Tag Archives: Bon Jovi

1989, Artists, Music, Top 40

Top 40 Songs This Week – February 11, 1989: Songs 10-1

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Welcome back to the conclusion of this week’s countdown! If you’d like to go back too check out the previous songs, you can check out songs 40-31, 30-21, and 20-11. It has been fun going back to this transitional part of my life. We may have been heading into the ’90s, but there are definitely some classic ’80s songs here. So, let’s Return to the week ending February 11, 1989, and wrap up this week’s countdown.

10. “Walking Away” by Information Society

The synth-pop group followed up their smash hit, “What’s on Your Mind (Pure Energy)” with another Top 10 hit. In that previous song, they had sampled Leonard Nimoy’s voice from the Star Trek episode “Errand of Mercy”. In this song, they sampled William Shatner as James T. Kirk saying “It is useless to resist us” from the Star Trek episode, “Mirror, Mirror”, and James Doohan as Scotty saying “Let’s Go See!” from the Star Trek episode, “Wolf in the Fold”. They did not have any other top 10 hits after this song. Maybe they needed to sample Doctor McCoy saying “I’m a doctor, not a ____”.

9. “She Wants to Dance With Me” by Rick Astley

Yes, Rick Astley had other songs besides “Never Gonna Give You Up” and “Together Forever”. Somebody better inform the ’80s radio stations and shows that are out there.

 

8. “I Wanna Have Some Fun” by Samantha Fox

My second ’80s crush of this countdown! This was the first song released from Samantha’s third album, I Wanna Have Some Fun. I always loved her music. And 16-18 year old me really appreciated that every one of her songs at that time were about sex or love…but mostly sex. Pretty much the pop version of the band Kiss.

7. “The Lover in Me” by Sheena Easton

This was one of Sheena Easton’s biggest hits in the U.S., peaking at #2. After having a strong run throughout the early ’80s, this would be her final Top 10 hit. This song was written by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Daryl Simmons, who were quite the powerhouse at that time.

6. “All This Time” by Tiffany

This awesome ballad would be Tiffany’s final Top 10 hit. I personally think she is very underrated. She has a very cool and unique voice, and puts a lot of emotion into her songs. And she is another ’80s artist who is still out there recording new music….most recently, 2018’s Pieces of Me.

5. “When the Children Cry” by White Lion

Speaking of unique voices, here is another awesome power ballad. White Lion had a really good run in the late ’80s/early ’90s before they called it quits.

 

 

4. “Born to Be My Baby” by Bon Jovi

2-3-4!!! Bon Jovi was not slowing down one bit at this time. This was the 2nd single released from the New Jersey album, and was the 2nd of 5 Top 10 songs from that album alone. That was the most top 10 hits for any hard rock album.

 

3. “Wild Thing” by Tone Lōc

Thanks Wikipedia for letting us know that the title is a reference to the phrase “doin’ the wild thing,” a euphemism for sex. Duh!!!! This song would peak at #2. It is a lot of fun. I do like rap with guitar and heavy drums. As usual, if a rap song has a great rock sound to it, that means it was stolen. In this case, it used an uncredited sample of Van Halen’s “Jamie’s Cryin'”. There was a lawsuit that was settled out of court.

2. “When I’m With You” by Sheriff


Great power ballad by the Canadian rock group, Sheriff. This song was released in 1983 with minor success. Then in November 1988, Brian Philips, Program Director at KDWB in Minneapolis, and WKTI in Milwaukee began playing the song, and eventually other radio stations nationally followed suit. The song shot up to number 1, which was four years after the band separated in 1985. Freddy Curci held the final note of the song for 19.4 seconds, making it the longest-held note for a male pop singer. Curci went on to form the supergroup Alias, and is still with them to this day.

1. “Straight Up” by Paula Abdul

This was the third song released from Paula Abdul’s Forever Your Girl album (after “Knocked Out” and “The Way That You Love Me”), but this is the one that shot her up to superstardom. This was the first week the song topped the charts, and would stay here for 3 weeks. She had a long string of hits in a short time after this. And the former Laker Girl already had a huge career as a choreographer in many, many music videos and blockbuster movies.

Well, that wraps up this week’s countdown. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have. We’ll be heading back to the U.K. next time. Until then, Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.

1988, Artists, Music, Top 40

Top 40 This Week – Week Ending November 5, 1988: Songs 10-1

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Welcome back, as we wrap up this week’s Top 40 Countdown! This brought back a lot of fond memories for me. And I do love how there was quite a few different genres represented throughout this whole countdown. So, let’s Return to the week ending November 5, 1988, and see what were the most popular songs in the country

10. “What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)” by Information Society

Awesome song that has that eary-mid ’80s sound. And yes that’s Leonard Nimoy’s voice as Mr. Spock from the Star Trek episode “Errand of Mercy”, which was the first time we saw the Klingons in the Star Trek universe.

 

9. “Red Red Wine” by UB40

Wow, my two least favorite ’80s songs are both on the same countdown! First there was “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. And now there’s this Neil Diamond cover.

 

 

8. “Desire” by U2

Awesome rocker, which was U2’s first single off their Rattle and Hum album. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

 

7. “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS

If you noticed that the last three bands in this countdown have an abbreviation/acronym as a band name, welcome to my brain.

 

 

6. “One Moment In Time” by Whitney Houston

It is in the middle of Fall, and this 1988 Olympic theme song is still going strong.

 

 

 

5. “Bad Medicine” by Bon Jovi

After Slippery When Wet launched Bon Jovi in the stratosphere, they did not let up, as they followed up with the incredible New Jersey album, with “Bad Medicine” as the lead single.

 

4. “The Loco-Motion” by Kylie Minoque

Kylie Minogue was the third act to make this song a top 5 hit, starting with LIttle Eva in 1962 and Grand Funk Railroad in 1974. This song was a locomotion for Minogue, as it started as a hit in her home country of Australia. Then it made it’s way to Europe and Asia, then came to the U.S. and Canada.

 

3. “Groovy Kind of Love” by Phil Collins

We have another cover here, as Phil Collins recorded this Mindbenders 1965/66 hit for the Buster movie soundtrack. Between this song, and “Two Hearts”, you would think the movie was going to be a blockbuster. However, I still haven’t seen it, and I don’t know anybody who ever has.

 

2. “Wild, Wild West” by The Escape Club

This song would go on to be a number one hit next week. The Escape Club the only British artist to have a No. 1 hit in the United States while never charting in the UK.

 

1. “Kokomo” by The Beach Boys

I think we can track the division in the country back to this song. I personally think it’s a fun song, although I did get very sick of it. But, a lot of people had this extreme hatred of this song. And seeing John Stamos on drums really sent them over the edge! This song would be their last hit on the Hot 100.

Well that wraps up the Top 40 this week. I hope you enjoyed it! The next time, we will hop back across the pond to the U.K. In the meantime, Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song – 4/16/18

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Can you name the artist and song:

Number one with a bullet, I’m a power pack
Yes, I’m in a bang
With a gang

Last Song: “Lay Your Hands on Me” by Bon Jovi from the album New Jersey (1989)

Great job Madison’s Dad (@2010Jeffreydr)!!!

If you’re ready, I’m willing and able
Help me lay my cards out on the table
You’re mine and I’m yours for the taking
Right now the rules we’ve made are meant for breaking

If you’d like to get this song from Amazon, you can click on the album cover below

1987, Artists, Music, Top 40

Top 40 Songs This Week – February 28, 1987: Songs 10-1

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Welcome back to this week’s countdown! If you missed the previous songs, you can go back and check out 40-31, 30-21, and 20-11. This has been a great week of music so far, and it continues today. It was so good, that we will be coming back with another countdown next week, with a twist! We will Return to the top 40 countdown for the week of March 6-12, from the UK! I know there is a huge following here of folks from the U.K. So they will get to relive their past, and 80s fans from the U.S. may discover music that did not make it over here for one reason or another. But first thing’s first. Let’s Return to the week ending February 28, 1987, and check out the top 10 songs of this week.

10. “Ballerina Girl” by Lionel Richie

This was the end of Lionel Richie’s run in the ’80s. A sweet song to end it. Supposedly, it was written for Lionel’s daughter, Nicole.

9. “Big Time” by Peter Gabriel

Peter Gabriel had some groundbreaking videos in the late ’80s. Which means that they were on MTV every other song. Which also means that I couldn’t stand it! I was dreading listening to this again, but now I’m liking it a little more.

8. “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (to Party!)” by the Beastie Boys

You got my rock in your rap! You got your rap in my rock! What?! Mmmm, delicious. Two great genres that go great together.

7. “Respect Yourself” by Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis hopped on that actors-turned-singers bandwagon. And he did a very respectful job of it, in my opinion.

6. “Somewhere Out There” by Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram

At this time, I was too cool to watch cartoon movies. So, I’ve never seen An American Tail. But, I do love this song. Such a perfect duet with two incredible voices.

5. “You Got It All” by The Jets

Nice ballad from The Jets, written by Rupert Holmes (“Escape (The Piña Colada Song)”), and sung by 13-year-old Elizabeth Wolfgramm.

4. “Will You Still Love Me?” by Chicago

If Chicago is asking us if we will still love them after the departure of Peter Cetera, the answer is Yes!

3. “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” by Georgia Satellites

Between this, and Janet Jackson’s “Let’s Wait Awhile” earlier in the countdown, all we need to do is substitute Samantha Fox’s “Touch Me” with Jermaine Stewart’s “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off”, and we would have a perfect countdown for a Catholic school dance.

2. “Jacob’s Ladder” by Huey Lewis & The News

Hands down, this is my favorite Huey Lewis and the News song. “All I want from tomorrow is to get it better than today.” That’s all anybody can ask.

1. “Livin’ On a Prayer” by Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi had a huge hit with “You Give Love a Bad Name”. But, this ’80s anthem is the one that changed them forever. When you say the words “’80s music” to somebody, this is one of a handful of songs that would immediately come to mind. This is totally deserving of the #1 spot, and a great way to end the countdown.

That’s it for this week. I hope you enjoyed this countdown. Please let me know your thoughts. And as I mentioned earlier, we will be coming right back next week with the UK Top 40 from 1983. Until then, Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 7/12/17

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Can you name the artist and song:

You’re liftin’ me up
Never let me down
And I smile
Whenever you’re around

Last Song: “Wanted Dead Or Alive” by Bon Jovi from Slippery When Wet (1986)

Great job Jim (@JimVilk), and MC Chunky (@MCChunkyA)!!!

Sometimes you tell the day
By the bottle that you drink
And times when you’re alone all you do is think

 

If you’d like to purchase this song from Amazon, click on the album cover below:

Artists, Commercials, Music, Podcast, R.I.P

Episode 5: Slippery When Wet

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We are back with a new episode of the Return to the ’80s podcast! After having technical difficulties, and losing a great episode about Ghostbusters (which we will have to revisit), we came back strong with some Slippery When Wet! Bon Jovi has recently released a new album, This House is Not For Sale, which was a #1 selling album. With this year being the 30th anniversary of the iconic ‘Slippery’ album, we decided to Return to 1986, and revisit it. And we are taking a guest with us on this trip – Scott from 80s Mixtape Autoreverse and 80’s Reboot Overdrive. So come check us out, and listen to our take on this classic album.

Opening

– We meet Scott from 80s Mixtape Autoreverse and 80’s Reboot Overdrive.

“Rock & Roll” Hall of Fame Voting

– Journey is in the lead, followed by ELO, Yes, and the Cars
– Vote now at https://www.rockhall.com/vote
– We are non-partial here. Vote for whichever artist you’d like. As long as it’s Journey.

Death of the Week (Non-Fidel Castro Edition)

R.I.P. Florence Henderson (February 14, 1934 – November 24, 2016)

Remember That Song

Last Song: “Let’s Go All the Way” by Sly Fox

Great job Jim (@JimVilk)!!!

Working in a factory eight days a week
Try to make dollar, damn what a beat
Cartoon capers happen in reality
Rich man, poor man, living in fantasy

New Song
Here we stand / Worlds apart, hearts broken in two / Sleepless nights / Losing ground, I’m reaching for you

If you know the answer, email us at returnto80s@gmail.com and put Remember That Song in the subject line to submit your answer.

’80s Trivia

Last Question: Which 2 songs in the U.S., that were sung in German, were #1 and #2 songs.
Answer: “99 Luftbalons” by Nena and “Rock Me Amadeus” by Falco

Again, great job Jim (@JimVilk)!!!

New Question
What color did the ghosts have to be for Pac Man to eat them?

Write in to returnto80s@gmail.com and put Trivia in the subject line to submit your answer.

Main Topic: Slippery When Wet

Side one
1. “Let It Rock”

2. “You Give Love a Bad Name”

– Original version? Bonnie Tyler – “If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)”

3. “Livin’ on a Prayer”

4. “Social Disease”

5. “Wanted Dead or Alive”

Side two
6. “Raise Your Hands”

– Also used in Spaceballs

7. “Without Love”

8. “I’d Die for You”

9. “Never Say Goodbye”

10. “Wild in the Streets”

Bonus Song
“Edge of a Broken Heart”

Wrap Up

Visit Scott on Twitter at @80sAutoreverse and @80sReboot
Facebook: 80s Mixtape Autoreverse

And come find us at:
https://returntothe80s.wordpress.com/
Find Return to the ’80s on Facebook
Twitter – @returntothe80s
Email: returnto80s@gmail.com

Podcast, Television

Episode 4: Sitcom Theme Songs, Part 1

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Welcome to another episode of Return to the ’80s! This episode is the first in a series of television theme songs. Robert and Paul each pick 5 sitcom theme songs, and discuss them. A special thanks goes out to Return to the ’80s team member Sandy from Jersey for putting together these show notes. As usual, if you have any questions or comments about this episode, or anything ’80s, we would love to hear from you! Our next episode will be about Ghostbusters. Let us know if you’ve seen the new Ghostbusters movie. Also, Ghostbusters II gets trashed alot. Are there any fans if that sequel out there to defend this film? You can email us at returnto80s@gmail.com.

Opening

– Talks of Ghostbusters: new one being released on video

Stranger Things

– Stranger Things coming out and how it’s a mix of 80s movies.
– Talk of inconsistency of one of the songs in Stranger Things. (Late 80s)
– Talk if how great the kids were in the show.
– Talk of Matthew Modine in Stranger Things.

Bon Jovi

– Bon Jovi coming back out. Spoke about that. Played clip of “This House Is Not For Sale“. Has 1.7 mil hits on YouTube.

80s Reboot Overdrive

– Spoke of Robert being a guest on 80’s Reboot Overdrive podcast. And Paul was talked about on the podcast as well.

Remember That Song

– Remember that Song – Tina Marie got the answer to the question, which was “The Way It Is“, sung by Bruce Hornsby.
– Plays song.
– Robert talks of how he saw him and Huey Lewis and the News in the same month
– Tim Cook also got song right.
– Reads note that Tim wrote.
– Robert gives a new Remember That Song. Can you name the artist and song:

Working in a factory eight days a week
Try to make dollar, damn what a beat
Cartoon capers happen in reality
Rich man, poor man, living in fantasy

Write in to returnto80s@gmail.com and put Remember That Song in the subject line to submit your answer.

Trivia

“Who was the producers original choice to play Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties.?” Answer was Matthew Broderick which was answered by Tina Marie.
– Matthew had to decline role because his father became ill.
– New trivia- Which 2 songs in the U.S., that were sung in German, were #1 and #2 songs.

Write in to returnto80s@gmail.com and put Trivia in the subject line to submit your answer.

Main Topic – Sitcom Theme Songs

television-theme-songs-pt-1
– Paul talks of old intro styles to TV shows and how he misses them, and misses opening credits.
– Covering sitcoms on this podcast, and the other categories will be split up.

Theme songs covered:
– ALF (great theme song)
– Growing Pains (a personal fave of mine) spoke of the show and how Leo and Matthew Perry were on it and how it was one of Paul’s favorite shows (mine too).
– Charles in Charge – Version 1 and Version 2
– Gimme a Break
– Head of the Class – Paul talks of when he was in the Navy and Khrystyne Haje and the Pointer Sisters came on his ship during the Gulf War.
– Cheers
– Fresh Prince of Bel Air
– My Two Dads (one of my favorites)
– Talks about Red Oaks – the show that is on Netflix [But Paul remembered after recording this, that it is actually on Amazon).
– Night Court (another great show)
– Diff’rent Strokes – talks about how a reunion can’t be because a lot of the characters have passed away.

Wrapping Up

– Ending – talks of covering more show tunes and speaks of Blu Ray coming out Tuesday for Ghostbusters.
– And speaks of the soundtracks.
– And rewatching Ghostbusters 2

https://returntothe80s.wordpress.com/
Find Return to the ’80s on Facebook
Twitter – @returntothe80s
Email: returnto80s@gmail.com

1986, Albums of the 80s, Music

Albums of the ’80s: Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet

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Today, August 2016 marks the 30th anniversary of this classic ’80s album. There are many more readers now than when I first publihed this, so it will be new for a lot of you. So please check it out, and relive this totally awesome time!

Now, let’s Return to 1986. Up to this point, hair bands were not very mainstream. They were too loud for a lot of people, and the people that listened to hair metal were looked on as bad boys or bad girls. But, that music barrier was shattered with the words “Shot through the heart and you’re to blame. Darlin’, you give love a bad name!” Bon Jovi’s 3rd album, Slippery When Wet was released, and “You Give Love a Bad Name” was the first single released off of that album. All of a sudden, people who had been listening to Culture Club, Lionel Richie and Madonna, were now getting into Bon Jovi. And people who were into hard rock thought Bon Jovi was cool too. As a result, Slippery When Wet spent eight weeks at #1 on The Billboard 200, and was in the top 5 for 38 weeks. “You Give Love A Bad Name” and “Livin’ On A Prayer” reached #1, making Bon Jovi the first hard rock band to ever have two consecutive #1 Billboard Hot 100 chart hits.

With that, let’s go back and listen to Slippery When Wet:

Let It Rock

Great way to start of an album! It gets you pumped right away.

You Give Love a Bad Name

As I already mentioned, this was the first single released from the album. A lot of people probably bought this album as soon as they heard this song. Here’s an interesting fact: At one point, this song was intended for the group Loverboy (“Working for the Weekend”). Bon Jovi and Sambora started out writing it for them, but liked it so much they kept it for themselves. That decision may have changed music history.

Livin’ on a Prayer

This was the second song released from the album. It was the second consecutive single by Bon Jovi to reach #1. This is one of Bon Jovi’s most popular songs of all time.

Social Disease

This is probably my least favorite song on the album, but it is better than a lot of songs that bands release.

Wanted Dead or Alive

This was the third single released from the album, and reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This helped Slippery When Wet become the first hard rock album ever to have 3 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. One of the most memorable (good) moments in the history of the MTV music awards was when Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora played an acoustic version of this song. This gave MTV the idea to start the channel’s Unplugged series.

Raise Your Hands

Great way to start the second side of the album! It compliments the first song of the the first side, “Let it Rock”. It gets you pumped for side 2.

Without Love

I’d Die for You

Never Say Goodbye

Bon Jovi’s first great ballad. They have had several others since this one. But this started it all. I was in high school, dating a girl when this album was released and this was “our song”. When we went to my Junior Prom, I thought was so cool when I went to the DJ, and requested this song as a dedication. A little while later, you hear the guitar start of the beginning of the song, and I felt all proud as the DJ announced that the song was a special request. But, that pride fizzled out as he spent half the song (or so it seemed) listing all the names of the people that requested the song.

Wild in the Streets

Great rock song, and a great way to end the album. It also makes you look forward to the next album. As it turns out, it gives you good reason to look forward to the next Bon Jovi as New Jersey was not too shabby.

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 7/12/16

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Can you name the artist and song:

I love to feel the rain on my face
Taste the rain on my lips
In the moonlight shadow

Last Song: “In and Out of Love” by Bon Jovi from 7800° Fahrenheit (1985) in honor of Richie Sambora who turned 57 yesterday.

Great job Robert (@mishouenglish) and Frida (@carrjam94)!!!

Young and wired
Set to explode in the heat
You won’t tire
‘Cause Baby, you were born with the beat

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 3/3/16

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Can you name the artist and song:

Rip it up
Move down
Rip it up
Move it down to the ground

Last Song: “You Give Love a Bad Name” by Bon Jovi from Slippery When Wet (1986)

Great job Robert (@mishouenglish), Jim (@JimVilk), and Andy (@andytorah)!!!

Chains of love got a hold on me
When passion’s a prison, you can’t break free