One of the coolest parts about this song when it came out was that all the lyrics were in German. Not understanding the words is what made it stand out. As it turns out, the English-translation version is putrid. German only, please. Also used as an awesome part of the John Cusack movie Grosse Pointe Blank.
#69: "I Melt With You" by Modern English (Album: After the Snow, 1982)
This song was part of the climax of the Eighties drive-in flick Valley Girl (starring a young Nicolas Cage), and it turned out to be the breakout hit of a soundtrack filled with exceptional New Wave and alternative songs. Bad covers and cheesy commercials can't dilute the original impact of the song.
#68: "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush (Album: Hounds of Love, 1985)
The beauty and genius of Kate Bush is how weird and different she is. This song sounded like nothing else on radio or MTV at the time. The driving percussion, the strange synthesizer, her unique modern dance performance—all of it enhances the unique beauty of her voice. This is a good entry point for curious Kate Bush newbies.
#67: "42" by Coldplay (Album: Viva La Vida, 2008)
Two songs in one! Beginning like a slow ballad, it morphs into a driving techno beat that leads to Chris Martin's declaration of "You thought you might be a ghost." I love the whole album, but for me, this is the song that stands out at the top as my favorite.
#66: "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman (Album: Tracy Chapman, 1988)
My favorite part of the song is the contrast between the acoustic ballad of the verses combined with the addition of bass and drums in the chorus. It gives additional weight to the seriousness of the lyrics along with the plaintive and soulful beauty of Chapman's deep, rich voice.
#65: "I Feel It Coming" by The Weeknd with Daft Punk (Album: Starboy, 2016)
The most recent song on my list, this is one of those songs that belongs on a playlist that includes Prince, Barry White, and Marvin Gaye (wink-wink, nudge-nudge, knowwhatimean?). The Weeknd is one of those rare contemporary singers who doesn't need his voice massively overproduced, and that R&B/Soul influence paired with the techno imagination of French duo Daft Punk made this song an instant classic for me the first time I heard it.
#64: "Photograph" by Def Leppard (Album: Pyromania, 1983)
Pyromania was a monster album, catapulting Def Leppard into the public consciousness from which they've worked hard to stay a part of. Eighties nostalgia keeps them touring, and even though their not the same lads from Sheffield that they were in this video, their music still moves audiences. "Photograph" is my second-favorite song from that album,...my favorite will surprise some of you.
#63: "Misery Business" by Paramore (Album: Riot!, 2007)
My musical exposure in the Oughts was almost exclusively contemporary Christian, so this band stands out as a rare example of modern Alt-Rock. This song was introduced to me through the Wii "Guitar Hero" game, but it quickly became a favorite and frequent listen on iTunes and eventually, my iPhone. The frantic speed of the beat combined with Hayley Williams' powerful vocals is what makes this song appealing to me.
#62: "Space Oddity" by David Bowie (Album: David Bowie, 1969)
The original Major Tom, Bowie is at the top of his time as fallen alien artist "Ziggy Stardust" in this masterful tune. This song is an absolute masterpiece, and I still don't think I've gotten over the fact that Bowie is gone.
#61: "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" by The Police (Album: Ghost in the Machine, 1981)
So much of what The Police did in their career was serious, and Sting has definitely taken himself VERY seriously since he embarked on his solo career, so it's fun to kick back and listen to a happy, reggae-influenced love song that doesn't take itself too seriously.
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