Top 10 80s Bands: Part I

Ahh, the 80s. The hair. The Reagans. And, of course, the music.

For me, the quintessential music of the eighties came from the new wave/modern rock/college radio-type bands. Of course there was a lot of hair metal and rap going on, as well as an obscure little album called "Thriller," but none of that evokes the era nearly as well for me. Also, I typically think of bands that favored the "electronic" as being the sound of that decade.

As far as my criteria for this list, I only wanted to include bands that had at least a few "hits" (in some cases, somewhat loosely defined), so no one-hit wonders (sorry "Split Enz" - and yes, I know they also did "Six Months In A Leaky Boat"), and no XTC, or Sonic Youth, or Bronski Beat, or Kajagoogoo, or ... well, you get the idea.

The bands also must have had their real heyday in the eighties––and then not much else. So given R.E.M. and U2's ongoing success, they don't qualify. The Cure had too many early nineties hits to make the list. And at the other end, Squeeze was too big in the late-seventies. I'm also putting The Clash in that category, as half their studio albums were recorded in the seventies.

There are also a couple of bands who did have their biggest years in the eighties, but in my mind have kind of "transcended" that one decade. So no Talking Heads, no Police.

If you disagree, your comments are welcome, and in fact encouraged. Or, as always, click on the link at the upper right that says "Create Blog" and make your own list.

With all that out of the way, grab your skinny tie and cropped jacket and let's take a look at the first five bands ...

10. Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark

Biggest Songs: If You Leave, Joan of Arc, So In Love, Forever Live and Die

OMD will always hold a special place in my eighties heart as they were the first "new wave"-type band I was introduced to as a freshman in college (along with Alphaville). Like three other bands on this list, they gain increased "eightiesness" by having a song featured in a John Hughes movie, in this case "Pretty In Pink." "Tesla Girls" also made it into "Weird Science," but though that film was written and directed by Hughes, it's not part of the Pretty In Pink/Sixteen Candles/Breakfast Club true-eighties-starring-Molly Ringwald-triumverate. But back to Pretty in Pink ...



9. Thompson Twins

Biggest Songs: Hold Me Now, Doctor! Doctor!, Lay Your Hands On Me

As anyone with a knowledge of eighties music (or the ability to type "wikipedia") knows, there were no twins, nor anyone named "Thompson" in Thompson Twins. They were named after a pair of detectives in the Tintin comics. The Twins are another band with a Hughes-movie song, "If You Were Here" in "Sixteen Candles." But why don't we pause a few minutes, so that you can hold me now ...



8. Tears For Fears

Biggest Songs: Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Shout, Head Over Heals, Mad World, Sowing The Seeds of Love

Tears For Fears is one of those bands that you initially remember only a couple of songs for, then when you look at their discography, you recognize more and more titles. I for one had completely forgotten about "Mad World," which came out a couple of years before their huge "Songs From The Big Chair" album of 1984. In fact, all told (including post-eighties albums), they've sold over 22 million albums. Of course, most of those were sold back in the days before young punks could just download music without all that filthy lucre changing hands.

Even though "Shout" may be the first song that comes to mind for most people, I've always preferred their other, more upbeat number one hit ...



6. The Go-Gos

Biggest Songs: We Got The Beat, Our Lips Are Sealed, Vacation, Head Over Heels

The Go-Gos have a different sound than the other bands on this list, and also hold a couple of other distinctions. First, they're the only American band. And second, the only ladies (other than Alannah Currie from Thompson Twins). Belinda Carlisle and the gals were in fact quite influential in new wave. And they were also ground-breakers as the first all-female band to write their own songs and play their own instruments–and make it to the top of the Billboard charts.

I wanted to use the video for "We Got The Beat," but the black pantyhose/white pumps combo Belinda was sporting was really throwing me off. So here's "Our Lips Are Sealed" instead.



6. Psychedelic Furs

Biggest Songs: Pretty In Pink, Love My Way, Heaven, Heartbreak Beat

The Furs actually first recorded "Pretty In Pink" back in 1981, and it served as inspiration for the title of the John Hughes-penned movie. So extra points for that, even if an OMD song (see above) ended up being the bigger hit from that soundtrack.

I personally prefer "Heartbreak Beat" to "Pretty In Pink," but since this video–featuring footage of Andie, Blane, and Duckie–really helps you relive that glorious decade, Pink it is ...




Coming Soon: Bands 5 through 1 ...