# Best of the Rest of the Top 40: 1987 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 28, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858 "2015-02-28T16:25:51Z")\ **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 28, 2015, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/1 "2015-02-28T16:25:51Z")
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.) 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) [1986](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750299) 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 28, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/2 "2015-02-28T16:42:41Z")
I only see two worthwhile options here: Crowded House and Georgia Satellites. Went with the local boys. / ---
**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 28, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/3 "2015-02-28T17:08:40Z")
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? Ugh. Wang Chung, you got it. Congratulations… I think? ---
**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 28, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/4 "2015-02-28T17:18:01Z")
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. ---
**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 28, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/5 "2015-02-28T17:32:08Z")
One thing I forgot to mention: please, Lord, do NOT let “Luka” win this poll! ---
**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 28, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/6 "2015-02-28T17:41:47Z")
I went with America’s version of ABBA, simply because I’ve always loved the clarity of Christine McVie’s voice. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/7 "2015-02-28T17:43:23Z")
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. ---
**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, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/8 "2015-02-28T18:03:03Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > 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? > > Ugh. This, only I didn’t even 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 28, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/9 "2015-02-28T18:14:54Z")
**Crowded House** - _Don’t Dream It’s Over_ Wonderful song. ---
**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 28, 2015, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/10 "2015-02-28T19:06:03Z")
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. \// ---
**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, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/11 "2015-02-28T19:18:18Z")
> [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](#): > > **Crowded House** - _Don’t Dream It’s Over_ > > Wonderful song. I thought I knew what this song was but your post made me wonder so I searched…I changed my mind and voted after all. great track indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/12 "2015-02-28T19:34:50Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/13 "2015-02-28T19:49:14Z")
> [@SpazCat](#): > > 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. \// 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. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/14 "2015-02-28T19:58:10Z")
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. ---
**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 28, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/15 "2015-02-28T20:23:19Z")
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. ---
**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 28, 2015, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/16 "2015-02-28T20:45:24Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > 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. I like the sound of it, but the lyrics make little sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/17 "2015-02-28T21:35:57Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I went with America’s version of ABBA, simply because I’ve always loved the clarity of Christine McVie’s voice. Am I being whooshed, or do you not realize that Christine McVie, and indeed most of the members of Fleetwood Mac, are British? ---
**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, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/18 "2015-02-28T22:34:51Z")
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? > [@Ponch8](#): > > there weren’t a lot of great choices here. Plenty are listenable, but few really blow me away. 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. > [@](#): > > “Lady in Red” finishes in dead-ass last. “Somewhere Out There” is another giant pile of bullshit. 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.) > [@](#): > > One thing I forgot to mention: please, Lord, do NOT let “Luka” win this poll! 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. > [@Smapti](#): > > 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. Jeopardy answer: Maury Povich looks forward to doing this when he gets home after a long day’s work. “What is wang Chung, Alex?” ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/19 "2015-02-28T22:41:38Z")
Georgia Satellites, because they rock. ---
**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, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858/20 "2015-02-28T22:47:31Z")
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.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1987/713858.md?page=2)