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  • 7 weeks ago
These tracks never got the love they truly deserved! Join us as we count down our picks for the most underrated songs of the 1980s that still hold up today! From new wave bangers to alternative rock gems, these hidden classics prove the decade had way more to offer than just the hits everyone remembers. Which forgotten 80s track do YOU think deserves more recognition?
Transcript
00:07Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best songs that deserve
00:13more attention and or acclaim from the 1980s.
00:30Number 10, The Hole of the Moon, The Water Boys.
00:52This Scottish act featured a number of talented musicians, receiving some modest success
00:58in the 1980s. The Water Boys created something of an underrated masterpiece with this track.
01:03It's one filled with lively piano, violin, and drums.
01:18Without wasting any time, the band jolts you awake with a full, confused rock tune.
01:23The Hole of the Moon contains some interstellar lyrics that'll leave you shaken.
01:27The high-quality words take you on a journey, building out a track that's ultimately timeless.
01:32Vocalist Mike Scott gives a spirited performance alongside his bandmates.
01:36Through the years, other performers covered the song to help celebrate its greatness.
01:51Number 9, Temporary Secretary, Paul McCartney.
02:08After a successful decade away from the Beatles, Paul McCartney kick-started the 1980s with a new record.
02:15McCartney, too, saw the artist embracing different sounds on tracks like Temporary Secretary.
02:20It might be the singer's most daring track since the 1960s.
02:24With an electronic beat, the song alters your sense of time and rhythm.
02:36This unorthodox tune demands a few listens to fall in love with it.
02:40Once you're acclimated to the man's strange musical vision, you might just call this one a guilty pleasure.
02:46It's certainly among the more experimental and unforgettable of the man's solo works.
02:52She can be a belly dancer, I don't need a true romancer.
02:55She can be a diplomat, but I don't need a girl like that.
02:59She can be a neurosurgeon if she's doing nothing urgent.
03:03What I need's a temporary, temporary secretary.
03:06Number 8, Wolves Lower, R.E.M.
03:16On their first EP entitled Chronic Town, this alternative band already had a self-assured sound.
03:23Wolves Lower is lesser known than Radio Free Europe, but it's equally praiseworthy.
03:28The former song includes guitarist Peter Buck's speedy riffs.
03:32Michael Stipe's voice makes for an indelible part of the group's success, making this number even more awesome.
03:51The contributions from bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry can't be understated either.
03:57Combining vocals and rock beats, the quartet seemed more than ready to conquer an over-evolving genre in the 1980s.
04:04They were already doing amazing work before their classic debut album, Murmur.
04:20Number 7, Private Idaho, The B-52s.
04:34From Rock Lobster to Love Shack, this band helped to usher in an alternative and fun kind of rock.
04:41Their second album, Wild Planet, keeps the energy with some career highlights.
04:46Private Idaho starts off with Ricky Wilson's signature guitar, combining with some notable vocal work from Kate Pearson,
04:52Cindy Wilson, and Fred Schneider.
04:56You're living in your own private Idaho.
04:59Living in your own private Idaho.
05:02Underground like a wild potato.
05:05The incredible collection of musicians and personalities shines through in each passing second.
05:10Putting out music that's completely unique, the group mashes up surfer vibes and inventive lyrics.
05:16The B-52s know how to make you want to hum and dance along here.
05:38Number 6, In a Big Country, Big Country.
05:51Is this one of the best self-titled songs ever?
05:54Big Country created a legacy for themselves where you never have to forget their name.
05:59Not only that, they crafted a single that's filled with rock and pop influences.
06:03True fans of the era remember it as a top 20 hit with a new wave flair.
06:07So take that look out of here, it doesn't fit you.
06:11Because it's happened doesn't mean you've been discordant.
06:15You're on your head of the ball, come on screaming.
06:19Right out for everything you ever might afford it.
06:23The Scottish group knew how to make an unforgettable song, giving this tune a bouncy energy.
06:27In a Big Country sends you on a wonderful musical road trip, transporting listeners to their ideal and dreamlike state.
06:34The upbeat track never disappoints.
06:37While they might not have the same fame as some of their contemporaries, the band's work could excite anybody looking
06:43for a throwback rocker.
06:45In a Big Country dream, stay with you like a lover's voice.
06:51Park from mountainside, stay in line.
07:10In the 1980s, Talk Talk achieved fame for singles like It's My Life.
07:16Their eclectic career ranged from new wave to post-rock.
07:19On their third album, their sound expanded to tracks such as Life's What You Make It.
07:24The song features a piano riff that might catch you off guard.
07:28Built around a solid hook, the group conjures up a rich tapestry of production elements.
07:42Singer Mark Hollis uses his singular voice to deliver some effective lyrics.
07:47This single from the color of spring finds the musicians in between two distinct eras, evolving into more interesting artists
07:55at every turn.
07:56For those willing to take a deeper dive, the British act has a catalog full of deep cuts and imaginative
08:02records.
08:18Number four, don't let's start.
08:21They might be giants.
08:23When you are alone, you are the cat, you are the bone, you are an animal.
08:29You might know this band for their acclaimed work in the 1980s or their theme song for Malcolm in the
08:35Middle.
08:35Their self-titled debut features all the promise of their later career.
08:39Don't Let's Start is chock full of cool guitar parts, keeping listeners on the edge of their seats.
08:51John Flansberg and John Linnell have an exceptional style that might satisfy any number of alternative rock fans.
08:59The rhythm alone could inspire many repeat listens just to appreciate it all.
09:04Years before Birdhouse and Your Soul, they might be giants proved themselves as unique songwriters and performers.
09:11Don't, don't, don't let's start.
09:14I've got to live hard and I don't get around.
09:17How do you get around?
09:22Number three, the downtown lights, the Blue Nile.
09:27There is just one thing I can say.
09:34Nobody loves you this way.
09:39Some people came to know this song after Taylor Swift referenced it.
09:43Drowning in the Blue Nile, he sent me downtown lights.
09:50I hadn't heard it in a while.
09:53Before the tortured Poets Department album, you might have heard the Blue Nile as an 80s music fan.
09:59The band carries a pop and soul blend that never gets old.
10:03Sung with gravitas, the lead singer conjures up memories with his extended notes.
10:07Every sound is deliberately paced with some fantastic synths underneath.
10:19The downtown lights creates such a moving and reflective piece.
10:23It takes you to another place in your mind, beckoning you to fall deeper into its emotional center.
10:29Casting a spell over the listeners, this single can't go wrong in capturing the moments and feelings that make up
10:35our complicated lives.
10:52Number two, the promise when in Rome.
11:07Younger fans might remember this one from the end of Napoleon Dynamite.
11:11It's certainly one way that the track lived on with listeners.
11:15Beyond the occasional needle drop, this majestic number deserves some more love.
11:19When in Rome was largely seen as a one-hit wonder in their day.
11:23The promise features a pulsating drive and beat underneath compelling vocals.
11:43While the band combines their musical talents, they offer up some lyrics for any heartsick listener.
11:49It almost seems to be walking the line between camp and sincerity, like many other 1980 songs.
11:56We can wholeheartedly enjoy this one for all of its cheesy charm.
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12:26Number one, Dead Man's Party, Oingo Boingo.
12:30Wait for an invitation to arrive.
12:35Going to a party with no one still alive.
12:39Before his celebrated work as a composer for Tim Burton and TV shows like The Simpsons,
12:44Danny Elfman served as the frontman for Oingo Boingo.
12:47Their take on new wave and art rock produced a number of worthy songs, including Dead Man's Party.
12:53Don't run away, it's only me.
12:59Don't be amazed when you can't see.
13:06Years before his gothic music in A Nightmare Before Christmas,
13:10Elfman gave the 80s rock genre an artistic boost with this dark edge.
13:15It's a lively song despite the title and lyrics, proving itself as a danceable track all these years later.
13:21The vocalist's sharp and theatrical delivery only makes this hit more special.
13:37Did we forget another underrated classic from the 1980s?
13:41Let us know in the comments below.
13:43It's the crisp, especially when it's evil!
13:43Why modelo is the right?
13:44Maybe you got a mighty voice или بد.
13:44What's your mind?
13:46What has he been talking about?
13:46Maybe you're in the middle of the night.
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