Billboard 1988: The Rankdown (Winner Revealed)

[Unhinged]

#19

Devil Inside

INXS

Total Points: 2088

Billboard Hot 100: 2⁽²⁾

Billboard Top 100 of 1988: 46

From: Kick

Second single from Kick, this was released in February of 1988. It was most successful in the US, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week ending April 16^th.

It becomes the first INXS song to leave the rankdown. How many more will we see today?

A few of us danced around a perfect rank for this one...losing 11 Top 20 placements will this leaving the rankdown.

🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾  - 82 
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 7
craziaskowboi - 38
mamooshka - 47
campbellssoup - 5
gonecountry - 28
newpower - 35
tallen2001 - 54
singingrulebritannia - 23
God - 39
@crapkuki23 - 28
astorknight - 14
Alex1901 - 12
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 52
Mic Technique - 44
Sambalada - 44
narp - 53
Az Paynter - 37
rgreen0625 - 22
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 91
Cody Wants Out...  - 26
peacebone - 18
Mirago - 17
rowellfarm490  - 9
Red - 16
Ky - 63
Glove Slap  - 18
@antigonerising - 62
Zeebz - 29
Juanca - 12
Unhinged - 18

[Glove Slap]

All these perfect ranks, just slipping through.

[Cody Wants Out...]

The wrong INXS song is out first!

[Unhinged]

#18

Valerie

Steve Winwood

Total Points: 2105

Billboard Hot 100: 9

Billboard Top 100 of 1988: 96

From: Chronicles

Originally released in 1982 from the album Talking Back to the Night, this remixed version of "Valerie" hit No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late December of 1987. Many here might know the song from it being sampled in the 2004 Eric Prydz single "Call On Me."

Pleasantly surprised that his one landed where it did...congrats on the perfect rank astorknight ...

🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 - 38
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 24
craziaskowboi - 15
mamooshka - 15
campbellssoup - 17
gonecountry - 36
newpower - 84
tallen2001 - 68
singingrulebritannia - 12
God - 72
@crapkuki23 - 42
astorknight - 18
Alex1901  - 19 
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 51
Mic Technique - 66
Sambalada - 69
narp - 11
Az Paynter - 10
rgreen0625 - 15
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 36
Cody Wants Out...  - 55
peacebone - 9
Mirago - 13
rowellfarm490  - 8
Red - 12
Ky - 31
Glove Slap  - 34
@antigonerising  - 46 
Zeebz - 78
Juanca - 9
Unhinged - 13

[Glove Slap]

Not the most inspirational track, but probably the most inspirational story of any song on this list. A minor hit upon inital release, only going on to find greater success years later and becoming iconic not once, but twice.

Also, the cover of the Chronicles compilation is what every 80s LA streetworker was hoping would pull up.

[Unhinged]

#17

What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)

Information Society

Total Points: 2117

Billboard Hot 100: 3⁽¹⁾

Billboard Top 100 of 1988: 52

From: Information Society

Reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late October of 1988, this spent 25 weeks on that chart and was the groups first Top 10 hit in the US.

narp becomes the first to lose a No. 1 today with this leaving he rankdown...

🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 - 19
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 2
craziaskowboi - 11
mamooshka - 55
campbellssoup - 54
gonecountry - 59
newpower - 14
tallen2001 - 92
singingrulebritannia - 6
God - 13
@crapkuki23 - 61
astorknight - 7
Alex1901 - 3
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 30
Mic Technique - 4
Sambalada - 74
narp - 1
Az Paynter - 97
rgreen0625 - 29
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 14
Cody Wants Out...  - 3
peacebone - 4
Mirago - 79
rowellfarm490  - 18
Red - 17
Ky - 47
Glove Slap - 35
@antigonerising  - 61 
Zeebz - 44
Juanca - 27
Unhinged - 34

[gonecountry]

Dec 3, 2018 9:28:37 GMT -5 Glove Slap said:

Not the most inspirational track, but probably the most inspirational story of any song on this list. A minor hit upon inital release, only going on to find greater success years later and becoming iconic not once, but twice.

Also, the cover of the Chronicles compilation is what every 80s LA streetworker was hoping would pull up.

Incredibly surprised that Valerie did so well in the rankdown. I always liked the earlier version when it came out. Steve Winwood's Arc of a Diver and Still in the Game (both early 80's releases) had some great tunes and beautiful keyboards.

[Unhinged]

#16

Never Tear Us Apart

INXS

Total Points: 2133

Billboard Hot 100: 7

Billboard Top 100 of 1988: 95

From: Kick

Written by Andrew Farriss & Michael Hutchence, "Never Tear Us Apart" was released in August of 1988, reaching its peak of No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of November 5^th. The song was played at the 1997 funeral for lead singer Michael Hutchence when his coffin was carried out of St. Andrews Cathedral.

campbellssoup loses his No. 1 with this leaving the rankdown...

🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 - 15
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 6
craziaskowboi - 55
mamooshka - 40
campbellssoup - 1
gonecountry - 73
newpower - 26
tallen2001 - 73
singingrulebritannia - 4
God - 65
@crapkuki23 - 37
astorknight - 2
Alex1901 - 9
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 43
Mic Technique - 22
Sambalada - 45
narp - 7
Az Paynter - 2
rgreen0625 - 4
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 74
Cody Wants Out...  - 93
peacebone - 12
Mirago  - 38 
rowellfarm490  - 20
Red - 14
Ky - 97
Glove Slap  - 26
@antigonerising  - 12
Zeebz  - 27
Juanca - 4
Unhinged - 52

[Glove Slap]

I'm glad New Sensation outlasted this.

[singingrulebritannia]

We are veering towards a really awful top 10

Two bottom 10s for "Never Tear Us Apart" and "Pure Energy" what the hell?!?!?!?

[Unhinged]

#15

Tell It To My Heart

Taylor Dayne

Total Points: 2174

Billboard Hot 100: 7

Billboard Top 100 of 1988: 53

From: Tell It to My Heart

Debut single from Taylor Dayne, "Tell It To My Heart" was released from the album of the same name in October of 1987, reaching its peak of No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 January 23, 1988. It received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

13 Top 10's fall with this leaving the rankdown...

🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 - 4
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 53
craziaskowboi - 88
mamooshka - 10
campbellssoup - 99
gonecountry - 42
newpower - 50
tallen2001 - 14
singingrulebritannia - 54
God - 10
@crapkuki23 - 5
astorknight - 20
Alex1901 - 38
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 6
Mic Technique - 6
Sambalada - 8
narp - 49
Az Paynter - 7
rgreen0625  - 32 
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 6
Cody Wants Out...  - 74
peacebone - 66
Mirago  - 9
rowellfarm490  - 5
Red - 48
Ky - 3
Glove Slap  - 20
@antigonerising  - 56 
Zeebz - 4
Juanca - 28
Unhinged - 37

[newpower]

Time to leave the party Belinda.

[Glove Slap]

Paving the way for a generation with those terrible hair extensions.

[Unhinged]

#14

Always On My Mind

Pet Shop Boys

Total Points: 2176

Billboard Hot 100: 4

Billboard Top 100 of 1988: 80

From: Introspective

Performed on Love Me Tender (the 1987 television special commemorating the 10^th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death), this was a big hit in the UK becoming that years Christmas No. 1. It eventually reached North American charts and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 in Canada.

A remixed version of the song appeared on the album Introspective.

🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 - 11
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 34
craziaskowboi - 92
mamooshka - 13
campbellssoup - 22
gonecountry - 17
newpower - 4
tallen2001  - 47 
singingrulebritannia  - 9 
God - 34
@crapkuki23 - 14
astorknight - 8
Alex1901 - 2
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 33
Mic Technique - 29
Sambalada - 26
narp - 8
Az Paynter - 99
rgreen0625 - 14
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 58
Cody Wants Out...  - 100
peacebone - 20
Mirago - 12
rowellfarm490  - 3
Red - 22
Ky - 30
Glove Slap  - 4
@antigonerising  - 93
Zeebz - 32
Juanca - 3
Unhinged - 62

[Juanca]

Dec 3, 2018 9:19:43 GMT -5 Unhinged said:

#18

Valerie

Steve Winwood

Total Points: 2105

Billboard Hot 100: 9

Billboard Top 100 of 1988: 96

From: Chronicles

Originally released in 1982 from the album Talking Back to the Night, this remixed version of "Valerie" hit No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late December of 1987. Many here might know the song from it being sampled in the 2004 Eric Prydz single "Call On Me."

Pleasantly surprised that his one landed where it did...congrats on the perfect rank astorknight ...

🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 - 38
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 24
craziaskowboi - 15
mamooshka - 15
campbellssoup - 17
gonecountry - 36
newpower - 84
tallen2001 - 68
singingrulebritannia - 12
God - 72
@crapkuki23 - 42
astorknight - 18
Alex1901  - 19 
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 51
Mic Technique - 66
Sambalada - 69
narp - 11
Az Paynter - 10
rgreen0625 - 15
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 36
Cody Wants Out...  - 55
peacebone - 9
Mirago - 13
rowellfarm490  - 8
Red - 12
Ky - 31
Glove Slap  - 34
@antigonerising  - 46 
Zeebz - 78
Juanca - 9
Unhinged - 13

Actually, Steve Winwood re-recorded his vocals so that they could fit better the dance beat of Call on Me. The song credits should’ve featured him, but that’s another story.

[Juanca]

Mmmm
WHERE TF IS MICHAEL JACKSON??
Time to make an appearance at least

[Unhinged]

Dec 3, 2018 10:28:22 GMT -5 Juanca said:

Dec 3, 2018 9:19:43 GMT -5 Unhinged said:

#18

Valerie

Steve Winwood

Total Points: 2105

Billboard Hot 100: 9

Billboard Top 100 of 1988: 96

From: Chronicles

Originally released in 1982 from the album Talking Back to the Night, this remixed version of "Valerie" hit No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late December of 1987. Many here might know the song from it being sampled in the 2004 Eric Prydz single "Call On Me."

Pleasantly surprised that his one landed where it did...congrats on the perfect rank astorknight ...

Actually, Steve Winwood re-recorded his vocals so that they could fit better the dance beat of Call on Me. The song credits should’ve featured him, but that’s another story.

Cool, but it still samples the song, no?

[Unhinged]

#13

Dirty Diana

Michael Jackson

Total Points: 2188

Billboard Hot 100: 1⁽¹⁾

Billboard Top 100 of 1988: 61

From: Bad

This record breaking track was released as the 5^th single from Bad, topping the Billboard Hot 100 the week ending July 2, 1988 becoming the 5^th single from the album to do so, a record. It remains a record for a male artist to this day.

This was my most pleasant surprise as I saw this leaving in the 30's.

I lose my highest rank yet and 5 others lose a Top 10 with this leaving the rankdown...

🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 - 26
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 57
craziaskowboi - 7
mamooshka  - 26
campbellssoup - 55
gonecountry - 100
newpower - 46
tallen2001 - 8
singingrulebritannia - 3
God - 16
@crapkuki23 - 13
astorknight - 11
Alex1901 - 30
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 40
Mic Technique - 33
Sambalada - 16
narp - 56
Az Paynter - 24
rgreen0625 - 17
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 69
Cody Wants Out...  - 5
peacebone - 34
Mirago - 48
rowellfarm490  - 15
Red - 2
Ky - 26
Glove Slap  - 28
@antigonerising  - 16 
Zeebz - 28
Juanca - 75
Unhinged - 3

[Glove Slap]

This should not have been the first Michael track to go.

The PSB remake is probably my favorite cover ever. So different from the original and yet it manages to convey what the song is about in its own way.

[Deleted]

My bottom 10 is finally cleared. I knew it would take a while though...PSB are classic but I just could never get into them.

[Deleted]

Dirty Diana has aged considerably well for me, considering both how undeniably eighties and pop-rock it sounds, and how it always seemed to get a kind of split reaction from fans.

[Unhinged]

#12

New Sensation

INXS

Total Points: 2222

Billboard Hot 100: 3⁽¹⁾

Billboard Top 100 of 1988: 65

From: Kick

Peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week ending July 23, 1988 (yes, you guessed it, my birthday!), this was released as the 3rd single from the album Kick. It hit No. 1 in Canada and placed within the Top 20 in nearly 10 other countries. The song features a famous sax solo by Kirk Pengilly.

Kicking 7 Top 10 placements to the curb with this leaving the rankdown...

🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 - 57
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 5
craziaskowboi - 26
mamooshka - 18
campbellssoup - 2
gonecountry - 3
newpower - 30
tallen2001 - 36
singingrulebritannia - 55
God - 25
@crapkuki23 - 32
astorknight - 5
Alex1901 - 6
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 64
Mic Technique - 27
Sambalada - 37
narp - 17
Az Paynter - 17
rgreen0625 - 10
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 70
Cody Wants Out...  - 76
peacebone - 22
Mirago - 22
rowellfarm490  - 11
Red - 21
Ky - 89
Glove Slap  - 23 
@antigonerising  - 26
Zeebz - 25
Juanca  - 8
Unhinged - 42

[singingrulebritannia]

Goodbye mid-size sedan commercial

[Alex1901]

Faith at #11? Please?

[singingrulebritannia]

Dec 3, 2018 11:03:50 GMT -5 Alex1901 said:

Faith at #11? Please?

lol no chance

instead, #11 is probably one of the few interesting tracks left (Shattered Dreams, What Have I Done to Deserve This?, or Fast Car) because this rankdown is Satan's bunghole

[Red]

Well, at least my lowest remaining is out.

Imagine thinking "Dirty Diana" was the worst song in this rankdown.

Dec 3, 2018 11:07:08 GMT -5 singingrulebritannia said:

Dec 3, 2018 11:03:50 GMT -5 Alex1901 said:

Faith at #11? Please?

lol no chance

instead, #11 is probably one of the few interesting tracks left (Shattered Dreams, What Have I Done to Deserve This?, or Fast Car) because this rankdown is Satan's bunghole

It's kind of a minor miracle that at least two of those are going to make the top ten, anyway.

But no, it's going to be my #1. And you'll like that.

[Unhinged]

#11

Sweet Child 'O Mine

Guns 'N Roses

Total Points: 2230

Billboard Hot 100: 1⁽²⁾

Billboard Top 100 of 1988: 5

From: Appetite For Destruction

Guns 'N Roses' biggest chart hit (in the US) was released in August of 1988 as the 3^rd single from the massive album Appetite For Destruction. It was the groups first and only No. 1 hit in the US, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week ending September 10^th.

I considered revoking future participation rights for some of you based on the abysmal ranks some gave this song. =P 

This is the first multiple No. 1 loss, sorry gonecountry, Red and Juanca...

Top 10 tomorrow...

🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾 - 88
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 10
craziaskowboi - 42
mamooshka - 7
campbellssoup - 70
gonecountry - 1
newpower - 29
tallen2001 - 2
singingrulebritannia - 82
God - 18
@crapkuki23 - 2
astorknight - 10
Alex1901 - 7
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 5
Mic Technique - 71
Sambalada - 3
narp - 38
Az Paynter - 35
rgreen0625 - 7
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 93
Cody Wants Out...  - 32
peacebone - 37
Mirago - 30
rowellfarm490  - 44
Red - 1
Ky - 86
Glove Slap  - 7
@antigonerising - 15
Zeebz - 23
Juanca - 1
Unhinged - 5

[Glove Slap]

Mess @ some of these ranks. Imagine thinking this is one of the 20 worst tracks of the year.

[singingrulebritannia]

Dec 3, 2018 11:14:38 GMT -5 Red said:

Dec 3, 2018 11:07:08 GMT -5 singingrulebritannia said:

lol no chance

instead, #11 is probably one of the few interesting tracks left (Shattered Dreams, What Have I Done to Deserve This?, or Fast Car) because this rankdown is Satan's bunghole

It's kind of a minor miracle that at least two of those are going to make the top ten, anyway.

But no, it's going to be my #1. And you'll like that.

My word, what prescience

(f**k, I didn't think you had gone all the way with it ; no wonder you were pushing back so hard when I was dumping on this song)

[Red]

Dec 3, 2018 11:14:38 GMT -5 Red said:

But no, it's going to be my #1. And you'll like that.

You want to know how I knew this would be it? Because I knew it had multiple tankers. This has been a bad update for songs with multiple tankers, and this was perhaps going to be the song hit hardest. But this has always been my favorite GNR song, and, for a while, it was one of my favorite songs ever. I was always going to rank it #1 here, despite knowing the risks.

Second year in a row where I lost my top two just before the top ten. That won't happen next year, given what one of my top two will be...but it still doesn't make it sting any less.

Anyone but Whitney.