General Gregory N. Pigott: Late Night Music Part 109..........."80's Ballads"

We all remember the 80's dance songs, but what about the songs of the decade that weren't electro dance songs or power ballads by hair bands? We can't forget that the 80's is probably still the most diverse decade in the history of music.

In order to receive votes in this category, the song had to be released in the 1980's and NOT included on the previous list "80's Hair Band Ballads". The bands included on that list were also disqualified. Also receiving votes in this category were "She's Like The Wind" by Patrick Swayze, "Head Over Heels" by Tears for Fears, "The End Of The Innocence" by Don Henley, and "Sailing" by Christopher Cross.

"The Flame"- Cheap Trick. After much success in the early 80's, Cheap Trick needed life breathed desperately into them in 1988 after several years off the radar. That lifeline came in 1988 when this worldwide #1 hit came along for their "Lap of Luxury" album. Despite it being widely popular and a fan favorite, the band initially refused to play it live just to their practice of "only playing songs written by them". The practice was quickly dropped, and the song remains in the repertoire of the band today. Bonus points to the makers of this video for making an entire music video about a song called "The Flame" without a single FLAME in the music video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muhFxXce6nA

"You Got It All"- The Jets. Ok ok I know I have this one here alot. In fact, I remember this one being on my 2nd entry ever "Musical Families". You have to remember that while the Jets were turning their mother's uterus into a clown car, they were one of the more popular acts in the country in the mid-late 80's, which is stars seriously aligning, because I would be willing to bet that will never happen again with a full family band like this ever again. It's just not something people will buy any more. Plus what are the odds of having that many kids in the same family who are that talented? I have a better chance of playing in the NBA. Again, will someone please explain to me what in the world the beginning of this video has to do with anything? This song was actually the last single released from the Jets 1985 debut album, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1986.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe5rg05ZQNs

"Lady In Red"- Chris de Burgh. Chris de Burgh is a perfect example of a "one side of the Atlantic one hit wonder", as this was his only hit in the United States despite a very extensive and successful in Europe. This song off of his 1986 album "Into The Light" brought into the light why he was so popular in Europe...........and not here. I think it's safe to say when you see a guy dressed like this that they'll more than likely suck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj3GeMnlkNE

"Hello"- Lionel Richie. What an amazing song! What an amazing-ly awful video! Lionel Richie is one of my favorite singer/songwriters ever, but the man is seriously one of the cheesiest actors ever. In the early-mid 80's, Lionel Richie had overtaken Stevie Wonder as the most popular solo male R&B singer if you didn't count Michael Jackson. His 1984 album "Can't Slow Down" was without a doubt the biggest of his career, and this #1 hit song is a perfect example of how great he really can be. This video was a perfect example of bad he really can be. It's beyond obvious that Laura Carrington, who plays the blind student in the video, is not blind at all. I also learn where Bill Cosby gathered his inspiration for his character's wardrobe on "The Cosby Show" when I see Lionel Richie's sweaters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ILDFp5DGA

"Right Here Waiting"- Richard Marx. I've always gotten cracked up at the title of Richard Marx's 1989 album which this song was included on, "Repeat Offender". So he's telling us his debut album was a beast and he was back to be the bad boy he is? Well, "Repeat Offender" did hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 200 albums chart in 1989, but the whole persona he portrays in his pictures never stuck with me anyway. Despite that, this wound up being one of the biggest hits of the 80's and has had some great cover versions (I smell a bonus video).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_E2EHVxNAE

"Voices Carry"- 'Til Tuesday. Wow, I seriously thought until just now that this 1985 one hit wonder band was British, but can you blame me? Despite being from Boston, Aimee Mann is one of the most British sounding lead singers ever. Maybe that's why 'Til Tuesday never got back in the top 25 after this debut single peaked at #8. If you mute this video, it's fun to imagine that you're watching Pat Benatar in a European soap opera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uejh-bHa4To

"Careless Whisper"- Wham!. Or George Michael. This single was technically George Michael's first solo single, but it was also included on Wham!'s 1984 album "Make It Big", so you make the call on it. I guess the fact that Andrew Ridgeley is nowhere to be found in the video makes it a George Michael video, but was he ever in Wham! to begin with? Just a sidenote- George Michael has really big eyebrows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izGwDsrQ1eQ

"Man In The Mirror"- Michael Jackson. Gonna go ahead and call this one my favorite MJ song. Despite it being out of place on "Bad" (I never got that one), it hit #1 early in 1988 and became the signature song of the album, and became one of the best songs he performed live. This video is VERY different for the fact that it was the only video made by MJ that he doesn't appear in (save for a few seconds towards the end). This type of video is more common now, but it was definitely a first of its kind then, but then again everything he did was like that right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PivWY9wn5ps

"Piano In The Dark"- Brenda Russell. My scalp hurts just from me scratching my head wondering why 2 videos were made for this song. Don't get me wrong, this song is a huge guilty pleasure of mine, but does it really deserve multiple video status? Anyway, Brenda Russell was a relatively unknown Canadian jazz singer prior to the success of this lead single off of her 1988 album "Get Here" peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. I also found another video for this song, which I have no information on, but I can't wrap my mind around why this would even happen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNeyF1khFA8

"No One Is To Blame"- Howard Jones. I love when artists go completely out of their genre to make a hit single. Most people know the Howard Jones dance hit "What Is Love?" from "Night at the Roxbury" fame, but few people realize it's the same person who sang this song. This single from his 1985 album "Dream Into Action" showed the diversity of Howard Jones as an artist and definitely as a lyricist. However, if you told me I was watching a Thomas Dolby video, I'd believe you, because they look freaking exactly alike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2V3SNrkpp0

"Purple Rain"- Prince. Quite possibly the best song of the 80's. Also, a huge hats off to Prince for not taking off this video off of youtube (which he has done in the past due to claiming copyright violations). Anyhow, I saw this movie a few months ago on TV, and despite that fantastic soundtrack which included this amazing performance, its quite possibly the worst movie I've ever seen. Not even this song could save it- maybe it would help if Prince wasn't wearing a blouse. Bonus points for the guy wearing the Tigers hat in Minneapolis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l75skRMlXk

"Lost In Your Eyes"- Debbie Gibson. The original teen idol! I remember seeing this video when it first came out (I was 7) and thinking it was SO cool! I guess when the video is played on the Disney Channel that's what happens. You have to give Debbie Gibson credit because after her debut album "Out Of The Blue" became a worldwide hit, she also became the youngest person to ever write, record, and produce a Billboard Hot 100 single with 1988's "Foolish Beat". When 1989 rolled around, her sophomore effort "Electric Youth" was met with high expectations. This lead single became Debbie Gibson's second #1 single where it remained for 3 weeks in late 1988. Debbie Gibson never cracked the top 10 again, but continued to have moderate success. She is now one of the hottest women in Hollywood as a part time actor and gets my vote as the hottest former child star ever. Also, is it just me, but does Debbie Gibson remind anyone else of "Jem"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ms3mJFkSeg

"Africa"- Toto. Toto has always been one of those bands I just didn't get. This song just proves my point. This single from their 1982 album "Toto IV" put them in the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1983, but left everyone even more confused. Bonus points for the globe in the video. I still have the exact same one that was given to me when I was 5 years old.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azVqekQBK8g

"I'll Be Loving You Forever"- New Kids On The Block. Another guilty pleasure, but I'm still amazed at how hair that bad could be so famous. This single from their 1988 album "Hangin' Tough" was nothing short of volcanic in popularity, as it seemed everything the New Kids touched turned to gold. This song reached #1 in 1989 and propelled them into their record breaking Hangin' Tough World Tour (which actually made a stop in Jackson). Part of me would really like to see Maurice Starr put another boy band together. I think he was a little before his time, and WAY before Lou Pearlman put the Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, and O-Town together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT_7UjCVELg

"Eternal Flame"- The Bangles. SUSANNA HOFFS!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfsCAJnx2JI

BONUS VIDEOS- "Right Here Waiting For You"- Monica and 112. Really good cover version- yes I know it's been on here before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vflsUfONNA8

"Syndicate"- The Fray. No reason- just stuck in my head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSx5zNhmi3c

They look British right?