Billboard 1986: The Rankdown (Winner Revealed)

[Az Paynter]

IDK why I enjoyed this so much lmao but damn, that's a high one for me already. :(

[Glove Slap]

Jul 6, 2018 12:14:45 GMT -5 Unhinged said:

#85

Sweet Freedom

Michael McDonald

Every time.

[Glove Slap]

Gravey will be sad to see PATT go.

[filthy]

I can’t believe how bad I am doing

[House Lannister]

Oof, I'm a bit bummed about ROCK in the USA.

It was a pretty darn good rock song. But looking at the rankings, I was in the minority.

Curious to see what's around the corner.

[craziaskowboi]

Damn, now I'm starting to lose some higher stuff.

[Unhinged]

#81

Sleeping Bag

ZZ Top

Total Points: 859

Billboard Hot 100: 8

Billboard Top 100 of 1986: 80

From: Afterburner

First single from the album Afterburner, this song peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 (their last Top 10) and was the bands first #1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Sambalada - 31 
singingrulebritannia - 77 
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 52 
filthy - 99 
rgreen0625  - 70 
newpower - 44 
🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾  - 65 
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 87 

Tea-why - 87 
craziaskowboi  - 14 
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 72 
mamooshka - 82 
aerodynamite - 67 
rowellfarm490 - 46 
Cody Wants Out...  - 96 
Red - 60 

Mirago - 81 
Glove Slap  - 43 
Ky - 95 
House Lannister  - 45 
Az Paynter  - 56 
Juanca - 87 
peacebone  - 40 
Unhinged - 67 

[Unhinged]

That’s it for the next few days, reveal will recommence July 10th with 80-71!

[craziaskowboi]

Jul 6, 2018 12:55:29 GMT -5 filthy said:

I can’t believe how bad I am doing

Welcome to my world. I'm usually at or near the bottom when it comes to "closeness" on these rankings.

[Juanca]

Come on, some lyrical masterpieces here:

I’ll climb every mountain, I’ll do anything
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
Like a knight in shining armor from a long time ago
Counting ten tin soldiers in a row

[🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲]

It's been a good day so far! ☺ Aside the fact I lost a few songs from top 25, most of my low ranked songs are gone.

[Butterflies & Hurricanes]

some songs (I'll Be Over You, Sweet Freedom, ROCK in the USA, & Sleeping Bag) got overly dissed here...but I haven't lost anything important yet...86 was the last stand for new wave (before hair bands & teen-pop took over), so i'm hoping all of my new wave favorites ride high into the top half of the rankdown

[Red]

Just so we're clear, I can't stand 80's era Peter Cetera/Chicago. Some of the sappiest fluff that has ever become ultra-popular. Every time we get rid of a Chicago or Cetera song in this decade, it's a reason to celebrate.

Not really overly chuffed about any of the reveals so far. Even "Nikita" only ranked so high for me because it's Elton. It's not a particularly great song otherwise.

[Butterflies & Hurricanes]

Jul 6, 2018 14:35:16 GMT -5 Red said:

Just so we're clear, I can't stand 80's era Peter Cetera/Chicago. Some of the sappiest fluff that has ever become ultra-popular. Every time we get rid of a Chicago or Cetera song in this decade, it's a reason to celebrate.

this is pretty much the epitome of "phony ass poser":


how DARE he try to tarnish Peter Murphy, Daniel Ash, David J, & Kevin Haskins by wearing that t-shirt!!!

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

Jul 6, 2018 7:34:03 GMT -5 Az Paynter said:

Jul 5, 2018 23:02:22 GMT -5 Doc Indie Party Rock said:

Question?

So what makes these R&B ballads from Klymaxx, Atlantic Starr, Billy Ocean, and Toto; any less in quality, than, that Whitney Houston; bore-a-thon?

f**k if I know 

Whitney has the more enduring legacy, is the simplest answer.

Now I know why these randowns always have the same artists at the top.   

[Juanca]

90. All Cried Out (93): There is an underlying nice melody here, but the production and Lisa's voice were too much of a turnoff to rank this higher... however, I did and do like Allure's version. It's one of a few cases where I consider a cover significantly better than the original

89. That's What Friends Are For (64): This got minor rotation back home and managed to reach the top 20 (also in my personal chart). With time, I grew to like it a bit more, and not only for the harmonica :) still think it's far from #1 material, but I also like it just enough to escape it from bottom third.

88. Nikita (15): Oh, guys!!! Why???? This was a serious hit back home and a personal chart-topper. One of my favorite ballads this year. I loved the production, vocals, background vocals. One of those songs to enjoy a sunset by the seashore or just daydream. I was a big fan of Elton John and Rod Stewart in the 1980s, and Nikita was one of my favorites of mid-80s. VERY surprised to see this one leave this early.

87. When The Going Gets Tough (59): This is a pop bop, full of hooks from beginning to end. The saxophone adds an extra bonus.... A personal top 5 gone too soon, too.

86. Words Get In The Way (81): I slightly under-ranked this one, as it started a range of songs that were quite close to each other in my preferences. I think she sings it quite well, but it just gets a bit boring halfway through. By the way, its Spanish version was the most popular one back home, so it didn't make it to my English personal chart --but No Me Vuelvo a Enamorar was a top 10 in my Spanish personal chart


85. Sweet Freedom (55): Geez! This shouldn't have left before OMO... This was a high debut in my personal chart and made it to the top 3 quite quickly, even though it wasn't that big of a hit back home. I think his vocals shine through in the verses, and then the chorus and bridge are pure pop bliss. Further, I love how Safri Duo remixed it and transformed it into a hit for the 2000s


84. R.O.C.K. In the U.S.A. (47): Another top 50 loss This song was John's last big hit back home. A song that rapidly reached the top of the charts and had longevity to the point of being amongst the biggest songs of the year. This was also a personal chart-topper, although not its last at all. I just wish ST had left first this one had more of a classic and energetic rock punch that I do like...

83. Glory of Love (35): Yup, I knew this was going to be low but yeah, I liked this and still do. A personal and national top 5 that's still a staple back home. I do like the melody and instrumentation here as well as his vocals. #Noshame. Plus I do like several songs by Chicago.

82. Party All The Time (72): As I shared in the 1985 list, this was a hit back home and in my personal chart. It has reduced its appeal a bit with time, but I still like it enough. Very 80s!

81. Sleeping Bag (87): An OK song for me. More modern and pop instrumentation than other ZZ Top hits. This didn't do much in the weekly charts back home or in my personal chart...

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

#90. All Cried Out - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam w/Full Force
It's funny what R&B ballad's tune in , or out certain listeners. This is always one of my favorites. Lisa Lisa had the type of Pop vocals I love.

#89. That's What Friends Are For - Dionne & Friends
Obviously, her friends were there to help her make, "sappy" ballads

#88. Nikita - Elton John
Elton could make some great ballads. "I Guess That's Why They call It The Blues" is one example, but this one was as sappy as they can come.

#87. When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going - Billy Ocean
I had a feeling this one would be too much fun, for the "old at heart".

#86. Words Get In The Way - Miami Sound Machine
More like "sappiness" got in the way. I'm not really a fan of this one.

#85. Sweet Freedom - Michael McDonald
I vaguely recalled this one. You wanna a great song, listen to "I Keep Forgetting".

#84. R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. (A Salute to 60's Rock) - John Cougar Mellencamp
It can be, U.S.A, or any other part of the world, but I'm gonna ROCK to John Mellencamp's music.

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

#83. Glory Of Love - Peter Cetera
I believe this song's 45' single, came with a free can of "cheese"  :kii:

#82. Party All The Time - Eddie Murphy
This one was fun. At least he didn't decide to rap. This was also better than most of his post 80's, movies.

#81. Sleeping Bag - ZZ Top
This was bad. Almost like EDM ZZ Top.  The best part of this song is Magot Robbie skating to it in 2018.

[Juanca]

Jul 5, 2018 9:42:32 GMT -5 mamooshka said:

Meant to post this before the reveals started. Some more lost tracks ....

This remake didn't have longevity on the charts. While it peaked in the Top 5, it quickly disappeared which was surprising for a band of its stature.



Recorded after Tina's massive comeback success, this duet was the sixth and final single from Adams' blockbuster album.  When it reached #15 on the Hot 100, 'Reckless' became only the third album (after 'Thriller' and 'Born In The USA') to yield six Top 15 hits.  



Perhaps typical of many hits of UK bands that sprouted during the decade, this track fit neatly into 1986 (it hit #12 in the Hot 100) ... but did not age well through the years. They attempted a follow-up without success and never appeared on the charts again.



By their fourth studio release, Culture Club struggled with personal challenges. The previous album was a critical and commercial disappointment. They were  exhausted from touring the globe. Boy George ended a turbulent (and abusive) relationship with percussionist Jon Moss and had turned to heroin for relief. Producer Arif Mardin was reportedly so exasperated that he eventually relegated the final vocal sessions to the studio engineer. Still, it resulted in their final appearance on the Hot 100.



Another British new romantic export, The Blow Monkeys made a single visit to the Top 15 of the Hot 100.  A pop-jazz-soul hybrid which reflected on the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS (a brave topic for the time), it was critically-acclaimed but did not make the year-end 100 for 1986.



Unless you count Tina who renounced her US citizenship to set up roots in Europe, Switzerland's biggest success on the Hot 100 is arguably the band, Double. Their simple yet sophisticated track was praised by critics and reached the US Top 20, but like many of its 80s peers, the band soon disappeared into oblivion.



It was inevitable that the music industry would capitalize on Don Johnson's popularity in the Miami Vice franchise. After all, he was rumoured to have collaborated with The Allman Brothers in the 70s. By the end of the 80s, he would record a duet with then flame, Ms. Streisand. 1986 marked his biggest music success with a Top 20 album, a Top 5 single and action-packed music video ... complete with mullet and parachute pants (sadly, Philip Michael Thomas didn't make an appearance).



While this anthem is perhaps most remembered as the accompanying theme to Chevrolet's massive truck campaign in the 90s, Bob Seger claims that it was inspired by a personal relationship.



And lastly ... while he was known as lead singer for Irish punk-band, The Undertones, Feargel Sharkey found solo success with 'A Good Heart'. Produced by Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics, it reached the top of the UK charts.

Harlem Shuffle was a personal and country top 10 with little longevity as well. I like it but felt it was a bit uneventful for a band like TRS.

It's Only Love was a minor hit back home but a personal top 5, which I still like and keep in my playlist. LOVED IT. It gets even better from the bridge on. It wouldbe likely be in my top 30 of the year.

Move Away was their last hit back home -and their second-to-last personal chart-topper (they would have a good comeback many years later with I Just Wanna Be Loved). I really like the smooth, elegant vibe of this one. The musical bridge is very new wave 80s, which I really loved. It would likely be in my top 50.

The Captain of Her Heart always brings back memories of my first trip to the US in 1986 with the whole family :'( I heard it for the first time in the US, and really liked it. Sort of made me think of Spandau Ballet and that type of elegant pop style. LOVE the instrumentation and melody. Perfect sunset song. It reached my personal top 10, but I've only grown to like it more with time --plus it's kept a good rotation in radio stations playing 80s music back home. It would likely be in my top 50.

Heartbeat was also a personal and country top 10, but with little longevity. He sounded good enough, including the falsetto, so no hate. The song itself is just not that memorable.

I had forgotten about A Good Heart. I don't think it was played that year back home, but I'm surely have heard it in several other occasions. Good rediscovery :)

[Juanca]

Jul 4, 2018 0:08:49 GMT -5 Doc Indie Party Rock said:

A few more hits from 1986 some of you will recall. These are a few songs I became acquainted with while we were in Europe.

Niagara - L'Amour A La Plage
French SynthPop band with a style resembling Sade. very classy.

Indochine - Tes yeux noirs
One of my favorite New Wave bands of the 80's while we were living in France. There style is very much what inspired Rock en Espnaol

Images - Les Démons de Minuit
French New Wave band. This song was #1, while I was in France ,That summer. 

a-ha - Hunting High And Low
This gorgeous ballad was also a big #1 in the Europe continent

Kim Wilde - School Girl
Huge Pop hit in Denmark, but also very popular on local radio stations in France.

I really liked Hunting High and Low, even though it was a flop back home. Morten sounded amazing.
I heard Tes Yeux Noirs only when I bough the Generation Indochine album in the early 00s, and I really liked it....
I hadn't heard the other songs... Les Demons de Minuit wins :) downloaded it. Thanks!

[Juanca]

I’d like to share now a few songs that were at least medium hits back home in 1986, but that had actually been hits -or at least released- years prior in other countries. All of them would have been candidates for top 50 of 1986 over many of the songs in the 1986 Hot 100:

- Hot Hot Hot (Arrow): The version below was a BIG hit back home this year and a personal chart-topper. And the extended version was one of the last 45 RPMs that I bought. The Latin flavor made it appealing to all generations :)


- (I’ll Never Be) Maria Magdalena (Sandra): This was one of the biggest hits of the Summer (beginning of) 1986 back home. Even the 12” version was popular. A personal and country chart-topper that also managed to be amongst the top 100 songs of the decade. She visited Peru and promoted her Long Play album that year –a big deal to have a foreign European (German) artist visiting us!


- In the Heat of the Night (Sandra): The follow-up wasn’t as successful in our radio stations—but it was still another personal chart-topper for her (and a song I still really like as it has that great 1980s vibe). I’ve always had a soft spot for Sandra… so I was very glad when a decade later I learned that Michael Cretu was actually her husband and had produced these songs (and provided background vocals), and that Sandra had provided background vocals to Sadeness and Return to Innocence.


- Duel (Propaganda): Another German act. They managed to get a big hit and with pretty good longevity throughout the decade. I really like the melody here, and that dynamic musical bridge. This song was also covered by Peruvian-Venezuelan singer Melissa, in a Spanish version that was also popular that year

Hoy Comienza Tu Derrota (Melissa)


- Secret (OMD): Enola Gay was popular in 1985-86, and then Secret also became a mid-size hit in one of our top radio stations back home. It made the top 20 in my personal chart… but I grew to love it much more by the end of the decade, and it’s remained a song that I come back to often.


- Close to Me (The Cure): This was The Cure’s first big hit back home, reaching the top 5 also in my personal chart. A song that had great longevity as well. I love the instrumentation (that bass and that brass!) and vocals. A song that turned into a classic of the 1980s.


- In Between Days (The Cure): This was the follow-up to CTM, and another hit that year. Also had great longevity throughout the decade. I loved the energy in that first musical minute.

[Deleted]

Jul 6, 2018 12:54:09 GMT -5 Glove Slap said:

Gravey will be sad to see PATT go.

I never heard that song before but since you said this, I just decided to check it out, and I did like it yeah, but not something that I would consider love range but still pretty good. So I guess that in a way, I am sad to see it go.

[House Lannister]

Scored using the 5 point must system; the other number in the parenthesis is my rank)

100. Friends and Lovers (0---99r) So much sap that a tree would be jealous.

99. Spies Like Us (1---92r) Film wasn't funny; the song, no matter how Paul tried, wasn't good.

98. I Miss You (1---94r) Too sappy for my tastes.

97. Secret Lovers (1---88r) Again, the lyrics/production is on the sappy side, although the duo sings well.

96. Love Will Conquer All (2---81r) A bit sappy, but Lionel did deliver the goods.

95. There'll Be Sad Songs (2---70r) Again, a bit sappy. But Ocean's delivery saves the day.

94. I'll Be Over You (1---89r) Eh. I liked Africa, I liked Rosanna. Didn't like this one, sorry.

93. Tender Love (2.5---58r) I found this to be a surprise. Song may be earnest, but it's done with conviction so it's OK.

92. Who's Johnny (2---80r) Enjoyed it back in the day, but it hasn't aged well.

91. Love Touch (2---75r) Not quite Rod Stewart's finest hour, but the song holds up better than some.

90. All Cried Out (1.5---84r) The lyrics are fine, but wasn't sold on Lisa Lisa's delivery. Allure's cover is better.

89. That's What Friends Are For (2---70r) Sappy lyrics, but Gladys Knight's singing and Stevie Wonder's harmonica covered that up to a point.

88. Nikita (2---60r) Not Elton John's best ballad (will agree with Doc on Blues), but I did find it touching and tender, if a bit slow.

87. When the Going Gets Tough (1.5---85r) Sorry, Doc, but this just hasn't aged well. It's kind of fun and I liked the sax part.

86. Words Get in the Way (2---77r) Will agree with Juanca that Estefan's singing delivers, but it's sappy. Not my least favorite MSM song.

85. Sweet Freedom (2---64r) It deserved slightly better than this. Harmonica is on point, McDonald's likable.

84. ROCK in the USA (4.5---9r) No fat, just a lean, mean, rockin' machine. Some missed the boat on this.

83. Glory of Love (1.5---86r) Sappy lyrics, overly earnest delivery detracts from what could have been a better song.

82. Party All the Time (0---100r) Maybe some of you enjoyed Rick James's presence or the novelty, but Murphy couldn't sing. It was The Golden Child of its day.

81. Sleeping Bag (3---45r) Its production is too busy by half, but Top still manages to rock even in a song whose meaning is oh so obvious.

[Unhinged]

#80

Baby Love

Regina

Total Points: 860

Billboard Hot 100: 10

Billboard Top 100 of 1986: 85

From: Curiosity

Peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week ending September 13, 1986, this song, produced by Stephen Bray, was initially offered to Madonna who turned it down.

In addition to its Top 10 placement on the Hot 100, it also peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart.

Sambalada - 81 
singingrulebritannia - 52 
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 88 
filthy - 48 
rgreen0625  - 95 
newpower - 73 
🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾  - 18 
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲  - 44   

Tea-why  - 52 
craziaskowboi - 90    
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 22 
mamooshka - 56 
aerodynamite - 92 
rowellfarm490 - 62 
Cody Wants Out...  - 85 
Red - 81 

Mirago - 44 
Glove Slap  - 76 
Ky - 26 
House Lannister  - 65 
Az Paynter  - 92 
Juanca - 63 
peacebone  - 70 
Unhinged - 92 

[Unhinged]

#79

Object Of My Desire

Starpoint

Total Points: 871

Billboard Hot 100: 25

Billboard Top 100 of 1986: 93

From: Restless

Single from their 1985 album Restless. This was a Top 10 hot on the R&B chart and managed a Top 20 placement on the Dance Music/Club Play chart.

Sambalada - 100 
singingrulebritannia - 54 
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 61 
filthy - 88 
rgreen0625  - 93 
newpower - 99 
🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾  - 37    
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲  - 80

Tea-why - 44 
craziaskowboi - 12   
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 20 
mamooshka - 95 
aerodynamite - 73 
rowellfarm490 - 47 
Cody Wants Out...  - 72 
Red - 70 

Mirago - 86 
Glove Slap  - 59 
Ky - 12 
House Lannister  - 96 
Az Paynter  - 18 
Juanca - 92 
peacebone  - 65 
Unhinged - 80 

[filthy]

Didn't care for this at all

[Unhinged]

#78

Amanda

Boston

Total Points: 927

Billboard Hot 100: 1⁽²⁾

Billboard Top 100 of 1986: 50

From: Third Stage

Topping the Billboard Hot 100 the week ending November 8, 1986, this song became the groups highest charting single in both the US and Canada.

Sambalada - 40 
singingrulebritannia - 55 
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 82 
filthy - 40 
rgreen0625  - 60 
newpower - 76 
🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾  - 53 
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲  - 85

Tea-why - 80 
craziaskowboi  - 24 
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 62 
mamooshka - 87 
aerodynamite - 94 
rowellfarm490 - 44 
Cody Wants Out...  - 35 
Red - 27 

Mirago - 52 
Glove Slap  - 88 
Ky - 87 
House Lannister - 63 
Az Paynter  - 70 
Juanca - 79 
peacebone  - 69 
Unhinged - 65 

[Glove Slap]

Jul 10, 2018 11:58:16 GMT -5 Unhinged said:

#78

Amanda

Boston

Red - 27 

[Unhinged]

#77

Crush On You

The Jets

Total Points: 927

Billboard Hot 100: 3⁽²⁾

Billboard Top 100 of 1986: 52

From: The Jets

Peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week ending June 28, 1986, this was released as the second single from the groups self-titled album The Jets.

Aaron Carter covered this song in 1997 for his debut album however it failed to chart in the US.

Sambalada - 62 
singingrulebritannia - 45 
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 92 
filthy - 78 
rgreen0625  - 87 
newpower - 78 
🅳🅸🆂🅲🅾  - 47 
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 23 

Tea-why - 37 
craziaskowboi  - 88 
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 17 
mamooshka - 84 
aerodynamite - 52 
rowellfarm490 - 81 
Cody Wants Out...  - 27 
Red - 87 

Mirago - 70 
Glove Slap  - 69 
Ky - 4 
House Lannister  - 48 
Az Paynter  - 95 
Juanca - 85 
peacebone  - 48 
Unhinged - 93 

[Glove Slap]