Over the next few days, I will show the top 40 from the week ending March 10, 1984. I tend to like the songs that didn’t rank as high because you don’t hear them too often. The top 10 list are usually songs that we already heard a million times, and are now engrained in our DNA.
Here are the songs that were ranked 40-31 this week, 30 years ago:
40. “Don’t Let Go” by Wang Chung
This is what I’m talking about. I don’t even remember this song, and it’s pretty good. Better than hearing “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” come on the radio 3-4 times a day every single day!
39. “Owner of a Lonely Heart” by Yes
And then there are the songs toward the bottom of the charts that were at the top for a while. I like this song, and I really like Yes. But they have so many other great songs. However, nobody knows about them because this one gets all the airplay. Still a classic though.
38. “Girls” by Dwight Twilley
Not only did I not know this song, but I never heard of Dwight Twilley before. I thought it was going to be a Country song, but this is more pop/rock. Not bad. This is probably around the right ranking in the countdown.
37. “Hello” by Lionel Richie
This song and video got just a little bit of airplay in its day. Ugh!
36. “Talking in Your Sleep” by The Romantics
Ultimate ’80s song. When I hear this song, the first thing that comes to mind is the hair!
35. “Radio Ga Ga” by Queen
Best. Band. Ever.
34. “Against All Odds” by Phil Collins
Like all Phil Collins songs, this was a good one which the radio stations (and MTV) immediately overplayed. It took almost 20 years of avoiding it to finally not be sick of it anymore. Now this song is performed in every single season of every singing competition. Whoever sings this should automatically be eliminated.
33. “Livin’ In Desperate Times” by Olivia Newton-John
Two of a Kind was a forgettable movie, but the soundtrack was great. It featured “Ask the Lonely” by Journey as well as “Twist of Fate” by Newton-John. This is also a great one>
32. “Come Back and Stay” by Paul Young
I had totally forgotten this one. The title didn’t sound familiar, but this is one of those songs that you hear and say “Oh, now I remember that song!”
31. “New Song” by Howard Jones
And we’ll wrap up today’s part of the countdown with ’80s legend, Howard Jones. Another really good song that does not get much airplay.
I hope you enjoyed this countdown. Seriously. Because I’ll be back with 30-21 tomorrow.
What do you think about this countdown? Do these songs bring back memories, or are you liking, or not liking, some of the unfamiliar ones?
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Return to the 80s 
This type of countdown is an EXCELLENT idea! keep it coming. Tonight I go home and bust out the vinyl, the memories, and the tears
Thanks,
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Oh man, thanks so much!! Some of these songs do bring you back. I’m discovering new old music too. I’m so glad you like this.
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This is GREAT!
Reminds me of the only time I enjoy commercial radio these days: On Sundays there’s a station that plays reruns of Casey’s American Top 40 from the 80s. I hear so many songs on there that make me say, “Why can’t you play these instead of the same old ones the rest of the week?”
I sort of remember that Dwight Twilley song. And I fondly remembered Paul Young’s “Why Don’t You Come Back?” but I don’t recall that video. And I spent a lot of weekends watching videos!
“Radio Ga Ga” is my favorite Queen song by a mile, and “New Song” is my favorite from Howard Jones.
Can’t wait for the next part of the countdown!
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Thank you so much!! That’s so cool that there’s a station that plays Casey’s American Top 40. They used to do that on 80s on 8 on Sirius XM. But they did away with that. Instead they have the remaining original MTV VJ’s doing the show – which is also good. Just not as nostalgic. The 70’s on 7 have Casey though. I really can’t take a lot of the songs that come on that countdown though. I like the 70’s too, but I just can’t listen to that whole show.
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There’s another station that plays AT40 reruns from the 70s…at the exact same time. If it’s early 70s, I’ll listen to the 80s one. If it’s mid-to-late 70s, I have to flip back and forth. If it’s 1989 vs. early 70s…then I let someone else control the radio.
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Well it sounds like we are on the same wavelength. I would do the same thing as you. I do like a lot of late 80s music though, so just a minor difference.
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By the way, Howard Jones was featured on BYU TV’s “The Song That Changed My Life” last year.
http://www.byutv.org/watch/4de1b9ad-e106-430d-86a7-b8cc514fdbea/the-song-that-changed-my-life-howard-jones
If you search through the other shows in that series, you’ll see they did one on Mike Peters from The Alarm, who sang with Big Country from 2010 until last year.
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I’ll have to check that out. I’m away from my regular office today, so I’ll have to check out that video tomorrow. Thanks!! I’ll let you know what I think.
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Wow, that was great, Jim!! Very informative, and I love how the music gets played throughout the show. It was great hearing hm sing “Your Song” too! Awesome! Thanks!
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