So, I’m tapping myself on the shoulder for a music meme I have not been tagged for.
I’ll say Bubs tagged me because I’m always bothering him with my own memes. Okay, Bubs, take a chill pill, I’ll do it, I’ll do it.
Using the songs listed by Pop Culture Madness during the year of my 18th birthday (1989), I haveta pick out five and get all misty about them.
I’m limiting myself to the songs listed on the website for 1989. One or two is no problem, but picking five may end up causing me some permanent glandular damage.
1) She Drives Me Crazy – The Fine Young Cannibals
I looove this song. Rolands Gift’s voice is sooo high. The drums on this are so trebly and tinny. The song seems so simple, yet it’s just damned wonderful. I liked the video a lot, too, for what it’s worth. I just searched for the director, whose name is apparently “Philippe de Coufle”. I remember a New Order video he did (“True Faith”) fondly, as well. From the site I found, it indicates he only did these two.
2) My Prerogative – Bobby Brown
Hell, I like this song, too. I love the cheesy synth horns. I love the refrain, “Everybody’s talking all this stuff about me, why don’t they just let me live.” I know he’s seen as kind of a running joke to many, but every time he’s reported as being in trouble, in my mind I hear this song. I love the snotty way he says, “I can do what I wanna do.” I love that he’s using the word “prerogative” in a dance song. I am downloading this now, goddammit.
3) Baby Don’t Forget My Number – Milli Vanilli
I don’t unequivocally like this song, but I find it hard resisting singing along with the lines “I have been looking high, I have been looking low.” I also like it when the “Bah-bah-bah-bah-baby’s” are being thrown down.
Okay, I’m starting to panic now. I barely got out the Milli Vanilli, and I HAVE TWO MORE LEFT TO GO.
4) If You Don’t Know Me By Now – Simply Red
I didn’t really know this song too well when it came out, but I did like that “Holding Back The Years” song. I really enjoyed singing it in my own uniquely bad soulful manner. But, I have really enjoyed this “If You Don’t Know Me” song in another context.
5) Jesus, what, I haveta do a freaking Roxette song? Or a Paula Abdul song? Or Michael Damian with that “Rock On” song? Richard Marx? Mike and the Mechanics? How about I pick the Billy Joel song, “We Didn’t Start The Fire”? I think the song is about how #1 hits have always been terrible, and it didn’t just start in 1989. Thanks, Mr. Joel!
UPDATE: For the record, I thought I was limited to only Billboard #1 Hits. There apparently is another “Most Requested Hits” page at Pop Culture Madness which contained lots of songs I love — “Bust A Move” by Young MC, for example.
Re #4:
I have seen that video … maybe on the office dvd? I LOVED that show (the British one).
The lead singer of Simply Red is my husbands cousin.
Course, he’s got tons of cousins as the families procreated madly (A good Irish Catholic never uses a condom!). I believe he only met him once when they were younger…too bad…if they were close I bet we’d have received one hell of a wedding gift!
Actually, I take that back…it’d probably be copies of his cd’s & I wouldn’t get much for them on ebay now would I?!
😉
UPDATE: For the record, I thought I was limited to only Billboard #1 Hits.
It’s a meme, not tax laws; you can do whatever the hell you want.
Hmmn, you and I share the same year, I’ve been tempted to do this one myself, but I’m finding it hard to muster any enthusiasm for most of the music on their list…
I’m also beginning to wonder what the heck I was listening to that year, y’know?
Am I the only one who got the Chill Wills/Milli Vanilli visual joke? Just wondering.
I listed to FYC in college (late 80s) when they were not widely known and therefore cool. In 1989 they started appearing on Top 40 Radio and I thereby knew the world was changing.
jin, the uk version of The Office literally makes me explode with laughter. Have you caught any of Gervais’ newish show, Extras?
I have been trying to knock down the degrees of separation between myself and the singer for Simply Red. Thank you!
lulu, I thought I would get flagged for objectionable content if I didn’t properly follow the meme guidelines. I still stand by Mr. Bobby Brown, even if I would have fudged the meme.
mob, I think I was hitting R.E.M. pretty hard at that point. Green had just come out. Maybe listening to some Smiths, Replacements, etc. Y’know, the more popular alternastuff.
JY, I barely got the joke and I was the damned person who posted it.
CP, I s’wonder what those FYC guys are up to lately. Have you ever caught that VH1 show, Bands Reunited? I think it’s no longer on, but they had a show for The Beat (called The English Beat in the US). The two white guys from FYC usedta be in The Beat. They couldn’t even get a hold of those guys for the VH1 show. They were apparently still pissed off at David Wakeling and Ranking Roger for ditching them to go form General Public and start sucking.
Wow, amazing. Just reading the words “Michael Damian” can send me on a 20 minute laughing jag.
Michael Damian!