Top 100 Of The 1980's

[Unhinged]

#3

Billie Jean
Michael Jackson



Total Points: 3113

Billboard 1983 Rankdown: 1

From: Thriller

disassociative - 7
God - 49
Red - 8
@phillippe - 56
tim - 8
tallen2001 - 4
newpower - 58
trilogy - 5
campbellssoup - 60
Doc Indie Party Rock - 78
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 26
willapted33 - 4 
rowellfarm490 - 1 
samo🦕 - 13
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 47
Sambalada - 20
alexcuse - 24
Mirago - 3
Az Paynter - 48
cedric - 25
mamooshka - 1 
commerce196 - 17
MoD - 44
@crapkuki23 - 7
peacebone - 25
jtd Thee Stallion - 6 
craziaskowboi - 4
CagedJuggalo: The Return - 95
charmander78 - 10
gonecountry - 58
House Lannister - 32
Cody Wants Out... - 42
crazyb - 1
nickd - 7
American Idiot - 27
desperado - 41
Alex1901 - 58
Leo ✔ - 6
woods - 3
Juanca - 4
Unhinged - 1

Observing

@levitation  
walt91  
Nick P  
CF15  

[samo🦕]

Like A Prayer is great and all, but When Doves Cry is so much better.
18 vs 41

[Leo ✔]

#28 VS #39

[Alex1901]

Oh good. I like Billie Jean, but it really does not need to win.

WDC for the win

[Deleted]

I lost my #1 at 97 or smth

Like a prayer is def #1 here I hope

[Cody Wants Out...]

Wow. And I was beginning to peg "Billie Jean" as the winner already. Rooting for Prince to win it all.

[Unhinged]

The Top 2

Well here we are again at a final Top 2.

As far as my 80's Rankdowns go, this is the final Top 2.

It's been quite the ride and thank you to all of you who have come along on this journey with me!

Special thanks to rowellfarm490 for providing those awesome stats!

#2

Like A Prayer
Madonna



Total Points: 3144

Billboard 1989 Rankdown: 1

From: Like A Prayer

disassociative - 30
God - 2
Red - 2
@phillippe - 2  
tim - 25
tallen2001 - 6 
newpower - 6
trilogy - 43
campbellssoup - 47 
Doc Indie Party Rock - 81  
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 52
willapted33 - 12 
rowellfarm490 - 5
samo🦕 - 41
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 57
Sambalada - 1 
alexcuse - 3
Mirago - 1
Az Paynter - 49 
cedric - 2
mamooshka - 2  
commerce196 - 12 
MoD - 97
@crapkuki23 - 61 
peacebone - 11
jtd Thee Stallion - 60  
craziaskowboi - 47
CagedJuggalo: The Return - 12
charmander78 - 26
gonecountry - 9
House Lannister - 5 
Cody Wants Out... - 64  
crazyb - 11
nickd - 6
American Idiot - 11 
desperado - 8
Alex1901 - 11 
Leo ✔ - 39
woods - 36 
Juanca - 1
Unhinged - 4

Observing

@levitation  
walt91  
Nick P  
CF15  

#1

When Doves Cry
Prince



Total Points: 3321

Billboard 1984 Rankdown: 1

From: Purple Rain

disassociative - 9
God - 3
Red - 4
@phillippe - 35
tim - 15
tallen2001 - 3 
newpower - 9
trilogy - 4
campbellssoup - 26
Doc Indie Party Rock - 30 
Butterflies & Hurricanes - 19
willapted33 - 1 
rowellfarm490 - 12 
samo🦕 - 18
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 4
Sambalada - 55 
alexcuse - 10
Mirago - 2
Az Paynter - 5
cedric - 30
mamooshka - 3 
commerce196 - 9
MoD - 38
@crapkuki23 - 28
peacebone - 17
jtd Thee Stallion - 19 
craziaskowboi - 63
CagedJuggalo: The Return - 26
charmander78 - 19
gonecountry - 2
House Lannister - 15
Cody Wants Out... - 30
crazyb - 4
nickd - 16
American Idiot - 88
desperado - 82
Alex1901 - 2
Leo ✔ - 28
woods - 24
Juanca - 2
Unhinged - 10

Observing

@levitation  
walt91  
Nick P  
CF15  



Prince - When Doves Cry
Madonna - Like A Prayer
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
A-Ha - Take On Me
The Human League - Don't You Want Me
Queen - Another One Bites The Dust
Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World
Michael Jackson - Beat It
Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me)
Toto - Africa
Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal
Blondie - Call Me
Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Prince - Little Red Corvette
Michael Jackson - Thriller
INXS - Need You Tonight
Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time
The Cure - Lovesong
Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Eurythmics - Here Comes The Rain Again
The Police - Every Breath You Take
Prince & The Revolution - Let's Go Crazy
Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall
A Flock Of Seagulls - I Ran
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Stevie Nicks - Edge Of Seventeen
Tracy Chapman - Fast Car
U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Michael Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel
Duran Duran - Hungry Like The Wolf
Prince - 1999
Michael Jackson - Rock With You
Prince & The Revolution - Kiss
Madonna - Papa Don't Preach
Wham! - Careless Whisper
U2 - With or Without You
Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It
Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror
George Michael - Father Figure
Don Henley - The Boys Of Summer
Madonna - Express Yourself
Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark
Steve Winwood - Higher Love
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Love Rock 'N Roll
George Michael - Faith
Prince & The Revolution - Raspberry Beret
Tears For Fears - Shout
Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes
Lipps, Inc. - Funkytown
Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Michael Jackson - Bad
Gary Numan - Cars
Madonna - Open Your Heart
When In Rome - The Promise
The Cars - Drive
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger
Abba - The Winner Takes It All
Johnny Hates Jazz - Shattered Dreams
Pat Benatar - Love Is A Battlefield
The Human League - Human
Janet Jackson - Miss You Much
Madonna - Live To Tell
Wham! - Everything She Wants
Madonna - Borderline
Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is A Place On Earth
Kool & The Gang - Celebration
The Police - Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Fleetwood Mac - Little Lies
Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy
Hall & Oates - Out Of Touch
Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield - What Have I Done To Deserve This?
Hall & Oates - I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)
Sade - Smooth Operator
Genesis - Land of Confusion
Pat Benatar - Heartbreaker
Tears For Fears - Sowing The Seeds Of Love
Prince - U Got the Look
Miami Sound Machine - Conga
Roxette - The Look
Diana Ross - Upside Down
Cutting Crew - (I Just) Died in Your Arms
Dolly Parton - 9 To 5
Pretenders - Brass In Pocket
Men At Work - Who Can It Be Now?
Michael Jackson - Off The Wall
Blondie - Rapture
Hall & Oates - Kiss On My List
Bananarama - Venus
Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance
Whitney Houston - So Emotional
Eddie Money - Take Me Home Tonight
John Cougar - Hurts So Good
Foreigner - Urgent
Stevie Nicks w/Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Stop Draggin' My Heart Around
George Michael - I Want Your Sex 

[Cody Wants Out...]

Wow! It wasn't even close! :o

[cedric]

Would've preferred Like A Prayer to win but I definitely underranked When Doves Cry anyway. And I'll take that perfect ranking thank you very much.

Great rankdown!! Hoping someone can do the 90s soon :)

[Red]

The crazy thing about this result isn't the end result. The top three is probably the most predictable top three we could have come up with, with a predictable winner. The crazy thing is that, even in a rankdown this loaded, even in a rankdown with a ton of potential winners (and ten previous winners), one song STILL wound up winning decisively. If "Billie Jean" wasn't winning, then "When Doves Cry" was my next choice, as I figured that it was the least likely song to get tanked. And I was right.

Unhinged, this whole rankdown series was so fun to follow from beginning to end, and you're one of the few hosts I could see pulling this whole thing off. I would say "until the next one", but I don't know if there will be a next one or a next series or whatever. Here's what I can say: Thanks for the ride.

[Unhinged]

Jul 16, 2019 10:12:15 GMT -5 Red said:

The crazy thing about this result isn't the end result. The top three is probably the most predictable top three we could have come up with, with a predictable winner. The crazy thing is that, even in a rankdown this loaded, even in a rankdown with a ton of potential winners (and ten previous winners), one song STILL wound up winning decisively. If "Billie Jean" wasn't winning, then "When Doves Cry" was my next choice, as I figured that it was the least likely song to get tanked. And I was right.

Unhinged , this whole rankdown series was so fun to follow from beginning to end, and you're one of the few hosts I could see pulling this whole thing off. I would say "until the next one", but I don't know if there will be a next one or a next series or whatever. Here's what I can say: Thanks for the ride.

Thank you! For the time being I'm done with hosting any future rankdowns but you just never know...

[gonecountry]

Thanks Unhinged for running the rankdown! Was pretty certain going in that it would be one of those three. I did think that Janet Jackson Miss You Much might also have a chance, but clearly I was wrong.

[Deleted]

OMG BILLIE JEAN DIDNT WIN HALLELUJAH

Unhinged, thank you for everything. You busted your ass for an amazing series and it's worth it

[Unhinged]

Jul 16, 2019 10:28:55 GMT -5 gonecountry said:

Thanks Unhinged for running the rankdown! Was pretty certain going in that it would be one of those three. I did think that Janet Jackson Miss You Much might also have a chance, but clearly I was wrong.

Jul 16, 2019 10:43:47 GMT -5 @doinktheclown said:

OMG BILLIE JEAN DIDNT WIN HALLELUJAH

Unhinged, thank you for everything. You busted your ass for an amazing series and it's worth it

You're both welcome! Glad you enjoyed the series! :)

[CF15]

I really wanted “Billie Jean” to win (I don’t care if it’s an “obvious winner”), but this is a deserving winner, too.

[Leo ✔]

Thanks for hosting

[mamooshka]

Unhinged - Really appreciate the work you put into each of the eleven 80's RDs and wanted to assure you that you kept us all on the edge of our seats. It was entertaining and you deserve some downtime. I do hope that you will consider hosting future RDs since you make it seem so effortless. 

Attachment Deleted

[newpower]

Thanks Unhinged for hosting. I'm going to miss your rankdowns.

[Deleted]

What a goddamn ride this rankdown was. Thanks for hosting Unhinged!

[samo🦕]

Very pleased with the winner, even if it’s not the strongest Prince song here.

[singingrulebritannia]

Jul 16, 2019 10:12:15 GMT -5 Red said:

Here's what I can say: Thanks for the ride.

[craziaskowboi]

Coincidentally, "When Doves Cry" was the #1 song in the U.S. 35 years ago today.

[House Lannister]

Great rankdown, Unhinged. Thanks for another good job hosting.

Hopefully, you'll do another one once your batteries are recharged.

[rowellfarm490]

I'm not surprised "When Doves Cry" won but I definitely did not think it would by nearly 200 points. Thank you for hosting these 80's rankdowns Unhinged ! It's been lots of fun and I've made so many discoveries along the way.

Here are the final stats along with the standard deviations:

SPOILER: Click to show

{FINAL STATS}

SPOILER: Click to show

{HIGHEST TO LOWEST STANDARD DEVIATIONS}

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

#10 . Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
Great song. I actually thought it might have been top 5 here. The movie Breakfast Club is one of my all times favorites. Practically know all of Judd Nelson's lines by heart. Trivia. John Hughes started on the National Lampoon writing team, which means all the Chevy Chase Vacation films. Sad Trivia. John Hughes passed away on my Birthday the 6th of August.

#9. Beat It - Michael Jackson
The party rock Michael Jackson song. Its no wonder its one of my favorites.

#8. Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tear For Fears
Another 80's classic deserving of its Top 10 position.

#7. Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
Classic Queen song that ends up where Billboard should have placed it in their own YE list. This is the song they should have broken the rules for.

#6. Don't You Want Me - The Human League
...and there goes my highest remaining song. This is one of the first New Wave songs I heard on rock format radio stations like KLOS. Also this song ,because of the lyrics always reminds me of the Eric Roberts/Mariel Hemingway film 'Star 80'. The one about Dorothy Stratten. The lyrics fit the movie perfect.

#5. Take On Me - a-ha
For me the song that crossed New Wave into Synthpop. Super classic. Glad it made top 5.

#4. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Eurythmics
I ended up liking this song later on in life. Don't shoot me but I like Manson's version a tad more. A clever way to goth rock it up.

#3. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
Decent song that has outlived its usefullness by massive overplay. I also got tired of it been played constantly on MTV. It's a good song just a bit repetitous in the melody.

#2. Like A Prayer - Madonna
This is a good song, for me Madonna's best work were her first two albums and her 80's soundtracks music. There was no way I was gonna upgrade this one if the list didn't even feature "Burning Up", 'Crazy For You" nor "Like A Virgin"

#1. When Doves Cry - Prince
I had a feeling either this or Billie Jean" would win. Glad it was this song, but I would have been even happier with "Little Red Corvette".

Unhinged
Great job man this 80's are my life. So are we ever gonna start doing the 90's. I wanna start ranking a few of those big Glam Metal songs. At least for the first couple of years.

[Juanca]

Jul 16, 2019 3:21:45 GMT -5 @doinktheclown said:

WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT

Jul 16, 2019 0:11:51 GMT -5 Juanca said:

(27): My favorite Toto song, although Hold The Line and Roxanne are close...

Late-night typo
Naturally meant Rosanna :)

[Juanca]

5. Take On Me (11): One of the last 45 RPMs I bought. One of my favorite 1980s songs for sure, as I love the music, vocals, production. So good to see them in the top 5!

4. Sweet Dreams (25): Even though I ranked this outside my top 20, I really like this song. Another classic new wave song that I still use with frequency. Simple but effective, as the instrumental sections sort of become their own key part of the song and not just filler.

3. Bille Jean (4): My favorite MJ song, one of the most representative 1980s songs. Beyond its significance in pop culture as the song that practically turned MJ into a superstar, I find the song quite a strong one on its own, with great melody, vocals and overall vibe that simply works. It was in my top 5 of the decade back in 1990.

2. Like A Prayer (1): My favorite Madonna song, and my personal top song of the decade. I've never been as connected to any song as with this one... I love everything about it. Vocals, lyrics, composition, music. The remix was another way to love it even more. Superb runner-up here.

1. When Doves Cry (2): My second favorite song of the decade back in the day as well. Another song I've always loved from the intro to the end with all the intrinsicacies of music, vocals, etc. A deserving winner.


Thanks Unhinged for such an amazing job with all these rank-downs. These have been the highlight of my Pulse experience over the past 5 years for sure, as I was always looking forward to participate in each rank-down as much as possible. It was a great trip down the memory lane to my most cherished decade of music, and it was great to see you put so much effort sharing information about different songs and then setting up the stage for others to share their stories as well. I'll miss these rank downs for sure, but you deserve a good break!! Thanks, again --you rock!!

[willapted33]

great great great great great great winner

[Unhinged]

Jul 16, 2019 12:45:49 GMT -5 Leo ✔ said:

Thanks for hosting

You're welcome!

Jul 16, 2019 14:27:59 GMT -5 mamooshka said:

Unhinged - Really appreciate the work you put into each of the eleven 80's RDs and wanted to assure you that you kept us all at the edge of our seats. It was entertaining and you deserve some downtime. I do hope that you will consider hosting future RDs since you make it seem so effortless.   

Thank you! My goal was to always keep it exciting so I'm glad to see this!

Jul 16, 2019 15:43:44 GMT -5 newpower said:

Thanks Unhinged for hosting. I'm going to miss your rankdowns.

Welcome! I think a little part of me will miss doing them. lol

Jul 16, 2019 18:05:00 GMT -5 trilogy said:

What a goddamn ride this rankdown was. Thanks for hosting Unhinged !

Thank you sir! Anytime!

Jul 16, 2019 18:05:28 GMT -5 samo🦕 said:

Very pleased with the winner, even if it’s not the strongest Prince song here.

I agree, I personally was hoping that "Little Red Corvette" could do it but I knew going in "When Doves Cry" would be the song to beat. 

Jul 16, 2019 18:30:17 GMT -5 singingrulebritannia said:

Jul 16, 2019 10:12:15 GMT -5 Red said:

Here's what I can say: Thanks for the ride.

lol...what the hell did I just watch!?!

Jul 16, 2019 19:15:03 GMT -5 craziaskowboi said:

Coincidentally, "When Doves Cry" was the #1 song in the U.S. 35 years ago today.

Now that is cool!

Jul 16, 2019 20:37:14 GMT -5 House Lannister said:

Great rankdown, Unhinged. Thanks for another good job hosting.

Hopefully, you'll do another one once your batteries are recharged.

Thanks and you're welcome man! If I do another rankdown it'll be a series again and the thought of doing it at the moment feels daunting, but we shall see!

Jul 16, 2019 23:21:27 GMT -5 rowellfarm490 said:

I'm not surprised "When Doves Cry" won but I definitely did not think it would by nearly 200 points. Thank you for hosting these 80's rankdowns Unhinged ! It's been lots of fun and I've made so many discoveries along the way.

Here are the final stats along with the standard deviations:

You and me both! I had a huge knowledge of 80's music before these rankdowns but I discovered so many great songs in hosting this. Glad I wasn't the only one.

Jul 16, 2019 23:23:17 GMT -5 Doc Indie Party Rock said:

Unhinged
Great job man this 80's are my life. So are we ever gonna start doing the 90's. I wanna start ranking a few of those big Glam Metal songs. At least for the first couple of years.

Same here! I have always felt I was born a decade too late (though I do love the 90's when I was a teenager) to have really experienced the 80's. 

Jul 17, 2019 1:03:17 GMT -5 Juanca said:

Thanks Unhinged for such an amazing job with all these rank-downs. These have been the highlight of my Pulse experience over the past 5 years for sure, as I was always looking forward to participate in each rank-down as much as possible. It was a great trip down the memory lane to my most cherished decade of music, and it was great to see you put so much effort sharing information about different songs and then setting up the stage for others to share their stories as well. I'll miss these rank downs for sure, but you deserve a good break!! Thanks, again --you rock!!

So glad to read that I've been apart of someone's best experience here! Happy you came along for the ride!

Jul 17, 2019 4:00:33 GMT -5 willapted33 said:

great great great great great great winner

Agreed! Also, coming in 2nd in closeness and with 5 perfect ranks, you killed it dude!

[Deleted]

It was fun
though I lost 99.99% of my top 10 too early


thanks for hosting
get a rest
and see you in the 90's

hopefully