Tag Archives: rap

1988! An Historic Year When Pop Expands: Our Top-12 Songs!

1988 is a wild year in music. Most of the big names that defined the 1980s are taking a break, leaving the door open for a number of new faces to break in and help define the sound that’ll take us into the 1990s. This is a year of rap, of freestyle- and house-inspired dance, of alternative rock, and of off-centered mainstream pop.

Join Tim and Chris as they pick their top-12 songs of 1988. These are nominees for the prestigious Hall of Songs, the hall of fame for songs that currently includes 72 songs.

After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1988, plus tunes from 1987, ’86, ’85 and ’84 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! VOTE BELOW and come back on September 9, 2022, to find out which song or songs get in!

Listen to the full episode for more, and then vote for the songs that you think are the greatest of all-time. SCROLL DOWN TO VOTE. Then, come back on September 9, 2022 to find out the voting results, and September 11, 2022 for our discussion on 1989.

1987! The Return of Rock! Plus A Big Year For Rap, Dance

It’s a turning point year for Hall of Songs. We give you our picks for the 12 best songs of 1987, which include some hard rock classics, some big cinematic rock standards, and a few under-the-radar rockers.

Also, hey, rap is having a big year with some major advancements in sound and image. Plus, one dance track dares to try something totally different.

After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1987, plus tunes from 1986, ’85, ’84, ’83 and ’81 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! VOTE BELOW and come back on August 26, 2022, to find out which song or songs get in!

Listen to the full episode for more, and then vote for the songs that you think are the greatest of all-time. SCROLL DOWN TO VOTE. Then, come back on August 26, 2022 to find out the voting results, and August 28, 2022 for our discussion on 1988.

32nd Election Results! Do 2 Songs Walk Into the Hall of Songs?

We’ll tell you for sure that one song got into the Hall of Songs from our recent election, the 32nd overall. But two? In the 1980s? Is it possible?

Listen to get the full results of the latest vote. You’ll hear what happens to songs like current smash hit “Running Up That Hill” and former smash hit “Bette Davis Eyes” … and everything in between.

Listen by clicking above, and subscribe at Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Full results coming soon!

1986! Dance the Night Away with Our Top-12 Songs

We’re past “We Are the World” and Live Aid. Hall of Songs enters 1986, when we hear pop and adult contemporary beginning to merge as rap and dance music branch out into totally new places.

This is a year of big movie soundtrack hits, plaintive pop that strikes a chord nationwide, and new sounds emerging out of big cities like New York and Chicago. Follow Tim and Chris as they chronicle this interesting year of music and pick their top-12 songs of 1986. 

After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1986, plus tunes from 1985, ’84, ’83 and ’81 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! VOTE BELOW and come back on August 12, 2022, to find out which song or songs get in!

Our 1986 nominees:

  • “Nasty” as performed by Janet Jackson
    • Written by James Harris III, Terry Lewis and Janet Jackson; recorded September 1985; released February 1986
  • “Kiss” as performed by Prince
    • Written by Prince; recorded April 1985; released February 1986
  • “If You Leave” as performed by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
    • Written by Andy McClusky, Paul Humphreys and Martin Cooper; recorded February 1986; released February 1986
  • “Sweet Love” as performed by Anita Baker
    • Written by Anita Baker, Louis A. Johnson and Gary Bias; recorded late 1985; released March 1986
  • “Live to Tell” as performed by Madonna
    • Written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard; recorded December 1985; released March 1986
  • “Walk This Way” as performed by Run D.M.C. and Aerosmith
    • Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry; recorded March 1986; released May 1986
  • “In Your Eyes” as performed by Peter Gabriel
    • Written by Peter Gabriel; recorded late 1985; released May 1986
  • “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” as performed by The Smiths
    • Written by Johnny Marr and Morrissey; recorded fall 1985; released June 1986
  • “Move Your Body (House Music Anthem)” as performed by Marshall Jefferson
    • Written by Marshall Jefferson; recorded summer 1986; released July 1986
  • “Don’t Dream It’s Over” as performed by Crowded House
    • Written by Neil Finn; recorded early 1986; released August 1986
  • “True Colors” as performed by Cyndi Lauper
    • Written by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg; recorded March 1986; released August 1986
  • “Bizarre Love Triangle” as performed by New Order
    • Written by Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner; recorded January 1986; released September 1986

Listen to the full episode for more, and then vote for the songs that you think are the greatest of all-time. SCROLL DOWN TO VOTE. Then, come back on August 12, 2022 to find out the voting results, and August 14, 2022 for our discussion on 1987.

31st Election Results! Dreaming of New Members of the Hall of Songs

Will any songs join the 65 current members of the Hall of Songs, our prestigious academy of the greatest songs of all-time?

Join Tim and Chris as they go over a huge ballot of 29 songs from between 1981 and ’85. You’ve got records by Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Tears For Fears, Eurythmics, Phil Collins and many more big names. Will anything get through?

Listen by clicking above, and subscribe at Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Full results coming soon!

1985! It’s The Most ’80s Hall of Songs Yet!

We have been dreaming of this moment since starting Hall of Songs. It’s time to enter 1985, when the biggest names in pop music converge for charity spectacles like “We Are the World” and Live Aid, and when some of the most enduring songs of a generation hit pretty darn hard. 

Come along for the ride as we select our top-12 songs from 1985. After listening, head to hallofsongs.com to vote for the songs you think deserve to be in our hall of fame for songs called the Hall of Songs. 

After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1985, plus tunes from 1984, ’83, ’82 and ’81 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now at hallofsongs.com and come back on July 29, 2022, to find out which song or songs get in!

Our 1985 nominees:

  • “King of Rock” as performed by Run DMC
    • Written by Darryl McDaniels, Jason Mizel, Joseph Simmons, Larry Smith and Russell Simmons; recorded mid-1984; released January 1985
  • “How Will I Know” as performed by Whitney Houston
    • Written by Geroge Merrill, Shannon Rubicam and Narada Michael Walden; recorded fall 1984; released February 1985
  • “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” as performed by Tears For Fears
    • Written by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley and Chris Hughes; recorded November 1984; released February 1985
  • “Voices Carry” as performed by ‘Til Tuesday
    • Written by Robert Holmes, Aimee Mann, Michael Hausman and Joey Pesce; recorded January 1985; released March 1985
  • “Raspberry Beret” as performed by Prince and the Revolution
    • Written by Prince; recorded September 1984; released April 1985
  • “Money For Nothing” as performed by Dire Straits
    • Written by Mark Knopfler and Sting; recorded December 1984; released May 1985
  • “Running Up That Hill” as performed by Kate Bush
    • Written by Kate Bush; recorded early 1985; released August 1985
  • “Conga” as performed by Miami Sound Machine
    • Written by Enrique E. Garcia; recorded early 1985; released August 1985
  • “Take on Me” as performed by A-Ha
    • Written by Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket and Pal Waaktaar; recorded late 1984; released September 1985
  • “Bastards of Young” as performed by The Replacements
    • Written by Paul Westerberg; recorded June 1985; released September 1985
  • “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” as performed by LL Cool J
    • Written by James Todd Smith and Rick Rubin; recorded early 1985; released October 1985
  • “Crush on You” as performed by The Jets
    • Written by Jerry Knight and Aaron Zigman; recorded summer 1985; released October 1985

Listen to the full episode for more, and then vote for the songs that you think are the greatest of all-time. Scroll down to vote. Then, come back on July 29, 2022 to find out the voting results, and July 31, 2022 for our discussion on 1986.

30th Election Results! It Gets Crowded at the Top …

Time to reveal the results for the 30th election of Hall of Songs! Yes, 30!

Currently we have 65 songs in the Hall. Do we get to 66? 67? 68? More? Listen as Tim and Chris go through the election results, featuring songs we’ve nominated that were released between 1981 and ’84, and talk about the biggest surprises, the good, the bad, and a lot more.

Listen by clicking above, and subscribe at Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Full results coming soon!

29th Election Results! The Time Has Come to Induct Our 65th Song

Let’s not waste time: Chris is back and joins Tim to induct the 65th song into our prestigious Hall of Songs. Which record will join the latest two, Prince’s “Little Red Corvette” and Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”?  Take the time to find out. 

Also, we discuss songs that are now eliminated from our Hall of Songs ballot … and the thing that all the remaining songs have in common.

Listen by clicking above, and subscribe at Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Full results coming soon!

Modern Songs Ep. 15: ‘Falling Back’ With Drake + Our Top-5 Songs of 2022 So Far

Out of thin air, Drake has returned with a new House-influenced album, Honestly, Nevermind. We share our thoughts on the release along with lead single “Falling Back.” Then we tackle Drake’s expansive career, from sad boy rap crooner to sonic tastemaker, by highlighting his 2018 smash “God’s Plan.” 

Afterward, Chris shares his top-five songs of 2022 (January-June). Stay tuned for Tim’s picks next week.

Modern Songs is a music discovery podcast about new releases and songs of the recent past.