Bradley's Buzz

50-46

50. MAD ABOUT YOU – Belinda Carlisle
(Brown/Evans/Whelan)
IRS single #52815 (US)/ #118 (UK)
Chart Debut: June 21, 1986 (US)/ August 16, 1988 (UK)
Chart Position: #3 US / #67 UK

I always loved the Go Gos and no one was more devastated than I was when they broke up, but a few years later Belinda was back and she was no longer the girl with the baby fat and cherub face, instead donned over a bright pink backdrop was the Belinda of ’86 svelte and dressed in black. But one thing she didn’t leave behind for her debut album was a charming little pop sensibility and the ability to capture summer in a song. Just like the Go Gos songs that came before “Mad About You” feels like summer. Just hearing the dunt dunt dunt dunt at the beginning makes me want to sauter off the top of my Escort and drive to the beach. Watch the video.

49. BREAKAWAY – Big Pig
(Mitch Bottler/Gary Zekley)
A&M single #3014
Chart Debut:
Chart Position: #60 US

Mostly notable being featured in the film Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, I knew the song long before they used it in that film. Big Pig’s BONK! album with its tin drums and iron lungs was on constant rotation in Ryanne’s Omni 024 just like Duran Duran. I love the whole album but “Breakaway” gets me going the minute I hear the opening chug and I love the lines of the whole song – “like a child in his fantasy/ punching holes in the walls of reality” and Mama did always say I can be what I want to be but I can’t change the course of my destiny, or something like that. See the video!

48. ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST - Queen
(John Deacon)
Elektra single #47031 (US)/ EMI single #5102 (UK)
Chart Debut: August 30, 1980 (US)/ September 16, 1980 (UK)
Chart Position: #1 US / #7 UK

With its funky bass line and Freddie Mercury’s vocals this is one of those songs that transcended genres. Even country hicks vowed to be buried to the tune of this song. I remember begging my mother to buy me the 45 and then like the child I was, I left it in the car while we visited relatives. I was devastated when we got back to the car and my brand new unlistened to record, was warped. I felt like killing myself! Luckily I flipped the record over and the b-side was called “Don’t Try Suicide” so I just begged my mother to buy me another one. Watch the video!

47. PLEASURE & PAIN - Divinyls
(Mike Chapman/Holly Knight)
Chrysalis single #42916 (US)/ #9799 (UK)
Chart Debut: October 1, 1985
Chart Position: #76 US / #12 aus

I love the Divinyls and this is the song that first got me into the brilliance of Chrissie Amphlett and Mark McEntee. Another little gem written by the team of Holly Knight and Mike Chapman, and once again produced by Chapman, this is the song that should’ve pushed Divinyls into the mainstream. A dark tale of an abusive relationship, “Pleasure & Pain” finds our antagonist actually thriving for the abuse her lover gives her – “Just don’t ask me how I’ve been getting off”. Fairly complex stuff for a rock song but such is the brilliance of the Divinyls. Due to the lack of buying interest, Chrysalis Records in America didn’t release any more singles off the What A Life! Album but in Australia, they got the brilliant “Sleeping Beauty” and “Heart Telegraph.” Personally, I recommend you run and buy every single Divinyls album you can get your hands on, or you could email me for Divinytyve, the bubbatunes compilation I created, which is probably THE best Divinyls compilation you’ll ever find. Watch the video and see how cool Chrissie really is!

46. I LOVE ROCK & ROLL – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
(Hooker/Merrill)
Boardwalk single #135
Chart Debut: February 13, 1982 (US)/ March 24, 1982 (UK)
Chart Position: #1 US / #4 UK

Joan Jett rocks my world! Leave it to that leather-clad gal to take a completely obscure cover song and turn it into one of the most recognizable and popular songs of the entire decade of the 80s. Who doesn’t sing along as Joan puts another dime in the jukebox baby? And who doesn’t try to seduce the 17-year-old standing by the record machine? This single is Joan in one of her most brilliant moments and it’s one of the greatest moments in my karaoke career – though Joan may cringe to hear that. Relive the kick ass video here! and see the never released video in amazing color (who knew!)

and come back next time when we hit the numbers 45-41 of the Top 100 Singles Of The 80's - According to me!

Labels: Belinda Carlisle, Big Pig, Divinyls, Joan Jett, Queen, Top 100 Singles Of the 1980s

posted by swivek @ 8:56 AM