Can you name the artist and song:
I can’t explain what I’m going through
Wish I could find the right words to say
Losing control and it’s over you
Nobody else could make me feel this way
Last Song: “Holding Back The Years” by Simply Red from Picture Book (1986)
Great job sweetpurplejune, Adora (@Adora2000), and Rosa (@RosaRey33120220)!!!
I’ve wasted all my tears
Wasted all those years
And nothing had the chance to be good
On this day (July 12) in 1986, Simply Red’s “Holding Back the Years” topped the charts in the U.S. This song was the third single released off of the British soul and pop band’s debut album, Picture Book. It is one of two Simply Red songs (the other being their cover of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes “If You Don’t Know Me by Now“) to reach number one in the US. It also reached number four on the Adult Contemporary chart. “Holding Back the Years” had initially been released in the UK the year before, reaching number 51. The song was nominated in the category of Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards.
When he was only 17 years old, Simply Red’s frontman Mike Hucknall wrote this in his bedroom at his father’s house. This song is song “about that moment where you know you have to leave home and make your mark, but the outside world is scary. So you’re holding back the years”. There is a lesson to be learned here – especially as we get older. Don’t let fear hold you back from living your dreams and just do what you’re meant to do with your life. This song speaks to me more now than it did when I was 15-16. Can anybody else relate?
Can you name the artist and song:
But where am I gonna look?
They tell me that love is blind
I really need a girl like an open book
To read between the lines
Last Song: “Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)” by Simply Red from Picture Book (1986)
Great job Adora (@Adora2000) and Peter (@JamsieBlonde007)!!!
I been laid off from work
My rent is due
My kids all need
Brand new shoes
If you’d like to get this song from Amazon, click on the album cover below:
Can you name the artist and song:
Here I am, turning back the pages
Of the book we wrote
Every word can be recreated
I want you to take no more
Last Song: “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” by Simply Red from the album A New Flame (1989)
Great job Adora (@Adora2000)!!!
All the things that we’ve been through
You should understand me like I understand you
If you’d like to get this song from Amazon, you can click on the album cover below:
Can you name the artist and song:
Just put you in the corner like an old banjo
The strings are breakin’ but you can’t say no
You’re runnin’ with the devil it’s ____ ___ __
Last Song: “Holding Back the Years
Great job @WalkerABQ!!!
I’ve wasted all my tears
Wasted all those years
And nothing had the chance to be good
Nothing ever could yeah
If you’d like to purchase this song from Amazon, click on the album cover below:
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:
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.
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.
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.
This song did nothing for me. I don’t know why it was a hit.
Ditto. Real Blah
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.
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.
I don’t even like the Peter Frampton version, let alone this one!
Boring! “If you don’t know me byzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I love Phil Collins, but this was probably the most overplayed among his overplayed songs.
There were also some great hits that year:
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.
Roxette burst on to the scene with this song. This was a fun and unique song. Roxette’s first 2 albums were great.
A great ballad by this awesome band. Susanna Hoffs sounds great.
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.
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.
Another great duet from this year. Ann Wilson has such an incredible voice. And Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander sounds really good with her.
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.
This was Madonna at the peak of her career. This is my favorite song by her.
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.
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.
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