Tag Archives: Rock

1983! Fire Up Your Roland TB-303 For the Year’s Top-12 Songs

This is a long one, but it’s only because we simply love this music. Our picks for the top-12 songs of 1983 include legendary new wave tracks, massive pop ballads, the early stages of Heartland Rock and two records that will come to define 1980s dance.

After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1983, plus tunes from 1982, ’81, ’79, ’78 and ’76 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now at hallofsongs.com and come back on June 24, 2022, to find out which song or songs get in!

Our 1983 nominees (spoilers below; highlight to reveal):

  • “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” as performed by Eurythmics
    • Written by Annie Lennox and David Stewart; recorded summer 1982; released January 1983
  • “Sunday Bloody Sunday” as performed by U2
    • Written by U2; recorded fall 1982; released February 1983
  • “True” as performed by Spandau Ballet
    • Written by Gary Kemp; recorded fall 1982; released March 1983
  • “Blue Monday” as performed by New Order
    • Written by Gillian Gilbert, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner; recorded late 1982; released March 1983
  • “Between the Sheets” as performed by The Isley Brothers
    • Written by Rudolph Isley, O’Kelly Isley Jr., Ronald Isley, Ernest Isley, Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper; recorded February 1983; released March 1983
  • “Blister in the Sun” as performed by Violent Femmes
    • Written by Gordon Gano; recorded July 1982; released April 1983
  • “Every Breath You Take” as performed by The Police
    • Written by Sting; recorded early 1983; released May 1983
  • “Naive Melody (This Must Be the Place)” as performed by Talking Heads
    • Written by David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth; recorded late 1982; released June 1983
  • “Let the Music Play” as performed by Shannon
    • Written by Chris Barbosa and Ed Chisolm; recorded summer 1983; released September 1983
  • “Time After Time” as performed by Cyndi Lauper
    • Written by Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman; recorded June 1983; released October 1983
  • “Pink Houses” as performed by John Cougar Mellencamp
    • Written by John Mellencamp; recorded July 1983; released October 1983
  • “Jump” as performed by Van Halen
    • Written by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth; recorded summer 1983; released December 1983

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 May 20, 2022 to find out the voting results, and May 22, 2022 for our discussion on 1983.

Modern Songs Ep. 13: Diana Ross and Tame Impala + Harry Styles’ ‘Harry’s House’

Summer is here, and Diana Ross and Tame Impala (with Jack Antonoff) are hoping they’ve laid down the Song of the Summer. Tim and Chris discuss the disco-flavored “Turn Up the Sunshine” before taking a look back at Tame Impala’s career. Plus, they revisit Harry Styles’ ‘Harry’s House’ after a few weeks of sitting with the new album.

Modern Songs is a music discovery podcast reviewing new music and songs released since 2006.

GROUP CHAT: Let’s Talk About The Hall of Songs

We’re in between the 1982 and ’83 episodes, so why not take a moment to look back at EVERYTHING?

Join Tim, Chris, and our special guest, Billboard Deputy Editor Andrew Unterberger (Twitter: @AUgetoffmygold) as they discuss the full Hall of Songs to this point.

We ask: Is this experiment of determining the greatest songs of all-time worthy? What are the biggest surprise Hall of Songs members? What songs, artists, and genres are being snubbed? It’s a fun look at the whole picture before we dive back into nominees.

Modern Songs Ep. 12: Celebrating Joshua Hedley, More on Kendrick Lamar

In this week’s episode of Modern Songs, Tim and Chris talk at length about country singer Joshua Hedley, whose album “Neon Blue” is one of the best things about 2022. After chatting about his song “Bury Me With My Boots On,” Tim and Chris talk more about Kendrick Lamar and his 2017 song “Humble,” from the now legendary “DAMN.” 

Modern Songs is a music discovery podcast reviewing new music and songs released since 2006.

1979-82 Veterans Committee: Problematic Dude Songs

Selecting songs for Hall of Songs nomination is a hard job. Sometimes, while toiling over all the options, you decide that certain tunes that we now consider problematic still merit inclusion. At least that’s what one co-host of Hall of Songs would argue. 

Join Tim and Chris as they put four more songs from 1979 to ’82 onto the ballot. Luckily, they bring in a (sort-of) independent ombudsman to sort through the issues with them.

In this episode, Tim and Chris talk about the four new nominees, then go deeper into ’79-’82 with selections by artists like Split Enz and, naturally, the Grateful Dead.

Modern Songs Ep. 11: Kendrick Lamar’s ‘The Heart Part 5’ + Jens Lekman in 2017

A new Kendrick Lamar album is upon us, and as usual, the arguable greatest rapper on Earth gave us a sample of what to expect with another chapter to his series “The Heart.” Part 5 sees Kendrick rhyme about the struggle of Black men who are meant to represent culture, coupling the track with an incredible video that must be watched.

Tim and Chris talk about Kendrick’s return, then dive into a song by Swedish artist Jens Lekman from 2017. 

Modern Songs is a music discovery podcast reviewing new music and songs released since 2006.

1982! As Synths Reign, Rap, Dance and Metal Take Big Steps Forward

We’ve reached the Year of the Synthesizer. It’s everywhere in 1982, from new wave-leaning rock to sleek R&B, and in every instance, it’s creating a new sound of pop. The digital age is fully in place, and Hall of Songs is here to chronicle all of it and select our top-12 songs of the year. 

But while keyboards and drum machines create the rhythms of some of the year’s biggest songs, a number of genres are making major moves toward the forefront. In this episode we’ll also hear metal, rap, dance hall and country.

After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1982, plus tunes from 1981, ’80, ’79, ’78, ’77 and ’76 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now at hallofsongs.com and come back on May 20, 2022, to find out which song or songs get in!

Our 1982 nominees (spoilers below; highlight to reveal):

  • “Only You” as performed by Yazoo
    • Written by Vince Clarke; recorded January 1982; released March 1982
  • “Hallowed Be Thy Name” as performed by Iron Maiden
    • Written by Steve Harris; recorded January 1982; released March 1982
  • “Rosanna” as performed by Toto
    • Written by David Paich; recorded January 1982; released March 1982
  • “Planet Rock” as performed by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force
    • Written by Arthur Baker, John Robie, Soulsonic Force and Emcee G.L.O.B.E.; recorded 1981; released April 1982
  • “Amarillo By Morning” as performed by George Strait
    • Written by Paul Fraser and Terry Stafford; recorded April 1982; released June 1982
  • “Come on Eileen” as performed by Dexy’s Midnight Runners
    • Written by Kevin Rowland, Jim Paterson and Billy Adams; recorded March 1982; released June 1982
  • “The Message” as performed by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
    • Written by Edward G. Fletcher, Melle Mel, Clifton Chase and Sylvia Robinson; recorded spring 1982; released July 1982
  • “Love My Way” as performed by The Psychedelic Furs
    • Written by John Ashton, Tim Butler, Richard Butler and Vince Ely; recorded April 1982; released July 1982
  • “Bam Bam” as performed by Sister Nancy
    • Written by Winston Riley and Ophlin Russell; recorded summer 1982; released summer 1982
  • “Mad World” as performed by Tears For Fears
    • Written by Roland Orzabal; recorded summer 1982; released September 1982
  • “Little Red Corvette” as performed by Prince
    • Written by Prince; recorded summer 1982; released October 1982
  • “Billie Jean” as performed by Michael Jackson
    • Written by Michael Jackson; recorded summer 1982; released November 1982

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 May 20, 2022 to find out the voting results, and May 22, 2022 for our discussion on 1983.

Modern Songs Ep. 9: An Arcade Fire Party: ‘The Lightning I, II’ + ‘My Body is a Cage’

Celebrated rockers Arcade Fire is back with a new album, “We,” set to be released this May. The album’s first single is “The Lightning I, II,” and Tim and Chris settle in to discuss the new track. And considering the moment, they go even deeper into Arcade Fire history and talk about the arresting “Neon Bible” closer “My Body is a Cage,” which just end up being the band’s legacy.

Modern Songs is a podcast devoted to the discovery of new music and the discussion of the greatest songs of the last 15 years.

Modern Songs Ep. 8: Harry Styles & Smash-Hit ‘As It Was’ + Kanye West, Maggie Rogers, Orville Peck and More

Harry Styles has finally given 2022 its big pop smash. On this episode of Modern Songs, Tim and Chris talk about “As It Was,” the first song to come out of Styles’ forthcoming album “Harry’s House.” Spoiler: They like it. Then, they talk some Kanye by going deep into “Black Skinhead,” a song from his 2013 album “Yeezus.” Following that, Tim and Chris discuss some recent favorites, including music by Orville Peck and Maggie Rogers.

Modern Songs is a podcast devoted to the discovery of new music and the discussion of the greatest songs of the last 15 years.

Modern Songs Ep. 7: The Ascent of Wet Leg + Looking Back at HAIM’s ‘The Wire’

Everyone is talking about Wet Leg, the duo out of the Isle of Wight whose witty, ribald brand of punk and power pop took music lovers by storm over the last several months. On this episode of Modern Songs we join the conversation and talk specifically about “Ur Mum” from the new self-titled album. Plus, we’ll go back nine years to discuss another all-female rock band, HAIM, and its sensational “The Wire.”

Modern Songs is a podcast devoted to the discovery of new music and the discussion of the greatest songs of the last 15 years.