We’ve reached the top 10 of my countdown of songs turning 40 years old and we begin smoothly. Another Yacht Rock staple, this song is still heard in commericials, R&B stations, and had another lease on life thanks to Will Smith. Our #10 song is Just the Two of Us by Grover Washington Jr & Bill Withers.
We wrap up the bottom half of the Top 20 Songs of 1981 countdown with a band that began to show a lot of maturity in their songwriting around this time. While one other song from their Ghost in the Machine album enraptured me as a child, coming in at #11 is a song that has maintained longevity and remains a classic – Every Little Thing She Does is Magic by The Police.
Our next 1981 song in the countdown has had quite a history. It was involved with some unexpected controversy when its bassline was sampled and not initially credited by Vanilla Ice. Later, the stories about its production helped raise its legendary status and today it’s still played and considered a classic. Coming at #12 is Under Pressure by Queen & David Bowie.
Yacht Rock has certainly helped in the resurgence of both this duo and this song too. It has been sampled by bands like Simply Red, the groove is extraordinarily contagious, and the dark mood help make this one of the duo’s best songs. At #13 of the countdown of songs turning 40 years old is I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) by Daryl Hall & John Oates.
In addition to Olivia Newton John, you can thank the next group for introducing America to Australian culture, including the vegemite sandwich. There has not been a more popular US song featuring that term, and the song remains one of Colin Hay’s ultimate staples. Landing at #14 is Down Under by Men at Work.
As much as I enjoy Lady, this tune is the one that set this artist on a course for solo superstardom. Add in the appearance of a Motown legend, and you have one of the most popular pop/adult contemporary songs of all time. It’s also the slowest song in this countdown. Coming in at #15 is Endless Love by Lionel Richie & Diana Ross.