We’re nearing the midpoint of our Best of the ’80s Redux series of year-by-year song polls as we now move on to the year 1984, 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 polls that ranked the best songs of 1982 and then 1983.
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, 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 1984. That means, for example, that a song that’s released as a single in 1985 will be eligible for the 1984 poll if it first appeared on an album released in 1984. Splitting hairs? Sure, but we have to draw the line somewhere.
- 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 Zen Arcade, 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, Oct. 19, and results will be posted within a week or two — after which we’ll launch the 1985 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 1984 poll results, or check out these other resources:
- Wikipedia: 1984 singles
- Songfacts: Songs released in 1984
- Billboard’s Top 100 songs of 1984
- NME’s albums and tracks of the year: 1984
- WLIR & WDRE 92.7 FM Screamer & Shrieks of the Week
- KROQ’s Top 106.7 songs of 1984
- 91X’s Top 91 of 1984
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Top 100 Songs of 1983: Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of the ’80s Redux — Part 4
- Top 100 Songs of 1982: Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of the ’80s Redux — Part 3
- Top 100 Songs of 1981: Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of the ’80s Redux — Part 2
- Top 100 Songs of 1980: Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of the ’80s Redux — Part 1
- Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Best of the 1980s: The Top 100 albums from 1980-1989
My first pass, though haven’t voted yet… still checking for songs I might have overlooked.
Top 25 Best of 1984
25. Shriekback, “Hand on My Heart”
24. Tears for Fears, “Shout”
23. The Smiths, “How Soon Is Now?”
22. XTC, “You’re the Wish You Are I Had”
21. U2, “Bad”
20. The Pogues, “Streams of Whiskey”
19. The Pretenders, “Time the Avenger”
18. Prince, “When Doves Cry”
17. The Psychedelic Furs, “The Ghost in You”
16. Husker Du, “I’ll Never Forget You”
15. The Fixx, “Are We Ourselves”
14. Depeche Mode, “Master and Servant”
13. Leonard Cohen, “Hallelujah”
12. Minutemen, “#1 Hit Song”
11. Killing Joke, “Eighties”
10. Talk Talk, “It’s You”
9. General Public, “Tenderness”
8. Ministry, “Every Day is Halloween”
7. Echo & the Bunnymen, “The Killing Moon”
6. Tones on Tail, “Go!”
5. R.E.M., “So. Central Rain”
4. Simple Minds, “Up on the Catwalk”
3. The Replacements, “Androgynous”
2. Bruce Cockburn, “Lovers in a Dangerous Time”
1. Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, “Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?”
Just misses:
Nick Lowe, “Half a Boy and Half a Man”
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, “Two Tribes”
The Nails, “88 Lines About 44 Women”
Prefab Sprout, “When Love Breaks Down”
Peter Gabriel, “Walk Through the Fire”
Bruce Springsteen, “I’m on Fire”
Big thumbs up on including Bruce Cockburn!
Here’s my 25,
The Killing Moon – Echo and the Bunnymen
Don’t look any further – Dennis Edwards
What difference does it make – The Smiths
Don’t go back to Rockville – R.E.M.
Rattlesnakes- Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
How soon is now ? – The Smiths
The boys of summer – Don Henry
Small town boy – Bronski Beat
Two tribes- Frankie Goes to Hollywood
My ever changing moods – Style Council
Somebody- Depeche Mode
When live breaks down- Prefab Sprout
Lake of fire – Meat Puppets
Shout to the top – Style Council
The powers of love – Frankie Goes to Hollywood
When doves cry – Prince
Blue Jean – David Bowie
It’s my life – Talk Talk
Tomorrow started – Talk Talk
So central rain – R.E.M.
The lebanon – Human League
Dancing girls – Nik Kershaw
Hyperactive – Thomas Dolby
Purple Rain – Prince
The Big Music – The Waterboys
How did I miss the Waterboys… well, I think they bumped Minutement for a spot. But “Pagan Place” or “The Big Music”… or “All the Things She Gave Me”… yeesh… the whole album.
My 25 in no particular order:
Echo & The Bunnymen – Killing Moon
Simple Minds – Speed Your Love To Me
Psychedelic Furs – Heaven
R.E.M. – So. Central Rain
Replacements – I Will Dare
Smiths – William, It Was Really Nothing
Smiths – How Soon Is Now?
Talk Talk – It’s My Life
U2 – Pride
U2 – A Sort of Homecoming
Waterboys – Church Not Made With hands
Aztec Camera – Still On Fire
Cocteau Twins – Ivo
The Cult – Resurrection Joe
The Cure – The Catepillar
Everything But the Girl – Each And Every One
Go-Betweens – Bachelor Kisses
Hunters & Collectors – Throw Your Arms Around Me
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions – Perfect Skin
New Order – Thieves
Orange Juice – What Presence?!
Pale Fountains – Jean’s Not Happening
Killing Joke – Eighties
Depeche Mode – Blasphemous Rumours
Prefab Sprout – When Love Breaks Down
Honourable Mention:
Bruce Cockburn – Lovers In A Dangerous Time
Ub40 – If It Happens Again
Gun Club – My Dreams
Midnight Oil – Best Of Both Worlds
Ultravox – One Small Day, Dancing With Tears In my Eyes
David Sylvian – Ink In The Well
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Dazzle
Fun and tough again making this list,can’t wait to see how it finishes. Bring on 1985!!!!
Thanks SUE.
“Throw Your Arms Around Me”… thought it was ’85, but yeah, ’84 single… damn good song.
Yeah, disappointed I missed that one, too.
Yeah. Disappointed I missed that one, too.
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, “Are You Ready to be Heartbroken”
R.E.M.,”So, Central Rain (I’m Sorry)”
General Public, “Tenderness”
Psychedlic Furs, “The Ghost in You”
The Alarm,”Sixty Eight Guns”
The Replacements, “Unsatisfied”
The Replacements, “Answering Machine”
Hoodoo Gurus,”My Girl”
The dB’s, “Lonely Is (As Lonely Does)”
Los Lobos, “Will The Wolf Survive”
Malcolm McLaren, “Eiffel Tower”
R.E.M., “Camera”
The Pretenders, “2000 Miles”
Echo & the Bunnymen,”Killing Moon”
Split Enz, “Message to my Girl”
The Bangles, “Going Down to Liverpool”
Eurythmics, “Julia”
Bruce Cockburn, “If I Had a Rocket Launcher”
The Del Lords,”How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?”
Pat Benatar,”We Belong”
Miracle Legion, “Butterflies”
Miracle Legion, “Just Say Hello”
The Bluebells, “Cath”
Nick Lowe, “Half a Boy and Half a Man”
Alison Moyet, “Love Resurrection”
“Message to My Girl” was an ’84 single, but came out first in ’83 (on that list already)… so that frees up a spot for H&C!
Can anyone verify it Time Zone’s “World Destruction” was released in 1984 in the US? Only see 1 source saying 12/1984. Was a biggie for me.
Yep, first released 1984…….go for it
Testing…got 404 error before
In no discernible order (and, if I’m being honest, I thought this was a relatively weak year in terms of 80s music).
The Vandals, Ladykiller
Echo & the Bunnymen, Killing Moon
Scott Goddard, Cowpunk
Smiths, How Soon is Now
INXS, Burn For You
Blancmange, Don’t Tell Me
Simple Minds, Waterfront
Bananarama, Wild Life (sentimental pick that I’ll defend till the end!!)
X, Wild Thing
Prince, Let’s Go Crazy
The Smiths, What Difference Does it Make?
R.E.M., Camera
The Time, Jungle Love
Tones on Tail, Go
Duran Duran, New Moon on Monday (only DD song I could ever own up to liking)
The Go-Go’s, Head Over Heels
U2, the Unforgettable Fire
Echo & the Bunnymen, My Kingdom
Replacements, Unsatisfied
Replacements, I Will Dare,
Prince, The Beautiful Ones
R.E.M., Don’t Go Back to Rocksville
What Difference Does It Make?
Sheila E., Glamorous Life
New Order, Thieves Like Us
New Moon on Monday came out on the Seven and the Ragged Tiger album in ‘83. The single didn’t come out until ‘84, but since the album was out before, it won’t count for ‘84.
Same with Waterfront… as it is on the ’83 list at #51. Or it would have been on mine… but that just means you can vote for another amazing song off of Sparkle in the Rain!
Ok. If Waterfront and New Moon are out, I will replace them with these two:
Nik Kershaw, Wouldn’t It Be Good (could have sworn this was not a 1984 pick. Had I known, it would definitely have made the original list).
Psych Furs, Ghost in You (same comment)
My picks:
Alphaville, “Big in Japan”
Black Flag, “My War”
Blancmange, “Don’t Tell Me”
Bronski Beat, “Smalltown Boy”
Cocteau Twins, “Pearly-Dewdrops’ Drops”
The dB’s, “Love Is for Lovers”
Echo and the Bunnymen, “The Killing Moon”
The Eurogliders, “Heaven (Must Be There)”
The Go-Go’s, “Turn to You”
Husker Du, “Pink Turns to Blue”
Nik Kershaw, “Wouldn’t It Be Good?”
Killing Joke, “Eighties”
Meat Puppets, “Lake of Fire”
Ministry, “Everyday Is Halloween”
The Minutemen, “Corona”
Alison Moyet, “Love Resurrection”
The Pretenders, “Time the Avenger”
The Psychedelic Furs, “The Ghost in You”
R.E.M., “Pretty Persuasion”
The Replacements, “I Will Dare”
Romeo Void, “A Girl in Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing)”
Siouxsie and the Banshees, “Swimming Horses”
Spinal Tap, “Big Bottom”
The Stranglers, “Skin Deep”
Tones on Tail, “Go!”
Ah Nik Kershaw… there’s a blast from the past. I probably haven’t heard that song in 30 years.
After 3pm at work the overhead music switches to 80’s new wave from 2000’s crud. They play that song on occasion.
Can’t believe I missed Skin Deep, great track.
Wow, this is my list:
1- The Smiths, Reel around the fountain
2- Talk Talk, It’s my life
3- Cocteau Twins, Pandora (for Cindy)
4- Tears for Fears, Shout
5- New Order, Thieves like us
6- Dead or Alive, You spin me round
7- The Smiths, How soon is now
8- Duran Duran, The wild boys
9- Eurythmics, Sex crime
10- Bronski Beat, Smalltown boy
11- Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Rattlesnakes
12- U2, Pride
13- Alphaville, Sounds like a melody
14- Alphaville, Summer in Berlin
15- Depeche Mode, Blasphemous rumours
16- Depeche Mode, If you want
17- The Psychedelic Furs, The ghost in you
18- Prince, When doves cry
19- Spandau Ballet, Only when you leave
20- Siouxsie and the Banshees, Swimming horses
21- Human League, The Lebanon
22- Echo & The Bunnymen, The killing moon
23- Bananarama, Robert de Niro’s waiting
24- The Cure, The caterpillar
25- Nena, 99 luftballons
This was so hard to pick and I had to leave some really good tunes out of this poll like:
Prince – Purple rain
Tina Turner – Private dancer
Hall & Oates – Out of touch
Culture Club – The war song
General Public – Tenderness
Queen – Radio Gaga
Ultravox – Dancing with tears in my eyes
Human League – Louise
INXS – Burn for you
Lloyd Cole – Charlotte street
Wham! – Wake me up (before you go go)
Bronski Beat – why
And a long, long list. :(
“You Spin Me Round”… damn, that is ’84… thought it was ’85. Like it or not, it deserves to be listed for its prevalence and lasting impact.
Yeah, I have it as 85 when Youthquake came out. Sophisticated Boom Boom in ‘84.
Actually, I think Gilmar is correct. Wikipedia has “You Spin Me Round…” as an ’84 single, but the album came out in ’85.
November ’84
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Spin_Me_Round_(Like_a_Record)
“Summer in Berlin”, excellent/overlooked track!
Goddammit I give up…anything longer than 3 lines grts a 404 error. My list is in the Facebook thread.
I had that problem on the 1983 poll. I even e-mailed the webmaster but he didn’t know why it was happening. I guess it’s a random thing. Sorry.
Are you trying to enter your whole list in a single field? Sorry if it’s not clear, but there are 25 separate fields, one per song, to fill out. Makes it more manageable to tabulate that way.
The survey entered fine, I’m trying to post my list in a comment here. It keeps taking me to a 404 error page.
As of now this is the list I will likely submit as my official vote. But first I’ll post it here in hopes that somebody might be nice enough to see if there are any songs that are not from 1984. Many thanks!
Here they are, countdown style:
25. Misled – Kook & the Gang
24. One Night In Bangkok – Murray Head
23. The Caterpillar – The Cure
22. My Ever Changing Moods – The Style Council
21. Smooth Operator – Sade
20. Sex Crime (1984) – Eurythmics
19. Lie To Me – Depeche Mode
18. Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream) – The Icicle Works
17. The Boys of Summer – Don Henley
16. Show Me – The Pretenders
15. Why Can’t I Have You – The Cars
14. Slow Dancing – Lindsey Buckingham
13. Lovers In A Dangerous Time – Bruce Cockburn
12. Stories Of Old – Depeche Mode
11. Invisible – Alison Moyet
10. Doupleplusgood – Eurythmics
9. Best Of Both Worlds – Midnight Oil
8. Magic – The Cars
7. So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry) – R.E.M.
6. How Soon Is Now – The Smiths
5. Pride (In The Name Of Love) – U2
4. Where The Rose Is Sown – Big Country
3. Bad – U2
2. If I Had A Rocket Launcher – Bruce Cockburn
1. 7 Chinese Brothers – R.E.M.
“Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)” is from ’83. That opens a spot on your list.
Many thanks!
heck of a diverse list there Nortley
25. The Sisters of Mercy – Walk Away
24. The Chills – Pink Frost
23. New Order – Thieves Like Us
22. Talk Talk – It’s My Life
21. The Cure – Shake Dog Shake
20. Killing Joke – Eighties
19. R.E.M. – Harborcoat
18. Tears For Fears – Shout
17. Cocteau Twins – The Spangle Maker
16. The Fall – Slang King
15. Lloyd Cole and The Commotions – Perfect Skin
14. The Cure – The Top
13. U2 – Bad
12. Cocteau Twins – Lorelei
11. The Fall – No Bulbs
10. The Jesus and Mary Chain – Upside Down
9. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – From Her To Eternity
8. Echo and The Bunnymen – Seven Seas
7. Lloyd Cole and The Commotions – Rattlesnakes
6. Prince – When Doves Cry
5. U2 – The Unforgettable Fire
4. R.E.M. – So. Central Rain
3. The Smiths – William, It Was Really Nothing
2. Echo and The Bunnymen – The Killing Moon
1. The Smiths – How Soon Is Now?
Damn, was “William It Was Really Nothing” 1984? Gotta rethink some of my list. Glad I have submitted it yet.
Crud…just realized Screaming Blue Messiahs “Good And Gone” EP was ‘84. “I Want Up” or “Someone To Talk To” has to be on my list.
The Cure: The Top (whole album)
The SIsters of Mercy: Body and Soul (whole EP)
Plus songs from Siouxsie and the Banshees, Depeche Mode, The Waterboys, The Gun Club. This is going to be difficult.
Since you can only pick two songs for the same artist, that should free up some space.
In no order:
Blasphemous Rumours-DM
Blue Jean-David Bowie
Fade to Black-Metallica
Walk Away-Sisters of Mercy
Shout-Tears for Fears
Handsome Devil-The Smith’s
Small town Boy-Bronski Beat
When love breaks down-prefab sprout
Killing moon-echo & the bunnymen
Wild Boys-Duran Duran
Heaven-pyschedelic furs
It’s my life-talk talk
Skin Deep-Stranglers
When Doves Cry-Prince
Only when you leave -Spandau Ballet
If I had a rocket launcher-Bruce Cockburn
Wouldn’t it be good-Nik Kershaw
Pearly Dewdrops Drops-cocteau twins
Ghost in you-psychedelic furs
Purple Rain-Prince
Tenderness-General public
Everyday is halloween-ministry
Stories of Old-DM
Love Resurrection-Allison moyet
OK, here it is (in no particular order):
Orange Juice – What Presence?!
Everything But the Girl – Each And Every One
Talk Talk – It’s My Life
Echo & The Bunnymen – Killing Moon
R.E.M. – So. Central Rain
General Public, “Tenderness”
R.E.M. – Harborcoat
The dB’s, “Lonely Is (As Lonely Does)”
The Go-Go’s, Head Over Heels
U2, the Unforgettable Fire
Echo & the Bunnymen, My Kingdom
My Ever Changing Moods – The Style Council
How Soon Is Now – The Smiths
7 Chinese Brothers – R.E.M.
Blue Jean-David Bowie
Hero Takes a Fall – Bangles
White Lines – Grand Master Flash
Cruel Summer – Bananarama
In A Big Country – Big Country
Pale Shelter – Tears For Fears
I Would Die 4 U – Prince
Elvis Costello The Only Flame In Town
Talking Heads Burning Down the House
Just fyi, several of these are from 1983… In a Big Country, White Lines, Burning Down the House, Cruel Summer… If you wanted to find replacements…
In no particular order:
The Smiths – How Soon Is Now?
The Smiths – What Difference Does It Make?
Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls
Echo & The Bunnymen – The Killing Moon
Depeche Mode – People Are People
Depeche Mode – Blasphemous Rumours
Talk Talk – It’s My Life
The Psychedelic Furs – The Ghost In You
Prince – When Doves Cry
Prince – I Would Die 4 U
Queen – Radio Ga Ga
OMD – Tesla Girls
Tina Turner – What’s Love Got to Do with It
David Bowie – Loving The Alien
The Go-Go’s – Head Over Heels
Bronski Beat – Smalltown Boy
U2 – Bad
Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen – If It Be Your Will
The Cure – The Empty World
Pat Benatar – We Belong
Alphaville – Forever Young
Bananarama – Robert deNiro’s waiting
Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Round
Sade – Smooth Operator
Ah “West End Girls”… another one falling under the “Radio Free Europe” ruling. Will it get more votes in ’84 (original) or ’85 (more well known/popular version)??
Listed alphabetically. Tried to strike a balance between songs that were deeply part of my life in 1984 (even if they haven’t aged well) and songs that I may not have even heard that year but are now favorites of mine.
Laurie Anderson, Excellent Birds
Animotion, Obsession
The Bangles, Going Down To Liverpool
Berlin, No More Words
David Bowie, Loving The Alien
Bronski Beat, Smalltown Boy
Lindsey Buckingham, Go Insane
The Cure, Shake Dog Shake
Depeche Mode, Master and Servant
Eurythmics, Doubleplusgood
Murray Head, One Night In Bangkok
Roger Hodgson, Had A Dream (Sleeping With The Enemy)
Katrina and the Waves, Mexico
Marillion, Fugazi
Men Without Hats, Messiahs Die Young
Alison Moyet, Love Resurrection
OMD, Tesla Girls
Prince, When Doves Cry
Queen, Radio Ga Ga
REM, Don’t Go Back To Rockville
Romeo Void, A Girl In Trouble
The Smiths, How Soon Is Now?
Tina Turner, What’s Love Got To Do With It
U2, Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Wang Chung, Dance Hall Days
Love Wang Chung, but “Dance Hall Days” was originally released in ’83 with the album (even though the single was officially released in ’84). Otherwise, I would have voted for it. (And I was disappointed it failed to make the ’83 list.)
And actually, just realized that Points On the Curve was ’83 release in the UK, but ’84 (for the album and singles) in the US… so maybe we CAN vote for it.
Hmmm… maybe we can get a ruling on this? Anyone?
Is it okay to vote for Overground by Siouxsie & The Banshees? I’m thinking of the re-recording for The Thorn EP…
Ignoring the limit on two songs per artist…
1 The Smiths Please, Please, Please
2 Echo and the Bunnymen Ocean Rain
3 The Smiths What Difference Does It Make?
4 Echo and the Bunnymen Crystal Days
5 The Cult Spiritwalker
6 U2 A Sort of Homecoming
7 The Smiths Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now
8 Adam Ant Apollo 9
9 Replacements Unsatisfied
10 U2 The Unforgettable Fire
11 The Church A Month of Sundays
12 The Cure The Caterpillar
13 The Church Into My Hands
14 Modern English Rainbows End
15 The Psychedelic Furs Highwire Days
16 The Psychedelic Furs The Ghost In You
17 The Alarm Blaze of Glory
18 REM Harborcoat
19 The Jesus and Mary Chain Upside Down
20 Husker Du Never Talking to You Again
21 Echo and the Bunnymen Silver
22 Metallica Creeping Death
23 The Cure Shake Dog Shake
24 The Cars Why Can’t I Have You?
25 The Smiths William, It Was Really Nothing
You do know that the 3rd+ songs won’t count, right?
Going by the first choice, I don’t think Its gonna happen
Yes, I dropped everything beyond two from each artist when making a ballot submission.
The early 80’s rankings are challenging since I was very young in those days. It was well past 1984 when I heard most of these songs or if I heard them in 1984 I couldn’t recall hearing them. I mean Duran Duran was the cat’s meow back then because of their video play on MTv. However in time I eventually discovered all of these songs or the artist.
I love New Wave/Post Modern/Alternative/Left of the Dial or whatever you want to label this music genera! It is the best.
Here’s my 25 picks:
1) The Smiths, “This Charming Man”
2) Depeche Mode, “Somebody”
3) The Smiths, “What Difference Does It Make?”
4) New Order, “Thieves Like Us”
5) The Style Council, “Shout to Top!”
6) The Style Council, “My Ever Changing Moods”
7) Depeche Mode, “Master and Servant”
8) The Jesus And Mary Chain, “Upside Down”
9) Echo & the Bunnymen, “Seven Seas”
10) Fiction Factory, “Feels Like Heaven”
11) Billy Bragg, “St. Swithin’s Day”
12) Prefab Sprout, “When Love Breaks Down”
13) Tones on Tail, “Go!”
14) The Replacements, “I Will Dare”
15) Duran Duran, “The Wild Boys”
16) Simple Minds, “Speed Your Love To Me”
17) Dead Can Dance, “The Trial”
18) Wang Chung, “Dance Hall Days”
19) General Public, “Tenderness”
20) The Psychedelic Furs, “Heaven”
21) Talk Talk, “It’s My Life”
22) Billy Idol, “Catch My Fall”
23) Ultravox, “Dancing With Tears In My Eyes”
24) Echo & the Bunnymen, “The Killing Moon”
25) Eurogliders, “Heaven (Must Be There)”
No particular order . . .
Minutemen, “This Ain’t No Picnic”
The Alarm, “Sixty Eight Guns”
REM, “(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville”
Echo & the Bunnymen, “The Killing Moon”
The Smiths, “How Soon Is Now?”
Time Zone, “World Destruction”
Guadalcanal Diary, “Trail of Tears”
The dB’s, “Amplifier”
Bananarama, “Robert De Niro’s Waiting…”
The Pretenders, “My City Was Gone”
Ramones, “Howling at the Moon (Sha-La-La)”
Sade, “Hang On to Your Love”
Minutemen, “History Lesson Part 2”
Echo & The Bunnymen, “Seven Seas”
The Alarm, “Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke?”
REM, “Pretty Persuasion”
Wang Chung, “Dance Hall Days”
Spinal Tap, “Big Bottom”
Violent Femmes, “Country Death Song”
INXS, “I Send a Message”
Midnight Oil, “Best of Both Worlds”
Black Flag, “Slip It In”
Malcolm McLaren, “Madam Butterfly (Un bel dì vedremo)”
Thompson Twins, “The Gap”
The Bangles, “Hero Takes a Fall”
I should’ve posted this sooner.
Other good sources of info to jog memories:
WLIR 1984 Dare ’84 Countdown
https://archive.mgm51.com/cache/library/pdf/top100/WLIR_Top-84-of-1984.pdf
WXCI New Year New Breakdown – Top 100 Songs of 1984
https://archive.mgm51.com/cache/library/pdf/top100/WXCI_Top-100-of-1984.pdf
CFNY – The Best Albums of 1984
http://spiritofradio.ca/Charts.asp#1984
CMJ – Top 20 Albums of 1984
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=zVp_QgtYGGUC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Village Voice – Pazz & Jop Lists – Top Songs and Albums of 1984
http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/village7080.htm#1984
John Peel’s Festive Fifty 1984
http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/festive50lists.htm#1984
Melody Maker – Top Songs and Albums of 1984
http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mmpage.html#1984
The Face – Recordings of the Year, Albums and Songs – 1984
http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/theface.htm#1984
UK Charts – Top 100 of 1984
http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1984.shtml
Playlist Research – Top Modern/Alternative Songs of 1984
http://www.playlistresearch.com/1980s/1984modern.htm
Acclaimed – Top Songs of 1984
http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/year/1984s.htm
Very cool resources. I’m bookmarking several of them. Just note that many of those lists include ’83 songs which don’t meet the criteria for this vote (Cruel Summer, Dance Hall Days, Hold Me Now, etc.).
Thanks Neil.
Earlier this year I took some time to scour the Internet to find radio stations, etc. that had ‘best of’ lists from the 80’s. Tried to stick to the alternative / indie / college radio genre. I also have some lists from CMJ that aren’t online.
Think I got them ‘all’, but if anyone has seen others, please post them! Thanks.
Ugh. Twice when I was filling out the ballot I hit return trying to get to the next field and it submitted a partial ballot. If the tallier is reading please disregard those partial ballots in favor of my full one. It was a goof on my part and not an attempt at ballot box stuffing!
That was harder to do than I expected! But at least I’ve got a good Spotify list out of it. ;-)
Top 25 (alphabetical order)
1. Alphaville – Sounds Like a Melody
2. APB – What Kind of Girl (Are You)?
3. Blancmange – Don’t Tell Me
4. C.S. Angels – You Move Me
5. Echo & the Bunnymen – Seven Seas
6. Echo & the Bunnymen – Silver
7. Hoodoo Gurus – I Want You Back
8. Hunters & Collectors – Throw Your Arms Around Me
9. Jane Siberry – Mimi on The Beach
10. Lloyd Cole and the Commotions – Rattlesnakes
11. Ministry – All Day
12. Miracle Legion – Backyard
13. R.E.M. – Harborcoat
14. Siouxsie and the Banshees – Dazzle
15. Spoons – Tell No Lies
16. The Chills – Pink Frost
17. The dB’s – Love Is for Lovers
18. The March Violets – Walk Into the Sun
19. The Psychedelic Furs – The Ghost in You
20. The Replacements – I Will Dare
21. The Smiths – This Charming Man
22. The Stranglers – Skin Deep
23. The Waterboys – Church Not Made With hands
24. Ultravox – One Small Day
25. Ultravox – Love’s Great Adventure
Honorable Mentions
1. Big Country – Wonderland
2. Billy Bragg – It Says Here
3. C.S. Angels – Independence Day (re-release)
4. Captain Sensible – There Are More Snakes Than Ladders
5. Icehouse – Taking the Town
6. Jane Siberry – Symmetry
7. Lloyd Cole and the Commotions – Perfect Skin
8. Martha and the Muffins – Black Stations / White Stations
9. Martha and the Muffins – Cooling The Medium
10. Miracle Legion – Butterflies
11. Miracle Legion – Closer To The Wall
12. Miracle Legion – Just Say Hello
13. Modern English – Hands Across the Sea
14. Propoganda – Dr. Mabuse
15. Psychedelic Furs – Heartbeat
16. Psychedelic Furs – Alice’s House
17. R.E.M. – Letter Never Sent
18. R.E.M. – Second Guessing
19. Ramones – Wart Hog
20. Scritti Politti – Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)
21. Scritti Politti – Hypnotize
22. Scritti Politti – Absolute
23. Simple Minds – The Kick Inside of Me
24. Spoons – Romantic Traffic
25. The Colourfield – The Colour Field
26. The dB’s – Amplifier
27. The Fall – 2 x 4
28. The Fall – C.R.E.E.P.
29. U2 – Indian Summer Sky
30. U2 – Wire
31. U2 – The Unforgettable Fire
32. Woodentops – Plenty
33. XTC – You’re the Wish You Are I Had
34. XTC – Wake Up
biggest influences
– CFNY, WCDB
The Smiths, This Charming Man was 1983
Any idea how to submit a substitution if I’ve already submitted my poll? Thanks.
Email the details of what you want to swap out to info@slicingupeyeballs.com
Cool, just emailed my substitution.
Mine :
New Order, Thieves Like Us
The Cure, Shake Dog Shake
Cocteau Twins, Millimillenary
Laurie Anderson, Excellent Birds
Cabaret Voltaire, Do Right
Art Of Noise, Close To The Edit
Telex, The Voice
Depeche Mode, If You Want
Gary Numan, Berserker
Fad Gadget, Collapsing New People
Chris & Cosey, Walking Through Heaven
Captain Sensible, Glad It’s All Over
PIL, The Order Of Death
Fred Schneider & The Shake Society, Monster
Devo, Shout
Robert Görl & Annie Lennox, Darling Don’t Leave Me
The Smiths, How Soon Is Now
The Go-Go’s, Head Over Heels
Echo & The Bunnymen, The Killing Moon
Ministry, All Day
Wang Chung, Dance Hall Days
Danny Elfman, Tough As Nails
Siouxsie & The Banshees, We Hunger
A Certain Ratio, Life’s A Scream
Coil, Tainted Love
frank_reich
Collapsing New People I think would count as 1983, as lease if Wikipedia is correct.
I didn’t check your other picks. Just know about Fad Gadget as I was thinking about picking that one myself.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fad_Gadget
My ’84
1. Echo & the Bunnymen – The Killing Moon
2. Meat Puppets – Lake Of Fire
3. Robyn Hitchcock – This Could Be The Day
4. Rain Parade – No Easy Way Down
5. The Fall – 2×4
6. The Mighty Wah! – I Know There Was Something
7. Husker Du – Pink Turns To Blue
8. This Mortal Coil – Song To The Siren
9. Yo – The Plough
10. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – From Her To Eternity
11. The Gun Club – Walking With The Beast
12. Simple Minds – Waterfront
13. The Smiths – What Difference Does It Make
14. Peter Hammill – This Side Of (Looking Glass)
15. Foetus – Lust For Death
16. Replacements – Unsatisfied
17. Violent Femmes – Country Death Song
18. Tones On Tail – Go!
19. Flipper – In Life My Friends
20. True West – And Then The Rain
21. Chills – Pink Frost
22. Julian Cope – Sunshine Playroom
23. Cocteau Twins – Pandora (For Cindy)
24. Certain General – My Gang Is In The Woods
25. Style Council – My Ever Changing Moods
…and many othes from Siouxsie, REM, New Math, 17 Pygmies, Rainy Day, Three Johns, Minimal man, Jonathan Richman, Prince…
LOVED 1984 music!
A-ha – Take On Me
Art of Noise – Close (To the Edit)
Chaka Khan – I Feel For You
David Bowie – Blue Jean
Depeche Mode – People Are People
Depeche Mode – Somebody
Echo and the Bunnymen – The Killing Moon
A Flock of Seagulls – The More You Live, the More You Love
General PUblic – Tenderness
Limahl – Never Ending Story
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – From Her to Eternity
Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls
Prince – The Beautiful Ones
Prince – When Doves Cry
The Psychedelic Furs – Heaven
Queen – Radio Ga Ga
Rebbie Jackson – Centipede
The Smiths – How Soon is Now
The Smiths – Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
The Style Council – My Ever Changing Moods
The Style Council – The Paris Match
Talk Talk – Dum Dum Girl
Talk Talk – It’s My Life
U2 – A Sort of Homecoming
U2 – The Unforgettable Fire
My Top 3 Predictions
1) The Killing Moon – Echo and the Bunnymen
2) How Soon Is Now? – The Smiths
3) It’s My Life – Talk Talk
These lists have interesting results, because often, the better the album the lower the songs… because votes get split. Husker Du and U2 and Prince and Lloyd Cole and R.E.M. all have multiple different songs getting votes… but if you voted Ultravox, it appears “Dancing With Tears…” is the go-to song, which might artificially bump that song higher.
Granted, the posted lists here are a statistically insignificant fraction of the whole, so who knows what is out there.
I’d guess Killing Joke – Eighties and Sisters of Mercy – Walk Away as two more that will be pretty high up.
Also, the number of incorrect votes (’83 songs) will skew the results quite a bit.
Anne Clark – Our Darkness
Anne Clark – Sleeper In Metropolis
Ultravox – Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
Nena – Irgendwie, Irgendwo, Irgendwann
Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round
Propaganda – Dr. Mabuse
Duran Duran – Save A Prayer
Duran Duran – Wild Boys
Alphaville – Forever Young
Public Image Ltd. – This Is Not A Love Song
Killing Joke – Eighties
Les Rita Mitsouko – Marcia Baila
Severed Heads – Dead Eyes Open
Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Dear Prudence
The Cure – The Caterpillar
Gary Numan – Berserker
Secession – Touch (Part 1)
The Sisters Of Mercy – Walk Away
The Fixx – Less Cities, More Moving People
Simple Minds – Don’t You
OMD – The Wheels Of The Universe
Got my list in just under the wire!
Aztec Camera – Jump
The Bangles – Hero Takes a Fall
Big Black – Racer-X
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – From Her to Eternity
The Chills – Pink Frost
Bruce Cockburn – Lovers in a Dangerous Time
Lloyd Cole & the Commotions – Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?
The dB’s – A Spy in the House of Love
Thomas Dolby – Hyperactive
Echo & the Bunnymen – Seven Seas
The Effigies – Smile!
Heaven 17 – Sunset Now
Husker Du – Eight Miles High
The Jesus & Mary Chain – Upside Down
Martha & the Muffins – Black Stations/White Stations
Prince & the Revolution – Purple Rain
Lou Reed – I Love You, Suzanne
R.E.M. – (Don’t Go Back To) Rockville
Fred Schneider & the Shake Society – Monster
Siouxsie & the Banshees – Dazzle
The Sisters of Mercy – Walk Away
The Smiths – How Soon Is Now?
Talk Talk – It’s My Life
U2 – The Unforgettable Fire
Ultravox – Dancing with Tears in My Eyes
All I want for Christmas…
… is the results of the 1984 Songs poll!
Pretty please?
Any word on when the poll results may post?
Nothing yet, unfortunately. I check every day, a couple times, just hoping.
Nothing yet, though I check every day… a couple times. Here’s hoping soon.
5 months later … does anyone really care anymore?
Is this dead, or not?