Tag Archives: soul

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!

1984! Our Top-12 Songs From the Greatest Pop Culture Year Ever!

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.

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!

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.