Welcome to easily the most combative episode of Hall of Songs to date. OK, no punches thrown, but Tim and Chris disagree about at least one song in our top-12 of 1992.
Listen as we cover a messy year where the political and social can’t help but hit the pop charts. Our top songs of ’92 include some groundbreaking rap tracks, massive hits, and emerging alternative roads in rock.
After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1992, plus tunes from 1991, ’90, and ’89 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! VOTE BELOW and come back on November 11, 2022, to find out which song or songs get in!
It’s a big year in music. 1991 starts with Whitney Houston’s memorable interpretation of “The Star Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXV. It continues with massive changes in the Billboard charts thanks to SoundScan, then ends with a sound heavy in guitar distortion.
Listen to our newest episode to find out our top-12 songs of the year. We talk about the mainstream emergence of grunge, the progression of house-inflected dance music, and the next batch of great songs in rap.
After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1991, plus tunes from 1990, ’89, ’88, ’86 and ’85 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! VOTE BELOW and come back on October 28, 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 October 28, 2022 to find out the voting results, and October 30, 2022 for our discussion on 1992.
Welcome to the 1990s, a decade of excess, exuberance (irrational, even), and extremely awesome songs. Hall of Songs is here to sort through it all, starting with our top-12 songs of 1990.
Tim and Chris reveal their picks, including massive hits from massive hitmakers like Madonna, Mariah Carey, and Garth Brooks. Who else gets the Hall of Songs shine?
After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1990, plus tunes from 1989, ’88, ’86 and ’85 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! VOTE BELOW and come back on October 7, 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 October 7, 2022 to find out the voting results, and October 9, 2022 for our discussion on 1991.
Hall of Songs gets a little electronic as the 1980s come to a close. Our latest episode takes you through 1989, a year when keyboards truly are everything. We hear major steps forward in dance, rap, and hard rock, and we can tell where the 1990s are heading.
Join Tim and Chris as they pick their top-12 songs of 1989. These are nominees for the prestigious Hall of Songs, the hall of fame for songs that currently includes 77 songs.
After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1989, plus tunes from 1988, ’87, ’86 and ’85 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! VOTE BELOW and come back on September 23, 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 23, 2022 to find out the voting results, and September 25, 2022 for our discussion on 1990.
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.
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.
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 byMadonna
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.
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.
OK, maybe we’re guilty of using a little hyperbole. 1984 is, however, a year of huge stars, big sounds, and even bigger songs.
In this episode of Hall of Songs, Tim and Chris select their top-12 from this year, and you’ll get huge names like Bruce, the highest of NRG, and one dominant force whose fingerprints are all over this year.
After listening to Tim and Chris, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1984, plus tunes from 1983, ’82 and ’81 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now at hallofsongs.com and come back on July 8, 2022, to find out which song or songs get in!
Our 1984 nominees (spoilers below; highlight to reveal):
“What’s Love Got to Do With It” as performed by Tina Turner
Written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle; recorded fall 1983; released May 1984
“The Glamorous Life” as performed by Sheila E.
Written by Prince; recorded early 1984; released May 1984
“Dancing in the Dark” as performed by Bruce Springsteen
Written by Bruce Springsteen; recorded February 1984; released May 1984
“Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” as performed by Wham!
Written by George Michael; recorded February 1984; released May 1984
“When Doves Cry” as performed by Prince
Written by Prince; recorded March 1984; released May 1984
“Purple Rain” as performed by Prince
Written by Prince; recorded August 1983; released June 1984
“Smooth Operator” as performed by Sade
Written by Sade Adu and Ray St. John; recorded ;ate 1983; released July 1984
“Fade to Black” as performed by Metallica
Written by Cliff Burton, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich and Kirk Hammett; recorded February 1984; released July 1984
“I Feel For You” as performed by Chaka Khan
Written by Prince; recorded early 1984; released October 1984
“Unsatisfied” as performed by The Replacements
Written by Paul Westerberg; recorded late 1983; released October 1984
“You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” as performed by Dead or Alive
Written by Pete Burns, Steve Coy, Wayne Hussey, Tim Lever and Mike Percy; recorded July 1984; released November 1984
“How Soon is Now?” as performed by The Smiths
Written by Johnny Marr and Morrissey; recorded July 1984; released November 1984
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 8, 2022 to find out the voting results, and July 10, 2022 for our discussion on 1984.
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.
