Billboard 1983: The Rankdown (Winner Revealed)

[singingrulebritannia]

Oct 22, 2018 12:19:32 GMT -5 Unhinged said:

Says the guy who has 5 of those boring Top 10’s left...lol.

Yes, and? My surprise level at each song being here has no correlation with the level at which I think each deserves to be here. All the top 10s I have left I expected to be here, and every single one that was even slightly risky was eliminated. There are only two songs below the Year-End top 25 remaining, and that's only because the artists of both have other songs in the top 10


---

And with how great this year is, I thought it wasn't too much to ask we get rid of all the bad songs by the top 10. Alas...

[Butterflies & Hurricanes]

and what are these boring top 10 songs? unlike some rankdowns, there is no spoiler link to show the remaining songs

[singingrulebritannia]

Oct 22, 2018 14:35:30 GMT -5 Butterflies & Hurricanes said:

and what are these boring top 10 songs? unlike some rankdowns, there is no spoiler link to show the remaining songs

1. The Police - Every Breath You Take
2. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
5. Michael Jackson - Beat It
6. Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart
10. Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
17. Duran Duran - Hungry Like The Wolf
24. Toto - Africa
25. Prince - Little Red Corvette
41. Prince - 1999
68. Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

[singingrulebritannia]

On a happier note, I compiled a synthpop/new wave-themed rankdown about a month back, and it has quite a few songs/artists whom people featured in "extras" in this and previous 80s threads (and some bands actually in the rankdown, not to mention).


[Thomas Dolby's discography is incomplete on U.S. Spotify so he's not on this playlist but I plan to include a song from TGAoW as well -- it'll be either "Europa" or "Airwaves"]


I should be opening this after my current personal rankdown (the one you can find a link to in my signature) is done.

[House Lannister]

I think this round went as well as expected Edition:

20. Maniac---Although played to amusing effect in Tommy Boy, I think there's a reason this lost to Flashdance. It had enough energy to be decent, but no more.

19. Stand Back---This feels staid, safe more than the others. The real surprise isn't that it's leaving, it's that it made top 20 at all. She's capable of more.

18. Sexual Healing---I thought it was decent before this rankdown, but after hearing it, I totally get why Marvin Gaye was beloved and why his loss is tragic.

17. Flashdance...What a Feeling---Yeah, this one was better. It works as both a title track to a movie (which has to be about how a factory worker becomes a dancer, right?) and on its own. Alas, no relation to Alessia.

16. True---Sometimes, slow jams work. It's the delivery that works here. You believe that he believes what he's selling and that makes all the difference between Break Up with Him and Treat You Better, two similar songs that take very different paths thanks to how it's delivered.

15. Human Nature---And the order doesn't quite go as planned. This was a fine MJ song, but there's two really good ones which could win the whole thing and there's another tune that's merely decent.

14. Come On Eileen---I'm guessing this struck some of you wrong due to the blatant sexual c'mons, right? The music was in fine form and it's very 1980s in its feel, but even I have to admit it gets to be a tad bit much at times. Still, I enjoyed it.

13. Down Under---Yeah, I wasn't a big fan of this. Novelty does work for a while, but when it wears away, there's not enough there to keep holding onto. Kinda glad this missed out, unlike...

12. Maneater---I might not have been as big on it as some, but this is also very 1980s with its synths and Hall and Oates. Pretty solid, but the one I'm really going to miss (other than Sexual Healing is)...

11. Let's Dance---Everything that didn't work for Dancing in the Streets works here. They let David sing and it works. The music is active without being over the top. Darn fun tune.

Out of those remaining: 1-3, 7-8, 10, 13, 19, 27, 60. Lowest is a 3/5 with the next lowest being 3.5/5. Everything else is a 4 or higher. Let's rock this joint and see who wins!

[Deleted]

Oct 22, 2018 14:43:08 GMT -5 singingrulebritannia said:

Oct 22, 2018 14:35:30 GMT -5 Butterflies & Hurricanes said:

and what are these boring top 10 songs? unlike some rankdowns, there is no spoiler link to show the remaining songs

1. The Police - Every Breath You Take
2. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
5. Michael Jackson - Beat It
6. Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart
10. Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
17. Duran Duran - Hungry Like The Wolf
24. Toto - Africa
25. Prince - Little Red Corvette
41. Prince - 1999
68. Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

Prediction time

1. Billie Jean
2. Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This
3. Beat It
4. Little Red Corvette
5. Total Eclipse Of The Heart
6. Africa
7. Wanna Be Startin Somethin
8. 1999
9. Every Breath You Take
10. Hungry Like A Wolf

[Red]

Imagine thinking "Come on Eileen" is the worst song in this rankdown. Holy mother of god. I get why someone wouldn't like the song all that much, as it has become ubiquitous and quite susceptible to overplay, and Kevin Rowland's voice is...um...of the "unique" variety, to be sure. But the WORST song? Even in a super tough rankdown like this one, that's insanity.

I don't really care about the winner now, to be honest. Not that I'd be against any of these songs winning or anything (almost every top ten song is in my top 20), but "Eileen" was the only song I was actively rooting for.

[Cody Wants Out...]

I was SERIOUSLY expecting my #1 to go out today. Fairly certain that it may be one of the first to go tomorrow. Here's how I think it'll go:

10. Little Red Corvette
9. Africa
8. Hungry Like the Wolf
7. Total Eclipse of the Heart
6. Beat It
5. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
4. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
3. 1999
2. Every Breath You Take
1. Billie Jean

It wouldn't surprise me if both Prince songs make the top five, or if LRC outlasts 1999.

[Deleted]

Cody Wants Out... you really think that WBSS will be higher than Beat It? I'll honestly be shocked if it ends up higher, but who knows what will happen.

[Mic Technique]

01.
02. Men At Work - Overkill (#39)
03. Men At Work - It's A Mistake (#48)
04. Men At Work - Down Under (#13)
05. Stevie Nicks - Stand Back (#18)
06.
07. The Tubes - She's A Beauty (#40)
08. Def Leppard - Photograph (#23)
09. The Clash - Rock The Casbah (#21)
10.
11. Laura Branigan - Gloria (#31)
12. The Human League (Keep Feeling) Fascination (#22)
13. David Bowie - Let's Dance (#11)
14.
15. Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing (#18)
16. Culture Club - I'll Tumble 4 Ya (#49)
17. Madness - Our House (#34)
18. Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen (#14)
19.
20. Frida - I Know There's Something Going On (#35)

With five of my top 20 entries left, this is not a total bust. (And yes, I go that hard for Men At Work.)

[newpower]

Oct 22, 2018 16:34:31 GMT -5 Red said:

Imagine thinking "Come on Eileen" is the worst song in this rankdown. Holy mother of god. I get why someone wouldn't like the song all that much, as it has become ubiquitous and quite susceptible to overplay, and Kevin Rowland's voice is...um...of the "unique" variety, to be sure. But the WORST song? Even in a super tough rankdown like this one, that's insanity.

I don't really care about the winner now, to be honest. Not that I'd be against any of these songs winning or anything (almost every top ten song is in my top 20), but "Eileen" was the only song I was actively rooting for.

I have that same reaction when I saw some of the #100.

2 - 5 - 6 - 9 - 11 - 12 - 15 - 19 - 23 - 27 left. Not bad.

[Deleted]

Okay but imagine thinking Africa is boring

[singingrulebritannia]

Oct 22, 2018 18:06:44 GMT -5 trilogy said:

Okay but imagine thinking Africa is boring

Can you honestly tell me you thought "Africa" wouldn't make the top 10? If no, then it's a boring result.

[newpower]

Oct 22, 2018 18:12:04 GMT -5 singingrulebritannia said:

Oct 22, 2018 18:06:44 GMT -5 trilogy said:

Okay but imagine thinking Africa is boring

Can you honestly tell me you thought "Africa" wouldn't make the top 10? If no, then it's a boring result.

So what do you expect? People randomly picking songs in their Top 10 just for the sake of fun? (I admit I considered doing it after seeing the results of 1986 or 1985, can’t remember which one).

By the way, I doubt Africa would have been Top 10 if this rankdown took place 10 years ago.

[singingrulebritannia]

Oct 22, 2018 18:47:37 GMT -5 newpower said:

Oct 22, 2018 18:12:04 GMT -5 singingrulebritannia said:

Can you honestly tell me you thought "Africa" wouldn't make the top 10? If no, then it's a boring result.

So what do you expect?

Uh, I expected everything that happened. Which is exactly what I've been saying.

Now, usually in a Year-End rankdown there's at least one surprising, fun Top 10 entry. This is like the one week in a sports season that's disappointing because the lack of even the mildest of upsets causes it to leave no impression.

[Deleted]

Rooting for Africa and Every Breath You Take!

Come at me but I find Sweet Dreams overrated. It's the same words and repetition the whole song.

[singingrulebritannia]

Oct 22, 2018 19:04:47 GMT -5 @levitation said:

Rooting for Africa and Every Breath You Take!

Come at me but I find Sweet Dreams overrated. It's the same words and repetition the whole song.

Pick one

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

Lost a lot of personal #1 songs on this reveal.


#20. Maniac - Michael Sembello  (HOT 100 #1) (DOC #129)
Even back in 1983 I burnt out on this one quick. I loved the intro, synths and melody. #20 seems way too high for this song.

#19. Stand Back - Stevie Nicks (HOT 100 #5) (DOC #69)
My favorite Stevie Nicks solo. Easily made my top 100 of 1983. This was also huge on Rock radio format stations. Very 80's with hint of a dance track melody.

#18. Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye (HOT 100 #3) (DOC #191)
Decent R&B but not a song I would put very high. I thought I would be the lowest ranker for the song too. Guess not?

#17. Flashdance...What A Feeling - Irene Cara (HOT 100 #1)
Decent Dance Track, but not one I was gonna upgrade this high. I'll take Irene Cara's "Fame" over this one any day of the week.

#16. True - Spandau Ballet (HOT 100 #4) (DOC #1)
Now we are talking. Beautiful Sophisti pop ballad born under the New Romantic style of the New Wave English invasion. A #1 song on my personal charts. On a sad note Tom Hadly, the band's lead singer for more than 20 years left the band last year.

#15. Human Nature - Michael Jackson (HOT 100 #7)
I'm not surprised all three M.J. songs made the top 20. This particular song never did much for me. I would have loved to rank "P.Y.T." instead. That song has become one of my favorites despite of the original peak I gave it.

#14. Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners  (HOT 100 #1) (DOC #1)
I'm jut about out of top 10 songs on this list. This is a wonderful song. Unique in every way possible, but never losing an ounce of fun. The correct genre this song fell under was "Celtic Folk". I don't usually put genres under Folk in my top 10, but this was the 80's and this was another #1 song on my personal top 40.

#13. Down Under - Men At Work (HOT 100 #1) (DOC #1)
Another one of my all time favorites. The most fantastic thing ever about the 80's, is that no two artists or songs sounded alike. Even the most similar rock or Funk vibes still added something different with either the vocals or effects. Men At Work sounded completely different from any other band on the charts.

#12. Maneater - Hall & Oates (HOT 100 #1) (DOC #3 1982)
Great song and spectacular showing for Hall & Oates. I ended up squeezing this song into my 1982 charts all the way at #22. The bassline in this song is gives it the perfect "man Eater" personality. It also adds a bit of Exotic vibe to the melody.

#11. Let's Dance - David Bowie (HOT 100 #1) (DOC #190)
I like this song. Its a good, but I enjoyed David Bowie's following singles a lot more, because of the diverse melody. This one kinda stays in the same realm throughout the whole song. Like I said, I nice song, but not in my top 10 David Bowie classics.

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

The top 10 songs we as a group have chosen might not be altogether that bad, but they are predictable which is were the word "boring" comes into play. A few of these still appear in my personal top 10, but i would have loved to see some of the more unique 20-11 songs we just witness be in the top 10.

BTW singingrulebritannia that Spotify playlist/

[Mirago]

I did not see all the love coming for Prince’s, U Got the Look in the 1987 rankdown so I predict the superior Little Red Corvette wins this.

[crazyb]

Damn, I should of done this just to help out Sexual Healing

[Juanca]

20. Maniac (15): This was THE biggest song of the year in our #1 radio station back home. Personally, this would've been a personal chart-topper. I loved the beat, high energy, sounds (starting in the first few seconds of the song), melody, including that solid bridge. That video was also super popular. I bought the 45 RPM, which had the instrumental version as the B-side. I loved it when that happened! A lot of karaoke action --plus I made a song of my own using the instrumental in 78 RPM

19. Stand Back (5): Geez! This should've made the top 10. This was a hit back home, but my love for this song was bigger than that of radio stations at home. I literally LOVED this song since I heard it. Back in 1983, this was one of my favorite songs of the year. From the first notes and sounds, the beat, music and melody are just perfect for me. That bridge is forever attached to the image of Steve spinning around with a black skirt. Even though I was not the biggest fan of Stevie's voice (at that time I didn't like Sara or Gypsy), I felt her voice did work perfectly for this song. Only recently I learned that Prince was involved as well. Great! I literally cried the first time I saw Fleetwood Mac live in DC (right after their Say You Will album) and Stevie sang this song. I still love it

18. Sexual Healing (19): Such a great song! So sexy, smooth, elegant, crisp, where music and vocals meet perfectly. I could've put this in my top 10 for this RD, as all of these songs were so close. I'm glad that it managed to be this high. And btw, I've always wondered why their state didn't go after Miguel's Adorn, where there is very nice inspiration.

17. Flashdance...What a Feeling (7): Another big hit back home --yearend top 20. I also really liked this song. I loved the song structure that goes from ballad to melodic pop to that transition off the bridge with the big background vocals under understated music. A simply epic pop song that would've topped my personal chart. Irene had a couple other songs in minor rotation in radio, but higher popularity in our music TV station: Why Me and The Dream. I liked both and would've made it to my personal chart as well.





16. True (20): Another song that was initially in my top 10 of this RD, but ended up slightly below it --still, just as strong as some in the top 10. I've always been a fan of this song. LOVED the vocals, the sax, the piano and all the music, style and melody. One of the best examples of 80s sophisti-pop. A big hit back home that made the yearend top 40.

15. Human Nature (26): This was a minor hit back home, and I liked it but didn't really love it. With time, I grew to appreciate the subtle qualities of this song, from the pristine vocals and melody to the different sounds in the background. I have to give credit to SWV's Right Here for encouraging me to listen to this song again and fall in love with it. I assume Rihanna fans have helped WBSS be higher than this song... really?


14. Come On Eileen (17): Another unique, quirky, different song that is a good representative of the eclectic 1980s. The different instruments used here, the strong but fun vocals -including backing vocals- and that change in pace at the last minute is clever and fun. Wish it had made the top 10 in the end. This would've been the top of my personal chart in 1983.

13. Down Under (10): My favorite song from MaW and a personal favorite back in the day. Plus, a big hit back home that made the yearend top 5. Again, a song that had its own unique elements (like different instruments)

12. Maneater (12): P-P-P-PERFECT RANKING!! My favorite H&O song (closely followed by Out of Touch). This had such a dark, mysterious vibe from the music at the beginning to the bridge with that slow sax that then turns into a much more effervescent sound. Great vocals and melody that is another great representation of eclectic 1980s.

11. Let's Dance (23): A yearend top 20 hit back home, and a song that I liked a lot as well. The instrumentation (including sax and percussion) were great, as well as the melody and song structure that included both dance and darker Bowie-esque sound. Personally, though --and I'll segue into a comment on Doc Indie Party Rock's 30-21 chart (btw, great that you loved Antarctica!!)-- my personal favorite this era was Modern Love, a song that was another yearend top 10 back home but in 1984. I really liked the energy, instrumentation (sax, piano, guitar), vocals of the song. I know people considered it almost a sellout, but I thoroughly enjoyed this era.


So, I have left:
1-4, 6, 11,
24, 31, 56, 61

I guess not bad.
However, I'm always not as happy when I see far too many songs from a single artist in the top 10.
3 MJ and 2 Prince songs are too much, IMO, especially when -dare I say it- 3 of those songs are really not-that-great for a year this strong.

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

Revealing 20-1 tonight. These are most of the songs I ranked really high on this rank down, but I can also present to you 5 songs that didn't make the HOT 100 year end chart for 1983, but should have.


20. ?

19. The Tubes - She's A Beauty (HOT 100 #10) (DOC #2)

18. Kajagoogoo - Too Shy (HOT 100 #5) (DOC #3)

17. Adam Ant - Goody Two Shoes (HOT 100 #12) (DOC #3)

16. Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut (HOT 100 #3) (DOC #2)

15. Thompson Twins - Lies (HOT 100 #30) (DOC #2)
First time I ever heard "Lies" was on KROQ. The following week my Mom got me the '45. The music was great, but something about Tom Bailey's vocals really got me hooked.


14.  EBN OZN - AEIOU Sometimes Y  (Billboard Clubplay #20) (DOC #1)
This is one of the biggest underground New Wave/Synthpop songs of the 80's . It was produced entirely on a computer called the Fairlight CMI which was used primary for sampling. The style of the song is spoken rap, but still 100% New Wave. This song got me from the "Toto ,I don't think we're in Kansas anymore" line in the intro. It also tells an everyday story of three characters. The School teacher, The Hip guy and the Nerdy teacher. Hip guy and School teacher end up having mad chemistry together, but she still blows him off. You know how girls are? At the same time, Nerdy teacher is trying to get with her, but ends up boring the piss out of her. Finally hip guy shows up at the school and just takes her, which is probably what she was hoping he would do all alone?  When she finally does call him and asks him if he wants to go out, he responds "huh, do I wanna go out". The AEIOU's in the chorus are just filler by the school teachers class, but brings the whole project together. I loved it. The only Billboard action this song saw was in the Top 20 Club chart. The song has then found its way onto many 80's music compilations. There was even a Beavis and Butthead episode dedicated to the song. Hopefully someday someone uploads an HD version of the video. 



13. Ric Ocasek - Something To Grab For (HOT 100 #47) (DOC #3)
This song was off Ric's first solo album called "Beatitude". It's a slick New Wave rocker that got a lot of Airplay on Rock and New wave radio format. It also ended up high on many of the year end lists. Like many of the Cars' lesser known singles ,this one also missed the Hot 100 Top 40 by a hair. The model in the music video is 1983's playmate of the year Marianne Gravatte. She also appears on Ratt's "Lay it Down" MV and on the cover of their album 'Invasion of Your Privacy'



12. Duran Duran - Rio (HOT 100 #14) (DOC #3)
One of my favorite Duran Duran songs didn't even make Billboard's Top 100 year end songs 1983. How does one of the band's sexiest and catchiest songs miss out? Ask Billboard?   . #100 on KROQ for 1982 , #18 on 91x for 1983 and yours truly all the way at #12. This is one of Simon LeBon's best vocal deliveries with playful lyrics flirting a bit into the erotic world. Not to mention one of the best sex solos from Andy Hamilton , who also graced songs from Wham!, David Bowie, and Elton John with his fierce Saxophone playing. The music video takes us to the classy exotic worlds only Duran Duran could dream up.



11. ?


My top 10 consists of most songs we have already ran into. I could never praise them enough. My top 2 are songs that are still in out own PULSE Rank Down. I wouldn't mind my #2 and #3 being the top 2 songs here.


10. Quiet Riot - Cum On Feel The Noize (HOT 100 #5) (DOC #3)
One of the biggest hard Rock songs of the year starts off my top 10. This song reached #5 on Hot 100 and yet didn't make the top 100 of 1983? This was one of the songs that would define the big arena Glam Rock sound that would boom in the mid to late 80's. 



9. Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen (HOT 100 #1) (U.K. #1) (DOC #1)

8. Journey - Separate Ways (HOT 100 #8) (DOC #3)

7. Culture Club - Time (Clock Of The Heart) (HOT 100 #2) (DOC #2)

6. The Human League - (Keep Feeling) Fascination (HOT 100 #8) (DOC #1)

5. Men At Work - Down Under (HOT 100 #1) (DOC #1)

4. Spandau Ballet - True (HOT 100 #4) (DOC #1)

3. ?

2. ?

1. Def Leppard - Photograph (HOT 100 #12) (DOC #1)

[Unhinged]

Oct 22, 2018 13:12:14 GMT -5 singingrulebritannia said:

Oct 22, 2018 12:19:32 GMT -5 Unhinged said:

Says the guy who has 5 of those boring Top 10’s left...lol.

Yes, and? My surprise level at each song being here has no correlation with the level at which I think each deserves to be here. All the top 10s I have left I expected to be here, and every single one that was even slightly risky was eliminated. There are only two songs below the Year-End top 25 remaining, and that's only because the artists of both have other songs in the top 10


---

And with how great this year is, I thought it wasn't too much to ask we get rid of all the bad songs by the top 10. Alas...

Thought it was a bit rich you complaining about a Top 10 in which you still had 5 songs...I also have 5 left and love this Top 10. I get what you’re saying though. It is certainly a “safe” Top 10.

[filthy]

3,4,5,6,7,9,10

14,23,37

very happy with this top 10!

[Unhinged]

Gonna start the final 10 reveal shortly, sorry about not posting the 10 remaining songs, got busy after I finished the reveal yesterday and couldn't check back until this morning.

Red
Butterflies & Hurricanes
Az Paynter
craziaskowboi
singingrulebritannia
@walker9
gonecountry
filthy
Alex
newpower
Cody Wants Out...
God
House Lannister
Doc Indie Party Rock
Juanca
mamooshka
Mirago
rowellfarm490
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲
campbellssoup
peacebone
rgreen0625
Mic Technique
Glove Slap
Sambalada
Zach
@doinktheclown
Unhinged

Tag

@levitation
trilogy
Ky
Zeebz

[Glove Slap]

All of the remaining songs were in my top 20, with half in the to 10. Any would be a good winner, though I’m hoping it isn’t Africa.

Love Bowie, but Let’s Dance has never been one of my favorites.

[gonecountry]

My guess at the Top 10

10 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
9 Hungry Like the Wolf
8 Total Eclipse of the Heart
7 Every Breath You Take
6 1999
5 Africa
4 Beat It
3 Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
2 Little Red Corvette
1 Billie Jean

[Glove Slap]

Oct 22, 2018 16:34:31 GMT -5 Red said:

Imagine thinking "Come on Eileen" is the worst song in this rankdown. Holy mother of god. I get why someone wouldn't like the song all that much, as it has become ubiquitous and quite susceptible to overplay, and Kevin Rowland's voice is...um...of the "unique" variety, to be sure. But the WORST song? Even in a super tough rankdown like this one, that's insanity.

[Unhinged]

#10

Total Eclipse Of The Heart

Bonnie Tyler

Total Points: 2138

Billboard Hot 100: 1⁽⁴⁾

Billboard Top 100 of 1983: 6

From: Faster Than the Speed of Night

Written by Jim Steinman, this was released in July of 1983, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week ending October 1, 1983 where it remained for 4 weeks. It was also a huge international hit, reaching the top in 7 countries and eventually reaching 6 million in sales.

Nicki French covered the song in 1995 and took it to No. 2 in the US.

Sorry Juanca but it's time to say good-bye to your No. 1... 

Red  - 19
Butterflies & Hurricanes  - 31 
Az Paynter - 52 
craziaskowboi - 7 
singingrulebritannia - 25 
@walker9 - 11 
gonecountry  - 40 
filthy - 23 
Alex - 35 
newpower - 11 
Cody Wants Out...  - 15 
God - 4 
House Lannister  - 8 
Doc Indie Party Rock  - 71         
Juanca - 1 
mamooshka  - 13 
Mirago - 16 
rowellfarm490  - 48 
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 44 
campbellssoup  - 28 
peacebone - 54 
rgreen0625 - 20 
Mic Technique - 31 
Glove Slap - 5 
Sambalada - 2 
Zach - 9 
@doinktheclown  - 24 
Unhinged - 43 

Tag

@levitation
trilogy
Ky
Zeebz