Best of the '80s Redux, Poll — April 9, 2018 at 8:02 am

Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of the ’80s Redux: Vote for your favorite songs of 1983

Time marches on as we continue our Best of the ’80s Redux series of year-by-year song polls, this time moving on to the year 1983, and giving Slicing Up Eyeballs readers the chance to vote for their 25 favorites as we rank the 100 best songs released that year.

The Best of the ’80s Redux polls launched in 2015 and covered 1980 and 1981 before fizzling out (the whole site ultimately went on hiatus for almost two years). But earlier this year we kickstarted the series, and relaunched it with a poll that ranked the best songs of 1982. Now we press on.

VOTING: For the album polls (and our more recent artist discography polls), we presented you with a list, sometimes hundreds of titles long, to choose from, plus the ability to offer write-ins. We inevitably missed titles, and some argued this skewed the results. So this time, it’s a (mostly) free-for-all. You may vote for any songs you’d like — singles, B-sides, album cuts, etc. It’s all fill-in-the-blanks this time, not multiple choice.

A few important things to note:

  • To be eligible, songs must have been released in some format — whether it be on an album, EP or a single — for the first time during the year 1983. That means, for example, that a song that’s released as a single in 1984 will be eligible for the 1983 poll if it first appeared on an album released in 1983. Splitting hairs? Sure, but we have to draw the line somewhere.
  • But wait! There’s an exception. And it’s a pretty big one. Back in 2015, during the 1981 poll, we were asked to make a ruling on R.E.M.’s “Radio Free Europe,” a song that was released as a single that year, and then again, in a re-recorded form on a different label, in 1983. We ruled that, given that they’re different recordings, and that the second release had a much larger impact, we’d allow it to be voted on in both years. And we’ll stand by that ruling.
  • With the album polls, acknowledging the theme of this website, we limited voting to artists that fall under the very loose and ill-defined “alternative” banner, generally acts from the punk, post-punk, goth, college rock, indie, synthpop, industrial, New Wave and related genres. Not the case anymore — although that’s still likely how the results will skew. For the song polls, vote for whatever you want.
  • Well, there is one limit. To prevent one-note fans from, say, simply listing every track off Synchronicity, you may only vote for a maximum of two songs by the same artist when filling out your Top 25. Any ballots submitted with more than two songs by the same artist will be disqualified.

DEADLINE: Voting will be open through 5 p.m. ET Friday, April 27, and results will be posted within a week or two — after which we’ll launch the 1984 poll and take it from there.

Sound good? Then vote away via the survey widget posted below. And if you have trouble with that embedded widget, you may vote directly on Polldaddy’s site.

And because there’s not a pre-set list to choose from, we encourage you to lobby for your picks (list your whole ballot if you want), and maybe sway some votes, in the comments below.

Finally, if you’re drawing a blank on what came out that year, take a look back at our Top 100 albums of 1983 poll results, or check out these other resources:

 

 

PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS

 

86 Comments

  1. New Order “Blue Monday”

    New Order “Confusion”

  2. Bauhaus – She´s In Parties

  3. Shocked that there’s no Depeche Mode from “Construction Time Again” on the KROQ list!

    Anyway, off to create my list that definitely will. Great year!

  4. Paul Carpenter

    My 25 with my note of first released date to make sure they were released in 1983

    1. The Smiths, This charming. 31 Oct
    2. Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams. 21 jan
    3. Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun. 13 apr
    4. Simple Minds – Waterfront. 4 nov
    5. David Bowie – Modern Love. 14 apr
    6. David Bowie – let’s Dance. 17 mar
    7. Elvis Costello – Everyday I write the book. 9 July
    8. Grandmaster Flash – White Lines. 12 nov
    9. Billy Bragg – A New England. May
    10. Talking Heads – Slippery People. 1 June
    11. Elvis Costello – Shipbulding. 5 aug
    12. Rufus and Chaka Khan – Ain’t Nobody. 10 aug
    13. Depeche Mode – Everything Counts. 11 July
    14. The cure – lovecats. 18 Oct
    15. Heaven 17 – Temptation. 8 apr
    16. Aztec Camera – Oblivious. 5 Feb
    17. Womack and Womack – love wars. Late 83
    18. Human League – keep feelin fascination. 11 apr
    19. Waterboys – A Girl Called Johnny. March
    20. Yazoo – Nobody’s Diary. 9 May
    21. Fun boy Three – our lips are sealed. Apr
    22. Fun Boy three – turnnel of love. 5 Feb
    23. Eurythmics – right by your side. Oct
    24. Depeche Mode – Love in itself. 22 aug
    25. Don’t talk to me about love – Altered images. 19 mar

  5. My list:
    25 Cyndi Lauper “She Bop”
    24 Tracey Ullman “They Don’t Know”
    23 Tears For Fears “Pale Shelter”
    22 Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)”
    21 Thompson Twins “Hold Me Now”
    20 Grandmaster Melle Mel “White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It)”
    19 The The “This Is The Day”
    18 R.E.M. “Radio Free Europe”
    17 Eurythmics “Here Comes The Rain Again”
    16 Herbie Hancock “Rockit”
    15 New Edition “Candy Girl”
    14 David Bowie “Let’s Dance”
    13 Billy Bragg “A New England”
    12 Echo and the Bunnymen “The Cutter”
    11 U2 “New Year’s Day”
    10 The Smiths “Hand In Glove”
    09 Heaven 17 “Temptation”
    08 Talking Heads “This Must Be The Place (Naïve Melody)”
    07 Duran Duran “The Reflex”
    06 Frankie Goes To Hollywood “Relax”
    05 Madonna “Borderline”
    04 New Order “Age Of Consent”
    03 The Smiths “This Charming Man”
    02 Depeche Mode “Everything Counts”
    01 New Order “Blue Monday”

  6. Elena Morandini

    The Cure “Thelovecats” an obsession back in the autumn winter 1983, when we were young.

  7. Paul Carpenter

    Oh, I’d only filled in 2 of my votes and it closed as said thanks for voting

  8. Martin Castro

    A fantastic and inspiring year in music indeed

  9. X: The New World
    The Jazz Butcher: Southern Mark Smith
    The Fleshtones: Screamin’ Skull
    PiL: This Is Not A Love Song
    Bauhaus: She’s In Parties
    Jason and the Scorchers: Both Sides Of The Line
    The Plimsouls: A Million Mike’s Away
    U2: New Years Day
    The Dickies: Stukas Over Disneyland
    Marc Riley and the Creepers: Favourite Sister
    Echo and the Bunnymen: Never Stop
    The Go-Betweens: Two Steps Step Out
    The Re-Flex: The Politics Of Dancing
    The Toy Dolls: Dig That Groove Baby
    The Call: The Walls Came Down
    The Replacements: Color Me Impressed
    The Alarm: 68 Guns
    Tom Waits: 16 Shells From A Thirty Ought Six
    XTC: Love On A Farmboy’s Wages
    The Pretenders: Middle Of The Road
    The Chameleons: Don’t Fall
    Pete Shelley: Telephone Operator
    Red Guitars: Good Technology
    The Hoodoo Gurus: Tojo
    Donnie Iris: She’s So European

  10. Where do you fall on U2’s War vs. Under A Blood Red Sky both released in 1983, or is that just going to wind up splitting hairs?

  11. Can’t commit to an order on these, and I could add at least another 20 … ahhh the 80s.

    • Paul Carpenter

      I would say as Under A Blood Red Sky is a live album then you have to take the Original release year for any of the tracks on there
      I.e I Will Follow was originally released 1980 so this would be the category it falls into

  12. In no order and off the top of my head after I submitted.

    1. New Order – Blue Monday
    2. New Order – Age of Consent
    3. Talking Heads – Burning Down the House
    4. The The – This is the Day
    5. Art of Noise – Beat Box
    6. Kraftwerk – Tour de France
    7. Tom Tom Club – On, On, On, On
    8. Thompson Twins – hold Me Now
    9. Franke Goes to Hollywood – Relax
    10. U2 – New Years Day
    11. Echo & The Bunnymen – never Stop
    12. Echo & The Bunnymen – The Cutter
    13. David Bowie – Let’s Dance
    14. Lords of the New Church – Dance With me
    15. Depeche Mode – Everything Counts
    16. New Model Army – Great Expectations
    17. OMD – Radio Waves
    18. Howard Jones – New Song
    19. REM – Radio Free Europe
    20. REM – Talk About the Passion
    21. Violent Femmes – Add it Up
    22. Violent Femmes – Kiss Off
    23. Ministry – I Wanted to Tell Her
    24. Talking Heads – This Must Be the Place (Naïve Melody)
    25. U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday

  13. Dave Hillman

    Fantastic site. Keep it up!

  14. Billy Casper

    25. PiL – This Is Not a Love Song
    24. Tools You Can Trust – Working and Shopping
    23. Billy Bragg – A New England
    22. Sylvian & Sakamoto – Forbidden Colours
    21. The Cure – Lovecats
    20. Depeche Mode – Everything Counts
    19. Violent Femmes – Add it Up
    18. The Chameleons – Second Skin
    17. U2 – New Year’s Day
    16. Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun
    15. Tom Waits – 16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought Six
    14. R.E.M. – Perfect Circle
    13. Talking Heads – This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
    12. Echo & The Bunnymen – Never Stop
    11. R.E.M. – Radio Free Europe
    10. Talking Heads – Girlfriend is Better
    9. The Chameleons – Don’t Fall
    8. Echo & The Bunnymen – The Cutter
    7. The Smiths – Hand in Glove
    6. The Fall – Eat Y’self Fitter
    5. Tom Waits – Shore Leave
    4. New Order – Blue Monday
    3. The Fall – Garden
    2. New Order – Age of Consent
    1. The Smiths – This Charming Man

  15. This is going to be fun – but not easy. I’m torn between what still sounds good after all these years, versus my personal taste and what actually influenced, inspired and broke new ground! 83′ was a great year for me- I rather liked being 19.

  16. you could make this MUCH easier by just having a link to the 1983 song list. click on a song, and it’s in your top 25

  17. My Spine Is The Bassline – Shriekback

  18. Much of mine matches what other people have put so far, but a few that haven’t been mentioned yet:

    Stewart Copeland & Stan Ridgway – Don’t Box Me In
    10,000 Maniacs – The Latin One
    Cocteau Twins – Sugar Hiccup
    Elvis Costello – Shipbuilding
    Tom Waits – Soldiers Things
    Ramones – Psycho Therapy
    X – I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts

  19. Jim Turoczy

    Started with 42 songs, cut it down to 27 and had to drop 2. Luckily, I checked the years and had 2 songs from 1982 which made it easy to swap them out to make 25.

    XTC – Great Fire
    The B-52’s – Legal Tender
    Smiths – This Charming Man
    Peter Schilling – Major Tom
    Yello – I Love You
    Depeche Mode – Get The Balance Right
    Cocteau Twins – From The Flagstones
    The The – Giant
    Comsat Angels – Will You Stay Tonight?
    Freur – Riders In The Night
    Midnight Oil – Power And The Passion
    Ministry – Revenge
    Shriekback – All Lined Up
    The Cure – The Walk
    The Human League – (Keep Feeling) Fascination
    The Fleshtones – Right Side Of A Good Thing
    Dalek I Love You – Dalek I Love You (Destiny)
    Blancmange – Living On The Ceiling
    B Movie – Nowhere Girl
    New Order – Blue Monday
    Kraftwerk – Tour de France
    Echo & The Bunnymen – Never Stop
    Psychedelic Furs – Love My Way
    Oingo Boingo – Nothing Bad Ever Happens To Me
    Translator – Break Down Barriers

  20. A super nostalgic year for me, music wise. Most of these are songs I loved on release; a few are favorites I discovered later. But enough about that. ;)

    Depeche Mode, “Everything Counts”
    Duran Duran, “New Moon on Monday”
    The Cure, “The Love Cats”
    Duran Duran, “Is There Something I Should Know?”
    Aztec Camera, “Oblivious”
    Altered Images, “Don’t Talk to Me About Love”
    Adam Ant, “Strip”
    Thompson Twins, “Hold Me Now”
    JoBoxers, “Just Got Lucky”
    Depeche Mode, “Fools”
    Michael Jackson, “Billie Jean”
    Eurythmics, “Who’s That Girl”
    Cyndi Lauper, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”
    New Order, “Confusion”
    Wham!, “Club Tropicana”
    Madonna, “Burning Up”
    New Order, “Age of Consent”
    Culture Club, “Karma Chameleon”
    Spandau Ballet, “True”
    Thompson Twins, “Love on Your Side”
    The Fixx, “One Thing Leads to Another”
    Echo and the Bunnymen, “Never Stop”
    The English Beat, “Save it for Later”
    Human League, “(Keep Feeling) Fascination”
    Yazoo, “Nobody’s Diary”

  21. F*CK U2
    THEY WERE NEVER “POST-PUNK” OR “ALTERNATIVE” “COLLEGE ROCK” “NEW WAVE” ANYTHING

    THEY’RE MORE BON JOVI MAINSTREAM CORPORATe ROCK, YES EVEN THE EARLY DAYS

    THEN THEY BE CAME EVEN MORE WATERED DOWN AND SOFT
    JUST VAPID LOVE BALLADS AND BLAND ANTHEMS ABOUT AFRICA

    BOTTOM OF THE BARREL TOP 40 TRASH

    • tell us how you really feel, don’t sugar coat it!!!

    • Paul Carpenter

      Lol…..I’ve never been the biggest fan of U2, I’ve liked bits and bobs, brought Joshua Tree on its day of release but pretty much gave up on them after Zooropa…….but shit I’m gonna feel pretty guilty from now on if I spin anything from Bono and co from now…..

    • U2 Derangement Syndrome lives.

    • Ha ha ha ha ha! My favorite nugget is that in Bono’s world, 6:00PM is “early morning”.

      • Well to be fair, when the news broke about Dr. King’s death, it would have been early morning in Ireland when they heard about it.

  22. New Order – Blue Monday
    Violent Femmes – Blister In The Sun
    Violent Femmes – Add It Up
    Talking Heads – This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
    Talking Heads – Burning Down The House
    The Smiths – Hand In Glove
    The Smiths – This Charming Man
    The The – This Is The Day
    Public Image Ltd. – This Is Not A Love Song
    The Go-Betweens- Cattle And Cane
    The Cure – The Love Cats
    The Cure – The Walk
    Echo & The Bunnymen – The Cutter
    The Fall – The Man Whose Head Expanded
    The Fall – Eat Y’self Fitter
    Billy Bragg – The Milkman Of Human Kindness
    Billy Bragg – A New England
    The Birthday Party – Sonny’s Burning
    The Birthday Party – Deep In The Woods
    Suicidal Tendencies – Institutionalized
    David Sylvian And Ryuichi Sakamoto – Forbidden Colours
    Depeche Mode – Everything Counts
    David Bowie – China Girl
    Hoodoo Gurus – My Girl
    R.E.M. – Talk About The Passion

  23. My list, in no particular order:
    The Smiths “This Charming Man”
    The Smiths “Hand In Glove”
    Simple Minds “Waterfront”
    Echo & The Bunnymen “The Cutter”
    Echo & The Bunnymen “Never Stop”
    Violent Femmes “Gone Daddy Gone”
    Violent Femmes “Blister In The Sun”
    The Cure “The Lovecats”
    New Order “Blue Monday”
    The (English) Beat “Save It For Later”
    Billy Bragg “A New England”
    Aztec Camera “Oblivious”
    Orange Juice “Rip It Up”
    U2 “New Years Day”
    U2 “Sunday Bloody Sunday”
    Elvis Costello “Everyday I Write The Book”
    The The “Perfect”
    The The “This Is The Day”
    The Go-Betweens “Cattle And Cane”
    The Gun Club “Death Party”
    The Jazz Butcher “Southern Mark Smith”
    Midnight Oil “Power And The Passion”
    Midnight Oil “Read About It”
    Tears For Fears “Pale Shelter”
    Talking Heads “This Must Be The Place”

    Working on my list for ’84 now!!!

  24. Great lists, all. Here’s mine, roughly ordered:

    Icicle Works, “Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)”
    Talking Heads, “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)”
    The The, “This is the Day”
    Tears for Fears, “Pale Shelter”
    Cabaret Voltaire, “Animation”
    New Order, “Blue Monday”
    Bow Wow Wow, “Do You Wanna Hold me?”
    The Chameleons, “Up the Down Escalator”
    REM, “Radio Free Europe”
    Big Country, “In a Big Country”
    The Fall, “I Feel Voxish”
    The B-52s, “Legal Tender”
    New Order, “Confusion”
    Huey Lewis and the News, “Heart and Soul”
    Ramones, “Psycho Therapy”
    Talking Heads, “Burning Down the House”
    XTC, “Wonderland”
    Spandau Ballet, “True”
    Echo and the Bunnymen, “The Cutter”
    Lords of the New Church, “Dance With Me”
    Kraftwerk, “Tour de France”
    U2, “New Year’s Day”
    New Order, “Age of Consent”
    Human League, “(Keep Feeling) Fascination”
    Thompson Twins, “Hold Me Now”

  25. Hello, this was so hard to choose.
    New Order – Your silent face
    New Order – Blue monday
    U2 – Sunday, bloody sunday
    Tears For Fears – Pale shelter
    Depeche Mode – Get the balance right
    Depeche Mode – Everything counts
    David Bowie – Let’s dance
    Eurythmics – Sweet dreams
    Duran Duran – The seventh stranger
    Duran Duran – The reflex
    Billy Idol – Eyes without a face
    Yazoo – Nobody’s diary
    The B-52’s – Legal tender
    Men at Work – Overkill
    Spandau Ballet – True
    Peter Schilling – Major Tom
    Michael Sembello – Maniac
    Sparks – Cool Places
    Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Relax
    Thompson Twins – Hold me now
    The Cure – The walk
    The Smiths – This charming man
    Yes – Owner of a lonely heart
    Madonna – Borderline
    Culture Club – Karma chameleon

    Some really great songs I had to cut like: Chine Girl (David Bowie), The lovecats (The Cure), Here comes the rain again (Eurythmics), Love on your side (Thompson Twins), Doot Doot (Freur) and Dance hall days (Wang Chung). :(

  26. Test

  27. Here’s my list of greatest singles released in 1983

  28. Take-2
    In no particular order
    1 Tears for Fears Mad World
    2 Duran Duran Is There Something I Should Know?
    3 Madness Our House
    4 Nena 99 LuftBalloons
    5 Siouxsie and the Banshees Dear Prudence
    6 Red Rockers China
    7 New Order Blue Monday
    8 Duran Duran The Reflex
    9 David Bowie China Girl
    10 B Movie Nowhere Girl
    11 The Fixx Red Skies
    12 The Cure Love Cats
    13 Falco Der Kommisar
    14 Haysi Fantayzee Shiny Shiny
    15 Tears for Fears Change
    16 INXS The One Thing
    17 English Beat Save it for Later
    18 Police King of Pain
    19 U2 New Year’s Day
    20 Suicidal Tendancies Instatutionalized
    21 David Bowie Modern Love
    22 Peter Schilling Major Tom
    23 Billy Idol Rebel Yell
    24 Soft Cell It’s a Mugs Game
    25 Echo and the Bunnymen The Cutter

  29. My submitted ballot. Countdown style:

    25) Whisper To A Scream – Icicle Works
    24) 2000 Miles – The Pretenders
    23) Blue Monday – New Order
    22) The Walk – The Cure
    21) The Love Cats – The Cure
    20) My Spine Is The Bassline – Shriekback
    19) Every Breath You Take – The Police
    18) Who’s That Girl – Eurythmics
    17) A New England – Billy Bragg
    16) They Don’t Know – Tracey Ullman
    15) Mr. Blue – Yaz(oo)
    14) Major Tom (Coming Home) – Peter Schilling
    13) Burning Down the House – Talking Heads
    12) Change – tears For Fears
    11) The Storm – Big Country
    10) Slippery People – Talking Heads
    9) Everything Counts – Depeche Mode
    8) Jokerman – Bob Dylan
    7) Porrohman – Big Country
    6) Wrapped Around Your Finger – The Police
    5) Here Comes The Rain Again – Eurythmics
    4) Radio Free Europe – R.E.M.
    3) Talk About The Passion – R.E.M.
    2) New Year’s Day – U2
    1) Sunday Bloody Sunday – U2

  30. I’m so bummed I missed 1982! But glad to see this site up again.

    I need to change my list now that I see that “Waterfront” is technically 83 instead of the next year when “Sparkle… “ came out.

    In no particular order…

    The The, Uncertain Smile
    REM, Perfect Circle
    David Bowie, China Girl
    Elvis Costello, Everyday I Write the Book
    New Order, Blue Monday
    Big Country, In a Big Country
    Depeche Mode, Everything Counts
    U2, 40
    Eurythmics, Here Comes the Rain Again
    The Police, Synchronicity II
    Talking Heads, Burning Down the House
    Echo and the Bunnymen, Back of Love
    Midnight Oil, Power and the Passion
    Violent Femmes, Blister in the Sun
    The Waterboys, I Will Not Follow
    Men at Work, Overkill
    Bauhaus, She’s In Parties
    The Fixx, Saved By Zero
    The Go-Betweens, Cattle and Cane
    Wang Chung, Wait
    JoBoxers, Just Got Lucky
    The Chameleons, Up the Down Escalator
    Icicle Works, Birds Fly etc.
    Suicidal Tendencies, Institutionalized

    And something else I can’t remember at the moment

  31. Billy Casper

    Quite a few votes for Tears For Fears – Pale Shelter & Mad World (both released as singles in 1982).

    • Wasn’t “Pale Shelter” re-recorded for the album? Does this fall into the “Radio Free Europe” ruling?

  32. Aphotic Empyrean

    New Order – Blue Monday
    Depeche Mode – Everything Counts (12″)
    Depeche Mode – Get the Balance Right #1 vote
    Depeche Mode – More Than a Party
    The B52’s – Legal Tender
    Fun Boy Three – Out Lips Are Sealed
    Danse Macabre – Memories
    Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams
    Yazoo – Nobody’s Diary
    The Chameleons – Dont Fall
    The Chameleons – Second Skin
    Culture Club – Do you Really Want To Hurt Me
    Naked Eyes – Promises Promises
    Berlin – Sex (I’m a…)
    Kajagoogoo – Too Shy
    Kraftwerk – Tour De France
    Falco – Der Kommisar
    The The – Giant
    Public Image Limited – This is not a Love Song

    • Jez Johnson

      you’re right with the DM get the balance right at number one.

      What an amazing 12″ track.

      Daniel Miller and Alan Wilder created an epic song here.

      One of DM’s best ever

  33. So many to choose from

  34. R.E.M. – Radio Free Europe
    Echo & The Bunnymen – The Cutter
    The Smiths – This Charming Man
    The Chameleons – Don’t Fall
    Tears For Fears – Change
    A Flock Of Seagulls – Nightmares
    Wire Train – Chamber Of Hellos
    Hoodoo Gurus – I Want You Back
    The Plimsouls – A Million Miles Away
    The Fixx – One Thing Leads To Another
    Big Country – Fields Of Fire
    U2 – New Year’s Day
    The Cure – The Lovecats
    Depeche Mode – Everything Counts
    New Order – Blue Monday
    Shriekback – My Spine (Is The Bassline)
    The The – This Is The Day
    Burning Sensations – Belly Of The Whale
    Madness – Wings Of A Dove
    Violent Femmes – Add It Up
    The Alarm – The Stand
    Sisters Of Mercy – Temple Of Love
    Public Image Ltd. – Love Song
    Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Everyday I Write The Book
    Talking Heads – This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)

  35. Seeing lots of 1982 releases in some of these lists.

  36. My ballot got sent before I could type in the last 5 songs! Could you add them in for me ?

    The Chameleons, “Second Skin”
    The Cure, “The Lovecats”
    The Human League, “(Keep Feeling) Fascination”
    Thompson Twins, “Hold Me Now”
    Trans-X, “Living On Video”

    Thanks!

  37. R.E.M. – Radio Free Europe (so happy this was mentioned in rules!)
    Men at Work – Overkill
    Aztec Camera – Oblivious
    U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday
    U2 – New Year’s Day
    David Bowie – Modern Love
    David Bowie – China Girl
    Big Country – Fields of Fire
    Big Country – In a Big Country
    Duran Duran – The Reflex (no, really)
    Talking Heads – Burning Down the House
    The Police – Synchronicity II
    The Romantics – Talking in Your Sleep
    The Human League – (Keep Feeling) Fascination
    The Fixx – One Thing Leads to Another
    Yes – Owner of a Lonely Heart
    Violent Femmes – Blister in the Sun
    Violent Femmes – Add it up
    Spandau Ballet – True
    The Tubes – She’s a Beauty
    Naked Eyes – Promises, Promises
    Bananarama – Cruel Summer
    Thompson Twins – Hold Me Now
    Kajagoogoo – Too Shy
    The Smiths – This Charming Man

  38. 1 The Smiths – This Charming Man
    2 New Order – Your Silent Face
    3 Echo and the Bunnymen – The Cutter
    4 New Order – Age of Consent
    5 The The – This Is the Day
    6 REM – Sitting Still
    7 Echo and the Bunnymen – Heads Will Roll
    8 The Church – Electric Lash
    9 Bauhaus – She’s In Parties
    10 Replacements – Within Your Reach
    11 Big Country – In a Big Country
    12 The Alarm – Marching On
    13 The Smiths – Hand In Glove
    14 Icicle Works – Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)
    15 Rain Parade – Kaleidoscope
    16 The Glove – Punish Me With Kisses
    17 The Church – It’s No Reason
    18 Plimsouls – A Million Miles Away
    19 REM – Shaking Through
    20 Adam Ant – Strip
    21 Minor Threat – Out of Step
    22 Men At Work – Overkill
    23 The Cure – The Love Cats
    24 Adam Ant – Puss ‘n Boots
    25 Bauhaus – Hope

  39. WXXP_100.7

    New Order Blue Monday
    The Smiths Hand in glove
    The Cure The walk
    Depeche Mode Everything counts
    Echo & the Bunnymen The cutter
    Human League Fascination
    Thompson Twins Hold me now
    Tears for Fears Change
    Violent Femmes Blister in the sun
    Spandau Ballet True
    The Fixx One thing leads to another
    New order Your silent face
    Talking Heads Burning down the house
    Siouxsie And The Banshees Dear Prudence
    Eurythmics Sweet dreams
    Duran Duran Union of the snake
    Aztec Camera Oblivious
    Big Country In a big country
    David Bowie Let’s dance
    The The This is the day
    Men at Work Overkill
    Frankie Goes to Hollywood Relax
    Midnight Oil Power and the passion
    Culture Club Karma Chameleon
    Nena 99 Luftballons

  40. It was ridiculously difficult to get my first draft down to 25. Here are 42 that did not make my top 25:

    In a Big Country – Big Country
    Church of the Poison Mind – Culture Club
    The Reflex – Duran Duran
    Making Flippy Floppy – Talking Heads
    Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics
    That’s Love, That it Is – Blancmange
    Talking in Your Sleep – The Romantics
    Eyes Without a Face – Billy Idol
    True – Spandau Ballet
    Confusion – New Order
    Praying to the Beat – Re-Flex
    Lies – Thompson Twins
    Send Me an Angel – Real Life
    Crushed by the Wheels of Industry – Heaven 17
    Numbers with Wings – The Bongos
    Freur – Doot-Doot
    White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It) – Grandmaster Melle Mel
    Baby’s in the Mountains – Peter Godwin
    Oblivious – Aztec Camera
    Telephone Operator – Pete Shelley
    (Keep Feeling) Fascination – The Human League
    Pressure Sway – Machinations
    Rain – Dragon
    Marching On – The Alarm
    When the Lights Go Out – Naked Eyes
    Cruel Summer – Bananarama
    Cooky Puss – Beastie Boys
    I Can’t Take It – Cheap Trick
    Everything Counts – Depeche Mode
    Pretty Please Me – The Dickies
    AEIOU Sometimes Y – Ebn-Ozn
    Hidden in a Heartbeat – The Elvis Brothers
    You Can’t Take Love for Granted – Graham Parker
    Barricade Beach – Insect Surfers
    Holiday – Madonna
    Work for Love – Ministry
    Take Me to Heart – Quarterflash
    Long Hot Summer – The Style Council
    This Is the Day – The The
    Da Da Da – Trio
    Chamber of Hellos – Wire Train
    Walk Away from Love – Yazoo

  41. Here are my top 25:

    Will You Stay Tonight? – Comsat Angels
    Overkill – Men at Work
    Sweat – Oingo Boingo
    Party Weekend – Joe “King” Carrasco and the Crowns
    Saved by Zero – The Fixx
    Make a Circuit with Me – Polecats
    China – Red Rockers
    Drop the Pilot – Joan Armatrading
    Whisper to a Scream – The Icicle Works
    Legal Tender – The B-52’s
    The New World – X
    Just Got Lucky – JoBoxers
    Add It Up – Violent Femmes
    Message to My Girl – Split Enz
    Right Side of a Good Thing – The Fleshtones
    Every Word Means No – Let’s Active
    Lined Up – Shriekback
    Whenever You’re on My Mind – Marshall Crenshaw
    Working with Fire and Steel – China Crisis
    Jet Fighter – The Three O’Clock
    Institutionalized – Suicidal Tendencies
    Never Stop – Echo and the Bunnymen
    Cool Places – Sparks and Jane Wiedlin
    The Haunted House of Rock – Whodini
    Catapult – R.E.M.

  42. Really interesting to see others’ top 25. Here are mine:

    The Alarm, “The Stand (Prophesy)”
    Echo & The Bunnymen, “The Cutter”
    Echo & The Bunnymen, “My White Devil”
    The Church, “One Day”
    The Cure, “The Love Cats”
    The Cure, “The Walk”
    David Bowie, “Modern Love”
    David Bowie, “Let’s Dance”
    Hoodoo Gurus, “My Girl”
    Husker Du, “Diane”
    Madonna, “Borderline”
    Metallica, “Whiplash”
    Minor Threat, “Out of Step”
    New Order, “Age of Consent”
    New Order, “Blue Monday”
    The Police, “Synchronicity II”
    The Police, “Wrapped Around Your Finger”
    Ramones, “Psycho Therapy”
    R.E.M., “Radio Free Europe”
    The Smiths, “Hand In Glove”
    The Smiths, “This Charming Man”
    Talking Heads, “This Must Be the Place”
    U2, “New Year’s Day”
    UB40, “Red Red Wine”
    Violent Femmes, “Kiss Off”

  43. Here’s mine in no order. I’m sure I’ll kick myself when I realize some that I’ve forgotten.

    Big Country, “In A Big Country”
    David Bowie, “China Girl”
    Echo & the Bunnymen, “The Cutter”
    Elvis Costello, “Every Day I Write The Book”
    Eurythmics, “Love Is A Stranger”
    Joe Jackson, “Breaking Us in Two”
    Lou Reed, “The Last Shot”
    Marshall Crenshaw, “Whenever You’re on My Mind”
    Marvin Gaye, “Sexual Healing”
    Meat Puppets, “Lake Of Fire”
    New Order, “Blue Monday”
    Pink Floyd, “Two Suns in the Sunset”
    R.E.M., “Pilgrimage”
    Ramones, “Outsider”
    Stan Ridgway & Stewart Copeland, “Don’t Box Me In”
    Suicidal Tendencies, “Institutionalized”
    Talking Heads, “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)”
    The Cure, “Let’s Go to Bed”
    The Police, “Murder By Numbers”
    The Pretenders, “Back on the Chain Gang”
    The Smiths, “This Charming Man”
    The The, “Uncertain Smile”
    Thomas Dolby, “She Blinded Me With Science”
    U2, “Sunday Bloody Sunday”
    XTC, “Love on a Farmboy’s Wages”

  44. Woke up with a horrible, sinking feeling that I missed out on the poll. Doh!! And the feeling was confirmed as I got online. But here is what I would have voted for:

    Suicidal Tendencies Institutionalized
    Cyndi Lauper She Bop
    Aztec Camera Oblivious
    Aztec Camera Walk Out To Winter
    New Order Your Silent Face
    The Fixx The Sign Of Fire
    UB40 Red Red Wine
    Yazoo Walk Away From Love
    Yazoo Nobody’s Diary
    Talking Heads Burning Down The House
    Talking Heads Girlfriend Is Better
    Big Country Fields Of Fire
    Depeche Mode Everything Counts
    The Plimsouls Oldest Story In The World
    Echo & The Bunneymen The Cutter
    Paul Young Come Back And Stay
    Violent Femmes Add It Up
    Split Enz Message To My Girl
    The Pretenders 2000 Miles
    Howard Jones New Song
    The Police Wrapped Around Your Finger
    The The This Is The Day
    Thompson Twins Hold Me Now
    The Three O’Clock Jet Fighter
    REM Sitting Still

  45. Can’t wait to see the results!

  46. Any word on when the results will be out???

  47. Paul Carpenter

    Yeah, looking forward to seeing the results

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