This list is five of my favorite songs released in 1987--either in single form or part of an album. Taking into account future blog posts, they do not include covers, guilty pleasures, and songs with killer music videos. There are a lot of song that won't make this list that are, traditionally, considered "classic" songs. Since I don't care what is considered classic, such artists as U2 can suck it because they are annoying and I don't like them.
5. "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House
Most recently covered by Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande at the One Love Manchester Concert, this song has staying power. This could be because of it's ethereal sound or positive message, but I prefer to think it's because it uses one of the coolest words in the English language--deluge.
deluge (del-yooj) n. 1. a heavy downpour 2. a word that makes every song wicked cooler
4. "Beds Are Burning" by Midnight Oil
When I was a kid, I used to think this song was so deep. "How can we dance while the earth is turning?", I would contemplate. I didn't know why someone would sleep in a burning bed, so I didn't think about that line near as much. Had I know it was about giving Australian lands back to the Pintupi people, I probably wouldn't have thought the whole "turning earth" metaphor very cool.
3. "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" by Beastie Boys
This song was the sixth single off Licensed to Ill and the second released in 1987 (the album was released in 1986). I honestly changed which song I was going to pick four times beause I couldn't pick just one. I was there when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 (mostly to see Donovan) but was pleasantly surprised to see how much of the crowd was there to see them! It was amazing to hear the audience say the opening lyrics to "Paul Revere" along with Chuck D. I just rewatched a few RnR Hall of Fame videos on YouTube and, dang, they all gave me the chills.
Ignore Kid Rock and instead focus on the dude rockin' out on the tuba
2. "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues
It may be a Christmas song, but it still rules. The fact that this song can cut through my grinchy Christmas heart makes it pretty special. For more on why I love this song, please see my post "Top Five Underrated Christmas Songs."
In case you ever wondered if the NYPD Choir actually sang "Galloway Bay," click here.
1. "Just Like Heaven" by The Cure
This song has one of my favorite opening verses ever. There's nothing else I will say about this song, because I love it so much and can't explain coherently why. Just to show how much I love this song, I spelled "coherently" wrong twice before I got it right. If I tried to explain, though, it would read something like: "OMG THIS SONG IS THE BEST! It's about sex but it's also super romantic and GOD I LOVE THIS SONG." You're welcome from being spared 20 more sentences of that.
