More iconic: Physical vs Girls Just Want to Have Fun

[degen]

2 signature 80s hits that have truly stood the test of time…but which one is more iconic?

I would say this is very tough. Girls Just Want to Have Fun seems to have preserved well after so many years and feels less dated, but “Physical” is the one that continues to be sampled in modern day pop. I’m not sure which one I would chose.

[#LisaRinna]

Cyndi

[back2blk]

Lauper

[🇯🇲 lucy88 🇯🇲]

Absolutely Cyndi.

[Private Dancer]

Hate to break this streak, but I going for Physical. I honestly love that song and I'm hopelessly devoted to it.

[degen]

Can people provide context over why Cyndi is clearly their choice? Just curious.

[surfy]

cyndi is clearly the choice bc the impact of that song is undeniable. point me to one person who hasn't heard that phrase bc of that song.

also the new generation had miley's cover of the song so i just feel like it's still culturally relevant.

[Deleted]

Which one was bigger at the time? Physical, which was the biggest hit of the decade.
Which one has stuck around more? Girls Just Want To Have Fun

[woods]

Oct 7, 2021 19:28:18 GMT -5 degen said:

Can people provide context over why Cyndi is clearly their choice? Just curious.

Physical has 42 million streams on Spotify, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun has 601 million.

[Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ]

Oct 7, 2021 22:08:10 GMT -5 woods said:

Oct 7, 2021 19:28:18 GMT -5 degen said:

Can people provide context over why Cyndi is clearly their choice? Just curious.

Physical has 42 million streams on Spotify, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun has 601 million.

and almost 1B on YouTube...

This is really easy, and Physical may have been a bigger hit during the 80s, but it really sounds dated now, imo. 

[dremolus - solarpunk]

Physical feels like it's more remembered as a cheesy hit from the 80s. Girls really is timeless though

[Private Dancer]

Oct 7, 2021 19:28:18 GMT -5 degen said:

Can people provide context over why Cyndi is clearly their choice? Just curious.

Both are very corny...but when you think about it Girls Just Wanna Have Fun has more revelance than Physical. Probably due to the fact no matter the decade or age girls really do wanna have fun. On the other hand, Physical is still known by people of that time but has been quiet over the years. Buy Physical is the better song in quality. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is annoying. Everything on the SSU album is better than GJWHF.

[leoapp]

Cynd, of course.

It's a proof that:
- a much bigger US hit (with a record of 10 weeks at no. 1 at that time)
- the top Hot 100 hit of the decade (Physical was crowned as the top Hot 100 hit of 80s)
- even with a controversial music video (remember the music video was banned in certain countries due to its explicit sexual theme/gay thing)

May end up becoming less impactful/less timeless compared to the lesser big hit, after decades.

It's just like how MJ's Thriller, although it didnt top Hot 100, it's more impactful until now, even compared to all his own Bad era's 5 Hot 100 No.1s...

[Ling-Ling]

It still kinda blows my mind that Olivia had so many hits throughout the 70's and 80's and how forgotten they all are. Grease really is her legacy.

That being said, GJWHF is just a better song by a million miles. And it's stood the test of time.

[The Black Bird]

GJWHF is more known today, but Physical is my absolute favorite. Love it!

[HolidayGuy]

As huge as "Physical" was, it gets little recurrent play in the USA, whereas "Girls..." gets a good amount, and prospers on YouTube and other outlets.

So, as much as I adore Olivia and "Physical," it's "Girls..." that wins out here.

[degen]

I never realized how much YouTube views GJWTHF has. Damn it really is one of the long lasting hits if the 80s.

[Vic]

O L I V I A

[JukeboxJacob]

In my personal life if I wasn't so into music, I may not have even known Physical was a song that existed. GJWHF on the other hand gets played on 80's stations every once in a while, has lots of views on YT, and is a hit at any party/karaoke

[Lost In Musical Reverie]

In my opinion as someone who didn't live through the 80s (so no nostalgia bias on my side), "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" has held up so much better. It is such an anthemic and feel-good tune, and even the music video, despite being quintessentially 80s, still has that retro charm to it.

Meanwhile, "Physical" just sounds tacky and dated, even if the main melody + title line have shown surprising longevity through the likes of Dua Lipa's "Physical" and Doja Cat's "Kiss Me More", both of which improve significantly upon the original song - in my opinion, of course. Never been a fan, really, though I do enjoy other songs from Olivia Newton-John ("Hopelessly Devoted to You" ❤)