La musica si muove appena: The ILM ITALO Poll (Results Thread)

The results thread is finally here!

This took forever. Sorry for the delays and thank you for your patience. Thanks to all of you who voted. But most importantly, big thanks to gr8080 for the incredible artwork. I can't wait for everyone to see it!

We got 30 ballots and a total of 231 songs got at least one vote. We used total no of votes and/or total no. of first place votes to break some ties. This will be a top 50 list.

And now, without further ado...

http://i.imgur.com/0PYgvez.jpg

50 DHUO "Walkin'" [96 points, 3 votes]

didn't vote in this but i will be following.

I didn't vote either, but I'm happy that Walkin' made it. My work is done!

I'll be back in an hour or so.

FYI, I still don't know how the rollout is going to happen but if I have enough time I'll to 20 today, 20 tomorrow, and 10 on Wednesday… otherwise it'll be 10 per day. Suggestions welcome.

Excited!

YES

i also didn't vote, because i didn't want my boring set of references to borify the results. reaaaaaaally looking forward to the results and a kickass playlist at the end.

i was very happy to see this slip in at #50

Yay! Anyone able to provide Youtube links?

DHUO "Walkin'": http://youtu.be/qZXj38K2iFg

this song is my own personal john hughes montage soundtrack

I can post youtube links but I'm at work and cannot check the audio quality, so it'll be the first result that comes up. I can make sure tomorrow's entries work though.

BTW, can someone remind me how do I post youtube links without embedding?

Let's see if this works…

http://i.imgur.com/EazYrYD.jpg

49 INTERNATIONAL MUSIC SYSTEM "Dancing Therapy" [97 points, 3 votes]
http://youtu.be/wzK5asq0Dz4

Click "Share" beneath the video and copy the youtu.be link it provides.

Ah, you got it.

It does! :)

thanks JF

Yay results! Yay Dancing Therapy!

I haven't heard either of these before, but they're good!

this is going to be the most jamming week ever!

On to our first tie...

http://i.imgur.com/v8DlPdE.jpg

47 (TIE) GAZEBO "I Like Chopin" [98 points, 3 votes]
http://youtu.be/nGJ-FMfXgyQ

these pics are gorgeous :)

Yes, gr80 for president!

YES!

I've always felt "I Like Chopin" is a little corny but the synth riff in the intro is one of my favorite things ever! In fact, the whole intro on the extended version is kind of amazing.

"Walkin'" is sublime

hadn't heard this before
dude sounds like andy bell
i dig

oh wow this IMS is fantastic too!

best poll ever

a little corny? ha...

http://i.imgur.com/GnaBWQv.jpg

47 (TIE) CLIO "Eyes" [98 points, 3 votes]
http://youtu.be/IzBx52Btx_E

<3

was about to let loose the biggest TOO LOW of all time there before i realised it was Eyes. good track regardless, this is all so aesthetically and aurally pleasing so fr as expected.

yeah this isn't the Clio I voted for but tbh it's probably the better track

I voted 'Faces', both are good but the whole is better than the part.

nah crut, you were right first time.

Eyes is an awesome track and only just missed out on my ballot.

I'm not a big fan of Dhuo - Walkin' tbh it's a bit plodding and feels more like bad synthpop than exciting Italo.

Up next is my favorite track so far…

http://i.imgur.com/1NRPFyC.jpg

46 KEN LASZLO "Hey Hey Guy" [101 points, 3 votes]
http://youtu.be/Mz6EijdvyFw

I'm off to a meeting now. See you in a couple of hours.

Love for hire...is dangerouse.

Nothing I voted for has turned up yet but still <3 everything so far. Never really heard the much vaunted new order italo influence but they must have heard Dancing Therapy before making Bizarre Love Triangle.

'Eyes' is great but yeah I voted for 'Faces' instead.

I remember seeking 'I Like Chopin' out after reading the Pet Shop Boys saying it inspired the sound of 'Rent'.

excited for this poll!

never heard this dhuo track before, 'snice - i'm a fan of lower-bpm italo (under the ice, comanchero, etc)

<3 dancing therapy but i didn't vote for it

Spotify playlist (compiled in the UK, so maybe some "territory" issues to contend with): http://open.spotify.com/user/miketd/playlist/05H7bAFsbEJdhz6Uc0tVNu - inevitably, this will be far from complete!

this is my favorite song title in the poll

Thank you, mike t-diva!

http://i.imgur.com/QpiBa8q.jpg

45 DOCTOR'S CAT "Watch Out" [105 points, 3 votes]
http://youtu.be/hMVW8E5O3uA

I have a feeling a lot of amazing tunes are going to shafted, but roll on the results!

Watch Out & Dancing Therapy are *super* classic. As are both Clio A-sides (no surprise that they involve the same guy who did the Pineapples record). I prefer the dub/instrumental version of "Hey Hey Guy," though. Walkin' is just alright, and I've never gotten into that Gazebo track.

'Watch Out' another one of my votes. So good.

my introduction to the Dhuo track was on this mix, which is in my top 5 mixes of all time, ive probably played 50 times and have never gotten sick of it (not really italo, natch)

http://tommyboymixes.tumblr.com/post/25014679244/tommyboy-frame-of-mind-mix-tracklist-coati

not the doctor's cat i voted for but yeah such a jam

such an awesome riff in "Hey Hey Guy".

Thanks gr80 for reminding me of that tommyboy mix. if there's a better one-two punch than the closing tracks I'm yet to hear it.

http://i.imgur.com/Y5ni4Jd.jpg

43 (TIE) RAGGIO DI LUNA "Comanchero" [105 points, 4 votes]
http://youtu.be/hFMLJnWMnUs

Becoming more and more apparent that the top 20 is going to exactly mirror my own.

Comanchero is pretty awesome, and also fits in with the slo-mo/cosmic disco scene. The "Special Disco Version" also has some early Freestyle/House vocal cut ups.

http://i.imgur.com/KnJ6NAr.jpg

43 (TIE) TRANS-X "Living On Video" [105 points, 4 votes]
http://youtu.be/b9xBAtCsCTQ

too low!

these tunes have all been awesome so far ("comanchero" is the only one im familiar with)

Never really heard the much vaunted new order italo influence but they must have heard Dancing Therapy before making Bizarre Love Triangle.

woah, you weren't kidding

I love "Living On Video" even if it seems more Hi-NRG than Italo to me. Have never heard another Tran-X record though.

amazing music video

speaking of amazing music videos...

http://i.imgur.com/4AmDURG.jpg

41 (TIE) MODERN TALKING "You're My Heart, You're My Soul" [108 points, 4 votes]
http://youtu.be/4kHl4FoK1Ys

ModerTalkingVEVO

"Americans will never understand"

I Like Chopin is way too low. I've loved that song for a few years but had never heard any other Gazebo songs until I started going through the nominations. I liked the other songs so much I ordered his album. It's great all the way through.

I think I'll do five more today, and then 15 tomorrow, 10 more on Wednesday, top 10 on Thursday.

I meant 6 more today.

That Modern Talking video still has me in stitches.

also too low!!

http://i.imgur.com/4ttp9vb.jpg

41 (TIE) M&G "When I Let You Down" [108 points, 4 votes]
http://youtu.be/5cNia_e7_RU

xpost I love the fact that thomas anders' wife was so jealous she made him wear a necklace with her name on it

Antonio Banderas & Gordon Ramsey

this video is even funnier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5C8AC6V2KQ

I love that, as far as I can't tell, there's NO guitar in most of these songs, yet Dieter Bohlen is ALWAYS playing guitar. The same goes for a lot of "live" performances/videos from other acts of the time.

Oof, destroy Modern Talking.

On the other hand, M&G's "When I Let You Down / Boogie Tonight" might be one of the best 12" in the genre. The only two songs they recorded. Fred Ventura did a cover of WILYD in 2007, and it's ok.

the 12" mix of "You're My Heart, You're My Soul" is worth a listen for those skeptical about its placing

this one

I can fully recommend the full length animated movie about Modern Talking: "Dieter - Der Film". It is batshit insane.

There *is* plenty of faux-Nile Rodgers guitar in You're My Heart You're My Soul though, but it bears no relation to what Dieter or Thomas are doing with their instruments in the videos. But yes, badly synced videos not limited in any way to MT.

I've got nothing but love for "You're My Heart, You're My Soul" and I'm glad it placed. I might have even voted for "Brother Louie" had it been nominated.

Back when I was still DJing Italo I always threw in a Modern Talking instrumental somewhere along the line (Cheri Cheri Lady for example has an awesome bassline), always got great response as people invariably recognise the tune but can't identify it without the vocals.

http://i.imgur.com/GADSgQ8.jpg

40 IVAN "Fotonovela" [117 points, 4 votes]
http://youtu.be/3XNscCzSL6s

^pleasantly surprised that this placed!

that YT is blocked

heres another link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L5YJRtvebE

Great great tune.

12" version of Fotonovela is ALL TIME. Definitely the best Spanish Italo Disco song ever, if you are keeping track. Best use of strings in an Italo record? May also be the only Italo track with xylophones and accordion (which you can hear more on the 12").

Absolutely astonished that "You're My Heart, You're My Soul" has had over 44 million YouTube views...

Three tracks so far that I have (knowingly) danced to in actual nightclubs in the actual Nineteen Eighties: Gazebo, Trans-X, Modern Talking.

up next, the first entry on the list with a 1st place vote...

Doesn't surprise me at all, AFAIK Modern Talking was the second best selling disco act of all time after Boney M.

that's a very loose definition of "disco", though

Now I guess, but at the time this was disco to 99% of the population.

they were immensely successful, no doubt about that

something doesn't quite add up for me in "Fotonovela" but it does scream "Classic".

I guess "disco" in the eighties was more or less a synonym for "club music".

xpost - Perhaps that the xylophone riff doesn't really fit, melodically, with the rest?

I think that't it for me but it's also what makes it great.

yeah, it's like that is just one element too many - but it's also the best one!

daavid stop dragging this out, got a horrible feeling my first to show will be my number 1 now.

I think it's the clashing overtones in the xylo.

http://i.imgur.com/ptDsWnS.jpg

39 LOUI$ "Pink Footpath" [122 points, 4 votes, 1 first place vote]
http://youtu.be/plXB4MFZSMw

And there you go... :(

Can only assume this is so low cos most haven't heard it, it's peerless and unique.

yeah, I'm not familiar with this one. Almost jazzy in the first 2 minutes.

xps

I was thinking about this during the nominations thread but don't think I ever put it out there: who was the audience for non-crossover Italo releases? Was it mostly nightclubs? How many young people in Italy (or France or Spain) in the 80s have heard e.g. "When I Let You Down" or "Hey Hey Guy"? Were there clubs in the UK playing this? (I guess mike t-diva addressed that one a bit)

i think that's a glockenspiel in "Fotonovela" not a xylophone

I personally like my Italo to be on the pop side, but I didn't vote anyway.

I am definitely in the minority who find "Pink Footpath" overrated, but it gets a super amount of love from even non-italo fans.

xxpost, you are right. The bars in a xylophone are made out of wood. But what's a marimba then? I'm confused.

The first time I heard Pink Footpath (in an old Aeroplane mix iirc) was one of those moments you just know right away you're hearing a song that will be an all-timer.

Seandalai: there's an interview here, in which a Venice DJ talks a bit about the perception of Italo in Italy at the time:
http://thump.vice.com/words/bottin-and-mike-simonetti-obsess-over-italo-disco

I feel Italo also appealed to record collectors as well as clubbers: so many devoted labels and sublabels, so many strange aliases and one-offs to geek out over.

oh awesome, thanks!

Xylophones and marimbas are made out of wood, I believe. Glockenspiel has metal bars. Probably more likely that it's a glockenspiel in Fotonovela, but it looks like a xylophone in the video.

LOL at his example of bad Italo. That really is bad.

Interesting interview but both of those guys sound like Italo rockists.

…especially Bottin.

http://i.imgur.com/mAasX49.jpg

38 VALERIE DORE "Get Closer" [123 points, 4 votes]
http://youtu.be/DkQu9CPrrfw

My top 5 dropping like flies all of a sudden

way too low but i'm guessing Valerie Dore was sabotaged by people nominating like 10 million of her tracks

maybe 38/39 isn't dropping like flies idk

And a quick look at my actual ballot shows I only had this at number 10 so my bad.

Also agree that "Get Closer" placed too low. The delay on that synth is classic.

I like how "Get Closer" is pretty much the same song as "The Night" but just as awesome.

I think someone nominating the entire Valerie Dore Lancelot album was amusing. Love the title track from that though.

Yes, they just shifted the chords and tweaked the melody a bit… but the instrumentation is identical.

who was the audience for non-crossover Italo releases? Was it mostly nightclubs? How many young people in Italy (or France or Spain) in the 80s have heard e.g. "When I Let You Down" or "Hey Hey Guy"? Were there clubs in the UK playing this? (I guess mike t-diva addressed that one a bit)

I was living in West Berlin in 1983/84, and heard Italo in gay and mixed-gay clubs alongside hi-NRG, as well as on the radio. I doubt it had much traction outside gay cubs in the UK, give or take the odd Ryan Paris crossover hit.

Get Closer is a good example of a particular type of pop alchemy then, it does something much more with those parts than The Night imo.

http://i.imgur.com/tHniMTb.jpg

37 FANCY "Slice Me Nice" [129 points, 4 votes]
http://youtu.be/Nlnoa67MUJU

Maximum dodgy accent points.

Slice Me Nice is a total classic. The video is properly creepy.

"Slice Me Nice" was 84, not 85. Another one I used to dance to in public...

It has been removed from his wiki page but it used to be claimed that Bolero was the longest reigning No.1 single in the history of the Spanish charts. There are lots of videos of the latter day Fancy, looking like Kim Jong Il, turning up at tiny conventions of about a dozen awestruck fans. He still plays big nostalgia events in Russia and Germany.

He looks like an even creepier version of Barry Manilow.

"bow and arrow" is the other valerie dore song i really like

Xps, I'd always had the impression that Hey Hey Guy was a fairly canonical Italo hit but I think my perception of a lot of this is skewed by my window on the genre being primarily Eastern European. About 75% of the comments on the YouTube videos of Laszlo's songs are from people with Russian, Polish, etc names. I heard it played over the store radio in a supermarket in Armenia last year and didn't find that surprising. I love the fact that there seems to be an overlapping, but not entirely overlapping, Italo / Eurodance canon between Western and Eastern Europe. The Dutch group Digital Emotion was another that was huge in Russia, having been featured extensively in an episode of the Soviet rip off of Tom and Jerry, but are largely unknown here.

Last one for the day...

Fancy: "I'm like a cake that wants to be baked"

So classic

Well I guess the Italians managed to bundle their vast riches of cheesy dance songs along with the cutting edge automotive technology they sold to the USSR.

http://i.imgur.com/lg2ZQu1.jpg

36 KATY GRAY "Hold Me Tight" [131 points, 4 votes]
http://youtu.be/O0v_jTHHFKU

Recap:

50 DHUO "Walkin'" [96 points, 3 votes]
49 INTERNATIONAL MUSIC SYSTEM "Dancing Therapy" [97 points, 3 votes]
47 (TIE) GAZEBO "I Like Chopin" [98 points, 3 votes]
47 (TIE) CLIO "Eyes" [98 points, 3 votes]
46 KEN LASZLO "Hey Hey Guy" [101 points, 3 votes]
45 DOCTOR'S CAT "Watch Out" [105 points, 3 votes]
43 (TIE) RAGGIO DI LUNA "Comanchero" [105 points, 4 votes]
43 (TIE) TRANS-X "Living On Video" [105 points, 4 votes]
41 (TIE) MODERN TALKING "You're My Heart, You're My Soul" [108 points, 4 votes]
41 (TIE) M&G "When I Let You Down" [108 points, 4 votes]
40 IVAN "Fotonovela" [117 points, 4 votes]
39 LOUI$ "Pink Footpath" [122 points, 4 votes, 1 first place vote]
38 VALERIE DORE "Get Closer" [123 points, 4 votes]
37 FANCY "Slice Me Nice" [129 points, 4 votes]
36 KATY GRAY "Hold Me Tight" [131 points, 4 votes]

… 15 more tomorrow

I would probably like "Slice Me Nice" more if I hadn't heard "Passion" by The Flirts first, as well as other Bobby O productions. It's alright, but it makes me want to hear "Passion" instead.

"Hold Me Tight" is superb. Amazing production and basically the blueprint you hear on every Sally Shapiro record.

"hold me tight" is spectacular, i think i ranked it pretty high

"How many young people in Italy (or France or Spain) in the 80s have heard e.g. "When I Let You Down" or "Hey Hey Guy"?"

I have been harangued before by Italians before while playing at an Italo night, "Just play one Italian track".

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a280/HansHolbein/moderntalking_zps5c488a56.jpg

I've know so little in this poll so far, but quite a lot of it sounds vaguely familiar. Great stuff so far though. I especially like the Clio track.

Today we begin with...

http://i.imgur.com/1191Ckd.jpg

35 SABRINA "Boys (Summertime Love)" [134 points, 5 votes]
http://youtu.be/JgBu54wvm1Y

lol! I have mixed feelings about this one.

Don't wanna come over all italo rockstars but this beating Get Closer and Pink Footpath is a bit o_O

*Italo rockist obv.

video for this is one of the strangest in pop music history

also there are two new-ish covers by euro pop stars, one which filmed a more sfw video in what appears to be the same pool as the original

xxpost I agree, this type of stuff is usually right up my alley. But "Boys" sounds like a second rate Bananarama track.

The extended version is great. The single version is a little slight.

Too low!!! Just kidding! But this is an alltime great dancefloor banger. Extended version is where it's at, rap and all. Check out Via Verdi - Diamond for another thumper from the same producer.

http://i.imgur.com/vVg4cfb.jpg

34 VALERIE DORE "The Night" [137 points, 5 votes]
http://youtu.be/80ssUKt76-c

Step this way for the extended version of "Boys": http://youtu.be/AiZUdYan430

another notable distinction between "The Night" and "Get Closer" is that they have different vocalists (Dora Carofiglio and Monica Stucchi, respectively)

wow, thanks for pointing that out.

I can't tell the difference.

Thought "The Night" would be higher given its place in the canon.

http://i.imgur.com/IZVO94T.jpg

33 CYBER PEOPLE "Void Vision" [139 points, 5 votes]
http://youtu.be/cKjsTlxf80k

???

oh I have heard this somewhere - it's fine but I don't really see the attraction of instrumental Italo

whoa this poll rules

'walkin' is my favorite so far of the ones i hadnt heard before

Awesome videogamey banger (re: Cyber People) Very memorable riffage! Great sleeve too.

https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000013057139-7hudgd-t500x500.jpg

This one's new on me, too. HELL yeah! Every button pressed!

I like how this poll covers all strands of Italo.

Me too! The Cyber People tune "Doctor Faustu's" is pretty good too.

http://i.imgur.com/I0amk4O.jpg

32 TAFFY "I Love My Radio" [151 points, 5 votes]
http://youtu.be/D_YBLpaLqb8

YESSSS. This was around for months before charting in the UK - at which point they altered the lyrics from "midnight radio" to "DJ's radio", as Radio One didn't broadcast at midnight!

WHOA-OH MY GUY, THE DJ AFTER MIDNIGHT <3333

my second one to place so far

that is really damn catchy

oh I have heard this somewhere - it's fine but I don't really see the attraction of instrumental Italo

Void Vision totally has vocodered vocals though! I love this track, might love the "slow version" b-side on the 12" slightly more, even.

Sorry guys. It's really slow today, I've been busy. I think I can only do 10. Anyway...

http://i.imgur.com/ihSHUl8.jpg

31 MACHO "I'm A Man" [154 points, 5 votes]
http://youtu.be/c_wEO4GXj1Q

Would be my votes one through to twenty in the epics poll.

http://i.imgur.com/qJyOq2Z.jpg

30 RYAN PARIS "Dolce Vita" [155 points, 5 votes]
http://youtu.be/0yoBAZXSN98

This one is probably the most popular Italo track that I remember from when I was growing up in Mexico. They played it constantly on the radio.

Love 'Dolce Vita', pretty sure it's the only Italo song I've ever heard played on Radio 2.

Taffy is garbage. Macho is great - Mauro Malavasi was (is?) a genius. Though I didn't actually vote for any of his stuff in this poll, his work on the various JF Petrus-associated disco acts is some of my favourite music ever (e.g. Revanche - Music Man).

great countdown so far. love the graphics.

I love some of the details of the Ryan Paris track, like the beautifully reverbed synth sound in the main instrumental hook, and the weirdly aggressive instrumental breakdown.

http://i.imgur.com/m2ohZyw.jpg

28 (TIE) GIORGIO MORODER "The Chase" [158 points, 5 votes]
http://youtu.be/ViN2bRGrBx8

I think technically this is called "Chase", not "The Chase". I should have corrected that.

Loving this poll - thanks daavid!

Don't think anything pre-1980 can count as "Italo" for me, I'm not sure it makes sense as a category while disco is still alive and mainstream.

Love Dolce Vita. Still surprises me it was one of the few Italo hits in the UK.

I consider Italo to be a full part of the disco timeline, it makes perfect sense from a worldwide (non-US) context where disco did not die in 1980, but ended in 1988 (almost overnight) with house.

There's also no real musical reason to exclude "I Feel Love" from an Italo poll apart from the fact that it would be an overwhelming winner (which makes it a perfectly good reason in the context of this poll).

I can't remember if I voted for Macho, great track though, + great memories of Chewshabadoo DJing it.

I've been busy this week but the results so far are great! Good poll daavid also loving the retro-futuristic banners, good job!

You have got to tell me where you're getting the images from.

^^

This is a great run...great poll all through! I didn't vote for The Chase, or Boys, or Trans-X for genre-bounding reasons. Ryan Paris is more Radio 2 than dancefloor banger imho, kinda reminds me of synthy midtempo Joe Jackson more than the contemporaries here.

<3 Macho hard

Thanks Moka. You'll have to ask gr8080 about the images. He did all the artwork.

http://i.imgur.com/dA6Dmwl.jpg

28 (TIE) GLAM "More Than Ever" [158 points, 5 votes]
http://youtu.be/x64FSoRCAhI

I think technically this is called "Chase", not "The Chase". I should have corrected that.

it was originally released as "Chase" but has been re-released as "The Chase" a few times as well

http://www.discogs.com/Giorgio-Moroder-Chase/master/224846

not that it matters

remind me to comment on the images when we're done (spoiler: i found them on the Internet)

Yes! More Than Ever, one of a handful of discoveries in the noms that made my final cut.

http://i.imgur.com/U36OlgH.jpg

27 SPACE "Magic Fly" [161 points, 6 votes]
http://youtu.be/P_ukfGAd8T4

Didn't vote for it as not sufficiently 'Italo' but it is a truly wonderful track.

Yeah I love it as much as anything else that will place but not italo... but still, More Than Ever!

Last two for today (a tie so might as well post them together):

http://i.imgur.com/FTkA5hG.jpg

25 (TIE) PINO D'ANGIO "Ma Quale Idea" [163 points, 5 votes]
http://youtu.be/oHLewcdIWlw

http://i.imgur.com/5JJWMkx.jpg

25 (TIE) MAGAZINE 60 "Don Quichotte" [163 points, 5 votes]
http://youtu.be/-otJCqFG1Lk

didn't vote ma quale idea bc it's not really italo imo but i wish I had, it's such a cool jam

Recap:

50 DHUO "Walkin'" [96 points, 3 votes]
49 INTERNATIONAL MUSIC SYSTEM "Dancing Therapy" [97 points, 3 votes]
47 (TIE) GAZEBO "I Like Chopin" [98 points, 3 votes]
47 (TIE) CLIO "Eyes" [98 points, 3 votes]
46 KEN LASZLO "Hey Hey Guy" [101 points, 3 votes]
45 DOCTOR'S CAT "Watch Out" [105 points, 3 votes]
43 (TIE) RAGGIO DI LUNA "Comanchero" [105 points, 4 votes]
43 (TIE) TRANS-X "Living On Video" [105 points, 4 votes]
41 (TIE) MODERN TALKING "You're My Heart, You're My Soul" [108 points, 4 votes]
41 (TIE) M&G "When I Let You Down" [108 points, 4 votes]
40 IVAN "Fotonovela" [117 points, 4 votes]
39 LOUI$ "Pink Footpath" [122 points, 4 votes, 1 first place vote]
38 VALERIE DORE "Get Closer" [123 points, 4 votes]
37 FANCY "Slice Me Nice" [129 points, 4 votes]
36 KATY GRAY "Hold Me Tight" [131 points, 4 votes]
35 SABRINA "Boys (Summertime Love)" [134 points, 5 votes]
34 VALERIE DORE "The Night" [137 points, 5 votes]
33 CYBER PEOPLE "Void Vision" [139 points, 5 votes]
32 TAFFY "I Love My Radio" [151 points, 5 votes]
31 MACHO "I'm A Man" [154 points, 5 votes]
30 RYAN PARIS "Dolce Vita" [155 points, 5 votes]
28 (TIE) GIORGIO MORODER "The Chase" [158 points, 5 votes]
28 (TIE) GLAM "More Than Ever" [158 points, 5 votes]
27 SPACE "Magic Fly" [161 points, 6 votes]
25 (TIE) PINO D'ANGIO "Ma Quale Idea" [163 points, 5 votes]
25 (TIE) MAGAZINE 60 "Don Quichotte" [163 points, 5 votes]

as is don quichotte xp

xxpost - Agree, "Ma Quale Idea" is the perfect example of Italian disco that's not Italo… but that's of course debatable.

Interestingly enough, Pino D'Angio also produced the trance classic Age Of Love.

Did not know that. Nice one Pino!

I don't know Italo from Dixieland jazz but I'm digging the thread for gr80's images.

yowza http://www.discogs.com/Various-80s-Dance-Story-Original-Italo-Hits/release/2714164

Wow, did not expect More Than Ever to place! Such a cool track, maybe it's not as obscure as I thought. Ma Quale Idea might have the best Italian rapping vocals ever. Although since it's sung in Italian and not English, that sort disqualifies it from being Italo, right? :) The extended mix of "I Love My Radio" is another all-time favorite of mine, have played that vinyl to death. Also really like the Slow Version of Void Vision.

Not a fan of Magazine 60 and Sabrina, but Ryan Paris deserves to be here. I like his follow up single "Fall In Love" too.

Turns out the "I Like Chopin" version is not very common. I just assume it was the standard 12 inch version or whatever. Anyway, here it is. Audio quality is kind of bad but the intro (up to around 1:20) is amazing:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x41jim_gazebo-i-like-chopin-maxi-version_music

the version I mentioned in an earlier post

kinda disappointed that gr8080's graphic for Sabrina didn't contain a nip slip. (just kidding, they're all great!)

That's the version of "I Like Chopin" that I put on the Spotify playlist. Agree that it's the best version, gorgeous intro.

"Don Quichotte" is one of the few later discoveries that I voted for. Wasn't fussed about it on the first listen, adore it now.

How on Earth could that Glam track score higher than Clio? Madness. Italo Madness.

Love the graphics in this poll, btw.

More Than Ever my first nom to chart :) Will look into doing a mix of my list when the poll is over.

I like Eye's (and Faces) a hell of a lot, but Glam is the one for me from that team, I am a fan of the trackier end of italo though.

Bit of a late start today...

http://i.imgur.com/v7hPjqJ.jpg

24 RIGHEIRA "Vamos A La Playa" [164 points, 6 votes]
http://youtu.be/4yng-EO_IJA

one of my faves

LOVE Don Quichotte!

xpost- the lyrics are really odd and totally not what you would expect from the general vibe of the song

… come to think of it, gr80's image suits kind of perfectly.

Always been more of a "No Tengo Dinero" man myself. "Dinero Scratch" is also cute.

^same here. Well, I like both of them equally, I'd say

http://i.imgur.com/OIhH4Ff.jpg

23 GINNY "Can't Be Serious" [165 points, 5 votes]
http://youtu.be/l_NcSUPsrXY

not really italo, but one of the greatest recordings of all time

OTM x2

epic

http://i.imgur.com/SUyOiUY.jpg

22 MATIA BAZAR "Ti Sento" [167 points, 5 votes, 1 first place vote]
http://youtu.be/NKDHRpmG4rk

i've never heard 'more than ever' before! this is really good

didn't vote for righeira (tho i do love it), but had ginny as my #3 and matia as my #4 - it's maybe not strictly italo but i still think 'can't be serious' is the apotheosis of the italo/balearic intersect and 'ti sento' is such OTT high drama, that last long high note she hits right before the end <3

agreed that "magic fly" isn't italo, but what genre is it? disco alone doesn't seem adequate

Can't think of much to say about Ti Sento. if anything it seems a bit buttoned-up compared to the rest of the countdown despite her valiant delivery in the chorus.

I can trace a line from "Magic Fly" to Pulstar's "Hypnosis", so it does legitimately feel like the genesis of a certain strain of Italo.

Magic Fly = space disco, obv

I love "Ti Sento" but I feel like it's more Italian pop than Italo. Perhaps my perception is influenced by the fact that it's sung in Italian, but it's maybe also that Matia Bazar are the quintessential Italian pop group.

http://i.imgur.com/66ekoft.jpg

21 LA BIONDA "I Wanna Be Your Lover" [177 points, 5 votes]
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xnrlv_la-bionda-i-wanna-be-your-lover_music

These pictures are all so great daavid.

this song is so fun

You'll have to ask gr8080 about the images. He did all the artwork.

― daavid, Tuesday, February 10, 2015 5:48 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Sorry, I missed that.

These pictures are all so great gr8080.

why isn't Magic Fly italo?

I left 'I Wanna Be Your Lover' off my ballot because I felt like it was sure to place without my help and I've spent the last 3 days getting more and more worried it was going to end up at number 51 or something

i voted for it but felt like it was a sure lock. it even has its own ilx thread!

la bionda - "wanna be your lover"

maybe I wanna be your lover should have been my number one if I was truly voting from the heart. this rollout is fantastic, lots of great stuff that I have wondered why I didn't vote for as soon as it placed

someone once told me I look like the mustachioed La Bionda brother and I feel that has had a big impact on how I relate to their music

why isn't Magic Fly italo?

― Οὖτις, Wednesday, February 11, 2015 11:54 AM (9 minutes ago)

french, 70's, more spacey than clubby

def proto-italo

god "ti sento" is fantastic

Yayyyyy La Bionda.

I will never understand dance music genres

pretty sure at this point that my #1 isn't going to make it.

how the hell did la bionda not win this in a walk!!! really intrigued to see the top 5 now.

thank you kitchen person!

My number 5. What a song.

pretty sure at this point that my #1 isn't going to make it.

― example (crüt), Wednesday, February 11, 2015 6:12 PM (36 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Funny you should mention that...

http://i.imgur.com/HYHjVw7.jpg

20 EUGENE "Livin' In Your Love" [183 points, 6 votes, 2 first place votes]
http://youtu.be/4qugXy4wWMk

:]

^1st track with 2 first place votes.

these images are seriously amazing!

what a cool instrumental hook on this track.

I think it was the "guitar" "solo" at the end that really pushed this to #1 for me

Coming up, another of my favorites: a full blown epic monster of a pop song. Also, the second German entry of the list so far (unless I'm missing something)…

Fancy is also German.

OK, third then… :)

http://i.imgur.com/o55qA3s.jpg

19 SANDRA "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena" [187 points, 6 votes]
http://youtu.be/l1DIV8V_zwQ

yessss

My #4...love the nonsensical drama of it all. Actually my #1 is even more nonsensical and dramatic than this one...

20 EUGENE "Livin' In Your Love" [183 points, 6 votes, 2 first place votes]

TOO LOW

(tbh I was starting to worry it might not show up)

Maria Magdalena is unbelievable. The call and response in the chorus is so good.

Didn't vote for Eugene or Sandra but very happy to see them place. 20 songs just really wasn't enough.

This is one of the few polls where I have absolutely no idea of what's in with a chance of winning.

Guessing maybe Pineapples or Baltimora?

Aw man, Baltimora is fun and all but I will be really pissed off if it wins.

I can understand why people wouldn't vote for "Tarzan Boy," but otoh I can't understand why people wouldn't vote for "Tarzan Boy"

Is Spacer Woman in with a shot? Would love to see it do well.

are we going down to #11 today? or #16?

Maria Magdalena is good but the chorus is a liiiiittle close to Self Control.

I never really got into Sandra that much, post Arabesque, but should probably revisit her.

Some sort of structurally fundamental atomic laws would have to break for Spacer Woman not to show up in our top 50. xxp

i put 'tarzan boy' on my ballot (couldn't not) but it's on the lower end

It's gonna be up to 16 today. Top 15 tomorrow.

http://i.imgur.com/Rq2aq5L.jpg

18 KLEIN & MBO "Dirty Talk" [189 points, 6 votes]
http://youtu.be/79Qb1tsoYZg

…unless, gr8080, you wanna take over in about an hour?

Arghhh, it's so frustrating not being able to participate in the speculation!

sure, i could take us through #'s 15-11

what do you guys think?

yeah, go ahead!

Can I throw a hint of what's yet to come? It's kind of cryptic and doesn't spoil a lot.

Great, thanks, gr8080! Just really busy today as well.

that's a smooth-sounding track.

I'll post two more and then you can take over.

Actually, I better not say anything. People would figure it out.

I like how a track called "Dirty Talk" has no talking in it.

gr8080, I'll send you the rest of the entries in ready-to-post format in a bit.

Down to #18 and no Kano yet :(

fantastic, thanks xp

sent!

did not know that charlie was maurice cavalieri and giorgio stefani, who were basically i.m.s. and half of firefly.

Down to #18 and no Kano yet :(

― naus

Think he will suffer from split voting. That first album is brilliant but it was very hard to pick just one song from the ones nominated.

I can understand why people wouldn't vote for "Tarzan Boy," but otoh I can't understand why people wouldn't vote for "Tarzan Boy"

― example (crüt), Wednesday, February 11, 2015 8:26 PM (49 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I don't get this, crüt. What do you mean?

http://i.imgur.com/yKLeswY.jpg

17 CASCO "Cybernetic Love" [189 points, 7 votes]
http://youtu.be/c6x5vyWpw-Q

Yay for Sandra, "Maria Magdalena" was the first Italo tune (if you can call it Italo, I did vote for it anyway) I fell in love with when I was 13 or something! In case you didn't know, it was produced and co-written by her (then) husband Michael Cretu, who later on became the guy behind Enigma (of "Sadeness" and "Return to Innocence" fame). Dude had quite a career! I think he's also the keytarist in the video?

lot of classics in this stretch!

this maclean explosion version of "magic fly" is superior, imo.

agree it's not italo but it's a cool song

oops meant to post mc lane explosion youtube link: http://youtu.be/YpB2asybA7I

My favourite version of "Magic Fly" is the Tom Moulton mix of Kebekelektrik's cover version, it's more properly disco! The original has always sounded a bit too simplistic in arrangement.

Last one from me and then gr8080 will take over for the rest of the day.

http://i.imgur.com/HRglNKu.jpg

16 KANO "Another Life" [194 points, 6 votes]
http://youtu.be/1wVaGo5wSqA

tuuune

Honestly thought Cybernetic Love would be top 10. This isn't the Kano I voted for but glad they've shown up.

15 ‘LECTRIC WORKERS "Robot Is Systematic" [196 points, 6 votes, 1 first place vote]
http://youtu.be/WEXZc3MWaP0

oops

http://i.imgur.com/aIx0Tj1.jpg

15 ‘LECTRIC WORKERS "Robot Is Systematic" [196 points, 6 votes, 1 first place vote]
http://youtu.be/WEXZc3MWaP0

TOO LOWWWWWW

GOAT

So many cool songs about robots

I agree that it is too low, but so glad to see it here. Absolutely superb track on every level.

Somehow didn't vote for this but almost out of everything here it's the one you'd imagine would sound an absolute beast out on the floor.

http://i.imgur.com/szd13BQ.jpg

14 PINEAPPLES "Come On Closer" [218 points, 6 votes, 3 first place votes]
http://youtu.be/W1ipHeQ3h

well if anything that is all-time on the best band name + song title combo front

Unlike the disco poll where loads of IMO unremarkable records placed highly this poll just keeps delivering one corker after another.

gr808! Confess, where are you taking these lovely retrofuturist images from?

Damn, half the people who voted for this placed it at the top of their ballots! Feeling like the chances of seeing my #1 in the countdown have just diminished significantly.

So many chooons! I think Matia Bazaar was my #1, maybe not though. Anyways I got really into it in the runup to the poll. I liked how it was bilingual, and, of course, what a great vocal performance.

Moka the amazing thing is gr80 hasn't done any retouching to the images, the palette is accurate to the original work!

Damn, half the people who voted for this placed it at the top of their ballots! Feeling like the chances of seeing my #1 in the countdown have just diminished significantly.

― Portugal minus Pedro Foster Cage (Spectrist), Wednesday, February 11, 2015 11:09 PM (11 minutes ago)

Yeah, I was dead certain my #1 would make it to the top 50 but now... not so sure.

I voted for the Clio tracks instead of Pineapples. Love them all! I like how you can pick out the sound/style of some these producers.

Kano is such a classic track. The vocalist (Glen White?) is amazing, and Stefano Pulga was a great songwriter.

I must have listened to "Vamos A La Playa" about 10 times today thanks to this thread. Its about a nuclear bomb! Love ILM polls like this introducing me to genres Im not familiar with. Also those images are incredible, well done.

'come on closer' was my #1 :D

Woah I was sure Pineapples would be much higher! What is left for the top 10???

Is there some weirdly orthogonal Italo canon that I've never heard of?

Moka the amazing thing is gr80 hasn't done any retouching to the images, the palette is accurate to the original work!

this is not 100% true

i'll link to some truly sublime collections i stole from after we wrap up tomorrow i promise

http://i.imgur.com/dOUgj5S.jpg

13 DOCTOR'S CAT "Feel The Drive" [226 points, 7 votes]
http://youtu.be/dCsM1Am7xOM

Still keeping my hopes up for "Hills of Katmandu"... And "Self Control" is a lock for top 5, surely? "Tarzan Boy" and "San Salvador" might also still place, I guess?

(xpost to Seandalai)

feel like anyone over 30 would get a proustian rush from the opening synth on this track wether they knew what italo was or not

also on my ballot - great workout song

Great jam. Agreed about the muscle of the opening synth line - amazing! Some may recognize parts of the vocal from LCD Soundsystem - Get Innocuous.

I must have listened to "Vamos A La Playa" about 10 times today thanks to this thread. Its about a nuclear bomb! Love ILM polls like this introducing me to genres Im not familiar with. Also those images are incredible, well done.

― tayto fan (Michael B)

You should listen to 'No tengo dinero' by them (Righeira). It was my ringtone for a while and it made everyone chuckle (chorus translates as 'I have no money'). Not as popular as Vamos a la Playa but it's also sublime.

I have the feeling Bagarre's Lemon Sweet wont make it. The whole Circus album is excellent, if it doesn't place and you guys haven't heard it please do. Dirty Love and Lemon Sweet are so good.

Bagarre are cool but not Italo imo.

xpost im familiar with that song, moka! its great indeed. If Righeira are two guys from Turin, why are they singing in Spanish though?

Italians generally love the Spanish, from what I've gathered... Like they're some lovable country cousins or something.

this is not 100% true

My bad! I recognize a lot of the images and they didn't look altered. Can't wait to see further archives from where you're pulling this stuff, it's all fantastic. Kind of need to know what font that is too, the serifs on the 7s make my toes curl.

What would you class Bagarre as if not Italo, seandalai? I mean, I excised things for not being Italo enough, but I don't know what else Bagarre would be...

I've seen Bagarre catalogued as italo-disco everywhere but no idea.

yessss Feel the Drive

My bad! I recognize a lot of the images and they didn't look altered. Can't wait to see further archives from where you're pulling this stuff, it's all fantastic. Kind of need to know what font that is too, the serifs on the 7s make my toes curl.

it's mostly true! i just did some gradient overlays here and there so the white text could pop

i can't look atm but i'm 99% sure it's a font called "Lemon Milk". i'm a little disappointed that i didn't notice the obnoxious way that V's and W's don't snuggle up nice and close with A's until i was almost done with all the images. (is there a term for that?)

Bagarre is more of a beardo/proto-Balearic sound iirc? Not robotic enough for me...

Just had a look back at my ballot and there are 10 songs where I'll be surprised if they don't make it.

http://i.imgur.com/P6Swk6t.jpg

12 EASY GOING "Fear" [226 points, 7 votes, 2 first place votes]
http://youtu.be/Iq5F1sQkImM

9 actually, the 10th I really really want to make it but suspect it isn't as popular as another by the same artist Xp

This one I'm not crazy about tbh.

i'm a little disappointed that i didn't notice the obnoxious way that V's and W's don't snuggle up nice and close with A's until i was almost done with all the images. (is there a term for that?)

I believe that term is 'Kerning' – unless you are referring to your dismay, in which case the term is 'Designer OCD'. :D

lol thank u

xpost im familiar with that song, moka! its great indeed. If Righeira are two guys from Turin, why are they singing in Spanish though?

― tayto fan (Michael B)

The lyrics were actually written by La Bionda and Carmelo not by Righeira, but they're also Italian so no idea why the Spanish. The thing I love about those two lyrics is how fun and dumb they appear at first listen but Vamos A La Playa is actually about nuclear destruction and No Tengo Dinero is about post-war class struggle in Italy. The chorus become some sort of ironic joke when you read the verses.

Here's my translation of both:

VAMOS A LA PLAYA

(CHORUS:)
Let's go to the beach oh o-o-o-oh (x6)

The bomb has exploded
Radiation is roasting
and painting everything blue

Let's go to the beach

Everyone with hats on
the radioactive winds
were messing up our hair

Let's go to the beach
the sea is clean at last
no more rotten fish
but the water is still fluorescent

Let's go to the beach

NO TENGO DINERO

I have no money oh
I have no money no no no no

The modern rich are living in here
in the highest place in my city
Nurturing themselves with images and relax
I wish I was there

I have no money oh

The new italians are creating in here
fearless enthusiasts of ferocious speed
Neo-psychic is the syntactic eden
I'd rather be somewhere else

I have no money

(the final part is sort of broken spanish and all the lyrics I've seen make no sense but here's what I think they meant:)

Neo-psychic
Kissed by goddess you are
Homeland of those who believe

Neo-psychic

Simonetti has a great discography between his various disco projects and Goblin. My vote was for Crazy Gang - Every Sunday... which might still have a chance? Also check out Easy Going - Gay Time Latin Lover for a laugh!

Amazing song. So happy it made it.

xpost Righeira = the Scritti Politti of Italo!

Oh, thank fuck! My #1.

the Fear album cover is one of my favorites ever

Also, WTF, I had no idea about the nuclear aspect of 'Vamos a la Playa'! Going on my nuclear playlist ASAP.

the /Fear/ album cover is one of my favorites ever

OTM

There are quite a few other examples of Italo in Spanish, or at least with some bits in Spanish. Some of them by French acts as well like Magazine 60 and Bandolero.

My own theory is that Spanish as a language was considered 'cool' in '80s Europe. But I really have nothing to back that up.

I like how a track called "Dirty Talk" has no talking in it.

There was a vocal version on the A-side of the UK release. This version doesn't have the introductory giggle, but it's close enough: http://youtu.be/b8crkDgEwGE

had no idea about the lyrics for Vamos a la Playa! I should have voted it higher...

last one for today:

http://i.imgur.com/ObsVpt4.jpg

11 LAURA BRANIGAN "Self Control" [229 points, 7 votes]
http://youtu.be/p8-pP4VboBk

TOO LOW

I wonder what the vote-splitting impact was? (And if Raf is still to come - I doubt it, but you never know)

TOO LOW seconded!

RAF campioni

Thanks for taking over, gr8080.

oh-oh-OH

DUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

oh-OH-oh

DURRRRNNNNNNNNNNNN

TOP 10 TOMORROW!

Yeah, I voted RAF on this occasion.

But in mid-84, the Laura B version WAS MY LIFE.

i like the rapping bit on the RAF version but i first heard and loved LB's

Is Laura Branigan the first US artist from the list so far?

My band covered the song this Xmas. It was a bit more ramshackle than either of the other versions, but it was FUN.

There was a period where Laura B had the German #1 while RAF had the German #2. They loved that song in Germany.

i sang it the first time i karaoke'd with LA ILXors

ooooh... I voted for the Raf version. I heard Laura Branigan's first but everything about the Raf version is sonic catnip for me

(Same thing happened a few months earlier, with Nino De Angelo "Jenseits Von Eden" (#1) and its English-language counterpart, Masquerade "Guardian Angel" (#2). Nino De Angelo and Laura Branigan eventually became Germany's two best-selling singles of 1984.)

There was a period where Laura B had the German #1 while RAF had the German #2. They loved that song in Germany.

― mike t-diva, Wednesday, February 11, 2015 6:40 PM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

dying @ this

wow, can't believe how low this is.

Only song left on my ballot that I'm confident will show up is Baltimora. As for the rest, è un mistero.

Feel like Mr Flagio's "Take A Chance" is a sure bet but who knows really

pumped that RAF will triumph!!!

p sure "problemes d'amour" will be in the top 10.

take a chance, spacer woman, tarzan boy and problemes seem like locks to me. less certain: happy station? take me to the top? challenger?

Minus Tarzan boy, that's pretty much my ballot!

happy station definitely

feel like anyone over 30 would get a proustian rush from the opening synth on this track wether they knew what italo was or not

― gr8080

This is OTM. The fade-up is essentially as close as it gets for me musically to the suggestion of synaesthesia, that synth tone emerges and it's like I can smell the neon tinted steam. Love this track so hard, and the b-side instrumental isn't just the backing track either, there's this new other texture that comes in during the last two minutes that sounds like helicopter rotor blades cutting through congealed soda pop. VWACKA VWACKA VWACKA VWACKA

Favorite new discovery is Ryan Paris, where has this track been my whole life? Gorgeous melody.

4/20 placed so far, sure to rack up another 3 tomorrow at least, more depending if you all dig the transcendentally silly Hypnotic Tango as much as I do.

^ that's re: 'Feel the Drive'

Could also see How Old Are You?, Disco Band, Only Music Survives, USSR and Masterpiece in a top ten...

I will be very sad if Hypnotic Tango doesn't place. Same for Take a Chance (and Spacer Woman, but that's got to make it, surely?).

Also this poll is great, thanks! Lots of things I didn't know in the countdown, which uh maybe means I wasn't really qualified to vote, but I'm enjoying filling in the gaps in my knowledge...

I'd say those 3 are definite lock-ins surely?

I have realistic hopes for Happy Station, Hypnotic Tango, Around My Dream, Take A Chance. Suspect the Lime vote will be fatally split.

9 I thought were locks still to show but ill just say that Faces will surely be in there as a a load of us have already said itt that that was the Clio we voted for.

Savage and BWH also potentially still to come I guess?

Hypnotic Tango could be top 3

not that i voted as i dont know italo well but fingers crossed that silver pozzoli's "around my dream" turns up

Here we go. The top ten Italo tracks are...

http://i.imgur.com/k8LWoZn.jpg

10 KANO "I'm Ready" [251 points, 8 votes, 1 first place vote]
http://youtu.be/zXmCOlmucBY

MOVE ME DISCO

Just adding that I too am looking forward to some art reveals. I do recognize at least one MECO cover detail. Good stuff all over.

http://i.imgur.com/J0G7r4J.jpg

9 FUN FUN "Happy Station" [258 points, 8 votes]
http://youtu.be/qM9y-eJJ8U4

It's no Baila Bolero.

Just adding that I too am looking forward to some art reveals. I do recognize at least one MECO cover detail. Good stuff all over.

― andrew m., Thursday, February 12, 2015 9:46 AM (3 minutes ago)

haha, damn! i was trying to avoid using anything that was originally album-art, that one must have slipped by me

Excellent Kano choice. I had It's a War in my top ten but I'm fine with this one placing ahead of it.

I love the 12" version of Happy Station; I'm not as keen on the Scratch Mix but it def makes for an amazing video

http://i.imgur.com/Utf6g4X.jpg

8 ALEXANDER ROBOTNICK "Problemes d'Amour" [259 points, 8 votes]
http://youtu.be/jMN9_7tPFCY

Great tune

cant say for sure but this track may have been my introduction to Italo ~10-11 years ago

The Scratch mix of Happy Station totally eclipsed the original mix at the time. I doubt that's the "official video", though - it looks like the sort of bonkers staging that the weekly German pop TV show Formel Eins would come up with.

http://i.imgur.com/uRDRUOa.jpg

7 RAF "Self Control" [261 points, 9 votes, 1 first place vote]
http://youtu.be/1_TQjEn6cpQ

:)))

Woh-oh-oh!

biggest or smallest surprise of the rollout right here

stay, stay, stay, stay, station!

Whoaaaa double 'Self Control', yeah!

It's no Baila Bolero.

― ewar woowar (or something), Thursday, 12 February 2015 15:50 (1 hour ago)

I concur with this statement.

Not sure if our next entry is the biggest Italo hit of all time, but it certainly felt like it at the time...

http://i.imgur.com/tESyS5H.jpg

6 BALTIMORA "Tarzan Boy" [265 points, 9 votes, 1 first place vote]
http://youtu.be/_r0n9Dv6XnY

:D

the biggest italo hit ever is probably correct, originally knew it from this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKx5uT8px8U

(unless you count "i'm ready," whose bassline was used on "whoomp! there it is")

we're lieeving in the open

god what a tune

oh my god i never made the listerine connection lol

tbh the first half of today i can take or leave, really

but the top 5 are all bona-fide essentials imo

We should get to that section then. Starting with:

http://i.imgur.com/2JLl4OV.jpg

5 CLIO "Faces" [343 points, 10 votes, 1 first place vote]
http://youtu.be/kw3mlykbAfk

what a fantastic multi-layered chorus. Never heard this one before.

(ﾉ*ﾟｰﾟ)ﾉ

that's a big jump in number of points

fay-ay-sess

this was my number one and I was beginning to worry it wouldn't show up, relived that it is well like here

wtf @ that Fun Fun video

Would happily listen to only these 50 songs on a loop forever, so pleased both Self Controls hit high. Clio and Fun Fun are sooo sooo good.

How lucky are we that all this is on YouTube? Imagine having to look through hundreds of record bins just to get to hear this top 50, let alone all the other nominees.

http://i.imgur.com/5AmcXOw.jpg

4 BWH "Stop" [373 points, 12 votes, 2 first place votes]
http://youtu.be/tNCVeo_icAM

yesssssssssssss

lol mashups, but my first exposure to this monster jam was this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a687_HfxMZM

used to play it out all the time

wtf @ that Fun Fun video

― tayto fan (Michael B), Thursday, February 12, 2015 6:42 PM (15 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

wtf indeed! In a good way, though.

"Stop" is the greatest! I might prefer "Living Up", but they're both so great

Wrong Happy Station for me, that’s the 'scratch version', here’s the original in case you don’t know it: http://youtu.be/28Um3jmQHhI

http://i.imgur.com/g9yLctJ.jpg

3 MY MINE "Hypnotic Tango" [379 points, 12 votes]
http://youtu.be/KLBInZxGA34

my favorite italo song

just this morning a non-ilx colleague of mine posted to facebook about an all-employee meeting at his workplace that the GM insisted on this track being both the intro and outro music for

so glad I don't work at a place that requires intro/outro music for meetings

i'd be okay with it if the intro/outro music was only selections from this thread

my 77 thread on this subject

was wondering if this song really had a chance

it was the first track to be nominated iirc

;)

Runner-up...

http://i.imgur.com/P1GWZ2v.jpg

2 CHARLIE "Spacer Woman" [389 points, 11 votes, 2 first place votes]
http://youtu.be/eglu23iGsU0

my top 11 songs have already placed. I'm pulling for my #12 though I have serious doubts.

Come on Topo and Roby!

this is the best italo song

Oh man, the tension!

(I love #3 and #2 and they could easily have been my #1 but on that particular day they weren't... will mine be the poll's as well?)

Based on the last four it has to be Mr Flagio surely.

^^ the only one in the top 10 of my ballot that hasn't made it

And the winner is...

No surprises!

the only track with over 400 points...

http://i.imgur.com/0UrxjL8.jpg

1 MR. FLAGIO "Take A Chance" [457 points, 13 votes, 2 first place votes]
http://youtu.be/zDV_dBYp4h0

wow

no soccio :(

worthy winner

what a rad poll, thanks daavid and gr80

Yep. Great poll and beautiful images. Thanks both.

Awesome tracks, all fifty of em. Great poll thanks for organising! Working on the mix now, will be posted here when its done.

Well done on the poll.

My votes, top first.

Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance
My Mine - Hypnotic Tango
Charlie - Spacer Woman
Clio - Faces
Fun Fun - Happy Station
Glam - More Than Ever
Amnesie - Turas
Kano - I'm ready
Lama – Love on the Rocks
Fockewulf 190 - Gitano
Mike Mareen - Dancing In The Dark
Raf - Self Control
Strada - It's The Monkey
Ghibli - I'm Looking For You (instrumental)
N.O.I.A. - The Rule to Survive (Looking for Love)
Lectric Workers Featuring Funny Randon - The Garden
Lime – Babe, We’re Gonna Love Tonite
BWH - Stop
G.Race - On Fire
Baby's Gang - Disco Maniac

My ballot:

Alba Parietti - Only Music Survives
Natali - Vot Kak
Tat'yana Bulanova - Belaya Cheremukha
Fancy - Slice Me Nice
Eddy Huntington - USSR
Raf - Self Control
Ken Laszlo - Hey Hey Guy
Digital Emotion - Go Go Yellow Screen
Matia Bazar - Ti Sento
Miko Mission - How Old Are You?
Macho - I'm A Man
Valerie Dore - The Night
Raffaella Carra - 1,2,3,4 Dancing
Gazebo - Masterpiece
Scotch - Disco Band
Trans-X - Living On Video
Ivan – Fotonovela
Modern Talking - You're My Heart, You're My Soul
Sabrina - Boys (Summertime Love)
Spagna - Call Me

FULL RESULTS

Note: I was lazy and stopped counting the ties after 50. Hope you guys don't mind.

thank you daavid and gr8080!

a mix! yes xps

good fun, thank you! also thx for images gr80, they looked amazing; looking forward to Siegbran's mix too

Eugene - Livin' In Your Love
B.W.H. - Stop
Valerie Dore - Get Closer
Doctor's Cat - Feel The Drive
Baltimora - Tarzan Boy
Fun Fun - Happy Station
My Mine - Hypnotic Tango
Clio - Faces
Casco - Cybernetic Love
Raf - Self Control
Space - Magic Fly
Gino Soccio - Remember
Giorgio Moroder - The Chase
Modern Talking - You're My Heart, You're My Soul
Easy Going - Fear
Trans-X - Living On Video
Electra ft. Tara Butler - Feels Good (Carrots and Beets)
Kano - I Need Love
Stefano Pulga - Take Me Higher
Eddy Huntington - U.S.S.R.

195 Savage - Don't Cry Tonight

crying tonight

aw jeez, I had The Man From Colors and Comet on my ballot, if I'd put each of them a couple of places higher they'd have made it :(

My pleasure! My first ballot poll. I feel like a real ILMer now :)

GALLERY OF ALL 50 IMAGES

most of the artwork i used came from this amazing site:

http://50watts.com/filter/space-teriyaki

(be sure to click around to other galleries besides just the 8 there)

as well as this flickr pool:

https://www.flickr.com/groups/1065270@N23/pool/

and one or two might have come from this one, either way its worth a click

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48304527@N05/sets/72157623631798674

thanks daavid for letting me be a part of this, it was lots of fun

xps- I'm crying too, mattresslessness

Thank you Grady! Thanks for your patience as well!

Thanks Daavido and Gradio!

My ballot:

Eugene - Livin' in Your Love
Pineapples - Come on Closer
Topo and Roby - Under The Ice
Funky Family - Funky Is On
Baltimora - Tarzan Boy
M&G - When I Let You Down
Tibor Levay - Gipsy Boobie
Electra ft. Tara Butler - Feels Good (Carrots and Beets)
Kermesse - Mrs Moon
G.J. Lunghi - Acapulco Nights
Raggio Di Luna – Comanchero
Casco - Cybernetic Love
Alexander Robotnick - Problemes d'Amour
Raffaella Carra - 1,2,3,4 Dancing
Gazebo - I Like Chopin
Valerie Dore - The Night
LAME' - You've Got the Night
Sandra - (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena
Righeira - Vamos A La Playa
Jago - I'm Going To Go

Rinder & Lewis - Willie & The Hand Jive
Dhuo - Walkin'
Barry Mason - Body! Get Your Body
Jago - I'm Going To Go
Electric Mind - Zwei (Dub)
Charlie - Spacer Woman
Blackway - New Life
Funky Family - Funky Is On
Sunbelt - Spin It
Gaz Nevada - I.C. Love Affair
Gaz Nevada - Special Agent Man
BWH – Stop
Electra ft. Tara Butler - Feels Good (Carrots and Beets)
Glam - More Than Ever
Stopp - I'm Hungry
Answering Service - Call Me Mr. Telephone
Lectric Workers - Robot is Systematic
My Mine - Hypnotic Tango
Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance
Ginny - Can't Be Serious

Thanks daavid, this has been great, discovered some amazing songs from the nominations list. Thanks to gr8080 for the images too.

My ballot:

George Aaron - Just For You
Tangui - Amour Combat
Clio - Eyes
Sandra - (I’ll Never Be) Maria Magdalena
Gary Low - I Want You
Ryan Paris - Dolce Vita
The Voyagers - Distant Planet
Gazebo - I Like Chopin
Finzy Kontini - Cha Cha Cha
Glam - More Than Ever
Jonathan Gable – Central Park
Cube - Concert Boy
Pineapples - Come on Closer
Kano - Another Life
Eugene - Livin' in Your Love
Grant Miller – Colder Than Ice
Stefano Pulga - Take Me Higher
Laura Branigan - Self Control
Lusstt - Pillow Talk
Fancy - Lady of Ice

Er yeah I just realised I put the wrong Clio song on my ballot... Ah well, they're both great anyway.

YES @ Faces and Stop placing so high. Only discovered Faces last year when I was youtubing italo in the bath and seriously, the moment when the chorus lifts off I was literally crying with joy. Thanks gr80 and daavid and yeah I could listen exclusively to this stuff forever.

My ballot:

Loui$ - Pink Footpath
Ginny - Can't Be Serious
Gaz Nevada - Special Agent Man
Fun Fun - Baila Bolero
Clio - Faces
BWH - Stop
Boytronic - Bryllyant
Raf - Self Control
Mike Mareen - Dancing In The Dark
Valerie Dore - Get Closer
Casco - Cybernetic Love
Glam - More Than Ever
Alexander Robotnick - Problemes d'Amour
Jago - I'm Going To Go
Kano - Its A War
Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance
Chaplin Band - Il Veliero
Funky Family - Funky Is On
Gino Soccio - Remember
Blackway - New Life

Thanks so much for organizing and the great images!

I went a bit (a lot) cheesy with my #1, "Vampires" by Radiorama. These picks were much classier ;)

http://50watts.com/filter/space-teriyaki
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48304527@N05/sets/72157623631798674
-- gr8080

whoa awesome

My unsubmitted ballot (I originally planned to vote but by the time I had a chance to write a ballot, it was too late. I knew too much):

Lucia - Marinero
Bandolero - Paris Latino
Clio - Faces
Ken Laszlo - Hey Hey Guy
Finzy Kontini - Cha Cha Cha
Sandra - (I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena
Valerie Dore - The Night
Laura Branigan - Self Control
Righeira - No Tengo Dinero
Ivan - Fotonovela
Savage - Don't Cry Tonight
Matia Bazaar - Ti Sento
Baltimora - Tarzan Boy
Desireless - Voyage Voyage
Magazine 60 - Don Quichotte
Mike Rogers - Just A Story
Righeira - Vamos A La Playa
Moses - We Just
Eddy - Huntington USSR
Valerie Dore - Get Closer

such integrity!

I don't know if you've already noticed but, technically, "Self Control" is the song with the highest number of points.

that Fun Fun video has been a favorite of donna rouge + I for like many many years

also "Faces" prob woulda been my #1 if I voted; so beautiful!

the chorus makes me SO SO HAPPY

That's a great top 10. Good job everyone! Specially daavid and gr8080

Also thanks for this gr8080!:

GALLERY OF ALL 50 IMAGES

most of the artwork i used came from this amazing site:

http://50watts.com/filter/space-teriyaki

(be sure to click around to other galleries besides just the 8 there)

as well as this flickr pool:

https://www.flickr.com/groups/1065270@N23/pool/

and one or two might have come from this one, either way its worth a click

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48304527@N05/sets/72157623631798674

thanks daavid for letting me be a part of this, it was lots of fun

― gr8080,

so many dope songs!! what a joyful celebration. :)

ballot:
Matia Bazar - Ti Siento
Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance
Katy Gray - Hold Me Tight
Mr Master - A Dog In the Night
Clio - Faces
Torrevado - Living In The Shuttle
Stefano Pulga - Take Me Higher
Fellini – Passenger
Clio - Eyes
Crazy Gang - Every Sunday
Raggio Di Luna – Comanchero
Neon – My Blues Is You
Kano - Another Life
Sabrina – Boys (Summertime Love)
Via Verdi – Diamond
Cyber People - Void Vision
Ivan – Fotonovela
Raf - Self Control
Xalan – I Only Move For Money/Solo Me Muevo Por Dinero
BWH - Stop

My ballot:
Twins - Not The Loving Kind
Magazine 60 - Don Quichotte
Fun Fun - Happy Station
Kano - Another Life
My Mine - Hypnotic Tango
Taffy - I Love My Radio
Boytronic - You
Silver Pozzoli - Around My Dream
P. Lion - Happy Children
Lime - Guilty
Klein & MBO - Dirty Talk
Ryan Paris - Dolce Vita
Twins - Face To Face, Heart To Heart
Trans-X - Living On Video
Kano - Queen Of Witches
Fun Fun - Color My Love
Raf - Self Control
Lime - Angel Eyes
Gazebo - Masterpiece
Fancy - Slice Me Nice

These just missed the final cut:
Lime – Babe, We’re Gonna Love Tonite
Modern Talking - You're My Heart, You're My Soul
Joe Yellow - Lover To Lover
Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance
Righeira - No Tengo Dinero
Lime - On The Grid (Re-mix Dub)
Video - Somebody

Easy Going - Fear
Laura Branigan - Self Control
Cube - Concert Boy
Doctor's Cat - Watch Out
La Bionda - Wanna be your lover
Twins - Face To Face, Heart To Heart
Tantra - Hills of Katmandu
Jock Hattle - Crazy Family
My Mine - Hypnotic Tango
International Music System - Dancing Therapy
Clio - Faces
Space - Magic Fly
Sandwizz - Do You Want A Sandwich?
Gay Cat Park - I Am a Vocoder
Righeira - Vamos A La Playa
Los Angeles T.F. - Magical Body
Taffy - I Love My Radio
Lectric Workers - Robot is Systematic
Roni Griffith - Love is the Drug
Baby's Gang - Happy Song

Mine is probably a bit rubbish in comparison to most of you guys, but:

Easy Going - Fear
Lectric Workers - Robot is Systematic
Laura Branigan - Self Control
Dee D. Jackson - Automatic Lover
Clio - Faces
La Bionda - Wanna be your lover
Doctor's Cat - Watch Out
My Mine - Hypnotic Tango
Droids - The Force
Bagarre - Lemonsweet
Passengers - He's Speedy Like Gonzales
International Music System - Dancing Therapy
Sandwizz - Do You Want A Sandwich?
Fun Fun - Baila Bolero
Kano - I'm ready
Casco - Cybernetic Love
Eugene - Livin' in Your Love
Digital Emotion - Go Go Yellow Screen
Laserdance - Cosmo Tron
Raggio Di Luna – Comanchero

my ballot

Lectric Workers - Robot is Systematic
Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance
BWH - Livin' Up
BWH - Stop
Trophy - Slow Flight
Mya & The Mirror - Hesitation
Katy Gray - Hold Me Tight
Dharma - Plastic Doll
Giorgio Moroder - The Chase
Cyber People - Void Vision
Decadance - On And On
Nemesy - Touch
Wanexa - The Man From Colors
Mr Master - A Dog In The Night
Alter Ego - Just Like a Star
Raf - Self Control
Kano - I'm ready
Kano - Now Baby Now
Klapto - Queen of the Night
Trilogy - Not Love

oh man i can't wait to dig through all these, just started my journey into italo recently..

This poll was nothing short of the best party so far this year!

BWH - Stop
Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance
Charlie - Spacer Woman
Doctor's Cat - Feel the Drive
Amin-Peck - Coda
Sun La Shan - Catch
Naif Orchestra - Check Out Five
My Mine - Hypnotic Tango
Passengers - He's Speedy Like Gonzales
Magazine 60 - Don Quichotte
Mya & The Mirror - Hesitation
Wanexa - The Man From Colors 
Trans-X - Living On Video
International Music System - Nonline
Hipnosis - End Title (Blade Runner Theme)
Gaz Nevada - I.C. Love Affair
Alexander Robotnick - Problemes d'Amour
M&G - When I Let You Down
Stopp - I'm Hungry
Baltimora - Tarzan Boy

loved this poll & love seeing everyone's lists, here's mine:

BWH - Stop
Answering Service - Call Me Mr. Telephone
Electric Mind - Zwei (Dub)
Tantra - Macumba Suite
Glam - More Than Ever
Clio - Faces
La Bionda - Wanna be your lover
Massara - Margherita
Tullio de Piscopo - Stop Bajon (Club Mix)
Dhuo - Walkin'
Doctor's Cat - Feel the Drive
Ginny - Can't Be Serious
Pino D'Angio - Ma Quale Idea
Gaz Nevada - I.C. Love Affair
Ryan Paris - Dolce Vita
Lusstt - Pillow Talk
Trophy - Slow Flight
Loui$ - Pink Footpath
Plustwo - Stop Fantasy
Valerie Dore - Get Closer

Very nice, I'm not super versed into Italo, so there's a lot of new and cool stuff for me in this poll. Here's my ballot:

1. Tantra - Hills of Katmandu
2. Immortals - The Ultimate Warlord
3. Laura Branigan - Self Control
4. Chaplin Band - Il Veliero
5. Fast Radio - Under My Thumb
6. Tullio de Piscopo - Stop Bajon (Club Mix)
7. Erotic Drum Band - Horn-y
8. Sandra - (I’ll Never Be) Maria Magdalena
9. Sunbelt - Spin It
10. Moses - We Just
11. Kat Mandu - Hooked on Voices
12. Macho - I'm A Man
13. Baltimora - Tarzan Boy
14. Automat - Automat
15. Limahl/Girogio Moroder - Never Ending Story
16. Alisha - All Night Passion
17. Azoto - San Salvador
18. Lime - Guilty
19. Easy Going - Fear
20. Kebekelektrik - War Dance

I was a bit disappointed that "Hills of Katmandu" didn't make it, to me it's the greatest cosmic disco epic of all time, Italo or otherwise. I guess the popularity of Tantra has been hurt by Unidisc's stupidly restrictive licensing policy, for a long time their material was hard to find on CD... But their whole output was finally reissued in 2013 as 2CD comp by Harmless, I thought that would've made them more popular, they certainly deserve it!

Hey Daavid, I looked at the results table, and I see you have Immortals' "The Ultimate Warlord" listed there twice, at #55 and at #179 (the second time it's listed as just "Ultimate Warlord"). And it looks like the votes were split between those two entires, if you combine them it would have 122 points, so it should've made it to the #40 spot in the countdown.

Hopefully you can correct this and Grady can find some cool graphic for the tune. :) It's definitely worth it.

Guys, I know I didn't vote in this, but not one vote for Plustwo's 'Melody' is surely a glaring error??

dhuo reacting to this turn of events

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qk5sY67bjiA/TZTq_ZatfpI/AAAAAAAADX0/ttRGt8BeVOg/s1600/Dhuo+-+Walkin%2527.jpg

xp

My ballot:
1. Sly & Hunter - No More Vision
2. Sabrina - Boys (Summertime Love)
3. Blue Russell - I Wanna Fly Away
4. Venise - Playboy
5. Mike Rogers - Just A Story
6. Modern Talking - You're My Heart, You're My Soul
7. Ken Laszlo - Hey Hey Guy
8. East Wall - Eyes Of Glass
9. Baltimora - Tarzan Boy
10. Righeira - Vamos A La Playa
11. Fellini – Passenger
12. Savage - Only You
13. Laserdance - Power Run
14. Fockewulf 190 - Gitano
15. Lucia - Marinero
16. Valerie Dore - The Night
17. Diux - Comet
18. Sandra - (I’ll Never Be) Maria Magdalena
19. Laura Branigan - Self Control
20. BWH - Stop

dhuo more like d'oh!

Aww man! Thanks for spotting that, Tuomas. There was so much enthusiasm abou Dhuo placing... How about we make this a top 51 list and not bump them.

I'm including Dhuo in the mix fwiw.

http://i.imgur.com/5esHSGV.jpg

40 THE IMMORTALS "The Ultimate Warlord" [122 points, 4 votes]
http://youtu.be/19X-g5jHRzI

incredible song fwiw

this is kind of funny tbh, when daavid sent me the final results he left it up to me to decide whether we'd do a top 40 or top 50. since i nominated and championed Dhuo i opted to go for a top 50 lol

the phrase 'slice me nice' has been haunting me for the past couple days

I'm like a cake that wants to be baked, i'm like a pie made for hungry guys.

My body's burning like a flame that's blue. It's time for action, baby, cut me in two.

How could you not be haunted?

Thanks for taking care of that, gr8080.

the phrase 'slice me nice' has been haunting me for the past couple days

― ciderpress, Friday, February 13, 2015 3:24 PM (8 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Same here! What it is about it? ..eerie.

Totally missed this, how come nobody told me about it? How did Gaz Nevada not make the list?

I've fixed the spreadsheet as well.

i voted 2 gaz nevada tracks!!!!!!

dan i wouldnt mind seeing your hypothetical top 20

Gaz Nevada didn't make it to the top 50, but they still had a couple of tracks on the full list. Their highest placing was 69.

I can do it when I'm back home in front of the computer at some point.

Surprised Dirty Talk didn't score higher.

Also surprised about comment upthread about not hearing the italo influence on New Order. From the euro-disco/moroder synth basslines of Everything's Gone Green and Temptation, to the admitted influence of Dirty Talk on Blue Monday...

I'll post this again: FULL RESULTS

I had a Gaz Nevada track (special agent man) top 3, really surprised he didn't show up at all.

Xp that was me with the New Order comment, I dunno it's just never been as explicit as, say, PS and not more than several other 80s synth pop bands. I can obv hear its there but the comment was more a Wow I can really hear it re Dancing Therapy and Bizarre Love Triangle.

The Gaz Nevada vote was more or less split between tracks

IC Love Affair makes my top 5. Maybe top 2.

Enough to propel it into top 50 territory. Should've voted, dan.

Nobody told me about this thread. I generally only look at threads I've already bookmarked unless I'm really bored in which case I'll check out recently updated threads and never noticed this. In any case I've always depended on people contacting me or otherwise posting "hey why hasn't Dan Selzer posted on this thread?" in which case I find it when I'm searching for my name!

Most of my favorites didn't make it, who cares.

Sorry you couldn't be bothered to look at new threads.

Here's my complete ballot:

Baltimora - "Tarzan Boy"

haha, yes! Do you seriously not like any other Italo track, DJP, or just overwhelmingly like that one above others?

Take it easy brimstead, I don't take it too seriously.

Just let me know next time.

I've always been curious to know what's being said in the phone conversation at the beginning of "Hey Hey Guy". Cannot understand, like, 80% of it. Anyone?

xpost- odd/bad luck that you missed this one, dan. It's been going on for about two months.

haha, yes! Do you seriously not like any other Italo track, DJP, or just overwhelmingly like that one above others?

option B really, although I'm not well-versed in Italo so you could argue option A by virtue of genre ignorance

You should have a listen to the playlist. You may find some gems in there.

Revisiting some of the tracks I left off my ballot..."Take a Chance" still doesn't do much for me but "Stop" is all-time and I should have voted for it...

Enjoyed this rollout immensely, discovered so many gems.

new to me stuf that really stood out: Cyber People- Void Vision, Lui$ - Pink footpath, CASCO "Cybernetic Love"

my ballot:

Kano - I'm ready
BWH - Stop
Doctor's Cat - Feel the Drive
Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance
Kano - Another Life
Alexander Robotnick - Problemes d'Amour
Charlie - Spacer Woman
Giorgio Moroder - The Chase
Cerrone - Supernature
Methusalem - Zombie
My Mine - Hypnotic Tango
Immortals - The Ultimate Warlord
Clio - Eyes
Kasso - Walkman
Space - Magic Fly
Klein & MBO - The MBO Theme
Kano - Its A War
Casco - Cybernetic Love
Pink Project - B Project
Victor - Go On Do It
Helen - Witch
Pineapples - Come on Closer
Big Ben Tribe - Tarzan Loves the Summer Nights
Loui$ - Pink Footpath
Dharma - Plastic Doll
BWH - Livin' Up
Capricorn - I Need Love
Gaz Nevada - I.C. Love Affair
Neon - Skydiver

Speaking of New Order Italo influence, i feel like they maybe nicked some of the melody of Cybernetic Love in something "The Perfect Kiss".. maybe? its so familiar.

oops meant void vision, its not quite there anyway.

<i>I've always been curious to know what's being said in the phone conversation at the beginning of "Hey Hey Guy". Cannot understand, like, 80% of it. Anyone?

― daavid, Friday, February 13, 2015 11:32 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink</i>

- hello?
- hello? (something something)
- oh dear are you at phone
- yeah hey guy, tell me about your manicure
- I love you and feel the groove
- tell me about it, is it true?
- it's true, yes it's true
- love for hire is dangerous
- don't worry baby gold
- everything is same as all
- everything is the same
- oh I love you
- me too
- I love you

Well that's that cleared up.

Seriously though... no 'Melody' by Plustwo? its not just the best italo song in the world. It's the best song in the world.

Biggest surprise omission for me was Silver Pozzoli: "Around My Dream". It went to Number One in South Africa, come on!

xps- Thanks Siegbran. That makes a lot more sense than what I was hearing before.

… even if it still doesn't make much sense, lol

I couldn't edit down enough. I mostly avoided the stuff that I tend to group with "eurodisco" or "spacedisco" or "hi-nrg". Mostly stuff that's been well-covered here but maybe a few others. Pretty heavily in the Mixed Up at the Hague camp.

Amin Peck-Coda
Atmosphere-Swede's Scandal
Azoto-Any Time or Place
BB & Band-All Night Long
BWH-Stop
Bagarre-Lemon Sweet
Bobby Davenport-Time Has Come Today
Brand Image-Are You Loving?
Capricorn-I Need Love
Cariocas-Batida
Charlie-Spacer Woman
Clio-Faces
Cyber People-Void Vision
DF and Pam-On the Beat
Diana Est-Tenax
Doctor's Cat-Gee Wiz
Gaz Nevada-IC Love Affair
International Music System-Dancing Therapy
Jago-I'm Going to Go
Klein + MBO-Dirty Talk
Los Angeles T.F.-Magical Body
M&G-When I Let You Down
Mr. Flagio-Take a Chance
Mr. Master-Dog in the Night
Mya and the Mirror-Hesitation
Pineapples-Come on Closer (second to last song at my wedding!)
Plastic Mode-Baja Imperial
Pluton and the Humanoids-World Invasion
RIS-Love N Music
Some Bizarre-Don't Be Affraid
Sun La Shan-Catch
Thanya-Freedom
Vivien Vee-Remember
Wanexa-The Man from Colours

was out of town when the last results rolled out but thanks daavid and gr80! this was very fun/a trip down memory lane. here's my (kind of boring/canonical) ballot:

Pineapples - Come on Closer
Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance
Ginny - Can't Be Serious
Matia Bazar - Ti Sento
Ris - Love N Music
Taffy - I Love My Radio
Laura Branigan - Self Control
La Bionda - Wanna be your lover
Magazine 60 - Don Quichotte
Doctor's Cat - Feel the Drive
Massara - Margherita
Advance - Take Me To The Top
Charlie - Spacer Woman
Klein & MBO - Dirty Talk
Jo Squillo Eletrix - Avventurieri
Baby's Gang - Disco Maniac
Raggio Di Luna – Comanchero
Baltimora - Tarzan Boy
Twins - Face To Face, Heart To Heart
Fun Fun - Happy Station

i've only heard of a dozen of these! i somehow have some v different idea of the italo canon than the rest of ilm does but i'm pleased to have lots to check out. had i voted i would def have voted for plustwo's 'melody' somewhere high. (maybe i'll pretend that i am voting, top 3 off the top of my head of ooh let's say 'hypnotic tango', 'cybernetic love', 'melody')

almost voted for 'melody', such an earworm

http://youtu.be/J66LRFvaNA8 JOIN TOGETHER NOW

I think the problem is there's is at least 2 or three "canons". It was a pretty wide-ranging thing with different periods and angles and appeal to different crowds. The italo that made it through the filter of WBMX and the italo that I-F and the electro crowd like and the big pop hits...similar threads, time period, location etc but different enough to suggest there's a canon. Before Mixed Up in the Hague nobody in america was talking about Spacer Woman and Take a Chance, but Dirty Talk and I'm Ready and I'm Going to Go were what was talked about.

Yeah, the obscure electro/import tracks definitely became a thing much later. The "canon" before Italo became hip could more or less be summarized by these 4 compilations from 1990:
Vol 1
Vol 2
Vol 3
Vol 4

The ZYX Best Of Italo Disco compilations were also pretty instrumental in building it up, i think.

Even those canons were different than the club cannon. The stuff that was either licensed to the US, released on US labels or otherwise made it through, my first awareness of italo prior to I-F was an american/chicago/detroit take. Like Fuzz Dance on Sire, NY labels like Emergency and Importe/12 creating a an american version of italo, then in the mid 80s the stuff that stuck w/ the chicago and detroit djs, often, especially later, only the instrumentals.

My ballot:
Pineapples - Come on Closer
Alexander Robotnick - Problemes d'Amour
Mr. Flagio - Take A Chance
International Music System - Dancing Therapy
Charlie - Spacer Woman
My Mine - Hypnotic Tango
Neon - Skydiver
Loui$ - Pink Footpath
Amin Peck - Girl on Me
Crazy Gang - Every Sunday
Automat - Automat
Decadance - On And On
BWH - Stop
Scotch - Take Me Up
Jo Squillo Eletrix - Avventurieri ‎
Big Ben Tribe - Tarzan Loves the Summer Nights
Immortals - The Ultimate Warlord
Peter Richard - Walking in the Neon
Righeira - Vamos A La Playa
Pino D'Angio - Ma Quale Idea

Would have definitely voted for Azoto - Anytime or Place, if it were nominated. Also, kinda can't believe Amin Peck - Anxiety wasn't nominated, and the overall un-love for Gary Low is a bit disappointing. "I Want You" and "You Are a Danger" feel like certified classics.

On a self-promotional note, I made this "mix" in 2005: http://thesearepowerfulhours.com/italoph.html

If y'all are unfamiliar with the concept of a "power hour," it's basically an organized drinking activity where everyone drinks a shot of beer every minute for an hour, and in this case, specifically, drink a shot of beer everytime the song changes. A real 1 hour immersion into my thoughts regarding Italo Disco from way back when. Enjoy!

Also, really surprised about Neon - Skydiver not placing at all. Assuming a lot of us kind of "grew up" on CBS Top 100s, in a series of all-time commentaries, I-F's proclamation that that track "was not recorded, it was LAID DOWN" would resonate a bit more.

it was on my ballot at one point but i had to cut it :(