1984 was the first year I remember the year being a year. At this time my musical tastes were basically limited to Bull Frogs and Butterflies. If you are not familiar with these tunes I suggest you take a time machine back to Sunday School of the 80s. But now I realize that the year held much of the greatest music of all time. And I am going to share it with you, cause I like you.
7. The Cure- The Empty World
The Cure in all their glory has a plethora of songs that I love to death. For whatever reason 1984 is not full of them. I would say my favorite song of theirs this year was Caterpillar, but I hate the video. So instead I bring you The Empty World which has this nifty little youtube video that someone decided to make. It shows us that at some times, Robert Smith is not wearing makeup and is quite nice to stare at.
6. Icicle Works- Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)
One time when I had a visitor in my old coffee shop I was sitting there and the visitor said out of the blue, “Icicle Works” while this song was playing on the sirus radio that I had installed. And I love this song. And I have no idea what it is about. And I don’t care.
5. New Order- Theives Like Us
I have nothing to say about this song, but I like it and the video here that I have given you is…different.
4. U2- Pride (In the name of Love)
Love U2. The first tape I ever bought with my own money was October. This is not off October, but off of The Unforgettable Fire, which I think I like better. And so you know, the greatest song of theirs is Stay (Faraway So Close) . There is a theme with parenthesis in titles here as you can see.
3. Echo and the Bunnymen-The Killing Moon
It’s just so much fun.
2. Replacements-Unsatisfied
I love this song because I can feel how unsatisfied the singer is. Maybe that’s not a reason to love a song, but I do not care. And the Replacements rule all.
The Psychedelic Furs- Ghost in You
There is not a person among us who does not love this song. If you say you don’t you are a dirty dirty liar. I bought this on tape in 1995 when I lived in Oroville and was not subjected to any radio or MTV or any current music of any kind. I was unaware that the album was 11 years old at this point. I don’t know why I told you that.
The Pilver 
Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream) really, really brought back some old memories. I haven’t thought of that song for what seems like about twenty years.
I always write music from the 80’s (and the decade in general, i guess) off…like a knee-jerk reaction, even though that’s sort of my “roots.” Then when I actually stop and think about it, and read stuff like this post, I realize there was some good music made in the 80’s…and I actually like and own a lot of it.
Then images of weird clothes and hair styles (and bad music) come flooding in and I have the same knee-jerk reaction the next time. I hope kids don’t think of the 90’s and 2000’s the same way.
Oh man, the 90’s are already tinted with more and more deeper shades of out-datedness…
Pingback: Top 7 Songs of 1984
I still remember being blown away by Pride – such feeling (and a message too!).
I think it is funny that all those songs are on my top favorite list. I still think about when I met the Furs. I wish I knew you then because I would totally send you an autogragh.
Michael- I think that’s the thought of a lot of people. When we think of 80s music often the cheese music that MTV was founded on comes to mind, though I don’t necessarily mind that either.
Billy- I still love that story about you whistling their song.
Great list! Although with you being from Minnesota, I’m surprised Purple Rain isn’t on there.
I would have added Karma Chameleon. So bad it crosses the line into good.
Love the 80’s–was in High School from ’82-’86 so I’m all over it–love every song on your list. I also loved Erasure back then and Yaz.
Kris: Karma Chameleon? I agree that it is so bad-but crossing into good…no I think it is so bad it crossed into the category “Music I would Slit My Wrists To” 😉
Kris- Y’know I realized that my list was heavy in one genre…although the Replacements are natives.
Pingback: Actors, Movies, and Songs » Top 7 Songs of 1984 The Pilver
Oh man, I am so glad I read this, because I forgot all about “Whisper to a Scream” and I love that song. Awesome.