On March 13, 2009, Stuck in the 80s released their Horrible Hits of 1982 Podcast (Episode 159). Here is their list:

10. Ebony and Ivory – Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
9. Hurt So Good – John Cougar
8. Waiting for a Girl Like You – Foreigner
7. Even the Nights Are Better – Air Supply
6. Love in the First Degree – Alabama
5. Blue Eyes – Elton John
4. Waiting on a Friend – The Rolling Stones
3. Young Turks – Rod Stewart
2. Hooked On America – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
1. Gloria – Laura Branigan

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

Here is my top 5 (or worst 5) of Horrible songs from that year.

5. Waiting for a Girl Like You – Foreigner

I love Foreigner, but this is one of my least favorite songs by them. It’s too slow, boring, and whiny.
People tend to trash “I Want to Know What Love Is”, but at least that song has a choir to lift things up a little. I definitely prefer their rock songs, such as “Juke Box Hero”, “Long, Long Way From Home”, and “Feels Liek the First Time”. They should stay away from ballads. The only exception is “With Heaven On Our Side”.

4. Harden My Heart – Quarterflash

This is one of the most overplayed ’80s songs out there. I’ve heard this song more in the past couple of years than I did during the entire ’80s decade! And it’s not even on my iPod! This may not have made the list if it were not so overplayed. This song is a little to slow for me, but not slow enough to be a good ballad. I can’t change the station fast enough when it comes on the radio.

3. Chariots of Fire – Vangelis

This instrumental was a humongous hit. It was alright, but I think I will punish it for being associated with one of the most boring and overrated movies of all time. The movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture, which proves my point. The song also won an Academy Award for Best Original Score. So I guess I’m supposed to love it, but what can I say?

2. Cool Night, Paul Davis

I do like a lot of Easy Listening music – in small doses – but I really can’t make it through this whole song. I think I would rather rock out to some “Chariots of Fire”.

1. Blue Eyes – Elton John

One of my least favorite Elton John tunes. I haven’t decided which was worse, this or “Nikita”. The ’80s was not a very good period for Elton. I like “I’m Still Standing” and “Healing Hands”. Other than that, his worst ’70s were still better than most of his ’80s songs.

“Blue Eyes” is too boring for me. It feels like it should have more emotion than it does.

Here is my top 5 songs from that year.

5. Always On My Mind, Willie Nelson

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Willie Nelson is one of my all-time favorites. He wrote some old time country songs, such as “Crazy” (made famous by Patsy Cline), he’s played with Aerosmith (or I should say Aerosmith has played with him), and he has even played Reggae.
But he had an incredible ballad with “Always On My Mind”. He put a lot of feeling into this song, and it shows. I never get sick of this one. I don’t think I ever heard a bad version of this song, but Willie has one of the best versions.

4. I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll – Joan Jett and The Blackhearts

One of the greatest women of rock of all time. At the time, Joan Jett and Pat Benatar were just about the only rocker women on the radio. And they were among the best out of anybody at the time.
“I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” delivers on its name – it is pure Rock ‘N’ Roll. Great music and great attitude.

3. Edge of Seventeen – Stevie Nicks

I like Fleetwood Mac, and I love Stevie Nicks. While “Stand Back” was one of her biggest hits, this is my favorite by her. Stevie has a unique and powerful voice, and she really rocks it in this song. It was great to see the song get a resurgence when it was featured in the Jack Black movie School of Rock.

2. Eye of the Tiger – Survivor

This was my favorite song when this came out. It really gets your blood pumping. If you played any sports, this song could get you ready for any game or match. When you hear the opening chords of the song, you know exactly what it is. “Weird Al” Yankovic’s parody of it – “Theme From Rocky XIII” – was even good. Actually, we are getting pretty close to having a Rocky XIII. I wonder if they would really use that as the theme song.

Survivor’s lead singer, Dave Bickler, was only around for the first album. The band continued to be successful after he left. Bickler is best known now for singing for the Real Men of Genius Bud Light TV and radio commercials.

1. Don’t Stop Believin’, Journey

There was a toss-up between this and “Open Arms”. While “Open Arms” pretty much set the standard for power ballads, “Don’t Stop Believin'” is one of my all time favorite songs, even after all these years. Everybody still gets into this song. And a new generation has even found it, as it became extremely popular from the television show Glee. Don’t Stop Believin’ this song will live on forever.

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