Top 100 Songs of the 1980s, #90 - 81

What's on tap for today then... how about the song with what many consider to be the greatest music video, the biggest band in the world, an anthem of female empowerment and a song that inspired Jessica Simpson to wake up one day and say, "I'm going to totally s**t on the legacy of that song by covering it." Now that I've got you in the mood, let's look at today's 80s hits!

#90 - Thriller (1984)

by Michael Jackson

Yah... this would be the one with the amazing music video. Long before Kanye and Gaga were doing pointless mini-movies because it's 'art' (and art isn't meant to be understood, right?), the former King of Pop was showing us how it's done. The song's good, the video is better.

#89 - Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves (1985)

by Aretha Franklin & Eurythmics

Do you remember the scene in The Simpsons when Milhouse sings a bit of this in drag. Funny stuff. I'm sure Franklin and Lennox were thrilled.

#88 - Heaven Is A Place On Earth (1987)

by Belinda Carlisle

#87 - Relax (1983)

by Frankie Goes To Hollywood

I like this song. Of course you do. Hello Derek. Hello. Welcome to your relaxation time. Let this wonderful 80s classic soothe you. Just a nice warm happy time. Happy happy happy... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Nothing to worry about at all, just relax. Hey there Derek, my name is little Cletus. I'm just a regular kid that wants you to know the real truth about child labour laws, okay? Okay. They're silly and outdated. In the good old days, kids as young as five could work as they pleased; from textile factories to iron smelts. Yippee! Hooray! But today the age-old right of children's work is under attack, from the Philippines to Bangladesh and China and India and South America too. Boo hoo! But you can help these children, Derek... BY KILLING THE PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA! He is bad. What? You learn martial arts. PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA BAD! Martial arts good. KILL NAUGHTY MAN. Obey my dog.

- I could have just said I like this song because of Zoolander but I don't think it would have had the same effect.

#86 - Jane Says (1988)

by Jane's Addiction

As we get to the end of the 80s, all these amazing rock bands start to emerge as the backlash towards new wave and the birth of grunge begins to happen. Rock doesn't get much better in the 80s than Jane's Addiction!

#85 - Word Up! (1986)

by Cameo

What's word up? It's the code word... duh.

#84 - Summer of '69 (1985)

by Bryan Adams

Karaoke classic... pub sing-along... 80s rock anthem. Who doesn't like 'Summer of '69? You'd be a rare breed.

#83 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (1987)

by U2

#82 - Don't You (Forget About Me) (1985)

by Simple Minds

Animated TV shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy are generally a good source for older music if, like me, you're young (and pretty) and don't remember anything pre-1993. I joke about the pretty thing, but I'm not kidding about the tv shows. If you know the scene in Futurama where Fry's dog waits his entire life outside the pizza place for Fry to come back from the future, then you'll love this song too.

#81 - Take My Breath Away (1986)

by Berlin

Yah... this would be the one that J Simps decides to poop on. Top Gun... good movie, better soundtrack.

I'm going to try and work through this countdown a little quicker than the 90s one... so look for some more great 80s musack very soon!