Acclaimed Music Top 40 Songs from 1984 poll

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Acclaimed Music Top 25 Albums from 1984 poll

Acclaimed Music Top 50 Songs from 1979 poll
Acclaimed Music Top 40 Songs from 1980 poll
Acclaimed Music Top 40 Songs from 1981 poll
Acclaimed Music Top 40 Songs from 1982 poll
Acclaimed Music Top 40 Songs from 1983 poll

Poll Results

OptionVotes
1 38 Prince and The Revolution - When Doves Cry 11
34 2000 Hüsker Dü - Pink Turns to Blue 8
15 844 Chaka Khan - I Feel for You 5
31 1888 The Style Council - My Ever Changing Moods 4
25 1462 The Replacements - Unsatisfied 4
21 1197 Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy 4
24 1444 Bruce Springsteen - I'm on Fire 3
9 452 Echo and the Bunnymen - The Killing Moon 3
28 1781 Prince and The Revolution - Let's Go Crazy 3
35 2005 Les Rita Mitsouko - Marcia baila 3
13 772 Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark 3
27 1760 R.E.M. - So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry) 2
20 1195 Run-D.M.C. - Rock Box 2
29 1854 John Waite - Missing You 2
17 901 The Replacements - I Will Dare 2
4 185 Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. 2
32 1889 The Go-Betweens - Bachelor Kisses 2
38 2083 U2 - Bad 2
8 433 Don Henley - The Boys of Summer 2
30 1871 Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah 1
2 145 The Smiths - How Soon Is Now? 1
36 2006 R.E.M. - Don't Go Back to Rockville 1
26 1597 Minutemen - History Lesson (Part II) 1
3 182 Madonna - Like a Virgin 1
7 297 Prince and The Revolution - Purple Rain 1
10 580 Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Two Tribes 1
40 2191 Meat Puppets Lake of Fire 1
18 912 Foreigner - I Want to Know What Love Is 1
22 1275 A-ha - Take On Me 1
19 1138 Tears for Fears - Shout 0
39 2112 Depeche Mode - People Are People 0
23 1313 Bryan Adams - Summer of '69 0
37 2034 The Smiths - Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now 0
11 713 The Special A.K.A. - Free Nelson Mandela 0
12 769 Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do with It 0
14 792 The Smiths - What Difference Does It Make? 0
6 294 U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love) 0
16 867 Madonna - Material Girl 0
5 255 Van Halen - Jump 0
33 1962 Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) 0


Bee OK, Thursday, 13 December 2012 03:10 (thirteen years ago)

Can only be "Marcia Baila"

a Christmas .gif for you from (seandalai), Thursday, 13 December 2012 03:12 (thirteen years ago)

41 U.T.F.O. - Roxanne, Roxanne, 42 Sade - Your Love Is King, 43 Newcleus - Jam On It, 44 Sheila E. - The Glamorous Life, 45 Hüsker Dü - Eight Miles High, 46 Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?, 47 Los Lobos - Will the Wolf Survive?, 48 Sade - Smooth Operator, 49 Rubén Blades - Desapariciones, 50 Bruce Springsteen - Glory Days, 51 Cocteau Twins - Lorelei, 52 Prefab Sprout - When Love Breaks Down, and 53 Killing Joke - Eighties.

Bee OK, Thursday, 13 December 2012 03:14 (thirteen years ago)

lotta songs here where if a different single/popular favorite from the same album was listed i'd be voting for that easy (Tears For Fears, Van Halen, Meat Puppets, Replacements)...gonna go with "I'm On Fire"

some dude, Thursday, 13 December 2012 03:16 (thirteen years ago)

i hope we get a Spotify of this one (hint hint Phil). right now it's "The Killing Moon" though back in the day it would have been "Bad." still going to wait and try to listen to all songs before voting.

Bee OK, Thursday, 13 December 2012 03:17 (thirteen years ago)

dancing in the dark

THE NATIONS YOUTH DANCED TO THE MACARANA (innocent) (zachlyon), Thursday, 13 December 2012 04:05 (thirteen years ago)

I Will Dare.

EZ Snappin, Thursday, 13 December 2012 04:12 (thirteen years ago)

Les Rita Mitsouko, easy.

emil.y, Thursday, 13 December 2012 04:21 (thirteen years ago)

this year's selection is maybe weaker than I would have expected?

28 1781 Prince and The Revolution - Let's Go Crazy
1 38 Prince and The Revolution - When Doves Cry
15 844 Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
7 297 Prince and The Revolution - Purple Rain
22 1275 A-ha - Take On Me
3 182 Madonna - Like a Virgin
13 772 Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark
20 1195 Run-D.M.C. - Rock Box
5 255 Van Halen - Jump
12 769 Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do with It

The Reverend, Thursday, 13 December 2012 04:56 (thirteen years ago)

like I feel like the dozen best are totally solid and then I don't care about much after that

The Reverend, Thursday, 13 December 2012 04:57 (thirteen years ago)

When Doves Cry or Foreigner.

jetfan, Thursday, 13 December 2012 05:00 (thirteen years ago)

How Soon Is Now? would have been it at the time, but I'm going to go with one of the Prince songs at this point.

redress control number (_Rudipherous_), Thursday, 13 December 2012 05:20 (thirteen years ago)

This list isn't as good as the 1983 one. I voted Hallelujah because I think Leonard Cohen's recording of that song is underappreciated. I'm not even sure whether or not I prefer the Jeff Buckley cover any more.

sadkdsajkldaskjdsajklasdkl (Pat Finn), Thursday, 13 December 2012 05:28 (thirteen years ago)

my POV - dunno yet which one I'll go w/

Prince and The Revolution - When Doves Cry
The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?
Echo and the Bunnymen - The Killing Moon
Run-D.M.C. - Rock Box
A-ha - Take On Me

rocky dennis horror show (Pillbox), Thursday, 13 December 2012 06:09 (thirteen years ago)

Lake of Fire over Plateau gives one pause

send Lawyers (Drugs A. Money), Thursday, 13 December 2012 06:12 (thirteen years ago)

amazed Prince isn't in your parenthetical list, some dude, since Purple Rain houses your favorite song ever

send Lawyers (Drugs A. Money), Thursday, 13 December 2012 06:13 (thirteen years ago)

oh yeah, i meant it to be, ha

some dude, Thursday, 13 December 2012 06:13 (thirteen years ago)

Bachelor Kisses just ahead of Two Tribes.

Kitchen Person, Thursday, 13 December 2012 08:33 (thirteen years ago)

Nelson Mandela is such a great song, not just as a vehicle for the political message, but the music itself is a delight, and revisiting it now, there are so many little instrumental touches that I totally missed all those years ago listening to it on the radio - there's a great little flute thing happening in there somewhere, the bassline in the is a whole lot groovier than I remember it being, that guitar snaking its way in and out of things.

Albert Crampus (NickB), Thursday, 13 December 2012 09:05 (thirteen years ago)

Really torn between 'Unsatisfied' and 'Bachelor Kisses', two of my favourite songs ever.

I like 'William It Was Really Nothing' more than any of the Smiths picks here, 'What Difference Does It Make' is one of their weakest singles.

Gavin, Leeds, Thursday, 13 December 2012 11:09 (thirteen years ago)

Really tough poll.

I made a playlist, I'm afraid the Go-Betweens track wasn't available but everything else is here -

http://open.spotify.com/user/onimo/playlist/4707mqV7q0JRoZARqAnwZt

spotify:user:onimo:playlist:4707mqV7q0JRoZARqAnwZt

BANJOS ARE ALWAYS RACIST (onimo), Thursday, 13 December 2012 11:26 (thirteen years ago)

Another song where I love almost everything, but I have such an immediate, in-my-bones reaction to both "Dancing In The Dark" and "When Doves Cry" that it's gotta be one of those two. Since I was not exposed to a lot of non-top-40 music at the time, those two, more than any others, say "It is 1984 and I am a high school freshman" to me. A dark horse candidate is "Jump," but probably not.

(We should poll the b-sides of these, because there are some real gems out there. Just those two give you "17 Days" and "Pink Cadillac.")

Gollum: "Hot, Ready and Smeagol!" (Phil D.), Thursday, 13 December 2012 13:41 (thirteen years ago)

Smalltown Boy for me.

I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Thursday, 13 December 2012 13:47 (thirteen years ago)

Hate being so predictable: "I Will Dare." (Would choose that over "Eight Miles High," too.) Runners-up (no order): "I Feel for You," "Smalltown Boy," "Unsatisfied," "Don't Go Back to Rockville."

clemenza, Thursday, 13 December 2012 14:45 (thirteen years ago)

no Hall & Oates :(

the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 13 December 2012 14:47 (thirteen years ago)

"Born In The USA". Some great songs but the easiest choice for me so far

da croupier, Thursday, 13 December 2012 14:48 (thirteen years ago)

went with John Waite's "Missing You."

the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 13 December 2012 14:52 (thirteen years ago)

No "Self Control"??

your damn bass clarinet (Eazy), Thursday, 13 December 2012 14:53 (thirteen years ago)

I kind of want to vote "Two Tribes," but "When Doves Cry" is so fucking revolutionary.

Tarfumes The Escape Goat, Thursday, 13 December 2012 14:54 (thirteen years ago)

Surprised to see "Hallelujah" since CBS wouldn't even release Various Positions in the U.S.

your damn bass clarinet (Eazy), Thursday, 13 December 2012 14:55 (thirteen years ago)

I do not trust anyone who isn't voting "When Doves Cry"

Jesus, the Total Douchebag (DJP), Thursday, 13 December 2012 14:56 (thirteen years ago)

Two Tribes, for making me aware that nuclear war was a thing, which is heavy information to get from a number one single. It's the berserk zenith of madly ambitious post-punk/New Pop thinking.

I'm not crazy about 1984 - compared to 79-82 in particular (83 less so) it feels narrow, dominated by a handful of megastars. Some genres running out of steam, others yet to take off.

Deafening silence (DL), Thursday, 13 December 2012 14:59 (thirteen years ago)

if you remove Minneapolis from the equation, 1984 thins out quite a bit

da croupier, Thursday, 13 December 2012 15:04 (thirteen years ago)

"I Feel For You."

Every single time.

Zero Dark 33⅓: The Final Insult (Eric H.), Thursday, 13 December 2012 15:09 (thirteen years ago)

It is the greatest single ever.

Zero Dark 33⅓: The Final Insult (Eric H.), Thursday, 13 December 2012 15:09 (thirteen years ago)

Didn't know this:

The repetition of Khan's name by rapper Melle Mel at the beginning of the song was originally a mistake made by producer Arif Mardin (actually a sample of Melle Mel's song "Step Off"), who then decided to keep it.[1]

Tarfumes The Escape Goat, Thursday, 13 December 2012 15:18 (thirteen years ago)

'My Ever Changing Moods'

The Jupiter 8 (Turrican), Thursday, 13 December 2012 22:03 (thirteen years ago)

Marcia Baila

she was giving it to two friends ...Aaay! (crüt), Thursday, 13 December 2012 22:06 (thirteen years ago)

also "What Difference Does It Make?" > "How Soon Is Now"

she was giving it to two friends ...Aaay! (crüt), Thursday, 13 December 2012 22:07 (thirteen years ago)

thanks for the Spotify onimo, going to also have some booze to make up my mind about this poll.

Bee OK, Saturday, 15 December 2012 01:19 (thirteen years ago)

i lied and ended watching The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo instead, going to try and rock this thing tonight.

Bee OK, Sunday, 16 December 2012 00:59 (thirteen years ago)

so i'm starting with "When Doves Cry" and it says "This track is not available in the United States." even though i have heard it a million times i was really looking forward to Prince...on to track two.

Bee OK, Sunday, 16 December 2012 01:38 (thirteen years ago)

so regarding the first 10, most i would never like to hear again. liked or even them at the time but have heard enough times. the nine minute "Purple Rain" was pretty cool and i have become a fan of "The Boys of Summer" and "Two Tribes" was really fun but still "The Killing Moon" really towers over all of these so far...

Bee OK, Sunday, 16 December 2012 02:32 (thirteen years ago)

I'm a cool rockin daddy in the USA

kornrulez6969, Sunday, 16 December 2012 02:51 (thirteen years ago)

not my vote but:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRi8MYrtKYk

Bee OK, Sunday, 16 December 2012 05:06 (thirteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jPglNrZhkA

Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Sunday, 16 December 2012 05:30 (thirteen years ago)

nearly everything here so perfect, could never choose a winner

Jamie_ATP, Sunday, 16 December 2012 11:58 (thirteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XV5_WagxZg

phuturephase, Sunday, 16 December 2012 14:28 (thirteen years ago)

I love how there's always a Go-Betweens song on these Acclaimed lists.

the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 16 December 2012 14:31 (thirteen years ago)

Truly can't vote. I obsessed over and owned so many of these songs that year, memorized the rap in "I Feel For You," learned to play "Jump" on piano and "History Lesson Part II" on guitar. And the Minneapolis greats, and Madonna/Bruce/U2. The Smiths I got into later.

Pete Scholtes, Sunday, 16 December 2012 16:55 (thirteen years ago)

Minneapolis is gonna crush this, so "I'm on Fire"

one bish two bish red bish blue bish (fadanuf4erybody), Sunday, 16 December 2012 23:04 (thirteen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Monday, 17 December 2012 00:01 (twelve years ago)

"Missing You."

xhuxk, Monday, 17 December 2012 00:17 (twelve years ago)

"Like A Virgin" Is great. I just love the production to death (the plinky rhythm guitar, the huge reverb dropped on the snare every other measure).
At the end where she combines "can you feel my heartbeat... for the very first time"... that's some intoxicating stuff. I love how the drums give it this fake hard rock feel.

2am chopped top (brimstead), Monday, 17 December 2012 00:55 (twelve years ago)

Ok, I voted for "shout".

2am chopped top (brimstead), Monday, 17 December 2012 00:57 (twelve years ago)

and it's Chic backing her up -- can't be said enough.

the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 17 December 2012 00:57 (twelve years ago)

"I Feel 4 U" vs "Smalltown Boy" vs "Marcia Baila".

LeRooLeRoo, Monday, 17 December 2012 02:10 (twelve years ago)

I would've considered "Take On Me", but I disqualified it because it's not from 1984. It came out in summer 1985.

LeRooLeRoo, Monday, 17 December 2012 02:12 (twelve years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Tuesday, 18 December 2012 00:01 (twelve years ago)

if you take out 1 then this poll was really bottom heavy.

2 The Smiths - How Soon Is Now? 1
3 Madonna - Like a Virgin 1
4 Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. 2
5 Van Halen - Jump 0
6 U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love) 0
7 Prince and The Revolution - Purple Rain 1
8 Don Henley - The Boys of Summer 2
9 Echo and the Bunnymen - The Killing Moon 3
10 Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Two Tribes 1
11 The Special A.K.A. - Free Nelson Mandela 0
12 Tina Turner - What's Love Got to Do with It 0
13 Bruce Springsteen - Dancing in the Dark 3
14 The Smiths - What Difference Does It Make? 0

Bee OK, Tuesday, 18 December 2012 05:34 (twelve years ago)

Was on the line between "My Every Changing Moods" and "Unsatisfied."

your damn bass clarinet (Eazy), Tuesday, 18 December 2012 05:51 (twelve years ago)


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