The Decade That Brought Music to it’s Knees. And ’84 was the epicenter.

A lot of my favorite music came out of the 60s and 70s. Then the 80s came around. The airwaves were filled with synthesized music and horribly bright and self indulgent images poured from our televisions as people chanted "I WANT MY MTV!"

I didn't think much of it until some of my favorite bands jumped on the bandwagon and caused many to separate discographies into categories. Pre-80s and Post-The Day the Music Died.

Not even Rush, my favorite band of all time was immune...

NEED I SAY MORE?

"Rolling Stone" has determined what it believes is pop music's "greatest year," and It's 1984.

And to back that up, they've listed the year's "Best 100 Singles." To qualify, the song had to be released in 1984 or have significant chart impact that year, appearing high on the Billboard Hot 100.

Here's the Top 20:

1. "When Doves Cry", Prince and the Revolution

2. "Borderline", Madonna

3. "I Feel for You", Chaka Khan

4. "Let's Go Crazy", Prince and the Revolution

5. "Thriller", Michael Jackson

6. "Time After Time", Cyndi Lauper

7. "The Boys of Summer", Don Henley

8. "Purple Rain", Prince and the Revolution

9. "Born in the U.S.A.", Bruce Springsteen

10. "The Glamorous Life", Sheila E.

11. "What's Love Got to Do with It?", Tina Turner

12. "Pride (In the Name of Love)", U2

13. "Jam on It", Newcleus

14. "Missing You", John Waite

15. "99 Luftballons", Nena

16. "They Don't Know", Tracey Ullman

17. "Smooth Operator", Sade

18. "Take on Me", A-Ha

19. "Solid", Ashford & Simpson

20. "Panama", Van Halen

Well there you go. How about that nauseating list of "music"? While I listen to some of this stuff with some nostalgia, I have distinct memories of absolutely hating almost every song on that list. Accept "Panama", Van Halen was one of the only rock bands that thrived through the 80s. Mostly, I believe due to the fact that they never took themselves seriously.

Tell me what you thought of the 80s. Did you fall victim to the decade by wearing one sparkly glove and parachute pants? Or did wear a jean jacket and go behind the gym for a smoke?

(Browse the whole Top 100 on RollingStone.com. It's split up over five pages. Here's a direct link to the Top 20.)

Filed Under: 80's, billboard, music

Categories: National News