A Tip of the Toque to LMC at The Llama Butchers for this post, which got me on an old '80's music kick -- You remember the '80's, when hair was big, ballads were bigger, and the "M" in MTV actually meant "Music"? Yea, those '80's. Good times, good times.
So anyway, the whole '80's video wallowing I did made me reminisce on my amazing love life during the '80's. And by amazing, I mean amazingly dismal. I didn't have much luck with girls in my teens, or in my early 20's, for that matter. I had a few (count 'em on one hand) girlfriends, but they all dumped me after a very short amount of time. Most of my romantic activities during that era consisted of crushes on girls who thought I was a "great guy" but "more like a brother". Yeah, ladies, I'm looking at you.
This led to me being VERY much a connoisseur of the breakup/unrequited love subgenre of pop songs of the 80's, a time ripe with them, since the style of the time lent itself to sap and mauflin to begin with.
So I decided to compile a list of my top ten lost/never had love songs og the '80's. OK, Top 12 -- Twice two or more songs by the Same Artist get listed. On one occasion they share a spot, on another they each get their own ranking. Some of them I managed to pull right off the top of my head, some I had to research to be reminded, but in the end, these are the ones *I* came up with, with some commentary -- enjoy:
UPDATE:
I got a couple comments this morning, and another song I really liked back then was mentioned. Also this morning a forehead-slapper "How could I have forgotten that?" song came to mind, so I've decided to update the list, with some honorable mentions:
Honorable Mentions:
Falling from #9 (spot the reference), Against All Odds - Phil Collins
I never saw the movie, but it was a great song.
Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes
An interesting refutation of the old "Better to have loved and lost" adage, and probably the rockingest song on the list. Great guitar and keyboard riffs in this song. Thanks, Robbo, for the reminder.
in the top 10:
10. All Out of Love - Air Supply
For me this song screams "Slow dancing with my homecoming mercy date who now has the heels of her palms against my shoulders and elbows lockled to make sure I don't try to dance too close".
9. . Careless Whisper - George Michael
The ultimate song about losing someone because you deserved to.
8. With or Without You - U2
A great song, an awesome video, one of the last ones where Bono still looks lean and hungry, which adds to the feel of the song. Too bad it was also in the period where he was standing on the precipice of Hubris.
7. Total Eclipse of the Heart/It's A heartache/Making Love (Out of Nothing at All) - Bonnie Tyler
Gee, Bonnie, got a theme going? But seriously, they all still get to me.
6. If You Leave - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
It took me a long time to forgive John Hughes for not letting Ducky win Andie in the end -- mostly because I identified so much with Ducky. There were a lot of characters in Hughes movies who made me think, "My Gosh, that's ME! -- Cameron Frye in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Brian in The Breakfast Club, The Geek in Sixteen Candles...
(and coming in high after having originally been overlooked):
5. Don't Answer Me - Alan Parsons Project
Really creative video, very poetic lyrics, altogether a great song.
4. Drive - The Cars
The "You're gonna miss me" song.
3. Boys of Summer - Don Henley
This is the "I Miss you and I'm not ready to give you up" song.
2. Heart of the Matter - Don Henley
Same artist, different album, this one is almost a bookend to "Boys of Summer", and is about moving on.
1. I'm Still Standing -- Elton John
This was the song I sang or listened to whenever I was trying to tell myself I was better off without "her", whomever she may have been.
