This awesome songwriter failed to make it in last year’s countdown a couple of times, which was a shame because he delivered some of the biggest hits of his career during this time. Now, this artist managed to get not one but two tunes into this list. The first is a personal favorite of my wife’s and it’s just a great upbeat song all around. Our #15 song turning 40 years old this year is Tell Her About It by Billy Joel.
The King of Pop got one more good song from the Dangerous album out in 1993, and was featured in the hit movie Free Willy. While it is commonly referred to as the Free Willy song, it remains one of my personal favorites from his 90s period. Coming in at #15 in the top 20 songs turning 30 years old countdown is Will You Be There by Michael Jackson.
The purpose of these countdowns is to highlight that there are some songs that don’t seem to be big until they remain at the top of charts and radio for a couple of years, and then years later you still hear it in different avenues, be it sports, movies, etc. Those are the kinds of song that continue to be recognized, and this song is a great example, which also spawned a huge rock career for this band. Landing at #16 in this countdown is Shine by Collective Soul.
There are not too many songs you would call “ballads” in this 1983 countdown, but this next entry is undoubtedly a power ballad. They had another great track released in this year but it couldn’t break through the competition the way this ballad did. It still packs a mean punch today and time seems to stop when this song comes on. At #16, it’s Faithfully by Journey.
Sometimes a song released 40 years ago sounds just as good and could be misperceived as a new song released today. This next 1983 track is a perfect example of this. After having 2 songs appear in the last countdown, it says a lot about how much lightning he was striking, as this powerful song still manages to make it in this countdown. The #17 song turning 40 years old this year is Pink Houses by John Mellencamp.
This next song holds a special place in my wife’s heart. It is the kind of song she get seriously behind, knows all the words and changes into a different person when it comes on, haha. Ms. Jackson busted back after Rhythm Nation with a couple major hits, one of which was this very rockin’, empowering song. Arriving at #17 in the Top 20 1993 songs countdown is If by Janet Jackson.