MTV in the 80s Song of the Day

[KevShmev]

U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love)

It seems weird that this song only went to number 33 on the pop charts, given that it was played to death both on radio and MTV; it seemed like a bigger hit than I guess it was.  But it helped put U2 on the map, as they had already broken out thanks to the two hits on War and their performance at Live Aid, and Pride (In the Name of Love) kicked them up even a bit more, before they massive uphill surge in 1987.  Great song, and one that always sounds great live.

[Jaq]

By this time, Billboard had the separate Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, which is based on radio airplay, and on that one they peaked at #2 with this song, which is a better reflection of rock song success by then. My memory of this album was pretty much it was a one song album to most people, and honestly I can't tell you another song off of it or how the rest of the album even sounds. 

[Orbert]

Songs with a great title, and then a more "commercially acceptable" title in parentheses are stupid.  "Pride" would be a great name for a song.  It is a great name for a song, and he does say it in the song ("they cannot take your pride").  And it is what the song is about.

But the refrain repeats, over and over and over until you want to smash your head in with a brick, "In the naaaame of love!" so they had to include that in the title, in parentheses, because people are stupid and won't buy the single on iTunes unless they know the name of the song.  Hell, for that matter, "In the Name of Love" isn't a bad title, either.  Why not just call it that?

♫ Stop, in the name of love
♫ Before you break my heart

[masterthes]

Got me started with U2

[DebraKadabra]

U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love)

Still love this one.

[KevShmev]

Songs with a great title, and then a more "commercially acceptable" title in parentheses are stupid.  "Pride" would be a great name for a song.  It is a great name for a song, and he does say it in the song ("they cannot take your pride").  And it is what the song is about.

But the refrain repeats, over and over and over until you want to smash your head in with a brick, "In the naaaame of love!" so they had to include that in the title, in parentheses, because people are stupid and won't buy the single on iTunes unless they know the name of the song. Hell, for that matter, "In the Name of Love" isn't a bad title, either.  Why not just call it that?
 

Dang, U2 really were ahead of their time, considering iTunes didn't come out till 17 years after the song.

[Orbert]

It's true.  I read it on the Internet somewhere.

[bosk1]

Great song.  I don't get the rant about the title.  Whatever...

[Orbert]

It has two titles, one cool, one lame and conventional and in parentheses.  I just think it's stupid when bands do that.  Almost, but not quite, as stupid as my rant.

[DebraKadabra]

Great song.  I don't get the rant about the title.  Whatever...

Exactly.

[KevShmev]

Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A.

I know this song was huge, but I think a lot of that had to do with a lot of people thinking it was this huge patriotic song, and with tensions being what they were with Russia at the time, the Cold War and all, I think the song resonated with a lot of people.  I never really cared for it and still don't.

[bosk1]

I never really cared for it and still don't.

Same here.

[Orbert]

I never really cared for it and still don't.

Same here.

Same here.

Too damned repetitive.

[wolfking]

I never really cared for it and still don't.

Same here.

[DebraKadabra]

I never really cared for it and still don't.

I'm with ya, dude.

[Zydar]

Big fan of the Boss here, but I've never cared for that song.

[wolfking]

It's just so overrated and really doesn't go anywhere.

[Zydar]

The acoustic demo version (from the Tracks box set) is pretty interesting, very low key and definitely not the stomping arena anthem that it turned into.

[DebraKadabra]

It's just so overrated and really doesn't go anywhere.

[KevShmev]

Adam Ant - Goody Two Shoes

A fun little song, with a video that I enjoyed a lot at the ripe old age of 8.   I remember the lady reporter (the one he dances with near the end of the song) being literally my first celebrity crush, if you can call some no-name in a video a celebrity.  When she lets her hair down and her clothes look a little disheveled...that is good stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o41A91X5pns

Had to bump this just to point out that I just realized that the version in the video is slightly different than the regular version.  The regular version has a more basic drum beat, while the single version, featured in the video, has a more pounding and reverberating drum beat, which I prefer.  And thanks to amazon having it, $1.29 later, I have it as well.

[jingle.boy]

As for Born in the USA, wolf nailed it.  It was however, the entrance music for Windham/Rotunda.

[DebraKadabra]

Adam Ant - Goody Two Shoes

A fun little song, with a video that I enjoyed a lot at the ripe old age of 8.   I remember the lady reporter (the one he dances with near the end of the song) being literally my first celebrity crush, if you can call some no-name in a video a celebrity.  When she lets her hair down and her clothes look a little disheveled...that is good stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o41A91X5pns

Had to bump this just to point out that I just realized that the version in the video is slightly different than the regular version.  The regular version has a more basic drum beat, while the single version, featured in the video, has a more pounding and reverberating drum beat, which I prefer.  And thanks to amazon having it, $1.29 later, I have it as well.

No kidding?  I never really noticed a difference in the two.

[KevShmev]

We should be smacking ourselves for not noticing before.

The video/single version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o41A91X5pns

The regular version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahuKT8jMYTc

The difference is now sooooo obvious.

[masterthes]

Way overrated. There is so much better stuff on that album

[jjrock88]

As for Born in the USA, wolf nailed it.  It was however, the entrance music for Windham/Rotunda.

LOL.........i used this song as my wrestling entrance when i was 5yrs old and wrestling a neighbourhood punk.  Not sure why, I wasn't even remotely born in the USA.

[KevShmev]

The Police - Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

Good song, although not really a Police favorite of mine.  This video was played seemingly non-stop in MTV's early days, and it was hard to not take a liking to the band, thanks to their energetic silliness.  They were obviously still getting along great at the time.

[bosk1]

^All of that.

[masterthes]

It's my personal favorite of theirs so 

[Jaq]

Fun song, even if MTV's near constant airplay of it kind of wore it out for me. Also, much like U2, you had no idea from this album how big the Police were about to become, albeit briefly, before they imploded. For a while the Police were arguably the biggest band in the world, but you certainly didn't see it coming from this video.

[wolfking]

I really like that one, one of my favs from them.

[KevShmev]

INXS - What You Need

I didn't hear this song until I got into the band through the Kick singles, but despite being nutty over nearly everything on that record, What You Need didn't do a whole lot for me.  And it never has since then.  I guess it's a pretty good song, but it just doesn't do anything for me.

[DebraKadabra]

The Police - Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

It's a big enough umbrella
But it's always me that ends up getting wet...

LOVE this song, still.

INXS - What You Need

Kev, I must disagree - this song SMOKES.  Always has.

[Big Hath]

The Police - Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

It's a big enough umbrella
But it's always me that ends up getting wet...

those same lyrics are in two other songs he wrote.  "O My God" and "Seven Days" (a cool, fun little song from his Ten Summoner's Tales solo album)

[DebraKadabra]

Oh yeah!  I forgot about that.

[Orbert]

INXS - What You Need

I didn't hear this song until I got into the band through the Kick singles, but despite being nutty over nearly everything on that record, What You Need didn't do a whole lot for me.  And it never has since then.  I guess it's a pretty good song, but it just doesn't do anything for me.

It's my favorite from that album.  I love the funky backbeat.  Impossible not to move to this one.