, Bananarama, Madonna and Jody Watley. Some artists here I like, just not those particular songs on this list. The Crowded House song has worn off, I only like the intro.
George Michael slays it for 1987, year I was born.
It was a toss-up between Crowded House and T’Pau. I figured Crowded House would get plenty of votes, so I went with my favorite band named after a Vulcan. \//
The 1987 me hated Crowded House. Luckily for me, I’ve grown up since and recognise Don’t Dream It’s Over for what it is: a beautiful, and beautifully crafted song. So that’s my vote this year.
What do you have against Swedish electro-pop novelty acts? Don’t Dream It’s Over has held up better than I would have thought, but it’s still pretty bland. Wang Chung was always more fun.
No matter how much I dislike Genesis giving up on prog for commercial success, Land of confusion is a killer single (and video) and easily the number one choice here for me.
I went with Wang Chung on this one, because it’s just such a fun song, and because when I was a kid I always assumed “Wang Chung” meant something dirty and it made me giggle.
Seriously, Causing a Commotion and Let’s Wait a While charted that high?? Jesus. Is there any way we can blame Ed Meese or Oliver North for that?
Right. Things were sort of on cruise control at the programming department.
My medal stand: Don’t Dream It’s Over, Land of Confusion and I Want Your Sex. For reasons already mentioned.
Honorable mention to Fleetwood Mac.
You won’t get an argument from me. (On the bright side, this year’s wusstastic Lionel Richie offering, Ballerina Girl, was nowhere near contention.)
Early results seem to indicate it will not, Og be praised. Many of us are still looking for the sequel where Luka goes on a mass shooting spree. How can radio flog a song about child abuse so much you get sick of it…
Agree there was also a problem with overexposure on Keep Your Hands to Yourself, Wang Chung Tonight, and Hip to be Square, otherwise perfectly cromulent Top 40 pieces. And sorry, your Purpleness, U Got the Look was great to see/hear performed live but Sign o’the Times was the better record and it did not chart enough to make the poll.
Jeopardy answer: Maury Povich looks forward to doing this when he gets home after a long day’s work.
“What is wang Chung, Alex?”
There’s a bunch of songs I like here, but there’s very few, if any, that I love. The one that comes closest is Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” But just looking over this list again, I don’t think there’s anything that would cause me to change the station except maybe for “Lady in Red.”