Boy this top 5 was very difficult to arrange for the top 30-year-old songs. It was harder to place this smash here, because this was such a revolutionary song for a brilliant movie. Many people still say that Batman 1989 is the best Batman movie, and part of it is because of the soundtrack, written and performed by The Artist. This soundtrack had so many good songs, but the best one was the last one and rests at #5 in this countdown – Batdance by Prince.
Continuing our journey through the hip-hop universe of this 30-year-old top 20 countdown is another song that had some of my favorite lines to quote back in the day. This tune went on to win a Grammy for best rap performance, believe it or not, and it still is a favorite for a lot of old-school hip-hop fans. When this song came on the radio, I always stopped and listened to it. Bustin’ into the countdown at #6 is Bust a Move by Young MC.
It was the #1 song of 1979 on the charts, heralded as one of the best known rock/pop tunes, and had an often quoted lyrical riff. But it only got as far as #6 here. Still, it is a really good song, and I’m willing to bet that you will be singing it at some point today, whether you like it or not, lol. At #6 it’s My Sharona by The Knack.
Now we start getting into some of the late 80s hip-hop. The charts would tell you that Tone Loc’s Wild Thing was a better song, but this one is better, IMO. Funny, great lyrics and delivery, I used to rap this song a lot on my teenage years. Coming in at #7 is Funky Cold Medina by Tone Loc.
Continuing our 40-year-old countdown is a song that has always been near and dear to my heart. It’s a song I tried to learn how to play when I was a kid, and is a song I still like to sing today. It doesn’t hurt that this song would go on to win the coveted Record and Song of the Year Grammys. It had to find its way into this list and managed to drop this high. Coming in at #7 is What a Fool Believes by The Doobie Brothers.
OK, I know I’m going to get a lot of blowback with this, but there is a story with my mom behind this song, and it’s made it a special one for me. In addition, joke as you might, the production is pretty good and the emotion being conveyed is rich. I like it, it’s impacted my life, so at #8 it’s How Am I Supposed to Live Without You by Michael Bolton.