Pulse Rankdown: 1980 Year-End Modern Rock Chart (Finished)

[peacebone]

1) PM me (peacebone) the top 100 Modern Rock songs of 1980, all ranked to your preference. (e.g. if you like a song the most, rank it the highest and vice versa).
2) The points a song has will be totaled up based on an inverse point system. So if you rank a song #100, it gets 1 point, and if you rank a song #1, it gets 100 points. All the points from the participants will be totaled up.
3) The due date for submission is Friday, August 20th. The deadline time is 11:59 PM EDT.
4) ALL songs must be ranked.
5) To avoid posting with duplicate lines when you PM me, click BBCode below the text box before pasting your list.
6) While not a requirement, it would be appreciated if you sent your list in the Artist - Song format and kept the artist and song names as they are here (e.g. put The Jam, not Jam; or Pretenders, not The Pretenders).
7) All your rankings will be posted when I post a song in this thread.
8) You are allowed to make changes to your list, as long as you do so before the deadline.
10) For reference, here are the top 100 Modern Rock (aka Alternative) songs of 1980, as compiled by Troy:

1. Devo - Whip It
2. Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
3. The Clash - Train in Vain (Stand by Me)
4. David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
5. Dead Kennedys - Holiday in Cambodia
6. Peter Gabriel - Games Without Frontiers
7. The Cure - Boys Don't Cry
8. The Vapors - Turning Japanese
9. The B-52's - Private Idaho
10. X - Los Angeles
11. The Police - De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
12. The Police - Don't Stand So Close to Me
13. David Bowie - Fashion
14. Devo - Freedom of Choice
15. The Romantics - What I Like About You
16. XTC - Generals and Majors
17. Devo - Girl U Want
18. Oingo Boingo - Only a Lad
19. Queen - Another One Bites the Dust
20. The B-52's - Give Me Back My Man
21. Siouxsie and the Banshees - Christine
22. Talking Heads - Crosseyed and Painless
23. Pretenders - Brass in Pocket
24. The Cars - Touch and Go
25. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Refugee
26. Squeeze - Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)
27. Rockpile - Teacher Teacher
28. Siouxsie and the Banshees - Israel
29. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down
30. Devo - Gates of Steel
31. David Bowie - Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
32. AC/DC - You Shook Me All Night Long
33. The Police - Driven to Tears
34. Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
35. The Cure - A Forest
36. Pretenders - The Wait
37. The Rolling Stones - She's So Cold
38. Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2
39. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Enola Gay
40. Blondie - Call Me
41. John Lennon - Cleanup Time
42. AC/DC - What Do You Do for Money Honey
43. Split Enz - I Got You
44. Siouxsie and the Banshees - Happy House
45. Echo & The Bunnymen - Rescue
46. Pretenders - Mystery Achievement
47. The Jam - Going Underground
48. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Don't Do Me Like That
49. Van Halen - And the Cradle Will Rock
50. Visage - Fade to Grey
51. Joy Division - Atmosphere
52. The Rolling Stones - Let Me Go
53. The Cure - Play for Today
54. Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
55. The Cars - Up and Down
56. Gary Numan - Cars
57. Alice Cooper - Clones (We're All)
58. Blondie - Atomic
59. Echo & The Bunnymen - Do It Clean
60. Genesis - Misunderstanding
61. U2 - 11 O'Clock Tick Tock
62. Rod Stewart - Foolish Behaviour
63. Ultravox - Vienna
64. Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot
65. Pretenders - Tattooed Love Boys
66. Ramones - Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?
67. Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids
68. The Clash - Clampdown
69. Motörhead - Ace of Spades
70. Heart - Even It Up
71. Kate Bush - Babooshka
72. The Motels - Danger
73. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Messages
74. Bauhaus - Dark Entries
75. Bruce Springsteen - Ramrod
76. Joy Division - Isolation
77. Pete Townshend - Rough Boys
78. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Five Gears in Reverse
79. Peter Gabriel - Biko
80. Surf Punks - My Beach
81. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Redemption Song
82. Oingo Boingo - Ain't This the Life
83. X - Johny Hit and Run Paulene
84. Roxy Music - Same Old Scene
85. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Here Comes My Girl
86. The Rolling Stones - Emotional Rescue
87. The Cars - Misfit Kid
88. Adam & The Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier
89. The Jam - Start!
90. Robin Trower - Victims of the Fury
91. Queen - Rock It (Prime Jive)
92. Simple Minds - I Travel
93. The Psychedelic Furs - Sister Europe
94. John Lennon - (Just Like) Starting Over
95. The B-52's - Strobe Light
96. Ramones - Rock 'n' Roll High School
97. The English Beat - Best Friend
98. Martha and the Muffins - Echo Beach
99. Talking Heads - Houses in Motion
100. The Clash - London Calling

Numberless list:

SPOILER: Click to show

Devo - Whip It
Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
The Clash - Train in Vain (Stand by Me)
David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
Dead Kennedys - Holiday in Cambodia
Peter Gabriel - Games Without Frontiers
The Cure - Boys Don't Cry
The Vapors - Turning Japanese
The B-52's - Private Idaho
X - Los Angeles
The Police - De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da
The Police - Don't Stand So Close to Me
David Bowie - Fashion
Devo - Freedom of Choice
The Romantics - What I Like About You
XTC - Generals and Majors
Devo - Girl U Want
Oingo Boingo - Only a Lad
Queen - Another One Bites the Dust
The B-52's - Give Me Back My Man
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Christine
Talking Heads - Crosseyed and Painless
Pretenders - Brass in Pocket
The Cars - Touch and Go
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Refugee
Squeeze - Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)
Rockpile - Teacher Teacher
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Israel
Elvis Costello & The Attractions - I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down
Devo - Gates of Steel
David Bowie - Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
AC/DC - You Shook Me All Night Long
The Police - Driven to Tears
Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
The Cure - A Forest
Pretenders - The Wait
The Rolling Stones - She's So Cold
Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Enola Gay
Blondie - Call Me
John Lennon - Cleanup Time
AC/DC - What Do You Do for Money Honey
Split Enz - I Got You
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Happy House
Echo & The Bunnymen - Rescue
Pretenders - Mystery Achievement
The Jam - Going Underground
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Don't Do Me Like That
Van Halen - And the Cradle Will Rock
Visage - Fade to Grey
Joy Division - Atmosphere
The Rolling Stones - Let Me Go
The Cure - Play for Today
Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
The Cars - Up and Down
Gary Numan - Cars
Alice Cooper - Clones (We're All)
Blondie - Atomic
Echo & The Bunnymen - Do It Clean
Genesis - Misunderstanding
U2 - 11 O'Clock Tick Tock
Rod Stewart - Foolish Behaviour
Ultravox - Vienna
Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Pretenders - Tattooed Love Boys
Ramones - Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?
Japan - Gentlemen Take Polaroids
The Clash - Clampdown
Motörhead - Ace of Spades
Heart - Even It Up
Kate Bush - Babooshka
The Motels - Danger
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Messages
Bauhaus - Dark Entries
Bruce Springsteen - Ramrod
Joy Division - Isolation
Pete Townshend - Rough Boys
Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Five Gears in Reverse
Peter Gabriel - Biko
Surf Punks - My Beach
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Redemption Song
Oingo Boingo - Ain't This the Life
X - Johny Hit and Run Paulene
Roxy Music - Same Old Scene
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Here Comes My Girl
The Rolling Stones - Emotional Rescue
The Cars - Misfit Kid
Adam & The Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier
The Jam - Start!
Robin Trower - Victims of the Fury
Queen - Rock It (Prime Jive)
Simple Minds - I Travel
The Psychedelic Furs - Sister Europe
John Lennon - (Just Like) Starting Over
The B-52's - Strobe Light
Ramones - Rock 'n' Roll High School
The English Beat - Best Friend
Martha and the Muffins - Echo Beach
Talking Heads - Houses in Motion
The Clash - London Calling

Luckily for all of us, every song on this list is on Spotify! I will note that I added the Oingo Boingo and Dead Kennedys songs in their EP/single versions as those are the ones that got played in this year, but you may rank their album versions if you want.

Participants
peacebone
singingrulebritannia
Troy
macattack
Trilogy
American Idiot
razorshark
Red
wheatsquares33
DJDaveMick69
Doc Indie Party Rock
BB🌕
Gonza'90
rowellfarm490
aerodynamite
gonecountry
Clode
Daryl the Beryl
Geometrical
tanooki
thethirdcurry
lyhom
House Lannister
willapted33
Juanca

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wheatsquares33 American Idiot lyhom rowellfarm490 Troy Alex1901 Mirago singingrulebritannia gonecountry wrip Doc Indie Party Rock campbellssoup Daryl the Beryl newpower Juanca House Lannister Verisimilitude janinho MoD Red eidde @humanshazam somelikeitwhen alexcuse willapted33 Sambalada Albie craziaskowboi aerodynamite thethirdcurry razorshark jamesflame DadJokes Trilogy chanman tanooki BB🌕 Gonza'90 DJDaveMick69 Clode

[peacebone]

So, this is it, folks. The final year-end Modern Rock retro rankdown.

Where we'll go after this I'm not completely sure. Some of us are thinking of continuing the retro AAA rankdown series (on which we left off in 2014); some of us want to redo some of the earlier Alt rankdowns (a la 2016). I'm not sure about Mainstream Rock/AOR either - I have lists calculated back to 1976 for that format based on Radio & Records data, but I can't say for certain we'll be going all the way back there.

Anyways, on to the music itself...consider this the year that new wave/post-punk truly started making waves in America. While Blondie, the Talking Heads, The Police, and The Cars already had limited amounts of success on the US charts in the years prior, this is the year that all of those acts - as well as bands/artists such as the Pretenders, Devo, The Clash, and Gary Numan - started making themselves known over here, heralding the rise of new wave throughout the 80s.

And what a list to conclude this format on, goddamn. Absolutely stacked with stone-cold classics. Some of these definitely don't quite belong on Modern Rock (multiple AC/DC songs??), but that speaks more to how new wave/post-punk hadn't completely settled in yet; plus it gives something to enjoy for just about any 80s enthusiast here. I hope you all sit back and enjoy this wild ride of a list.

Also, regarding the deadline: August 15th is a tentative deadline, but I am hoping to at least begin reveals before I start my fall classes on the 23rd, so I won't be giving too much in the way of extensions.

[dremolus - solarpunk]

Tag me pls

[gonecountry]

Hot damn! Stone cold classics for sure.

It would seem not right to not rank Walking on the Moon, Message in the Bottle, Roxanne, Psycho Killer, Take Me to the River, One Way or Another, Just What I Needed, Good Times Roll and others from the late 70's but we have Mainstream for that, don't we?

And again... there are some mother effing stone cold classics in this 1980 list. I see like 5 #1's at first glance. Hell you can make a strong case for the #100 song London Calling being #1.

That all said, when I typed in "What is Top New Wave Song Of All Time" on Google, my immediate thought was validated with my search results. I'm going to keep an open mind, but this is going to be tough.....

[razorshark]

Jul 20, 2021 11:17:28 GMT -5 peacebone said:

So, this is it, folks. The final year-end Modern Rock retro rankdown.

Where we'll go after this I'm not completely sure. Some of us are thinking of continuing the retro AAA rankdown series (on which we left off in 2014); some of us want to redo some of the earlier Alt rankdowns (a la 2016). I'm not sure about Mainstream Rock/AOR either - I have lists calculated back to 1976 for that format based on Radio & Records data, but I can't say for certain we'll be going all the way back there.

Anyways, on to the music itself...consider this the year that new wave/post-punk truly started making waves in America. While Blondie, the Talking Heads, The Police, and The Cars already had limited amounts of success on the US charts in the years prior, this is the year that all of those acts - as well as bands/artists such as the Pretenders, Devo, The Clash, and Gary Numan - started making themselves known over here, heralding the rise of new wave throughout the 80s.

And what a list to conclude this format on, goddamn. Absolutely stacked with stone-cold classics. Some of these definitely don't quite belong on Modern Rock (multiple AC/DC songs??), but that speaks more to how new wave/post-punk hadn't completely settled in yet; plus it gives something to enjoy for just about any 80s enthusiast here. I hope you all sit back and enjoy this wild ride of a list.

Also, regarding the deadline: August 15th is a tentative deadline, but I am hoping to at least begin reveals before I start my fall classes on the 23rd, so I won't be giving too much in the way of extensions.

I'm not sure who would be interested but I have started calculating the defunct Active and Heritage formats that Billboard had between 97 and 14. Some of them have interesting songs that weren't present on Mainstream lists. 2000 for example had "Electric Uncle Sam" by Primus and "Spiders" by System Of A Down

On topic. I'll get started on this very soon. This list slaps so hard.

[singingrulebritannia]

#1-3: 5/5
#4-13: 4.5/5
#14-37: 4/5
#38-70: 3.5/5
#71-91: 3/5
#92-96: 2.5/5
#97-100: 2/5

[Troy]

this list is so good that there's a song that i'm going to have to move down about 30 spots from where i ranked it in '81 Mainstream

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

Jul 20, 2021 12:02:32 GMT -5 razorshark said:

Jul 20, 2021 11:17:28 GMT -5 peacebone said:

So, this is it, folks. The final year-end Modern Rock retro rankdown.

Where we'll go after this I'm not completely sure. Some of us are thinking of continuing the retro AAA rankdown series (on which we left off in 2014); some of us want to redo some of the earlier Alt rankdowns (a la 2016). I'm not sure about Mainstream Rock/AOR either - I have lists calculated back to 1976 for that format based on Radio & Records data, but I can't say for certain we'll be going all the way back there.

Anyways, on to the music itself...consider this the year that new wave/post-punk truly started making waves in America. While Blondie, the Talking Heads, The Police, and The Cars already had limited amounts of success on the US charts in the years prior, this is the year that all of those acts - as well as bands/artists such as the Pretenders, Devo, The Clash, and Gary Numan - started making themselves known over here, heralding the rise of new wave throughout the 80s.

And what a list to conclude this format on, goddamn. Absolutely stacked with stone-cold classics. Some of these definitely don't quite belong on Modern Rock (multiple AC/DC songs??), but that speaks more to how new wave/post-punk hadn't completely settled in yet; plus it gives something to enjoy for just about any 80s enthusiast here. I hope you all sit back and enjoy this wild ride of a list.

Also, regarding the deadline: August 15th is a tentative deadline, but I am hoping to at least begin reveals before I start my fall classes on the 23rd, so I won't be giving too much in the way of extensions.

I'm not sure who would be interested but I have started calculating the defunct Active and Heritage formats that Billboard had between 97 and 14. Some of them have interesting songs that weren't present on Mainstream lists. 2000 for example had "Electric Uncle Sam" by Primus and "Spiders" by System Of A Down

On topic. I'll get started on this very soon. This list slaps so hard.

1979 was a killer abum rock year. We even get to rank some led Zeppelin. I'm all in to get  a chance to rank The Cars "Let's Go".

[gonecountry]

Is it just me or is it easier to go through the mainstream rock rankdowns than it is the modern rock rankdowns? I find I have to listen to the songs a few times on the modern rock side before I have a solid opinion, but generally on mainstream rock I typically only need one (or two at most) listens.

[macattack]

[peacebone]

Forgot to do this yesterday - 2-week reminder!

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[Troy]

only six lists??? c'mon guys, let's get on this!

[gonecountry]

Aug 5, 2021 15:12:53 GMT -5 Troy said:

only six lists??? c'mon guys, let's get on this!

I'm halfway done.  Finishing up mainstream first (easier) and then will get back to this one...

What I've done, I really enjoy

[razorshark]

I am finishing my list tonight. I wouldn't miss Motorhead on Alt for the world

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

This is definitely the tuffest 80's Modern Rock RD I have had to rank. There are quite a lot of Metal jams here that are testing my logic of what belongs here , and what doesn't. No way I'm putting all the metal/hard rock songs under my top 40. There are just too many ,and most are better than the first time Modern Rock listens ones too.

[valleyghost01]

Hope Bob Marley doesnt go out in the bottom 20 or something.

[macattack]

Aug 6, 2021 22:08:39 GMT -5 valleyghost01 said:

Hope Bob Marley doesnt go out in the bottom 20 or something.

As someone who normally can't stand Bob Marley I can safely say that I did not dump Marley in my bottom 20. 

As for why I chose to get involved in this one after sitting out the previous rankdowns; I figure that 1981-2019 will all get redone at some point in the vein of 2016, but I don't think 1980 will ever be redone. I think this is going to be a branching point, linked to both the original rankdowns and then to the redone rankdowns later. Sort of like how the Tony Hawk or Sonic game franchises kind of split in their own directions after a certain game in their respective series. So I wanted to take part in this one because this list is both finishing up the past but also is a starting point for the future; aka the redone rankdowns that follow the rules of 2016 and 2020. 

Also, this is frankly an incredible list of songs and I couldn't resist taking part. I think only like my bottom 15 or so I would consider to be "bad" songs. 

[singingrulebritannia]

Aug 7, 2021 14:34:59 GMT -5 macattack said:

Also, this is frankly an incredible list of songs[...]I think only like my bottom 15 or so I would consider to be "bad" songs. 

Lol I'm usually the stingiest guy on Pulse with ratings and even I only rated my bottom 9 below a 60%

[macattack]

Aug 7, 2021 16:29:45 GMT -5 singingrulebritannia said:

Aug 7, 2021 14:34:59 GMT -5 macattack said:

Also, this is frankly an incredible list of songs[...]I think only like my bottom 15 or so I would consider to be "bad" songs. 

Lol I'm usually the stingiest guy on Pulse with ratings and even I only rated my bottom 9 below a 60%

I don't participate in many rankdowns but I'm actually pretty damn stingy. I gave a couple songs on 2020 Alt 0/10 and even awarded a song a negative rating because I hated it that much.

(It was "Dance Monkey" in case you were curious)

[tanooki]

Aug 7, 2021 14:34:59 GMT -5 macattack said:

Aug 6, 2021 22:08:39 GMT -5 valleyghost01 said:

Hope Bob Marley doesnt go out in the bottom 20 or something.

As someone who normally can't stand Bob Marley I can safely say that I did not dump Marley in my bottom 20. 

As for why I chose to get involved in this one after sitting out the previous rankdowns; I figure that 1981-2019 will all get redone at some point in the vein of 2016, but I don't think 1980 will ever be redone. I think this is going to be a branching point, linked to both the original rankdowns and then to the redone rankdowns later. Sort of like how the Tony Hawk or Sonic game franchises kind of split in their own directions after a certain game in their respective series. So I wanted to take part in this one because this list is both finishing up the past but also is a starting point for the future; aka the redone rankdowns that follow the rules of 2016 and 2020. 

Also, this is frankly an incredible list of songs and I couldn't resist taking part. I think only like my bottom 15 or so I would consider to be "bad" songs. 

well, if you're interested in re-doing the rock rankdowns (this goes for everyone btw), it's happening on TOTC. Currently 2020 Alt is ongoing, and 2019 active and alt will start right after that. discord.gg/talkofthecharts

[Troy]

Aug 5, 2021 15:12:53 GMT -5 Troy said:

only six lists??? c'mon guys, let's get on this!

[razorshark]

Aug 10, 2021 13:58:40 GMT -5 Troy said:

Aug 5, 2021 15:12:53 GMT -5 Troy said:

only six lists??? c'mon guys, let's get on this!

I have submitted since you said that the first time tbf

[Troy]

ok, then (at least) seven lists...our host just hasn't updated the original post yet

[House Lannister]

Aug 7, 2021 17:09:10 GMT -5 macattack said:

Aug 7, 2021 16:29:45 GMT -5 singingrulebritannia said:

Lol I'm usually the stingiest guy on Pulse with ratings and even I only rated my bottom 9 below a 60%

I don't participate in many rankdowns but I'm actually pretty damn stingy. I gave a couple songs on 2020 Alt 0/10 and even awarded a song a negative rating because I hated it that much.

(It was "Dance Monkey" in case you were curious)

I get it.  It was SO annoying.

[valleyghost01]

I know they aren't on here, but did you know the Sparks literally formed way back in 1966? They have music from 1967 or 1968 too.

[peacebone]

I've decided to add another 3 days to the deadline. We're back to a week left.

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[Gonza'90]

Just sent my ranking. That list was STACKED.

[aerodynamite]

#1-2: 5/5
#3-16: 4.5/5
#17-50: 4/5
#51-77: 3.5/5
#78-89: 3/5
#90-97: 2.5/5
#98-100: 2/5

Stacked indeed

[gonecountry]

Just submitted. Outside of my #1, most every other ranking was pretty challenging and I found myself moving songs around way more than normal. The top 10 really feels like it should be a top 20, based on the quality of the songs.

Looking forward to this rankdown.

[razorshark]

I'm kinda surprised we didn't Gary Numan until this year(unless he was somewhere else before I joined these) and it's sad that we won't get to rank "Are Friends Electric"