The Countdown Ends #1

It's been a totally awesome 80 days where I've displayed my favorite 80 videos/songs of the 80's right here everyday for 80 days. It's basically been an impossible task as there have been numerous great songs and videos that didn't make my list for whatever reason.



Anyway, it's also a happy 3rd birthday to The Excellent 80's today, and here, after 80 days, is the #1 song/video from the 80's as selected by a panel of one at The Excellent 80's.


It's a song I remember blaring from my car speakers in the summer of 1987 before my junior year in high school. It's part rock ballad, part rock anthem. I loved the keyboards and the slow buildup, and then who can resist playing air drums as this song kicks into high gear with David Coverdale's vocals and a sweet guitar solo. Also proving they could play some music across the pond, this is the third straight non-U.S. group in the countdown.




The video itself features fast cars and a fast woman by the name of Tawny Kitaen who was unbelievably hot back then, and would later become Coverdale's wife for about two years, before divorcing and going on to marry baseball pitcher Chuck Finley (the couple would divorce as well). The only debate is who has the better hair in the video - David or Tawny?

But all of that doesn't matter to me. Just take me back to 1987 for this four and half minutes of hair metal magic, and this number one hit for the band Whitesnake as they cap off our Top 80 countdown. Thanks for following along!

#1 "Here I Go Again"
by Whitesnake




Lyrics | Whitesnake lyrics - Here I Go Again lyrics

#2

Today, we have the runner-up and my #2 favorite song/video from the 80's, and it's from a Scottish band. The song is the featured song from the movie soundtrack of one of the best (if not the best) movies from the 80's - "The Breakfast Club." I absolutely still love this song to this day and will always remember "The Breakfast Club" as the first R-rated movie I ever snuck into... twice.
The song hit #1 in the U.S. in 1985 for the Scottish group known as Simple Minds.

#2 "Don't You (Forget About Me)"
by Simple Minds




Lyrics | Simple Minds lyrics - Don't You (Forget About Me) lyrics

#3

Next to Van Halen, today's hard rock act is probably my favorite. Tons of hits, catchy hooks, and they're still touring hard to this day. I believe somewhere along the line this song was also ranked as the #1 stripper song of all-time so it has that going for it as well.
Here is the English rock band Def Leppard with a little ditty that was the final track added to their 12 track album called "Hysteria." It peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts back in 1987, and has since turned into a timeless classic. Kudos to one-armed drumming sensation Rick Allen for the Jim Morrison t-shirt he's sporting in the video as well.

#3 "Pour Some Sugar On Me"
by Def Leppard




Lyrics | Def Leppard lyrics - Pour Some Sugar On Me lyrics

I have to say that I honestly don't think I ever saw the UK version of the video that was released in 1987, and after watching it (below), I don't think I really missed out on anything. Here's a bonus video of the song for you today...

#4

I love the Eagles as a group, but when Don Henley went solo I didn't mind it one bit because he came up with some great stuff including this gem at #4 on The Excellent 80's Countdown of its' favorite 80 videos/songs of the 80's.
The song and video have a very nostalgic feel with the black and white shots, and also a very nostalgic sound to it, and that's one of the reasons I love it especially every September when this song seems most applicable. Even though today's song only reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, the video won Video of the Year by MTV in 1985 (back when MTV played music videos and only had one station). Don Henley is just cool in this video and this song is still cool to this day.

#4 "Boys of Summer"
by Don Henley




Lyrics | Don Henley lyrics - The Boys Of Summer lyrics

#5

Wow we are in the top 5 now here on my own personal Top 80 countdown of my favorite videos/songs of the 80's. The Excellent 80's is kicking it into high gear my friends and not slowing down over the next five days culminating with the #1 song on this blog's third birthday!
Today we feature my favorite Canadian rocker (sorry Cory Hart, it's not you). From a great album entitled "Reckless" (I still have the cassette tape) we get today's hit which peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. I've seen Bryan Adams twice in concert - once back during his Reckless tour and then again about 5 or 6 years ago. He can still jam this song, and I still like the video with its' change in seasons and on stage shots. It's Bryan Adams at his best telling everyone that it's ok to be a two-timing dog if you don't get caught! Wait... is that right?

#5 "Run to You"
by Bryan Adams




Lyrics | Bryan Adams lyrics - Run To You lyrics

#6

The first words I ever heard from today's group were "Welcome to your life." After that there was no stopping Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith as the 1985 album "Songs from the Big Chair" would dominate the airwaves and MTV for months to come including today's video at #6 on The Excellent 80's countdown.
It doesn't really make much sense to me other than the little hispanic boy trying to shoot down Curt at the beginning of the video - that boy has some ambition! But, otherwise, what's up with the two brothers dressed in tuxedos grooving in front of some old school gas pumps? Here is the British pop/rock group that hit it big in the mid to late 80's with my favorite song of theirs, because this blog will rule the world someday... believe it!

#6 "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"
by Tears For Fears




Lyrics | Tears For Fears lyrics - Everybody Wants To Rule The World lyrics

#7

When today's hit was released I was only nine so I don't recall it, but when the re-release happened six years later along with a video, it didn't take long for it to become one of my all-time favorites. You've got a chick riding a mechanical bull in a hot leather outfit along with others riding stationary bikes. This video just screamed sex and as a 15 year old it was right in my wheelhouse. It's the unmistakable vocals of Brian Johnson and the school-boy outfit wearing Angus Young and the Aussie band AC/DC today.

#7 "You Shook Me All Night Long"
by AC/DC




Lyrics | Ac Dc lyrics - You Shook Me All Night Long lyrics

#8

In September of 1984, today's song/video peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, but every where around the country English teachers cringed... and so did any adults trying to teach proper English to their children. That's because John Waite was all over the airwaves and all over MTV with his hit that features the word "ain't" approximately 17 times throughout the song.
With the video, we get an idea of how outdated it is whenever we see John in a telephone booth. Kids these days have no idea what a telephone booth or payphone even is, as both have become relics from the 80's and early 90's. John is looking pretty cool in this video, but the dangling earring always bothered me, but maybe that's what gives him the super power to crush a telephone receiver in one scene!

#8 "Missing You"
by John Waite




Lyrics | Waite John lyrics - Missing You lyrics

#9

Well, it's back to my favorite rock band ever with their most popular hit. It's the song that propelled them to superstar status in the mainstream in 1984 just before they decided to get rid of their lead singer. The band was formed in Pasadena, CA, in 1972 and discovered by Kiss' Gene Simmons who originally wanted the band to be called Daddy Long Legs. Thank goodness that didn't happen and thank goodness for this song which was the band's only #1 single and can still be heard to this day at various basketball arenas around the country before a jump ball. Here's the very limber and flexible Diamond Dave, bassist Michael Anthony, and the Van Halen brothers.

#9 "Jump"
by Van Halen




Lyrics | Van Halen lyrics - Jump lyrics

#10

Wow, how time has flown as we're entering serious territory right now - The Excellent 80's top 10 songs/videos of the 80's.
In a lot of the best songs or best rock songs of the 80's lists, Bon Jovi's "Livin' On a Prayer" can be found at or near the top. But, here at The Excellent 80's with a panel of one voting, my favorite Bon Jovi song is the one that really seemed to put them on the map. I love the concert energy in the video, the chicks wearing the "Slippery When Wet" t-shirts, and the overall performance of a man and a group that has stood the test of time. Give me this #1 hit classic from 1986 from Bon Jovi any day of the week, and I'll play air drums with the best of them.

#10 "You Give Love a Bad Name"
by Bon Jovi




Lyrics | Bon Jovi lyrics - You Give Love A Bad Name lyrics