Tag Archives: Jody Watley

Artists, Music, Song of the Day

Song of the Day: “Looking for a New Love” by Jody Watley

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In honor of the 35th anniversary of the release of Jody Watley’s self-titled debut solo album, today’s Song of the Day is Jody’s “Looking for a New Love”. It was released in January 1987 as the first single off of that album. The single hit number two for four consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1987 and spent three weeks at number-one on the Billboard R&B chart. In case you’re curious, it was stuck behind Cutting Crew’s “(I Just) Died in Your Arms” and U2’s “With or Without You” for two weeks each. But, the song one of the biggest pop and R&B singles of 1987.

Jody was a member of the underrated group, Shalamar, from 1977-1983. During her stint with them, they had some hits songs such as “The Second Time Around“, “A Night to Remember“, and “Dead Giveaway“.

At the 30th Annual Grammy Awards of 1988, Watley won the award for Best New Artist (beating out Breakfast Club, Cutting Crew, Terence Trent D’Arby and Swing Out Sister), and was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Contrary to popular belief, the catchphrase “Hasta la vista, baby” did not originate from Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day – it originated as a lyric from this song, released four years prior to T2.

Other guys will have me, they’ll appreciate my love
Tell me, how does it feel?
Now you’re like the rest, unworthy of my best
Hasta la vista, baby

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song – 9/21/21

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Can you name the artist and song:

Ain’t no use in complainin’
When you got a job to do

Last Song: “Friends” by Jody Watley with Eric B & Rakim from Larger Than Life (1989)

Great job Tim from Old School ’80s (@OldSchool80s), Craig (@cdennis0130), and Adora (@Adora2000)!!!

Have you ever been stabbed in the back
By someone you thought was really cool?

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

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song – 3/30/21

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Can you name the artist and song:

I’m working hard, you’re working too
We do it every day
For every minute I have to work
I need a minute of play

Last Song: “Looking For A New Love” by Jody Watley from the album Jody Watley (1987)

Great job Adora (@Adora2000) and Erwin (@erwin_green)!!!

Was she worth my heart? It’s torn all apart
Are you going back again? Tell me

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

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song – 5/22/19

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Can you name the artist and song:

Four wheels scare the cockatoos
From Kintore, east to Yuendemu
The Western Desert lives and breathes
In forty-five degrees

Last Song: “Real Love” by Jody Watley from the album Larger Than Life (1989)

Great job Denise (@denise_mcaleer)!!!

All my friends are telling me
I should give you another try
But I don’t need opinions
To deal with what I have on my mind

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

1987, Music, Top 40

Top 40 Songs This Week (UK Edition) – July 12, 1987: Songs 40-31

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Hi Lads and Lasses! We are way overdue for a new Top 40 countdown! This week, we will take another trip across the pond, to the UK. And if you are in the UK already, look out, here we come! This week, we will take a look at what the Top 40 songs were this week in 1987, in the UK. For those of us in the U.S., there will be some familiar songs. There will also be plenty of songs that didn’t hit it big in the U.S. As usual, you can click on the song title to get the YouTube video of the song, and you can click on the album cover to buy or listen to the song on Amazon. So, let’s Return to the week ending July 12, 1987, and get the countdown started!

40. “Jack Mix II/III” by Mirage

This is an electronic instrumental. I don’t listen to today’s EDM. Or maybe if I do hear it, I black out from the pain of that crap going into my ears. This song is OK since it has a small sample of “Axel F” in it.

39. “It’s Not Unusual (1987)” by Tom Jones

Apparently this song, a Carlton Banks favorite, had a resurgence in 1987. The Welsh Wonder (I just made that up) Tom Jones, originally had a smash hit with this song in 1965, when he was an unknown.

 

38. “Lifetime Love” by Joyce Sims

This is a pretty good freestyle song by Joyce Sims, who hails from Rochester New York. She never hit it too big in the U.S. This song did reach up to #23 on the U.S. R&B charts, but did not chart on the mainstream Billboard Hot 100. But, it reached up to #34 on the U.K. charts. She is still around, with her most recent album being released in 2014.

37. “Just Don’t Want to be Lonely” by Freddie McGregor

This song was originally recorded in 1973 by Ronnie Dyson, then made popular in 1974 by The Main Ingredient. This reggae version by Freddie McGregor became a huge hit in the U.K. reaching all the way up to #9.

 

36. “Scales of Justice” by Living in a Box

This was Living in a Box’s follow-up single to their self-titled single. It did not chart at all in the U.S., but reached #30 on the U.K charts. I’m really digging this song. It’s a very cool, upbeat song that sticks with you.

 

35. “Looking for a New Love” by Jody Watley

Here’s a song that hit it big everywhere. This was Jody Watley’s debut solo single. In 1987, she won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Originally, Watley was a member of Shalamar, who are huge in England. I still can’t figure out why they don’t have a huge audience here.

 

34. “Victim of Love” by Erasure

This song by the synth-pop duo, Erasure, was a huge hit in the U.K., reaching all the way to #7. It did not chart at all on the Billboard Hot 100. They would have to wait for “Chains of Love” the following year for that.

 

33. “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House

This song was a worldwide smash hit for the Australian band. It was nominated for Best Group Video, and Best Direction at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, and earned the group a Best New Artist award. This song was also covered by Paul Young in 1991, and by Sixpence None the Richer in 2003.

 

32. “Songbird” by Kenny G

Time for a little smooth jazz. Definitely not my kind of music. But, I do appreciate it much more now than I did when I was 16.

 

 

31. “Jive Talkin'” Boogie Box High

What the hell?!?!? Why have I not heard of this version before? I love the Bee Gees, and love this song. But, I had never heard about this super group, Boogie Box High. It consists of guitarist Nick Heyward (of Haircut One Hundred), keyboardist Mick Talbot (of The Style Council), guitarist–songwriter David Austin, bassist Deon Estus, and a singer you may have heard of – George Michael!

Well, that wraps up today’s list of songs. What do you think so far? Any new songs you hadn’t heard before? Come back tomorrow for some more gems.

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 1/31/18

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Can you name the artist and song:

All I’m saying
It takes a lot to love you
All I’m doing
You know it’s true
All I mean now
There’s one thing yes one thing that turns this
Gray sky to blue

Last Song: “Don’t You Want Me” by Jody Watley from the album Jody Watley (1987)

Great job Jim (@JimVilk)!!!

But then you seemed to change your mind
You looked away like you were, oh, so shy
Is the game you’re playing hard to get
Won’t you tell me

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

Artists, Music, Remember That Song?

Remember That Song: 5/28/15

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Can you name the artist and song:

You fell in love with me
Like I’m in love with you
But dreaming’s all I do
If only they’d come true

Last Song: “Looking for a New Love” by Jody Watley from the album Jody Watley (1987)

Great job Jim (@JimVilk)!!!

Was she hot, did she turn you out?
Curiosity rules my brain
Was she worth my heart? It’s torn all apart
Are you going back again?

Hits - Horrible and Great, Music

Hits of 1989 – Horrible and Great

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Well, here is the final Hits of the Decade – Horrible and Great.
I hope you all enjoyed the articles as much as I enjoyed compiling them. In case you missed any, here are the links to each of the years. Feel free to comment on them, and leave your own lists:

1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988

On 8/6/10, Stuck in the 80s released their Horrible Hits of 1989 podcast. Here is their list:

10. Hangin’ Tough – New Kids On The Block
9. Buffalo Stance – Neneh Cherry
8. If I Could Turn Back Time – Cher
7. Girl You Know Its True – Milli Vanilli
6. Toy Solider – Martika
5. Stand – R.E.M.
4. If You Don’t Know Me By Now – Simply Red
3. Baby, I Love Your Way / Freebird – Will To Power
2. I’ll Be There for You, Bon Jovi
1. Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler

You can see the top 100 hits from Billboard that year.

Here is my list of Horrible Hits:

10. The End of the Innocence – Don Henley

This song sounds too much like a Bruce Hornsby song, which I am not fond of. “The Heart of the Matter” was a way better song off of this album.

9. Welcome to the Jungle – Guns N’ Roses

Much like “Sweet Child O’ Mine”, this is the type of song that should be in my wheelhouse. But I just didn’t like it at all. It just gives me a headache.

8. Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler

This is a little too sappy for me – and I didn’t even see “Beaches” (the movie from which this is from). Sheena Easton did a way better version of this song.

7. Buffalo Stance – Neneh Cherry

This song did nothing for me. I don’t know why it was a hit.

6. Real Love – Jody Watley

Ditto. Real Blah

5. Stand – R.E.M.

Although the last couple of songs were “blah”, I would prefer “blah” to annoying!
It’s like a whiney “Hokey Pokey”. The only song I liked by R.E.M. was “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?”, and then they disappeared.

4. Girl You Know Its True/Blame It On The Rain – Milli Vanilli

These poor saps. If they came on the scene more recently, instead of 20+ years ago, all they would have needed was autotune. Then they would have been just as successful. Which is not a good thing.

3. Baby, I Love Your Way / Freebird – Will To Power

I don’t even like the Peter Frampton version, let alone this one!

2. If You Don’t Know Me By Now – Simply Red

Boring! “If you don’t know me byzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

1. Two Hearts – Phil Collins

I love Phil Collins, but this was probably the most overplayed among his overplayed songs.

There were also some great hits that year:

10. Paradise City – Guns N’ Roses

Now we’re talking! One of my all-time favorite Guns ‘N’ Roses songs. This was the perfect song for them. Axl sounds like this song belongs to him, Slash is awesome. And now that I’ve been watching Celebrity Rehab, I am very impressed with Steven Adler’s drumming in this song.

9. The Look – Roxette

Roxette burst on to the scene with this song. This was a fun and unique song. Roxette’s first 2 albums were great.

8. Eternal Flame – The Bangles

A great ballad by this awesome band. Susanna Hoffs sounds great.

7. After All – Cher and Peter Cetera

These two unique voices sound great together. Cetera was still going strong post-Chicago, and Cher was in the middle of one of her several comebacks. One of my favorite duets of the decade.

6. Look Away – Chicago

I had the cassingle of this song, and played it over and over. I kind of ruined the song for myself, but I could not get enough of it. “Look Away” was my favorite Chicago song for a while.

5. Surrender To Me – Ann Wilson and Robin Zander

Another great duet from this year. Ann Wilson has such an incredible voice. And Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander sounds really good with her.

4. Poison – Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper was great in the ’70s. But he had a pretty good revival in the late ’80s. This is probably my favorite song by him.

3. Like a Prayer – Madonna

This was Madonna at the peak of her career. This is my favorite song by her.

2. Lost In Your Eyes – Debbie Gibson

My favorite Debbie Gibson song. Even people who weren’t into the teen music, at the time, liked this song. It is still great today.

1. The Living Years – Mike and the Mechanics

Not only was this my favorite song of the year, but it may be one of my favorite songs of the entire decade. A really emotional song that packs quite a punch. Paul Carrack sounds great. The music and message are just awesome.

Artists, Hits - Horrible and Great, Music

Hits of 1987 – Horrible and Great

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On April 27, 2010, Stuck in the 80s released their Horrible Hits of 1987 podcast. Here is their list:

10. I’ve Had the Time of My Life – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
9. Songbird – Kenny G
8. I Think We’re Alone Now – Tiffany
7. With or Without You – U2
6. Head to Toe – Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
5. Wanted Dead or Alive – Bon Jovi
4. Respect Yourself – Bruce Willis
3. La Isla Bonita – Madonna
2. Always – Atlantic Starr
1. Heaven is a Place on Earth

You can see the top 100 hits from Billboard that year.

I had a lot of great music memories from this year. But, there were also so many bad songs, that I couldn’t just whittle it down to 5 like I have done for all my other Horrible lists. So here are my 10 Horrible Hits of 1987:

10. Everybody Have Fun Tonight – Wang Chung

The very first time I heard this song was at a dance/mixer. I got there early to set up, and the DJ played this song first, before the rest of the people showed up. I thought it sounded pretty good when it was being blasted on the big speakers. But upon further listening on normal radio, it slowly drove me crazy. “Everybody Have Fun Tonight! Everybody Wang Chung tonight?” Really?!? It seemed a bit desperate (or arrogant) to try to make their band name a part of our vocabulary. Well, it didn’t work, and they didn’t have too many hits after this song.

9. I Want Your Sex – George Michael

I was really sick of George Michael by the time this came out. The only song I really liked by him was “Faith”. Remember when this song was the most controversial thing that George Michael did? We all long for those days again!

8. Ballerina Girl – Lionel Richie

I love Lionel. But after an extremely long sting of successful hits, this stinker was kind of a jump-the-shark moment for him in my eyes. I even liked “Hello” better than this. I couldn’t listen to the whole song back then, and I can’t do it now.

7. Shake You Down – Gregory Abbott

This song is just meh to me. It might not have made my horrible list if it didn’t make the top 10. But, not only was this a top 10 song, it was a #1 hit! Not my cup of tea.

6. Looking for a New Love – Jody Watley

This was kind of boring for a dance song. I’ll take anything by Janet Jackson over this any day!

5. Hip to Be Square – Huey Lewis and the News

I don’t know why, but this song just rubs me the wrong way.

4. Mandolin Rain – Bruce Hornsby and the Range

Bruce Hornsby has a unique sound on his piano. Unfortunately, every song I’ve heard by him sounds exactly the same. And they are all horrible. I can’t turn this song off fast enough as soon as I hear it.

3. La Isla Bonita – Madonna

I love Madonna’s early music, and I even liked her music through the ’90s. But, this crappy boring song was the valley between her coned mountains of hits.

2. The Lady In Red – Chris DeBurgh

Let me know if there is anybody out there that hasn’t danced with a girl/woman in a red dress that actually still likes this song. This is too boring and whiny for me. I don’t care much for male singers that have wussy voices. However, I must admit that I do like DeBurgh’s “Carry Me (Like a Fire in Your Heart)“.

1. Songbird – Kenny G

This was the death of the sax in pop/rock songs, until Lady Ga Ga and the late, great Clarence Clemons brought it back last month. I don’t like the thought of elevator music appearing in the top 100, never mind topping at #4! I have a suggestion if you are planning a wedding. Do as I did, and tell the DJ: “NO KENNY G!!!”

And here is my list of Great Hits of 1987:

10. Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi

“You Give Love a Bad Name” sent Bon Jovi into the stratosphere, and their follow-up song. “Livin’ on a Prayer” kept them there. I get sick of hearing the same song over and over again, but I could not get enough of this song when it came out. It was inspiring hearing about Tommy and Gina, who would go on to reappear in Bon Jovi’s 2000 smash hit “It’s My Life”.

9. Somewhere Out There – Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram

This is a guilty pleasure for me. But Linda Ronstadt has an incredible voice, and James Ingram is so smooth. Together, they sounded great.

8. Keep Your Hands to Yourself – Georgia Satellites

Georgia Satellites were a one-hit wonder with this song. I think this song might irritate some people, but I really like it. It’s a great Southern Rock song that makes you want to move to the beat.

7. Jacob’s Ladder – Huey Lewis and The News

This is one of my favorite Huey Lewis songs, if not my favorite. Unfortunately, this song was overshadowed by the other songs from the Fore! album, such as “Stuck With You”, “Doing It All for My Baby”, and “Hip to Be Square”. This song was actually written by Bruce Hornsby and his brother John Hornsby. If Hornsby did this song instead of Huey Lewis, I would either hate this song, or I would like Bruce Hornsby.

6. At This Moment – Billy Vera and The Beaters

This song was originally released in 1981, and topped out at #79. But, thanks to Family Ties, “At This Moment” made the charts again, and skyrocketed to #1. “At This Moment” will now forever be linked with Family Ties – which is not a bad thing.

5. Shakedown – Bob Seger

Kenny Loggins may be the king of ’80s movie soundtracks, but Bob Seger made a pretty good mark on movie soundtracks himself. He scored big time with “Old Time Rock and Roll” in an iconic scene in Risky Business. Then he had “Shakedown” for the Beverly Hills Cop II. I like Bob Seger alot, and this is one of my favorite songs by him.

4. Alone – Heart

In my opinion, Ann and Nancy Wilson are among the greatest females in Rock history. This is one of my favorite Heart songs. Ann sings this song with so much power and passion.

Here is an awesome acoustic version:

3. With or Without You – U2

U2 had some great rockin’ songs that I love. But this slower song is probably my favorite U2 tune. I love songs that starts slow, and becomes more and more powerful as it goes on.

2. Will You Still Love Me? – Chicago

Chicago, one of my favorite bands, proved that they could move on without Peter Cetera. Their rock songs are underrated. But, when they do great ballads like this, you can see why these are the ones that get the radio air play.

1. Here I Go Again – Whitesnake

This is a great song without the video. But, much like “At This Moment” is linked with Family Ties, “Here I Go Again” will forever be linked with the video and Tawny Kitaen. How many of us guys wished that we were that car?!? 24 years later I still love this song. It stands the test of time for me.