Top 5 Songs from 1987 (Thirty, Flirty, & Thriving, Part 2)

When I set out to write a post about the best songs of 1987, I honestly thought I would be scraping the bottom of the jukebox for whatever songs are even remotely worth listening to.  Surprisingly, though, my birth year came through for me again!  Not only did I find enough songs for this post, I found a ton more for future posts!  You lucky, reader, you.
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.

Top 5 Movies from 1987 (Thirty, Flirty, & Thriving, Part 1)

Yours truly turns 30 this year *cue gasps of disbelief* and in preparation for my sweet birthday gala, here is Part One of my 'Thirty, Flirty, & Thriving' blog series in honor of the year of my birth--1987. Shoulder pads, big hair, and sensual jazz solos will have their day, but today is for MOVIES!

*Disclaimer, there are tons of movies released in this glorious year, but these are the best of the ones I have seen.  Ergo, Wall Street and Harry and the Hendersons are noticeably absent*

5. 3 Men and a Baby

Gutenberg, Ted Danson, and Tom Selleck's majestic 'stache...and a baby, of course.

Fave quote (because I always think of this when reading something to a baby)

Peter: [reading a review of a boxing match in a hushed, storytelling way] The champ caught Smith with a savage left hook...
Michael: What are you reading her?
Peter: [responding to Michael in same tone] It doesn't matter what I read, it's the tone you use.  She doesn't understand the words anyway, now where were we?

Check out that radical 80s font!

4. Moonstruck

Cher is a national treasure and Nic Cage is, arguably, the best worst actor to ever walk to earth.

Fave quote
Old Man: [uncomfortable silence at kitchen table] Someone, tell a joke...

*bonus Cage fun here*

3. The Princess Bride

This movie has everything: romance, adventure, rodents of unusual size, and Billy Crystal but the best thing about it is that, thought it's 30 years old, it doesn't show it's age a bit.

Fave quote

Miracle Max: Get back, witch!

Valerie: I'm not a witch, I'm your wife!

2. Planes, Trains, & Automobiles

Is this movie dated?  Sure.  But COME ON!  It has Steve Martin AND John Candy!  You honestly can't get much better (except, arguably, for the movie at #1).

Fave quote

Motel Clerk: Do you have seventeen dollars and a good watch?

Del Griffith: No, I don't.  I have uh...two dollars...and a Casio.

*Bonus gif because I love you*

1. Spaceballs

I don't care that The Last Emperor won the Best Movie Oscar this year, Spaceballs is the real winner in my book.

Fave Quote #1

Dark Helmet: Before you die there is something you should know about us, Lone Star.

Lone Starr: What?

Dark Helmet: I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate.

Lone Starr: What's that make us?

Dark Helmet: Absolutely nothing!  Which is what you are about to become.

Fave Quote #2 (because this movie rules)

Colonel Sandurz: Are we being to literal?

Dark Helmet: No you fool, we're following orders.  We were told to comb the desert so we're combing it. (shouts to Troopers) Found anything yet?

Trooper with Comb: Nothing yet, sir.

Dark Helmet: How about you?

Trooper with Second Comb: Not a thing, sir.

Dark Helmet: What about you guys?

Trooper with Afro Comb: We ain't found shit!

For a list of other movies released in 1987, click here

Ten Years in the Bookstore, Part 2

Ten Years in the Bookstore, Part 2

In the tradition of Nick Hornby's Ten Years in the Tub, here are the books I bought in January 2017.  These are books bought at a bookstore (new or used) but excludes library bag sales, books gifted to me, or books I borrowed from the library.

1. Tudor: Passion. Manipulation. Murder. The Story of England's Most Notorious Royal Family by Leanda de Lisle

Not to brag, but there isn't much more that I could learn about Tudor England that I don't already know, but that won't stop me from buying a good book on it if I can!  Plus, I got to buy this book and the three below at The Strand Bookstore in NYC, so Tudor History plus a huge bookstore equals literary love.

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2. Dust: The Archive and Cultural History by Carolyn Steedman

A much more abstract analysis about archives than I was expecting--haven't decided if that's a good thing or not.

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3. Jane Austen: An Illustrated Biography by Zena Alkayat and Nina Cosford

Look at it!  It's so cute!  And at only six inches it's adorably compact, too!

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4. Helen Keller: From Darkness to Light by Megumi Sugihara, illustrated by Naoko Takase

Just what I needed--another biography of Helen Keller.  But this one is manga!

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5. Light in My Darkness by Helen Keller

My personal Helen Keller reference shelf continues to grow...

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6. Teacher: Anne Sullivan Macy by Helen Keller

And grow...

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7. My Religion by Helen Keller

And grow...