Overachiever

OK, so there's this semi-meme going around about picking five songs from the year you turned 18. Five? Really? Just five? Why stop there? Here's 75 from 1983 and my thoughts about all of them. This is why you love me.

1. It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls-Didn't fully appreciate this gem until 1984 when I went to my first gay bar.
2. Come On Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners-This is Lulu and my theme song, sort of, well, we're nostalgiac when we hear it.
3. Flashdance (What A Feeling) - Irene Cara-Makes me wanna rip up some sweatshirts and take off my bra while I am still wearing said ripped up sweatshirt.
4. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson-Tigers and dancing. Oh my!
5. Wanna Be Starting Something - Michael Jackson-Pre-nose job. Remember when he was almost normal? What happened in that oxygen chamber?
6. Electric Avenue - Eddie Grant-Reggae for new wave fans.
7. Rock The Casbah - The Clash-Starter Clash for many, sell out Clash for some, still a pretty cool song.
8. Bang The Drum All Day - Todd Rundgren-I hate work. I like this song.
9. You and I - Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle-ick
10. Ain't Nobody - Rufus and Chaka Khan-Chaka can be cool, but not on this one.
11. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) - Journey-World's worst video ever, song isn't much better either.
12. Kiss The Bride - Elton John-Huh? Who sings this song?
13. Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh La, la, La) - Kool and the Gang-Not cool.
14. **1999** - Prince-Fucking awesome! Purple power1
15. I Melt With You - Modern English-And so does cheddar cheese.
16. Down Under - Men At Work-That guy should have seen someone about his strabismus.
17. Beat It - Michael Jackson-Still almost normal.
18. We've Got Tonight - Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton-I'm coughing up a hairball.
19. Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye-Heal me, baby. Great song and great tragedy.
20. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me - Culture Club-No, but I wanted to be as androgenous as he was.
21. Rock of Ages - Def Leppard-Only metal act of the '80's that I might admit to liking just a little.
22. (She's) Sexy and 17 - Stray Cats-Why did I think they were British? Commercial, but cool.
23. Candy Girl - New Edition-Too bubblegum for an 18 year old.
24. Little Red Corvette - Prince-Sang this loudly in line at Great America.
25. New Year's Day - U2-Remember when U2 was good? Remember when they were interesting?
26. Tonight I Celebrate My Love - Peabro Bryson & Roberta Flack-I'm not a slow dancing kind of girl.
27. Photograph - Def Leppard-Ditto previous comment.
28. Faithfully - Journey-Lame, lame, lame.
29. True - Spandau Ballet-Fancy, but I kind of liked it.
30. Inside Love (So Personal) - George Benson-Huh?
31. All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Ritchie-Oh God, no!!!!!! I hate this song with a passion that burns like 10,000 suns. Apparently, the crappy radio station in Grand Rapids, Michigan used to play this song at the same time every day, because it used to wake me up for weeks, launching me into one foul mood for the first several hours of the day.
32. Pass The Dutchie - Musical Youth-Hee, hee. What the heck are they talking about?
33. Safety Dance - Men Without Hats-Odd, but fun. No offense to our Canadian friends, but you all are weird.
34. Sharp Dressed Man - ZZ Top-Rock you can boogie to. If you like that kind of shit.
35. Boogie Down - Al Jarreau-It's almost smooth jazz.
36. Our House - Madness-This song gives me happy feet.
37. Mr. Roboto - Styx-This song reminds me of Advanced Chemistry and my prom date. I'm not sure why.
38. White Wedding - Billy Idol-I was young, he seemed naughty. I liked it.
39. I'll Tumble 4 Ya - Culture Club-Again, such cool clothes. I didn't like boy George. I just wanted his clothes. Well, I liked him a little.
40. Making Love Out Of Nothing At All - Air Supply-Double hairball.
41. Mornin' - Al Jarreau-OK, dude has a good voice, but again with the smooth jazz.
42. Rockit - Herbie Hancock-Pretty damn cool for jazz dude.
43. Tell Her About It - Billy Joel-Last I checked, it wasn't the '50's.
44. Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler-Overblown operatic bullcrap.
45. The Look Of Love - ABC-Slick appealing Eurotrash. Mmmmm.
46. Shock The Monkey - Peter Gabriel-I'd like to shock the monkey. I love this beyond words.
47. Let's Dance - David Bowie-Sell out to many, happy '80's memory for me. He could sing commercial jingles and I'd melt.
48. Just Be Good To Me - S.O.S. Band-Not my groove.
49. Every Breath You Take - Police-CP's favorite song. True fact. I had this on a tape in my Walkman and would play it EVERY morning when I first woke up. Really.
50. Rio - Duran Duran-Pretty boys, must listen.
51. I Like It - DeBarge-Sicko in this band messed with one of my friends. True fact.
52. Freak-A-Zoid - Midnight Star-OK, I don't think I've ever heard this.
53. Bad Boys - Wham! U.K.-Oh George, I was young and I loved you.
54. She Works Hard For The Money - Donna Summer-Chicks rule. Song's pretty cool too.
55. Gimme All Your Lovin' - ZZ Top-Boys with beards find schtick that sells lots of albums. Lucky break for ugly dudes.
56. Just Got Lucky - JoBoxers-There's good Brit Pop and bad Brit Pop. I don't like this, so I'm calling it bad.
57. Uptown Girl - Billy Joel-Why?
58. Stray Cat Strut - Stray Cats-Cool, daddy-o.
59. She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby-This is one of the songs that will forever remind me of senior year in high school. Kind of goofy tune, but I think it captures everything that is cool about "New Wave."
60 Cum On Feel The Noize - Quiet Riot-Not quite my cup of tea, but at least it was loud.
61. Maniac - Michael Sembello-Yikes. Crazy bad.
62. Puttin' On The Ritz - Taco-Cliche' piece of garbage.
63. The Monkey Time - The Tubes-Cool as hell band. Where'd they go?
64. Love My Way - Psychedelic Furs-This is when I started to turn. I heard this and it felt like the inside of my head.
65. Change - Tears For Fears-You know, they were a pretty decent band.
66. Radio Free Europe - R.E.M.-Perfection, and possibly the best song on this pathetic list.
67. Let Me Go - Heaven 17-I give it a 7. It had a good beat and I liked to dance to it.
68. Goodnight Saigon - Billy Joel-More? Why?
69. Reap The Wild Wind - Ultravox-I LOVE this band. They were cool and I really like synthesizers then.
70. Burning Down The House - Talking Heads-I thought they were weird and incredibly cool.
71. Too Shy - Kajagoogoo-OK, am I the only one who thinks that Limahl looked like some sort of bird?
72. Jeopardy - Greg Kihn Band-Remember when MTV only owned like 20 videos and this was one of them? It was a Kihnspiracy!
73. Holiday Road - Lindsey Buckingham-Huh? Not on my radar at all.
74. One Thing Leads To Another - the Fixx-Pretty cool. Saw them at Wrigley Field, but even hobbled at the knees, Ministry stole the show.
75. A Million Miles Away - The Plimsouls-Classic.

See? Wasn't that more fun than five? I tag...whoever. It's late and I need to go to bed.