#11

This was the song that turned me into a MJ fan forever. It caused me to learn to moonwalk and to put on shows for my family as I attempted to imitate the late, great, Michael Jackson. I always wished that the sidewalk would light up as I walked down it and also thought I'd look good in a pink bow-tie and black leather pants. Also, the video has a nice shout-out to the old polaroid instant camera, and I always loved how Michael shushed the old lady as he made his way up the lighted stairs. This song helped propel Michael into the king of pop status that he may never relinquish even in death.

#11 "Billie Jean"
by Michael Jackson

Billie Jean lyrics found at elyricsworld.com

#12

Today's #12 video/song on The Excellent 80's top 80 countdown is the second song in less than a week for Rick Springfield. It was a #5 hit on the Billboard charts for Rick in 1984 and was the biggest hit off of his album "Hard to Hold" which was also the title of the less than successful movie of his by the same name. Regardless, this song remains my favorite Springfield song to this day. With lyrics like "you're undernourished and overfed", how can you not like it? Just take his advice and love somebody, baby. I added the "baby" part, but you know what he's saying.

#12 "Love Somebody"
by Rick Springfield




Lyrics | Rick Springfield lyrics - Love Somebody lyrics

#13

Surprisingly to myself, the #13 video in my countdown is the highest video on my list with a female singer. What can I say, though, I love the haunting sound of Aimee Mann and her band Til Tuesday in this song. The dude is a grade A jerk in the video, and Aimee gets her revenge with the crazy, spiky, braided hair, and the ruckus she creates at the opera totally embarrassing him - take that, jerk!

#13 "Voices Carry"
by Til Tuesday





Lyrics | Til Tuesday lyrics - Voices Carry lyrics

#14

What can I say, I'm a sucker for a good power ballad, and there aren't many better than today's video/song. Today's song made the top 40 on the U.S. Billboard charts and the video was a cool collection of concert footage from around the U.S. Everytime I watch this video, I always think there's a chance that this time I'm going to get to see that girl's rack about midway through the video when the guy whose shoulders she's sitting on starts to raise her shirt, but alas the camera cuts away to shot of Tommy Lee mugging for the camera. Anyway, from 1985, here is the Crue.

#14 "Home Sweet Home"
by Motley Crue




Lyrics | Motley Crue lyrics - Home Sweet Home lyrics

#15

Poor old Johnny Ray! I've always liked today's one-hit wonder video/song. It's just quirky and you have all these overall wearing dudes and chicks doing funny little dances and playing violins and a banjo and an accordian, and shouting out to a girl named Eileen. His thoughts verge on dirty, and for a brief time in 1982 this group with this song was at the top of the world. This song actually prevented Michael Jackson from having back to back #1 hits on the Billboard charts when it spent one week at #1 between "Billie Jean" and "Beat It."

#15 "Come On Eileen"
by Dexys Midnight Runners




Lyrics | Dexys Midnight Runners lyrics - Come On Eileen lyrics

#16

Ok, who of you guy's knew a guy back in high school or college named Jessie and he had a hot girlfriend? I didn't know any, but I'm sure they were out there, and I'm sure plenty of jealous dudes mocked poor Jessie wherever he was. You know, I really feel bad for Rick in today's video, because poor Rick, so ugly and unattractive, probably never got any woman he wanted. It just would have been nice had Jessie's girl seen past his hideous exterior and dumped her loser boyfriend so that Rick could have had someone. Poor sap. I guess that's why Rick continues to tour to this day and puts on a pretty damn good show. I've seen him about 2-3 times in the last 10 years and enjoy it. I love that the working class dog appears at the end of the video also.

#16 "Jessie's Girl"
by Rick Springfield




Lyrics | Rick Springfield lyrics - Jessie's Girl lyrics

#17

When it's summer and hot like it is right now, I can't help but run today's song in the background of my mind. It's three jumpy, dancing English chicks who love eating bananas and throwing the peels at local law enforcement. I think you can get arrested for that kind of disregard these days, but back in 1983 it was all good and fun and games. So, get out your overalls, your silly little hat and bounce around to this feel-good ditty about the cruelty of summer.

#17 "Cruel Summer"
by Bananarama




Lyrics | Bananarama lyrics - Cruel Summer lyrics

#18

In 1984 a movie was released called "Streets of Fire." I have to admit that I never saw it, but one of my favorite 80's songs comes from this soundtrack courtesy of Dan Hartman. The funny thing about the video is that that is not Dan Hartman, but instead the fictional doo-wop group from the movie called "The Sorels" - and yes, that is Robert Townsend as one of the back-up singers. The other funny thing is that Dan Hartman was a white dude, but he definitely had some soul as is evidenced by this song - his biggest hit as a singer. And I love the fact that the guys in this fictional group performing the song perform the moonwalk whenever they mention the phrase "moving sidewalks..." It's the late Dan Hartman (died of a brain tumor in 1994) checking in at #18 on The Excellent 80's Top 80 Countdown.

#18 "I Can Dream About You"
by Dan Hartman




Lyrics | Dan Hartman lyrics - I Can Dream About You lyrics

#19

Today's song/video made it to #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 back in 1984 and is a classic power ballad by one of the 80's most successful rock bands. This song is their most popular but certainly not their only hit. It's a coming of age song and video and the person in this song is an actual person in real life. Somewhere she's motorin'. This is one dramatic drummer in one awesome video.

#19 "Sister Christian"
by Night Ranger




Lyrics | Night Ranger lyrics - Sister Christian lyrics

#20

I don't care what you think about today's video/song at #20. I admit it - it's a guilty pleasure of mine, so there. It will also remind you that guilty feet have got no rhythm. Love that line. It's probably my favorite slow jam of the 80's and what would my top 80 countdown be without some George Michael in it I ask? It would be nothing! There's a scene early in the video of George, a girl, and his boombox. My bet would be kids these days would see that thing and say 'what is that?' I love the saxophone riff at the beginning of this #1 Billboard Hit from 1984 (26 years ago? really?) as The Excellent 80's moves on into the top 20.

#20 "Careless Whisper"
by Wham!




Lyrics | Wham! lyrics - Careless Whisper lyrics