Lots of songs tackle tough subjects, some verbose, others subtly.  This next band to enter the countdown never shied away from tough subject matter.  While some of their songs have been difficult to decipher, this one song issued a simple phrase, and it helped many people get through their tough times and problems, so much so that it’s become one of their classics.  Coming in at #12 is Everybody Hurts by REM.

If you are familiar with what 1983 brought, then you knew at some point this man was going to make an appearance here, and it won’t be the last.  It’s also fitting that the first track off the album that changed the course of pop music is his first entry, and I dare you to not be grooving and smiling when this track is done.  And if you have a problem with that, well as the title of the #12 1983 song by Michael Jackson says – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’?

Mr. William Joel makes his second appearance in this songs 40 years old countdown, and it’s a song whose popularity cannot be denied.  Just as I was looking at the songs for this countdown, I heard this track come up on store speakers – twice!  He was already a superstar, but this song and it’s corresponding video that introduced us to his future wife made him a megastar.  Coming in at #13, it’s Uptown Girl by Billy Joel.

And now, the controversy begins.  The question I had was should it or shouldn’t it?  I know people are going to hate that this track is here, and yet, how many times is this song still played or heard, not to mention their cameo on a Geiko commercial that my kids loved (Scoop?!)?  And the phrase itself is still popular and used to this day.  Given all that, it deserves a spot, here at #13.  It’s Whoomp! There It Is by Tag Team.

Of course, everyone knows the one huge song that came off this soundtrack. Unfortunately, we do not consider covers in this countdown, so that song (and another that was an almost equal smash) cannot be included in this list. However, this original track is just as good as those other tracks, and it’s another one that transforms my wife whenever she hears it.  This track shows this artist at her very best. Clocking in at #14 is I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston

If she wasn’t a strong female icon before, she was after this song came out. Definitely one of the best songs of her career, the video was one of the first to introduce the “dance fight”.  This song is still played a lot today and has just a great chorus and groove to it. I’m glad it made it to at least #14 in this countdown, enjoy Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar.