Best Song of the 1980s Bracket [FINALS, SUBMIT BY 1/5]

[rylltraka]

BEST SONG OF THE 1980s: THE BRACKET
In the glorious tradition of Fred Morlan, and the interminable state of boredom into which quarantine has thrust us all, I feel that we all deserve the chance to retreat back into a simpler time, an easier clime, and to be serenaded by the lays of an earlier age. And, of course, to cast judgment upon them, as is our wont.

Please note: there may be adult content in the songs linked to in this thread. But not a lot, because it was the '80s.

Process
My selection process has been a combination of self-reflection as to outstanding songs I remember, a consultation of numerous online lists and listicles, the Billboard #1 charts, and a fairly shallow dive into best-of lists from genres with which I am not as well-acquainted. By traditional and practical custom, various forms of music (jazz, classical, Peruvian folk ballads) have been excluded from this list; I am not well-informed about "world music" of this age. An attempt was made to be inclusive of various non-pop genres alongside.

This is a 96-song tournament. Seeding is done at my whim (although placement in the bracket is randomized), although I make an effort to predict overall tournament performance, and like all decisions, my seeds are open to criticism, and even revision if voices are unanimous enough. I will make every effort to be an impartial arbiter in this most impartial field, that of taste.

By personal choice, I am allowing two songs per artist, provided the songs and artists were suitably iconic for the decade. Collaborations do not count towards this rule.

The ongoing bracket is available and being updated (accurate as of 12/30) here:

80s Bracket.xls

(97 KiB) Downloaded 4523 times

Scoring
Stolen from Fred's method: I’m going to have multipliers for certain votes. If you’re a new poster, defined as having fewer than 50 total posts at the start of the tournament and/or your account was registered in 2020, your vote will be worth 1 votes. If you cast your vote and only your vote, your vote will be worth 1.5 votes. If your post includes discussion of your voting choices, your vote will be worth 2 votes.

If you want to change your vote before the deadline, just edit your post. I’ll count votes as soon as I can after the assigned deadline.

Posting
Official posts will include Youtube videos and various other information. I do not have Spotify, but if a volunteer wants to slot the songs for any particular round, or for the tournament, into a Spotify list for general consumption, that would be grand.

We will be generally having two rounds a week, dependent on my schedule, but you should always have a minimum of three days to review and vote.

YOUR FEEDBACK IS REQUESTED
Our first task (ending 11/5) is general discussion of which songs should and should not be included in the overall list, which is provided in the next post. Any suggestions are welcome (explanations are encouraged) - so if you want something ditched, or something added, now is the time to make your voice heard. I will admit that I have not been exhaustive in my searching, so I welcome your input.

[rylltraka]

PRELIMINARY LIST OF SONGS
These are 86 in number

AC/DC - Back in Black
Year of Release: 1980
Album: Back in Black
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAgnJDJN4VA

A Flock of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away)
Year of Release: 1982
Album: A Flock of Seagulls
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIpfWORQWhU

A-ha - Take on Me
Year of Release: 1984
Album: Hunting High and Low
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914

Anthrax - Madhouse
Year of Release: 1985
Album: Spreading the Disease
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGHsxMqpL0c

The B-52s - Love Shack
Year of Release: 1988
Album: Cosmic Thing
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SOryJvTAGs

Bananarama - Cruel Summer
Year of Release: 1983
Album: Bananarama
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9ml3nyww80

The Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian
Year of Release: 1986
Album: Different Light
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv6tuzHUuuk

The Beastie Boys – (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)
Year of Release: 1987
Album: Licensed to Ill
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBShN8qT4lk

Berlin - The Metro
Year of Release: 1981
Album: Pleasure Victim
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEZP22b82ks

Bette Midler - Wind Beneath My Wings
Year of Release: 1989
Album: Beaches
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iAzMRKFX3c

Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes - (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life
Year of Release: 1987
Album: Dirty Dancing
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BQLE_RrTSU

Billy Idol - White Wedding
Year of Release: 1982
Album: White Wedding
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAZQaYKZMTI

Billy Joel - We Didn’t Start the Fire
Year of Release: 1989
Album: Storm Front
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g

Bon Jovi - Livin’ On A Prayer
Year of Release: 1986
Album: Slippery When Wet
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk

Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart
Year of Release: 1983
Album: Faster Than the Speed of Night
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcOxhH8N3Bo

Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA
Year of Release: 1984
Album: Born In the USA
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPhWR4d3FJQ

Bryan Adams - Summer of ‘69
Year of Release: 1985
Album: Reckless
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFjjO_lhf9c

The Cars – Drive
Year of Release: 1984
Album: Heartbeat City
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuZA6qiJVfU

The Clash - Rock the Casbah
Year of Release: 1982
Album: Combat Rock
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9r8LMU9bQ

Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
Year of Release: 1983
Album: Colour By Numbers
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmcA9LIIXWw

Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Year of Release: 1983
Album: She’s So Unusual
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIb6AZdTr-A

David Bowie - Modern Love
Year of Release: 1983
Album: Let’s Dance
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HivQqTtiHVw

David Bowie and Queen - Under Pressure
Year of Release: 1981
Album: Hot Space
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoDh_gHDvkk

Dead or Alive - You Spin Me (Right Round)
Year of Release: 1984
Album: Youthquake
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGNiXGX2nLU

Def Leppard - Photograph
Year of Release: 1983
Album: Pyromania
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4dHr8evt6k

Dexy’s Midnight Runners - Come on Eileen
Year of Release: 1982
Album: Too-Rye-Ay
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlPymQB9sI4

Dire Straits - Money For Nothing
Year of Release: 1985
Album: Brothers in Arms
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTP2RUD_cL0

Dolly Parton - 9 to 5
Year of Release: 1980
Album: 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbxUSsFXYo4

Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers - Islands in the Stream
Year of Release: 1983
Album: Eyes That See in the Dark
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaNGtgYwSsU

Duran Duran - Hungry Like the Wolf
Year of Release: 1982
Album: Rio
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJL-lCzEXgI

Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
Year of Release: 1983
Album: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeMFqkcPYcg

The Go-Gos - Our Lips Are Sealed
Year of Release: 1981
Album: Beauty and the Beat
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3kQlzOi27M

George Michael - Faith
Year of Release: 1987
Album: Faith
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cs3Pvmmv0E

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five - The Message
Year of Release: 1982
Album: The Message
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PobrSpMwKk4

Guns N’Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
Year of Release: 1987
Album: Appetite for Destruction
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1tj2zJ2Wvg

Hall and Oates – Maneater
Year of Release: 1982
Album: H20
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRYFKcMa_Ek

The Highwaymen - Highwayman
Year of Release: 1985
Album: Highwayman
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFkcAH-m9W0

Human League - Don’t You Want Me
Year of Release: 1981
Album: Dare
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPudE8nDog0

INXS - Need You Tonight
Year of Release: 1987
Album: Kick
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F93ywiGMDnQ

J. Geils Band – Centerfold
Year of Release: 1981
Album: Freeze Frame
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqDjMZKf-wg

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - I Love Rock’n Roll
Year of Release: 1982
Album: I Love Rock ‘n Roll
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUxsP8ED_cM

John Cougar Mellencamp - Jack and Diane
Year of Release: 1982
Album: American Fool
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h04CH9YZcpI

Journey - Don’t Stop Believin’
Year of Release: 1981
Album: Escape
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k8craCGpgs

Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
Year of Release: 1980
Album: only released as single
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuuObGsB0No

Judas Priest - You Got Another Thing Comin’
Year of Release: 1982
Album: Screaming for Vengeance
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtuoFv4dcwM

Kenny Loggins - Footloose
Year of Release: 1984
Album: Footloose
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8FliT43ZC4

Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes
Year of Release: 1981
Album: Mistaken Identity
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPOIS5taqA8

Lionel Richie - All Night Long (All Night)
Year of Release: 1983
Album: Can’t Slow Down
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqAvFx3NxUM

Lipps, Inc - Funkytown
Year of Release: 1980
Album: Mouth to Mouth
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s36eQwgPNSE

Madonna - Like a Virgin
Year of Release: 1984
Album: Like a Virgin
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s__rX_WL100

Madonna - Like a Prayer
Year of Release: 1989
Album: Like a Prayer
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79fzeNUqQbQ

Metallica - Master of Puppets
Year of Release: 1986
Album: Master of Puppets
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0obBdrfUMzU

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Year of Release: 1983
Album: Thriller
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi_XLOBDo_Y

Michael Jackson - Beat It
Year of Release: 1983
Album: Thriller
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdxUFDoQe0

NWA - F*** Tha Police
Year of Release: 1988
Album: Straight Outta Compton
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5fts7b ... verified=1

Olivia Newton-John - Physical
Year of Release: 1981
Album: Physical
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWz9VN40nCA

Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train
Year of Release: 1980
Album: Blizzard of Ozz
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ_Z-10dXSE

Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Year of Release: 1980
Album: Crimes of Passion
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU5aDqLUvug

Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer
Year of Release: 1986
Album: So
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJWJE0x7T4Q

Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight
Year of Release: 1981
Album: Face Value
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkADj0TPrJA

Poison - Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Year of Release: 1988
Album: Open Up and Say…Ahh!
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2r2nDhTzO4

Prince - When Doves Cry
Year of Release: 1984
Album: Purple Rain
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG3VcCAlUgE

Public Enemy - Fight The Power
Year of Release: 1989
Album: Fear of a Black Planet
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmo3HFa2vjg

Queen - Radio Ga Ga
Year of Release: 1984
Album: The Works
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azdwsXLmrHE

The Ramones - Danny Says
Year of Release: 1980
Album: End of the Century
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH4XGRDJ0P4

REM - Stand
Year of Release: 1989
Album: Green
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKKqLl_ZEEY

REO Speedwagon - Keep On Loving You
Year of Release: 1980
Album: Hi Infidelity
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJzNZ1c5C9c

Rick Springfield - Jessie’s Girl
Year of Release: 1981
Album: Working Class Dog
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYkbTyHXwbs

Robert Palmer - Addicted To Love
Year of Release: 1986
Album: Riptide
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcATvu5f9vE

Run-DMC - It’s Tricky
Year of Release: 1987
Album: Raising Hell
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-O5IHVhWj0

Salt’n’Pepa - Push It
Year of Release: 1987
Album: Hot, Cool & Vicious
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCadcBR95oU

Scorpions - Rock You Like a Hurricane
Year of Release: 1984
Album: Love at First Sting
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yP1tcy9a10

Soft Cell - Tainted Love
Year of Release: 1981
Album: Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcyCQLewj10

Styx - Mr. Roboto
Year of Release: 1983
Album: Kilroy Was Here
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc6f_2nPSX8

Survivor - Eye of the Tiger
Year of Release: 1982
Album: Eye of the Tiger
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btPJPFnesV4

Talking Heads - Burning Down the House
Year of Release: 1983
Album: Speaking in Tongues
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3eC35LoF4U

Tears For Fears – Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Year of Release: 1985
Album: Songs from the Big Chair
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGCdLKXNF3w

Tina Turner - What’s Love Got To Do With It
Year of Release: 1984
Album: Private Dancer
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGpFcHTxjZs

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Free Fallin’
Year of Release: 1989
Album: Full Moon River
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lWJXDG2i0A

U2 - With or Without You
Year of Release: 1987
Album: The Joshua Tree
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujNeHIo7oTE

Van Halen - Hot For Teacher
Year of Release: 1984
Album: 1984
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M4_Ommfvv0

The Weather Girls - It’s Raining Men
Year of Release: 1982
Album: Success
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5aZJBLAu1E

Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Year of Release: 1984
Album: Make It Big
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIgZ7gMze7A

Whitesnake - Here I Go Again
Year of Release: 1982
Album: Saints & Sinners
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyF8RHM1OCg

Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Year of Release: 1987
Album: Whitney
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH3giaIzONA

ZZ Top - Gimme All Your Lovin’
Year of Release: 1983
Album: Eliminator
Youtube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae829mFAGGE

[AKKOLADE]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaEFZRYcn2w

[AKKOLADE]

I had started work on an 80s bracket but haven't touched it since August. I'm really excited to see this. I also hope to, at some time, finish mine! It won't be soon.

Songs that were seeded high on mine and that aren't on your list, noting that I started from the end of the alphabet and worked myself up to The Human League, with "The" being the sorted word:

The ones that would have been seeded very highly:
The Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGyOaCXr8Lw
Violent Femmes' "Blister in the Sun" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE-dqW4uBEE
Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwrHwZyFN7M
'Til Tuesday's "Voices Carry" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uejh-bHa4To
Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCWCF19nUhA

The ones that I probably would have seeded below the top 90:
Thompson Twins' "Hold Me Now" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9694K85Xc8
The The's "This is the Day" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZYgKCbFbWY
The Who's "Eminence Front" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfrUQA2tb6M
They Might Be Giants' "Don't Let's Start" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJQnZZ-Wmao
Yes's "Owner of a Lonely Heart" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVOuYquXuuc
XTC's "Dear God" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p554R-Jq43A

I went with "Panama" for Van Halen.

Going off of Acclaimed Music, the songs in the top 50 for the 80s that you don't have listed are:

New Order's "Blue Monday"
The Smiths' "There is a Light That Never Goes Out"
Talking Heads' "Once in a Lifetime", which I'd put above Burning Down the House. Probably.
The Smiths' "How Soon is Now?"
Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine"
The Specials' "Ghost Town"
The Smiths' "This Charming Man"
Run D.M.C.'s "Walk This Way", which I think you absolutely have to have, given its place as a keystone of rap
The Police's "Every Breath You Take"
Prince's "Purple Rain"
The La's's "There She Goes"
U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday"
Madonna's "Into the Groove"
Prince's "Little Red Corvette"
Pixies' "Debaser"
Prince's "Sign 'O' the Times"
Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock"
Prince's "Kiss"
Pixies' "Where is My Mind?"
Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Relax"
Motorhead's "Ace of Spades", of which I'm particularly a partisan
Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill"
The Cure's "Just Like Heaven"
Sonic Youth's "Teenage Riot"
The Stone Roses' "Fools Gold"
Public Enemy's "Bring the Noise"
Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing"
R.E.M.'s "Radio Free Europe"
David Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes"
Pixies "Monkey Gone to Heaven"
The Jam's "Going Underground"
Guns N' Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle"
The Jesus and Mary Chain's "Just Like Honey"
R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World as We Know It"
Echo and the Bunnymen's "The Killing Moon"
New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle"

I'm not linking that bunch, because I'm lazy!!

[rylltraka]

Man, I can't believe I missed "Only Breath You Take"! That's an absurd omission

[Stained Diviner]

I spent a lot of time during the 1980s listening to The Police, The Who, U2, Bruce, and The Beatles. My recommendations from them would be Don't Stand So Close To Me, Eminence Front, Bad, Hungry Heart, and nothing because they broke up ten years earlier. Also, I'm a bigger fan of Another One Bites the Dust than Radio Ga Ga. Several Van Halen songs are better than Hot For Teacher, including Why Can't This Be Love and Jump.

The meh songs from Mik's list are I Ran (So Far Away), Madhouse, The Metro, Summer of ‘69, Drive, You Spin Me (Right Round), Islands in the Stream, and Love Will Tear Us Apart. The Message also wouldn't be a huge loss. Wind Beneath My Wings is what it is. If you like some of those songs, that's fine, but if you never listen to them ever that's fine too, and if you think any is the best song of the 1980s then you're just wrong.

I endorse Fast Car by Tracy Chapman. Also, something from Tattoo You should be there, though I'm not sure what it is. Little Lies from Fleetwood Mac probably should get a spot.

Big thanks for doing this!

[rylltraka]

The Message also wouldn't be a huge loss.

Jiminy Christmas!

...your other ideas will be taken seriously.

[ValenciaQBowl]

I 100% agree with David that "Another One Bites the Dust" is a much better choice for Queen than "Radio Ga Ga" and that "Don't Stand So Close to Me" is better than "Every Breath You Take" (but even better would be "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"). "Every Breath You Take" is ponderous, one of the only Police songs I'll happily skip when it comes up in a mix.

However, David is factually, demonstrably, and morally wrong to suggest that "Love Will Tear Us Apart" could be left out of any discussion of the best (or most important) '80s songs.

Finally, I think you absolutely have to include "Save It for Later" by The English Beat. That was a monster hit on MTV and is just a fantastic song, filled with 80s-ness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bM0wVjU2-k.

Even more finally, just an observation: I reckon you have to include "Funkytown," but it's funny how decades go. Though it was released in 1980 (who knew?), that song is '70s through and through.

[kitakule]

I'd argue that "Careless Whisper" is a more iconic Wham! song than 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," but perhaps others who are bit older than me should weigh in on that.

Here's a random list of other songs for you to consider:

Rick James - Super Freak

Bobby Brown - My Prerogative

Europe - The Final Countdown

The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

Toto - Rosanna (Africa is a terrible song)

Huey Lewis - Power of Love (I actually prefer It's All Right, but this is a better fit for the bracket)

Hall & Oates - Private Eyes (so much better than Maneater)

Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (this song is unironically amazing)


Thanks for doing this! Looking forward to the bracket.

[ryanrosenberg]

The Acclaimed Music list is a good one. Some other songs to consider:

• "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode
• "Celebrated Summer" by Hüsker Dü
• "I Will Dare" by the Replacements
• "A New England" by Billy Bragg

[AKKOLADE]

Some other strong recommendations:

NWA's Straight Outta Compton
Pet Shop Boys' West End Girls
Eric B & Rakim's Paid in Full
The Clash's Should I Stay or Should I Go
The Pogues & Kristy MacColl's Fairytale of New York, the greatest Christmas song ever
De La Soul's Me Myself and I
Neil Young's Rockin in the Free World
Don Henley's The Boys of Summer
Dead Kennedys' Holiday in Cambodia
Roxy Music's More Than This
Public Enemy's Don't Believe the Hype
Metallica's Master of Puppets
Simple Minds' Don't You (Forget About Me)
Devo's Whip It
Bowie's Modern Love
Faith No More's Epic
The B-52's Love Shack
Go-Go's Our Lips Are Sealed
Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes
Midnight Oil's Beds are Burning
Hall & Oates' Maneater
Steely Dan's Hey Nineteen
Bruce Hornsby's The Way It Is
Steve Winwood's Higher Love
Dire Straits' Romeo and Juliet
Tom Waits' Downtown Train
Sade's Smooth Operator
John Lennon's (Just Like) Starting Over
Nena's 99 Luftballons
NWA's Express Yourself
Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse of the Heart
The Traveling Wilburys' Handle with Care

[Nine-Tenths Ideas]

Please pick a different REM song than Stand, one of the only ones I don’t like. Orange Crush is on the same album, is just as famous, and much better!

Some other songs worth considering I didn’t see mentioned:

One Thing Leads to Another - The Fixx
Ship of Fools - World Party
When Love Breaks Down - Prefab Sprout
Candy - Cameo
Dead Man’s Party - Oingo Boingo
Steppin’ Out - Joe Jackson
Outstanding - The Gap Band

[rylltraka]

Aw, I really like "Stand", but that's perhaps because I interpret the song as being smarter and deeper than it's intended to be. I've always seen it as a call to self-examination and self-awareness in a world that often gets lost in its own business, but maybe that's not a universally held opinion.

[jonpin]

I was raised on Billy Joel, and I do like the song, but is "We Didn't Start the Fire" really the best we can do for him in the 1980's? I feel like half of An Innocent Man could be chosen; if you twisted my arm to pick one, I'd say "Uptown Girl" or "Keeping the Faith".

For the U2 entry, I think I'd lean towards "Pride", but "WOWY" isn't a bad choice.

Absolutely support "Fast Car". If it's seeded low (and it should not be), it has the capacity for multiple upsets.

[rylltraka]

The greatest revelation here is that "Uptown Girl" was made in the mid-80s and not the late 60s.

[ryanrosenberg]

The R.E.M. choice would ideally be "Radio Free Europe" or "The One I Love".

[AKKOLADE]

I was raised on Billy Joel, and I do like the song, but is "We Didn't Start the Fire" really the best we can do for him in the 1980's?

It's not even a good song at baseline.

[jonpin]

The greatest revelation here is that "Uptown Girl" was made in the mid-80s and not the late 60s.

The whole album is tributes/homages to older sounds, so that's understandable.

[ValenciaQBowl]

The greatest revelation here is that "Uptown Girl" was made in the mid-80s and not the late 60s.

The greatest revelation for me is that anyone can listen to that song all the way through.

PS: Ryan's suggestion about "Radio Free Europe" for REM is very good. That's the song that broke them on MTV and college radio, and a Greil Marcus-esque argument can be made that thus that song launched '80s alternative music.

[rylltraka]

At the moment, here are the songs from my initial list which are potential drops before the first round of play-ins:

The Weather Girls - It’s Raining Men
Run-DMC - It’s Tricky (replaced by Walk That Way)
The Cars – Drive
Berlin - The Metro
Anthrax - Madhouse

What I'm anticipating is doing a batch of play-ins for the first round or two of voting, where we do some ideosyncratic non-seeded eliminations to boil artists down to their one entry, or against songs with similar profiles, and then run the tournament with 96 songs, starting with lower-seed wild-cards until we get down to a traditional 64.

[A Dim-Witted Saboteur]

He definitely peaked in the 70s, but I'd suggest Fela Kuti's "Coffin for Head of State" (1981).

[dwd500]

Some others to consider:

Always on My Mind - Willie Nelson
Sweet Love - Anita Baker
Edge of Seventeen - Stevie Nicks
Ride Like the Wind - Christopher Cross (Album came out late 1979, single released Feb. 1980)
Get Down on it - Kool and the Gang (or, even though I can't stand it, Celebration)
I Just Called to Say I Love You - Stevie Wonder
Funky Cold Medina - Tone Loc
Mountain Music - Alabama

[1.82]

I don't really care about any of the rest, but I will always go to bat for The Metro, a song I think about every time I ride a train.

[ValenciaQBowl]

The Weather Girls - It’s Raining Men

Homer Simpson will be devastated.

[MiltonPlayer47]

Songs that I would consider:

Grateful Dead - "Touch of Grey"

Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Fight Like a Brave"

Frank Zappa - "Night School"

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - "If You Leave"

Fleetwood Mac - "Seven Wonders" (but "Little Lies" is a fine choice as well)

[rylltraka]

What I'm currently doing is listening through all the recommendations, categorizing them, discarding some (sorry, but that's the way it's gonna be), locking some into play-in games, slotting some into the top seeds (the Untouchables). Many thanks for all the submissions; I promise that they shall all be considered, even if we won't always see eye-to-eye on where they fit.

[AgathokakologicalPunk]

If I am not too late, I would humbly make some suggestions that I believe better represent bands on your list:
The Clash - Career Opportunities
The Cars - Magic or Tonight She Comes.
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms. Money for Nothing is such a [silly] deviation from Knopfler's moody blues.
Journey - Send Her My Love, Separate Ways, Who's Crying Now, Faithfully, Open Arms, pretty much anything but the maudlin, overplayed anthem Journey is so known for.

[mrtyrmystry]

please add a bit of rap music that isn't The Message, Run DMC, Salt n Pepa, the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, or NWA... ok i guess that's a nearly fair amount but still

suggested: Paid In Full (7 Minutes of Madness Coldcut Remix) - Eric B. and Rakim.. this is long, but better than the original that fred already strongly recommended

It Takes Two - Rob Base, DJ E-Z Rock

Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force .. bambaataa is evil but all three songs the soulsonic force made are ridiculous and should be enshrined, out of which planet rock is disproportionately celebrated bc kraftwerk sample yada

[on the Beastie Boys] i hate Fight For Your Right even if kind of genius - i doubt anybody cba to do something as uncool as argue about the Beastie Boys, but the song is interchangeable with no sleep til brooklyn and brass monkey and i guess you're probably better off with it than Paul Revere (my/the hipster pick) or Hey Ladies or shake your rump or something, so don't change it unless someone who speaks up feels even more strongly than i do lol

there's like 5 more artists you could consider, but being reasonable, those three extra additions are enough. id be mad if at least two of them weren't in.

a minimal number of "acclaimed songs i like/will endorse" - most already listed by fred/via acclaimed music, or are around the top 100 on acclaimed music:

Once In A Lifetime should definitely be the Talking Heads song, not the least because quizbowlers/general music listeners obsess over it

Specials - Ghost Town

Motörhead - Ace of Spades also endorsed

New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle is one of my favorite things ever. you might be better off with Blue Monday.

shouldn't the R.E.M. song just be It's The End of the World As We Know It? Radio Free Europe sounds great, but wouldn't you rather be able to make out the lyrics, even if nonsense?

the Clash song should be Rock the Casbah.

the Pixies should probably be here - just go with Where is My Mind? half the songs off Doolittle (i like Wave of Mutilation), Gigantic.

and the Smiths

Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah

The Jam - Going Underground, and That's Entertainment were both released this decade

i think the following songs are important and wonderful, but probably fringe.

Jesus and Mary Chain - Just Like Honey
these two bands could be the same
My Bloody Valentine - You Made Me Realise

Fugazi - Waiting Room

Sonic Youth - Teen Age Riot, Schizophrenia

ryan picked the perfect songs for Husker Du in particular, and the Replacements.

I've asked for way too much nonsense to be added, but please do not remove It's Raining Men. surely there's other stuff on the initial list that's real corny enough to warrant removal.

thanks for doing this! and considering

[ValenciaQBowl]

Oh, man, big yes to "Waiting Room" and inclusion of a Pixies song (though I would go for "Here Comes Your Man" if only because it was their only song to ever get close to mainstream due to its heavy play on MTV's 120 Minutes).

[ryanrosenberg]

Not to complicate things too much (although listening to more of this album is surely not a bad thing!) but if you're going to pick a 7-minute Eric B. and Rakim song it should be "My Melody."

[rylltraka]

I must say that, while there's no way that it's making the bracket, I've really enjoyed Cameo's "Candy" as a bizarre hidden gem

[Stained Diviner]

I apologize for nominating an obvious #1 seed this late in the process, but Phish's Run Like an Antelope was on a demo tape released in 1986.

[BenWeiner27]

The lack of Soda Stereo in this bracket is disappointing. De Musica Ligera slaps.

Edit: Wait nevermind, turns out it actually came out in 1990 oops. Spotify lied to me.

[Irreligion in Bangladesh]

I apologize for nominating an obvious #1 seed this late in the process, but Phish's Run Like an Antelope was on a demo tape released in 1986.

This reminds me - "If I Had $1,000,000" got on a demo tape given away at BNL concerts in 1989.

[rylltraka]

Suggestions are now officially closed. With all the suggestions now under consideration, this voting process will last longer than the 2020 election. The first round of play-in voting will be posted tomorrow.

[Nine-Tenths Ideas]

I must say that, while there's no way that it's making the bracket, I've really enjoyed Cameo's "Candy" as a bizarre hidden gem

Michael Brecker’s sax solo in this song is the absolute definition of smooth

[rylltraka]

Dear Everyone,

The time for voting has arrived! The first thing on our agenda is play-ins/playoffs/grudge matches as to which songs from certain select or highly-contested categories make the bracket, or are otherwise left out in the cold. Winners of these matches will be ensured a slot in the 96-song bracket available in the master post at the top of the thread.

We will have three of these play-in slates, and each of them will last approximately three days. Rules for normal voting apply: regular posters, and posts with commentary, will be higher-weighted; check the master post for details.

Proper voting should be framed like so:

Song that's really awesome and cool, like "Stand" v. Song that's absolute lame garbage, like "Stand"

Now I know that we all have our preferences, and many fine songs which I enjoyed will not make the top 96 for a myriad of reasons, and since I'm running this, these were decisions I had to make. Feel free to cast whatever aspersions or hexes at me you feel fit.

Cuts from Original List on the (potential) Chopping Block: Wind Beneath My Wings, You Spin Me (Right Round), Highwayman, All Night Long (All Night), Physical, Push It, What's Love Got to Do With It, Summer of '69, I Love Rock n'Roll, Mr Roboto

Toughest Cuts:
Phish – Run Like an Antelope (awesome, but 10-minute maybe-eligible instrumentals aren't great fodder for lists like this)
Eric B and Rakim – Paid in Full (rap's already over-represented on the list, and this is more soundscape than song)
Cameo – Candy (hidden gem)
The Cars – Drive (I like it but nobody else went to bat for it)

Easiest Cuts:
Nope - I’m not trying to insult anyone, but our tastes differ; I enjoyed many of the songs that I instinctively cut.

[rylltraka]

PLAY-INS, SLATE ONE
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTES BY MIDNIGHT PST 11/8

1. Clash of the Clash
The Clash, “Should I Stay or Should I Go”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN1WwnEDWAM
The Clash, “Rock the Casbah”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9r8LMU9bQ

2. Country Crossover Corner
Willie Nelson, “Always on My Mind”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoPYQ-FmQB4
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, “Islands in the Stream”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaNGtgYwSsU

3. Disco Holdouts (Pick One)
Rick James, “Super Freak”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHxGBH6o4M
Lipps., Inc, “Funkytown”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s36eQwgPNSE
Kool and the Gang, “Celebration”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M

4. New Wave But Not Much Else (Pick Two)
The Fixx, “One Thing Leads to Another”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHYIGy1dyd8
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Relax", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yem_iEHiyJ0
Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn4U0-CRNVM
Depeche Mode, “Personal Jesus”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1xrNaTO1bI
Berlin, “The Metro”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEZP22b82ks
Oingo Boingo, “Dead Man’s Party”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iypUpv9xelg

5. People Like the Smiths and I’m Not Gonna Stop Them (Pick One)
The Smiths, "There is a Light That Never Goes Out", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siO6dkqidc4
The Smiths, "This Charming Man", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJRP3LRcUFg
The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpILIIo9ek
None

6. Same With the Pixies, Who are Important I Guess (Pick One)
Pixies, "Debaser", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVyS9JwtFoQ
Pixies, "Where is My Mind?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49FB9hhoO6c
Pixies, "Monkey Gone to Heaven", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XycBLF6kWuY
Pixies, “Here Comes Your Man”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPgf_btTFlc
None

7. Retro R’n’B Corner
Bobby Brown, “My Prerogative”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cDLZqe735k
De La Soul, “Me Myself and I”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8-9mY-JACM

8. Classic Rockers Holdin’ On (Pick One)
Neil Young, “Rockin in the Free World”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvxxdZpMFHg
Don Henley, “The Boys of Summer”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8L9G2_lhno
Fleetwood Mac, “Little Lies”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCGD9dT12C0
Stevie Nicks, “Edge of Seventeen”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn8-4tjPxD8

9. REM deathmatch (Pick One)
REM, “Stand”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLaSXpqp__E
REM, “It’s The End of the World As We Know It”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY
REM, “Orange Crush”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mSmOcmk7uQ
REM, “The One I Love”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7oQEPfe-O8
REM, “Radio Free Europe”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7Dekd24kMM

[pray for elves]

PLAY-INS, SLATE ONE
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTES BY MIDNIGHT PST 11/8

1. Clash of the Clash
The Clash, “Should I Stay or Should I Go”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN1WwnEDWAM
The Clash, “Rock the Casbah”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9r8LMU9bQ

2. Country Crossover Corner
Willie Nelson, “Always on My Mind”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoPYQ-FmQB4
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, “Islands in the Stream”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaNGtgYwSsU

3. Disco Holdouts (Pick One)
Rick James, “Super Freak”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHxGBH6o4M
Lipps., Inc, “Funkytown”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s36eQwgPNSE
Kool and the Gang, “Celebration”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M

4. New Wave But Not Much Else (Pick Two)
The Fixx, “One Thing Leads to Another”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHYIGy1dyd8
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Relax", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yem_iEHiyJ0
Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn4U0-CRNVM
Depeche Mode, “Personal Jesus”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1xrNaTO1bI
Berlin, “The Metro”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEZP22b82ks
Oingo Boingo, “Dead Man’s Party”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iypUpv9xelg

5. People Like the Smiths and I’m Not Gonna Stop Them (Pick One)
The Smiths, "There is a Light That Never Goes Out", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siO6dkqidc4
The Smiths, "This Charming Man", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJRP3LRcUFg
The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpILIIo9ek
None

6. Same With the Pixies, Who are Important I Guess (Pick One)
Pixies, "Debaser", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVyS9JwtFoQ
Pixies, "Where is My Mind?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49FB9hhoO6c
Pixies, "Monkey Gone to Heaven", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XycBLF6kWuY
Pixies, “Here Comes Your Man”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPgf_btTFlc
None

7. Retro R’n’B Corner
Bobby Brown, “My Prerogative”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cDLZqe735k
De La Soul, “Me Myself and I”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8-9mY-JACM

8. Classic Rockers Holdin’ On (Pick One)
Neil Young, “Rockin in the Free World”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvxxdZpMFHg
Don Henley, “The Boys of Summer”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8L9G2_lhno
Fleetwood Mac, “Little Lies”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCGD9dT12C0
Stevie Nicks, “Edge of Seventeen”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn8-4tjPxD8

9. REM deathmatch (Pick One)
REM, “Stand”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLaSXpqp__E
REM, “It’s The End of the World As We Know It”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY
REM, “Orange Crush”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mSmOcmk7uQ
REM, “The One I Love”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7oQEPfe-O8
REM, “Radio Free Europe”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7Dekd24kMM

[ryanrosenberg]

PLAY-INS, SLATE ONE
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTES BY MIDNIGHT PST 11/8

1. Clash of the Clash
The Clash, “Should I Stay or Should I Go”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN1WwnEDWAM
The Clash, “Rock the Casbah”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9r8LMU9bQ

"Should I Stay or Should I Go" doesn't have as much groove as the best Clash songs, but that just means it's very good menacing punk. "Rock the Casbah" doesn't really hold up at all musically, even excluding the odd theming.

2. Country Crossover Corner
Willie Nelson, “Always on My Mind”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoPYQ-FmQB4
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, “Islands in the Stream”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaNGtgYwSsU

It takes a lot for me to like a slow ballad like "Always on My Mind", and this doesn't deliver. "Islands in the Stream" does a nice job of balancing tempo and emotion, perhaps helped by the duet and good vocal performances.

3. Disco Holdouts (Pick One)
Rick James, “Super Freak”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHxGBH6o4M
Lipps., Inc, “Funkytown”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s36eQwgPNSE
Kool and the Gang, “Celebration”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M

I'm celebrating!

4. New Wave But Not Much Else (Pick Two)
The Fixx, “One Thing Leads to Another”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHYIGy1dyd8
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Relax", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yem_iEHiyJ0
Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn4U0-CRNVM
Depeche Mode, “Personal Jesus”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1xrNaTO1bI
Berlin, “The Metro”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEZP22b82ks
Oingo Boingo, “Dead Man’s Party”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iypUpv9xelg

The Johnny Cash cover of "Personal Jesus" is excellent and worth a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3QDDlWmR9Q. I have a lot of feelings about "Running Up That Hill" but can't quite put them into words; hopefully it goes quite far in this bracket.

5. People Like the Smiths and I’m Not Gonna Stop Them (Pick One)
The Smiths, "There is a Light That Never Goes Out", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siO6dkqidc4
The Smiths, "This Charming Man", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJRP3LRcUFg
The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpILIIo9ek
None
Huh, somehow I never internaliz
ed the title of "There is a Light That Never Goes Out". Both it and "This Charming Man" are classic Smiths in the pairing of upbeat pop and dark lyrics -- but actually I prefer the heavier, more all-encompassing sound of "How Soon is Now?". The wordplay of "I am the son and the heir (sun and air)" is also fun.

6. Same With the Pixies, Who are Important I Guess (Pick One)
Pixies, "Debaser", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVyS9JwtFoQ
Pixies, "Where is My Mind?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49FB9hhoO6c
Pixies, "Monkey Gone to Heaven", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XycBLF6kWuY
Pixies, “Here Comes Your Man”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPgf_btTFlc
None

All of these songs have killer choruses (as is the wont of Pixies), but "Where is My Mind?" engages best during the verses (and that wail, oh boy). Pour one out for "Gigantic" as well, easily the best song ever inspired by (the film version of) a Pulitzer Prize play.

7. Retro R’n’B Corner
Bobby Brown, “My Prerogative”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cDLZqe735k
De La Soul, “Me Myself and I”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8-9mY-JACM

8. Classic Rockers Holdin’ On (Pick One)
Neil Young, “Rockin in the Free World”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvxxdZpMFHg
Don Henley, “The Boys of Summer”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8L9G2_lhno
Fleetwood Mac, “Little Lies”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCGD9dT12C0
Stevie Nicks, “Edge of Seventeen”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn8-4tjPxD8

9. REM deathmatch (Pick One)
REM, “Stand”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLaSXpqp__E
REM, “It’s The End of the World As We Know It”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY
REM, “Orange Crush”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mSmOcmk7uQ
REM, “The One I Love”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7oQEPfe-O8
REM, “Radio Free Europe”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7Dekd24kMM

"The One I Love" is probably my favorite here, but I'm going to engage in a bit of strategic voting to try to get an REM song from their pre-Warner Bros. period.

[ValenciaQBowl]

Exciting! Here we go! (PS--Since many of these have more than two options, I'm assuming the format shown in the post above doesn't apply):

1. "Rock the Casbah"
--Of course both of these are great songs from a great album, one which I got as a used copy from a brother for my 13th birthday and promptly listened to for approximate 600 hours straight. But "Casbah's" sound is so funky, and the meandering piano in it is great.

2. "Always on My Mind"
--God, that duet is just grotesquely saccharine.

3. "Superfreak"
--Great hook. And boy did that song title apparently indicate projection on Rick's part.

4. "One Thing Leads to Another" AND "Relax" [Edit: Oops, didn't see we could pick two!!!]
--I like all of these songs, and I think "Relax" was the biggest hit (or at least had the most (brief) cultural impact with all those girls at my high school wearing hugely baggy "Frankie Say Relax" t-shirts), AND that's a great Fixx song. I hope this selection doesn't mean that there will be no "Save It for Later" in this field, which will indeed lead to many aspersions and hexes.

5. "How Soon Is Now"
--Great song.

6. "Debaser"
--Pixies are one of my favorite bands of all time, and I can flex on the kids here by noting that I saw them play in a club in downtown Orlando in 1990 with about 200 other people. I know I actually recommended "Here Comes Your Man," but since we're getting choices, I'll go with "Debaser" for its references to Un Chien Andalou.

7. "Me, Myself, and I"
--Three Feet High and Rising was the third or fourth CD I ever bought after I got a CD player.

8. "Edge of Seventeen"
--None of these wows me, and though I love Neil Young Stevie's song is better here.

9. "Radio Free Europe"
--I'll again contend that this was probably one of the most important songs in the eventual movement of college radio taste to semi-mainstream broadcast due to its awesomely odd video of the guys walking around Howard Finster's crazy Paradise Garden. And it's a great song with murky lyrics that Stipe used to change for concerts if fans sent him ideas.
EDIT: Here's that video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKVyCjit1AE.

[dwd500]

1. Clash of the Clash
Rock the Casbah
- Catchiest middle finger to Khomeini that I know of.

2. Country Crossover Corner
Always on My Mind
- Islands is more representative of what 80's Country sounded like, but it's a substantially weaker song. Plus, I'm not passing up the chance to vote for Nelson's guitar, which had to have the holes by the bridge opening up by this point.

3. Disco Holdouts (Pick One)
Super Freak

4. New Wave But Not Much Else (Pick Two)
One Thing Leads to Another
Relax
- Two best hooks in this bunch. I apparently haven't forgiven Danny Elfman for the Ooompa-Loompa songs from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

5. People Like the Smiths and I’m Not Gonna Stop Them (Pick One)
There is a Light That Never Goes Out
- although the extent of my Smiths/Morrissey knowledge is this skit

6. Same With the Pixies, Who are Important I Guess (Pick One)
Where is My Mind?

7. Retro R’n’B Corner
Me Myself and I

8. Classic Rockers Holdin’ On (Pick One)
Edge of Seventeen
- But you need this version to get a feel for what a force Stevie Nicks can be. It's a masterclass in stage presence.

9. REM deathmatch (Pick One)
The One I Love
- Was really tough to decide which bass line was better, this or Radio Free Europe, so I broke the tie on the better drums.

[Stained Diviner]

1. Clash of the Clash
The Clash, “Should I Stay or Should I Go”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN1WwnEDWAM
The Clash, “Rock the Casbah”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9r8LMU9bQ
I like the lyrics to “Should I Stay or Should I Go” more, but I like the music more to “Rock the Casbah”.

2. Country Crossover Corner
Willie Nelson, “Always on My Mind”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoPYQ-FmQB4
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, “Islands in the Stream”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaNGtgYwSsU
“Always on My Mind” has some soul in it. If you've heard “Islands in the Stream” once, you've heard it the appropriate number of times.

3. Disco Holdouts (Pick One)
Rick James, “Super Freak”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHxGBH6o4M
Lipps., Inc, “Funkytown”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s36eQwgPNSE
Kool and the Gang, “Celebration”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M
I grew up in Skokie, Illinois, and I turned 13 in 1981, so I've heard “Celebration” more times than you have even if you've heard it a lot. It's a good song that I would have chosen over many others, but “Super Freak” is super freaky.

4. New Wave But Not Much Else (Pick Two)
The Fixx, “One Thing Leads to Another”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHYIGy1dyd8
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Relax", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yem_iEHiyJ0
Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn4U0-CRNVM
Depeche Mode, “Personal Jesus”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1xrNaTO1bI
Berlin, “The Metro”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEZP22b82ks
Oingo Boingo, “Dead Man’s Party”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iypUpv9xelg
"Relax" is probably better, but there are kids reading this.

5. People Like the Smiths and I’m Not Gonna Stop Them (Pick One)
The Smiths, "There is a Light That Never Goes Out", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siO6dkqidc4
The Smiths, "This Charming Man", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJRP3LRcUFg
The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpILIIo9ek
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9jhDwxt22Y

6. Same With the Pixies, Who are Important I Guess (Pick One)
Pixies, "Debaser", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVyS9JwtFoQ
Pixies, "Where is My Mind?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49FB9hhoO6c
Pixies, "Monkey Gone to Heaven", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XycBLF6kWuY
Pixies, “Here Comes Your Man”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPgf_btTFlc
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9jhDwxt22Y

7. Retro R’n’B Corner
Bobby Brown, “My Prerogative”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cDLZqe735k
De La Soul, “Me Myself and I”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8-9mY-JACM
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, "I Love Rock 'n' Roll", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9jhDwxt22Y
“My Prerogative” is the better song, but I'm not voting for Bobby Brown.

8. Classic Rockers Holdin’ On (Pick One)
Neil Young, “Rockin in the Free World”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvxxdZpMFHg
Don Henley, “The Boys of Summer”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8L9G2_lhno
Fleetwood Mac, “Little Lies”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCGD9dT12C0
Stevie Nicks, “Edge of Seventeen”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn8-4tjPxD8
This was a tough one.

9. REM deathmatch (Pick One)
REM, “Stand”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLaSXpqp__E
REM, “It’s The End of the World As We Know It”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY
REM, “Orange Crush”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mSmOcmk7uQ
REM, “The One I Love”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7oQEPfe-O8
REM, “Radio Free Europe”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7Dekd24kMM
It's easy to forget that “It’s The End of the World As We Know It” is a great song because I've listened to it too many times, but it is a great song.

[MiltonPlayer47]

1. Clash of the Clash
The Clash, “Should I Stay or Should I Go”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN1WwnEDWAM
The Clash, “Rock the Casbah”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9r8LMU9bQ

2. Country Crossover Corner
Willie Nelson, “Always on My Mind”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoPYQ-FmQB4
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, “Islands in the Stream”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaNGtgYwSsU

3. Disco Holdouts (Pick One)
Rick James, “Super Freak”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHxGBH6o4M
Lipps., Inc, “Funkytown”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s36eQwgPNSE
Kool and the Gang, “Celebration”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M

4. New Wave But Not Much Else (Pick Two)
The Fixx, “One Thing Leads to Another”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHYIGy1dyd8
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Relax", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yem_iEHiyJ0
Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn4U0-CRNVM
Depeche Mode, “Personal Jesus”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1xrNaTO1bI
Berlin, “The Metro”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEZP22b82ks
Oingo Boingo, “Dead Man’s Party”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iypUpv9xelg

5. People Like the Smiths and I’m Not Gonna Stop Them (Pick One)
The Smiths, "There is a Light That Never Goes Out", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siO6dkqidc4
The Smiths, "This Charming Man", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJRP3LRcUFg
The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpILIIo9ek
None

6. Same With the Pixies, Who are Important I Guess (Pick One)
Pixies, "Debaser", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVyS9JwtFoQ
Pixies, "Where is My Mind?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49FB9hhoO6c
Pixies, "Monkey Gone to Heaven", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XycBLF6kWuY
Pixies, “Here Comes Your Man”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPgf_btTFlc
None

7. Retro R’n’B Corner
Bobby Brown, “My Prerogative”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cDLZqe735k
De La Soul, “Me Myself and I”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8-9mY-JACM

8. Classic Rockers Holdin’ On (Pick One)
Neil Young, “Rockin in the Free World”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvxxdZpMFHg
Don Henley, “The Boys of Summer”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8L9G2_lhno
Fleetwood Mac, “Little Lies”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCGD9dT12C0
Stevie Nicks, “Edge of Seventeen”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn8-4tjPxD8

9. REM deathmatch (Pick One)
REM, “Stand”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLaSXpqp__E
REM, “It’s The End of the World As We Know It”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY
REM, “Orange Crush”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mSmOcmk7uQ
REM, “The One I Love”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7oQEPfe-O8
REM, “Radio Free Europe”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7Dekd24kMM

[Nine-Tenths Ideas]

1. Clash of the Clash
The Clash, “Should I Stay or Should I Go”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN1WwnEDWAM
The Clash, “Rock the Casbah”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9r8LMU9bQ
While it's certainly not the most representative Clash song, I've always enjoyed the weird lounge-y sound of this one.

2. Country Crossover Corner
Willie Nelson, “Always on My Mind”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoPYQ-FmQB4
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, “Islands in the Stream”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaNGtgYwSsU
Pass!

3. Disco Holdouts (Pick One)
Rick James, “Super Freak”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHxGBH6o4M
Lipps., Inc, “Funkytown”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s36eQwgPNSE
Kool and the Gang, “Celebration”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M
Songs like these live and die by the bassline, and Super Freak has the most legendary bassline.

4. New Wave But Not Much Else (Pick Two)
The Fixx, “One Thing Leads to Another”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHYIGy1dyd8
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Relax", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yem_iEHiyJ0
Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn4U0-CRNVM
Depeche Mode, “Personal Jesus”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1xrNaTO1bI
Berlin, “The Metro”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEZP22b82ks
Oingo Boingo, “Dead Man’s Party”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iypUpv9xelg
The Fixx song was my recommendation so I gotta vote for it. So was Oingo Boingo, but Running Up That Hill is objectively a better song and choice.

5. People Like the Smiths and I’m Not Gonna Stop Them (Pick One)
The Smiths, "There is a Light That Never Goes Out", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siO6dkqidc4
The Smiths, "This Charming Man", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJRP3LRcUFg
The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpILIIo9ek
None
I'm one of those "Johnny Marr was the real genius behind the Smiths" people, and of these three, I think Marr is most impressive in How Soon is Now?

6. Same With the Pixies, Who are Important I Guess (Pick One)
Pixies, "Debaser", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVyS9JwtFoQ
Pixies, "Where is My Mind?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49FB9hhoO6c
Pixies, "Monkey Gone to Heaven", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XycBLF6kWuY
Pixies, “Here Comes Your Man”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPgf_btTFlc
None

7. Retro R’n’B Corner
Bobby Brown, “My Prerogative”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cDLZqe735k
De La Soul, “Me Myself and I”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8-9mY-JACM

8. Classic Rockers Holdin’ On (Pick One)
Neil Young, “Rockin in the Free World”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvxxdZpMFHg
Don Henley, “The Boys of Summer”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8L9G2_lhno
Fleetwood Mac, “Little Lies”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCGD9dT12C0
Stevie Nicks, “Edge of Seventeen”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn8-4tjPxD8

9. REM deathmatch (Pick One)
REM, “Stand”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLaSXpqp__E
REM, “It’s The End of the World As We Know It”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY
REM, “Orange Crush”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mSmOcmk7uQ
REM, “The One I Love”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7oQEPfe-O8
REM, “Radio Free Europe”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7Dekd24kMM
I think I buy the argument that Radio Free Europe is by far the most important of these songs, so there's my vote. I'd be happy with any of these (except Stand, of course).

[kitakule]

1. Clash of the Clash
The Clash, “Should I Stay or Should I Go”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN1WwnEDWAM
The Clash, “Rock the Casbah”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9r8LMU9bQ

2. Country Crossover Corner
Willie Nelson, “Always on My Mind”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoPYQ-FmQB4
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, “Islands in the Stream”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaNGtgYwSsU

3. Disco Holdouts (Pick One)
Rick James, “Super Freak”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHxGBH6o4M
Lipps., Inc, “Funkytown”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s36eQwgPNSE
Kool and the Gang, “Celebration”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M

Aw man, making me choose from the three songs I like the best out of this whole selection. So cruel...

4. New Wave But Not Much Else (Pick Two)
The Fixx, “One Thing Leads to Another”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHYIGy1dyd8
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Relax", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yem_iEHiyJ0
Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn4U0-CRNVM
Depeche Mode, “Personal Jesus”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1xrNaTO1bI
Berlin, “The Metro”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEZP22b82ks
Oingo Boingo, “Dead Man’s Party”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iypUpv9xelg

5. People Like the Smiths and I’m Not Gonna Stop Them (Pick One)
The Smiths, "There is a Light That Never Goes Out", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siO6dkqidc4
The Smiths, "This Charming Man", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJRP3LRcUFg
The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpILIIo9ek
None

6. Same With the Pixies, Who are Important I Guess (Pick One)
Pixies, "Debaser", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVyS9JwtFoQ
Pixies, "Where is My Mind?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49FB9hhoO6c
Pixies, "Monkey Gone to Heaven", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XycBLF6kWuY
Pixies, “Here Comes Your Man”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPgf_btTFlc
None

7. Retro R’n’B Corner
Bobby Brown, “My Prerogative”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cDLZqe735k
De La Soul, “Me Myself and I”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8-9mY-JACM

8. Classic Rockers Holdin’ On (Pick One)
Neil Young, “Rockin in the Free World”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvxxdZpMFHg
Don Henley, “The Boys of Summer”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8L9G2_lhno
Fleetwood Mac, “Little Lies”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCGD9dT12C0
Stevie Nicks, “Edge of Seventeen”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn8-4tjPxD8

9. REM deathmatch (Pick One)
REM, “Stand”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLaSXpqp__E
REM, “It’s The End of the World As We Know It”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY
REM, “Orange Crush”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mSmOcmk7uQ
REM, “The One I Love”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7oQEPfe-O8
REM, “Radio Free Europe”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7Dekd24kMM

[A Dim-Witted Saboteur]

PLAY-INS, SLATE ONE
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR VOTES BY MIDNIGHT PST 11/8

1. Clash of the Clash
The Clash, “Should I Stay or Should I Go”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN1WwnEDWAM
The Clash, “Rock the Casbah”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9r8LMU9bQ

2. Country Crossover Corner
Willie Nelson, “Always on My Mind”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoPYQ-FmQB4
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, “Islands in the Stream”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaNGtgYwSsU

3. Disco Holdouts (Pick One)
Rick James, “Super Freak”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHxGBH6o4M
Lipps., Inc, “Funkytown”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s36eQwgPNSE
Kool and the Gang, “Celebration”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M

4. New Wave But Not Much Else (Pick Two)
The Fixx, “One Thing Leads to Another”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHYIGy1dyd8
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Relax", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yem_iEHiyJ0
Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn4U0-CRNVM
Depeche Mode, “Personal Jesus”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1xrNaTO1bI
Berlin, “The Metro”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEZP22b82ks
Oingo Boingo, “Dead Man’s Party”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iypUpv9xelg

5. People Like the Smiths and I’m Not Gonna Stop Them (Pick One)
The Smiths, "There is a Light That Never Goes Out", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siO6dkqidc4
The Smiths, "This Charming Man", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJRP3LRcUFg
The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpILIIo9ek
None

6. Same With the Pixies, Who are Important I Guess (Pick One)
Pixies, "Debaser", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVyS9JwtFoQ
Pixies, "Where is My Mind?", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49FB9hhoO6c
Pixies, "Monkey Gone to Heaven", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XycBLF6kWuY
Pixies, “Here Comes Your Man”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPgf_btTFlc
None

7. Retro R’n’B Corner
Bobby Brown, “My Prerogative”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cDLZqe735k
De La Soul, “Me Myself and I”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8-9mY-JACM

8. Classic Rockers Holdin’ On (Pick One)
Neil Young, “Rockin in the Free World”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvxxdZpMFHg
Don Henley, “The Boys of Summer”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8L9G2_lhno
Fleetwood Mac, “Little Lies”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCGD9dT12C0
Stevie Nicks, “Edge of Seventeen”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn8-4tjPxD8

9. REM deathmatch (Pick One)
REM, “Stand”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLaSXpqp__E
REM, “It’s The End of the World As We Know It”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0GFRcFm-aY
REM, “Orange Crush”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mSmOcmk7uQ
REM, “The One I Love”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7oQEPfe-O8
REM, “Radio Free Europe”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7Dekd24kMM
I don't particularly like any of these songs, but lesser-evil voting here

[mrtyrmystry]

1. Clash of the Clash
The Clash, “Rock the Casbah”

2. Country Crossover Corner
Willie Nelson, “Always on My Mind”

The duet I didn't choose is interpolated in "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" and thus responsible for Ol' Dirty B's great verse on it...

3. Disco Holdouts (Pick One)
Rick James, “Super Freak”

4. New Wave But Not Much Else (Pick Two)
Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill"
Depeche Mode, “Personal Jesus”

having heard some of them a varying number of times, i, out of personal bias, don't like any of these songs very much. voted heavy breathing

5. People Like the Smiths and I’m Not Gonna Stop Them (Pick One)
The Smiths, "There is a Light That Never Goes Out"

I don't like the Smiths very much, or I think I specifically don't like Morrissey (as a musician; everyone who knows dislikes him as a person), which is weird for someone of my age/other music tastes. but to some youngold people they are the defining ("indie?") band of this decade. They, along with REM, are surprisingly punk-influenced - I might not hear it in either, but I hear it more in REM as opposed to not at all in the Smiths.

i am a fan of special sounds, like the guitar in How Soon is Now?

"take me out tonight" [take me anywhere i don't care], and particularly "if a double decker bus crashes into us / to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die" are such striking (and unnecessarily romantic) refrains for a song so popular.

6. Same With the Pixies, Who are Important I Guess (Pick One)
Pixies, "Where is My Mind?"

I like all of these, even (barely) Monkey Gone to Heaven with its stupid nonsense lyrics and the screaming God is seven. Here Comes Your Man is one of the catchiest things/riffs ever recorded I really think so (and it got more exposure at the time of its release than any other Pixies song?) but Where is My Mind? will do better in the bracket (I don't think most voters are Pixies/Smiths fans, which is all well), so that's how I'll vote. I wouldn't even know of Un Chien Andalou if not for the great Debaser, which I told once to Harrison Whitaker and surprised him (it shouldn't be a surprise).

7. Retro R’n’B Corner
De La Soul, “Me Myself and I”

no knock on my prerogative.
it's always been unfortunate that De La Soul's music isn't streamable, even if streaming services are a fat scam for the artists, because it means less (particularly young) people will hear it! including me. this is the only song of theirs that I've heard a lot. At least we have their great (lining em up like *** cracks/care bear rappin/ ghost town this mo town) verse on Feel Good Inc that is stuck in the heads of this generation. I am not the rap mafia, I promise.

8. Classic Rockers Holdin’ On (Pick One)
Neil Young, “Rockin in the Free World”

i like all these songs LOL.

i heard neil young intentionally, the fleetwood mac and stevie nicks unintentionally, and don henley right now. doot-do-la-doot-do...

9. REM deathmatch (Pick One)
REM, “It’s The End of the World As We Know It”

leo-nard-bern-stein.

[ScoBo]

1. Clash of the Clash
The Clash, “Should I Stay or Should I Go”
The Clash, “Rock the Casbah”

2. Country Crossover Corner
Willie Nelson, “Always on My Mind”
Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, “Islands in the Stream”

3. Disco Holdouts (Pick One)
Rick James, “Super Freak”
Lipps., Inc, “Funkytown”
Kool and the Gang, “Celebration”

4. New Wave But Not Much Else (Pick Two)
The Fixx, “One Thing Leads to Another”
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Relax"
Kate Bush, "Running Up That Hill"
Depeche Mode, “Personal Jesus”
Berlin, “The Metro”
Oingo Boingo, “Dead Man’s Party”

5. People Like the Smiths and I’m Not Gonna Stop Them (Pick One)
The Smiths, "There is a Light That Never Goes Out"
The Smiths, "This Charming Man"
The Smiths, "How Soon is Now?"
None

6. Same With the Pixies, Who are Important I Guess (Pick One)
Pixies, "Debaser"
Pixies, "Where is My Mind?"
Pixies, "Monkey Gone to Heaven"
Pixies, “Here Comes Your Man”
None

7. Retro R’n’B Corner
Bobby Brown, “My Prerogative”
De La Soul, “Me Myself and I”

8. Classic Rockers Holdin’ On (Pick One)
Neil Young, “Rockin in the Free World”
Don Henley, “The Boys of Summer”
Fleetwood Mac, “Little Lies”
Stevie Nicks, “Edge of Seventeen”

9. REM deathmatch (Pick One)
REM, “Stand”
REM, “It’s The End of the World As We Know It”
REM, “Orange Crush”
REM, “The One I Love”
REM, “Radio Free Europe”

[rylltraka]

This is a reminder that votes must be submitted by midnight (PST) tonight. Get to it, people!