Dave's Music Database Hall of Fame: Song Inductees (April 2021)

Originally posted 4/22/2021. In honor of the 10th anniversary of the DMDB blog on January 22, 2019, Dave’s Music Database launched its own Hall of Fame. This is the ninth set of song inductees. These inductees were selected because of their iconic presence on MTV in the 1980s. These are the 11 highest-ranked ‘80s songs on the overall DMDB list that make the DMDB’s list of the “Top 100 Videos of All Time”). It does not include previously inducted songs “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson (1982) and “Every Breath You Take” by the Police (1983).

Michael Jackson “Beat It” (1982) Inducted April 2021 as “MTV in the ‘80s”

The one-two punch of Jackson’s #1 songs “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” from his monstrous Thriller album sent him into the superstar stratosphere. With Eddie Van Halen on guitar, it was the most rock-oriented song Jackson had ever done. He also broke down racial barriers as one of the first black artists to get massive airplay on MTV. The iconic video was a mini-movie version of West Side Story with rival gangs facing off in a choreographed rumble. Read more.

Michael Jackson “Thriller” (1982) Inducted April 2021 as “MTV in the ‘80s”

This was the seventh and final single from Jackson’s album of the same name. It became the first album in history with seven top-ten hits. Jackson tapped director John Landis, who’d done An American Werewolf in London, to direct the nearly-fourteen-minute, zombie-themed mini movie which served as the video for the song. It became what the Library of Congress called “the most famous music video of all time.” It was the first video to be inducted into the National Film Registry in 2009. Read more.

Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” (1983) Inducted April 2021 as “MTV in the ‘80s”

Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart were in the British pop group the Tourists in the latter half of the ‘70s before forming the new wave duo the Eurythmics in 1981. They released one album which went nowhere and then three singles from their second album before they found success with the title cut. It reached #2 in the UK and topped the charts in the United States, giving them what is arguably their signature song. The video, with its surreal imagery, is considered a classic of the early-MTV era. Read more.

Cyndi Lauper “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (1983) Inducted April 2021 as “MTV in the ‘80s”

New wave singer Robert Hazard originally wrote and recorded this song in 1979. In his hands, it came across as misogynistic, but the remake by Lauper turned it into a sing-along party anthem for women’s empowerment. It was her first single as a solo artist and went all the way to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The video, in which she got friends, family, and business assocates to serve as a volunteer cast, was a fun-filled romp that showcased her quirky look and sense of style – and played a huge role in making her a star. Read more.

Van Halen “Jump” (1983) Inducted April 2021 as “MTV in the ‘80s”

In the late ‘70s, Van Halen established themselves as one of the most popular hard rock acts, thanks to Eddie Van Halen’s legendary prowess on guitar and David Lee Roth’s frontman-extrordinaire schtick. When Eddie presented the band with the synth-driven “Jump,” they initially rejected it as too much of a departure. Roth thought it would look like they were selling out for radio airplay. When producer Ted Templeman heard it, he convinced Roth to give the song lyrics and the result wasn’t just the band’s first top-10 pop hit, but a huge #1. The performance video captured the band’s charisma and playfulness and especially turned Roth into an early star of MTV. Read more.

A-ha “Take on Me” (1984) Inducted April 2021 as “MTV in the ‘80s”

The pop trio A-ha first recorded “Take on Me” in 1984 and it reached #3 in their native Norway. However, after they re-recorded the song and a new video, it became an international hit. Steve Barron, who’d done Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” directed the revolutionary video which combined live action with pencil-sketch animation. It took 16 weeks to make, but got heavy rotation on MTV and won six awards at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards. The success of the video sent the song all the way to #1 on the U.S. pop charts. Read more.

Dire Straits “Money for Nothing” (1985) Inducted April 2021 as “MTV in the ‘80s”

Steve Barron has a hand in three of the most important music videos ever made with Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” A-ha’s “Take on Me,” and Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing.” The video used innovative computer animation to bring to life the band’s song about working-class guys who lambast rock stars for garnering massive paychecks without having to work for their money. It gave the group a #1 hit in the United States. Read more.

Peter Gabriel “Sledgehammer” (1986) Inducted April 2021 as “MTV in the ‘80s”

Gabriel was the lead singer for the British progressive rock band Genesis from 1967 to 1975 and then went solo. More than a decade later, he had the biggest success of his career with “Sledgehammer,” a #1 song fueled by a wildly inventive video which incorporated Claymation, stop motion, and pixilation. It eventually became MTV’s most played video of all time. Read more.

Run-D.M.C. with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler & Joe Perry “Walk This Way” (1986) Inducted April 2021 as “MTV in the ‘80s”

The rock band Aerosmith had a top-10 hit with this song from their 1975 album Toys in the Attic. More than a decade later, the rap group Run-D.M.C. remade the song. It became even bigger, becoming the first rap song to hit the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100. The video humorously presented Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry as Run-D.M.C’s neighbors trying to out-blast each other before they unite on stage to perform together. Read more.

Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1987) Inducted April 2021 as “MTV in the ‘80s”

The 1980s saw the rise of hair bands, which were pop-metal groups with decadent images outfitted in tight leather pants and – of course – the massive ozone-destroying, hairsprayed-to-the-extreme poofed-up hair. Guns N’ Roses managed to simultaneously check all the boxes while simultaneously giving the genre a grittier vibe. However, it was “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” a sentimental love ballad, which gave the group a #1 hit and made the band an inescapable presence on MTV. Read more.

Madonna “Like a Prayer” (1989) Inducted April 2021 as “MTV in the ‘80s”

Madonna became a massive star and the Queen of MTV because of her ability to craft catchy pop songs and ooze charisma while always finding new ways to generate press with one controversy or another. The gospel-flavored “Like a Prayer” raised eyebrows with its mix of sex and religion, especially through its video fueled by images of burning crosses and Madonna kissing a black saint. In 2005, it was voted the most groundbreaking music video of all time. Read more.

Top 100 Party Songs

First posted 11/12/2018; updated 6/2/2020.

Party Songs: Top 100

This list was compiled by aggregating more than 50 lists focused on “party songs.” Note: click here to see other genre-specific song lists. 1. Village People “Y.M.C.A.” (1978) 2. Los Del Rio “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” (1995) 3. The B-52’s “Love Shack” (1989) 4. Kool & the Gang “Celebration” (1980) 5. Cyndi Lauper “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (1983) 6. DJ Casper (aka “Mr. C the Slide Man) “Cha Cha Slide” (2004) 7. OutKast “Hey Ya!” (2003) 8. Abba “Dancing Queen” (1976) 9. The Beatles “Twist and Shout” (1963) 10. Beyoncé “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” (2008) 11. Van Morrison “Brown-Eyed Girl” (1967) 12. Sister Sledge “We Are Family” (1979) 13. Rednex “Cotton Eye Joe” (1994) 14. Kenny Loggins “Footloose” (1984) 15. Neil Diamond “Sweet Caroline” (1969) 16. Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’” (1981) 17. Aretha Franklin “Respect” (1967) 18. AC/DC “You Shook Me All Night Long” (1980) 19. Sir Mix-A-Lot “Baby Got Back” (1992) 20. Justin Timberlake “Sexyback” (2006) 21. Marcia Griffiths “Electric Slide (Electric Boogie)” (1990) 22. Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive” (1977) 23. House of Pain “Jump Around” (1992) 24. Chubby Checker “The Twist” (1960) 25. Michael Jackson “Billie Jean” (1982) 26. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” (1986) 27. Usher with Lil’ Jon & Ludacris “Yeah!” (2004) 28. Sorta Crackers Band/The Emeralds “Chicken Dance” (1982) 29. LMFAO with Lauren Bennett & GoonRock “Party Rock Anthem” (2011) 30. The Isley Brothers “Shout (Parts 1 and 2)” (1959) 31. Whitney Houston “I Wanna Dance with Somebody Who Loves Me” (1987) 32. Michael Jackson “Thriller” (1982) 33. Pink “Get the Party Started” (2001) 34. Def Leppard “Pour Some Sugar on Me” (1987) 35. Lynyrd Skynyrd “Sweet Home Alabama” (1974) 36. Commodores “Brick House” (1977) 37. Nelly “Hot in Herre” (2002) 38. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band “Old Time Rock and Roll” (1978) 39. Wild Cherry “Play That Funky Music” (1976) 40. The Romantics “What I Like About You” (1980) 41. Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling” (2009) 42. Prince “1999” (1982) 43. Salt-N-Pepa “Push It” (1987) 44. 50 Cent “In Da Club” (2002) 45. Brooks & Dunn “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” (1991) 46. Cupid “Cupid Shuffle” (2007) 47. Garth Brooks “Friends in Low Places” (1990) 48. Pharrell Williams “Happy” (2013) 49. Vanilla Ice “Ice Ice Baby” (1990) 50. The Foundations “Build Me Up Buttercup” (1968) 51. Montell Jordan “This Is How We Do It” (1995) 52. Psy “Gangnam Style” (2012) 53. Flo Rida with T-Pain “Low” (2007) 54. MC Hammer “U Can’t Touch This” (1990) 55. Rick Springfield “Jessie’s Girl” (1981) 56. The Temptations “My Girl” (1965) 57. Robin Thicke with T.I. & Pharrell Williams “Blurred Lines” (2013) 58. Beyoncé with Jay-Z…Crazy in Love (2003) 59. Dexy’s Midnight Runners “Come on Eileen” (1982) 60. Ke$ha…Tik Tok (2009) 61. Young M.C. “Bust a Move” (1989) 62. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1987) 63. Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta “You’re the One That I Want” (1978)/ “Grease Megamix” (1990) 64. Michael Jackson “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” (1979) 65. Rick James “Super Freak” (1981) 66. Lady Gaga with Colby O’Donis “Just Dance” (2008) 67. Miami Sound Machine “Conga” (1985) 68. Earth, Wind & Fire “September” (1978) 69. Black Eyed Peas “Let’s Get It Started” (2003) 70. Gloria Gaynor “I Will Survive” (1978) 71. California Swag District “Teach Me How to Dougie” (2010) 72. Usher with Pitbull “DJ Got Us Falling in Love” (2010) 73. Marc Ronson & Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!” (2014) 74. Deee-Lite “Groove Is in the Heart” (1990) 75. Taylor Swift…Shake It Off (2014) 76. Miley Cyrus “Party in the U.S.A.” (2009) 77. Billy Idol “Mony Mony (live)” (1987) 78. Daft Punk with Pharrell Williams “Get Lucky” (2013) 79. C + C Music Factory “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” (1990) 80. Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe” (2011) 81. Maroon 5 with Christina Aguilera “Moves Like Jagger” (2011) 82. Big & Rich “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy” (2004) 83. Michael Jackson “Beat It” (1983) 84. Kanye West with Jamie Foxx “Gold Digger” (2005) 85. The Jackson 5 “ABC” (1970) 86. V.I.C. “Wobble” (2008) 87. Ray Anthony “Hokey Pokey” (1953) 88. Elvis Presley “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (1961) 89. Lonestar “Amazed” 1999) 90. Jennifer Lopez & Pitbull “On the Floor” (2011) 91. Billy Medley with Jennifer Warnes “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” (1987) 92. Prince “Kiss” (1986) 93. David Bowie “Let’s Dance” (1983) 94. Lou Bega “Mambo No. 5” (1999) 95. Spice Girls “Wannabe” (1996) 96. Martha & the Vandellas “Dancing in the Street” (1964) 97. Rihanna with Calvin Harris “We Found Love” (2011) 98. Wham! “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (1984) 99. LMFAO “Sexy and I Know It” (2011) 100. Silentó “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” (2015)

Today in Music: Cyndi Lauper landed Grammy nominations in the Big Four categories

January 10, 1985 Cyndi Lauper landed Grammy nominations in the Big Four categories

When Grammy nominations were announced on January 10, 1985, Cyndi Lauper had the rare distinction of landing in each of the Big Four Categories. Her debut album, She’s So Unusual, received a nod for Album of the Year. Her singles Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Time After Time showed up in the Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories respectively. Lauper was acknowledged in the Best New Artist category as well. She also garnered nominations for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (for “Girls”) and Best Recording Package, making her the first female artist since Bobbie Gentry in 1967 to receive at least five Grammy nominations. She won the Best New Artist and Best Recording Package awards. She was also honored by MTV for Best Female Video of the Year for “Girls” which also was nominated for Video of the Year. That video introduced her fun-loving, even cartoonish persona, but also showcased her ability to deliver a hook-laden song. It went top 10 in 19 countries and hit #1 in 10 countries. WK The second single “Time After Time” served up Lauper’s more sensitive side. The emotional ballad hit the top ten in 15 countries. WK “Time” has been covered by everyone from Everything But the Girl to Miles Davis, “if you need further proof of her credibility.” BB Lauper also hit the top 5 in the U.S. with She Bop and All Through the Night, making her the first female singer to land four top 5 singles from one album on the Billboard Hot 100. WK A fifth single, Money Changes Everything, was a top 40 hit. They all helped propel the album to 6 million in U.S. sales and 16 million worldwide. Far from being a guilty pleasure, Lauper’s She’s So Unusual should be acknowledged not as “self-deprecating or even self-parodying; it’s self-congratulatory.” BB The album displays “a giddy mix of self-confidence, effervescent popcraft, unabashed sentimentality, subversiveness, and clever humor” BB and is “one of the great new wave/early MTV records.” STE Resources: Dave’s Music Database: “History Index” for more important dates in music history Dave’s Music Database: “Music Makers’ Birthdays” BB Beth Bessmer, Amazon.com STE Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 1/10/2012; updated 1/6/2024.

The First MTV Video Music Awards

September 14, 1984 The First MTV Video Awards

Barely three years old, MTV launched its first video music awards in 1984. They handed out the awards on September 14 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall in a show hosted by Bette Midler and Dan Aykroyd. Surprisingly, the big winner of the night was not one of the beloved ‘80s superstars who owed a debt to the power of visual presentation, but a jazz artist born in 1940 who started making music in the 1960s. Herbie Hancock’s ground-breaking and unusual video for “Rock-It” received eight nominations and won Best Concept Video, Most Experimental Video, Best Special Effects, Best Art Direction, and Best Editing. The other most-nominated video of the night was “Every Breath You Take” by The Police. It would only take home the prize for Best Cinematography. The song, however, would go on to rank in the top 5 of all time according to Dave’s Music Database and tops the list of Radio’s Most Played Songs in History. Cyndi Lauper was the most nominated artist of the night with nine nominations – six for “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and three for “Time After Time.” She took home the prize for Best Female Video for “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” The Cars received six nominations for “You Might Think.” They only took home one Moon Man award (the nickname for the astronaut statuette inspired by MTV’s then logo), but it was the biggie – Video of the Year. Michael Jackson – the man who may have most benefited from MTV – was nominated for six awards for “Thriller,” winning for Best Overall Performance, Best Choreography, and Viewers’ Choice. It tops the Dave’s Music Database list of The Top 100 Videos of All Time. Other awards went to David Bowie (Best Male Video for “China Girl”), the Eurythmics (Best New Artist for “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This”), and Van Halen (Best Stage Performance for “Jump”). ZZ Top took home the prizes for Best Group Video (“Legs”) and Best Direction (“Sharp Dressed Man”). Bowie and ZZ Top were among the night’s performers, which also included Huey Lewis & the News, Ray Parker Jr., Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, and – most notably – Madonna. She launched her first single, “Like a Virgin,” from her sophomore album with a much-talked about performance in which she emerged from a wedding cake and writhed on the floor in a risqué wedding dress. It was arguably the moment when she became a superstar. Note: six of the videos which won awards that night appear on the DMDB list of the top 100 videos of all time: “Thriller” (#1), “Every Breath You Take” (25), “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (29), “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” (34), “You Might Think” (40), and “Rock-It” (43). For more important days in music history, check out the Dave’s Music Database history page. Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “History Index” Dave’s Music Database: “The Top 100 Videos of All Time” MTV: 1984 Video Music Awards Wikipedia: 1984 MTV Video Music Awards First posted 9/14/2012; updated 9/10/2023.

Cyndi Lauper hit #2 with “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”

Girls Just Want to Have Fun Cyndi Lauper

Writer(s): Robert Hazard (see lyrics here) Released: November 6, 1983 First Charted: December 17, 1983 Peak: 2 US, 12 CB, 2 GR, 2 RR, 80 RB, 16 AR, 2 UK, 12 CN, 12 AU, 2 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 2.5 US, 0.6 UK, 4.09 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 860.7 video, 808.86 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Not since Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” in 1967 had there been such a sing-along tune of women’s empowerment. Like that song, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” was originally written and sung by a man. In the case of Aretha, Otis Redding originally penned and recorded the tune, but in Aretha’s hands it became an iconic #1 song. In Lauper’s case, the original song was written and recorded in 1979 by Robert Hazard, a new wave singer in the vein of Nick Lowe or Graham Parker. In his hands, it comes across as misogynistic as he appears to regard women as no more than playthings. However, with some lyrical tweaks by Lauper, it became “an ebullient, unapologetic piece of smiley-face feminism.” AMG In her book She’s a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock & Roll, Gillian G. Gaar described it as “a playful romp celebrating female camaraderie.” WK The song, which reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 behind Van Halen’s “Jump,” was her first single as a solo artist, although she had recorded an album in 1981 with the group Blue Angel. SF While she would go on to hit the top of the charts with “Time After Time” and “True Colors,” this was her signature hit, capturing her quirky personality perfectly. Her colorful style were a hit on MTV where kids could see a woman with weird hair and weird clothes who celebrated who she was. The video cost less than $35,000 to make, largely due to her friends, family, and business associates serving as a volunteer cast. WK It became one of the most successful of all time, ranking in top 100 lists by VH1 and MTV. It won the latter network’s first award for Best Female Video. The song was nominated for two Grammys – Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Resources: AMG All Music Guide review by Stewart Mason SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 11/26/2020; last updated 2/3/2023.

Cyndi Lauper released She’s So Unusual

First posted 5/30/2008; updated 11/26/2020.

She’s So Unusual Cyndi Lauper

Released: October 14, 1983 Charted: December 24, 1983 Peak: 4 US, 16 UK, 12 CN, 3 AU Sales (in millions): 6.0 US, 0.1 UK, 16.0 world (includes US and UK) Genre: pop

Tracks: Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Money Changes Everything (Tom Gray) [5:06] (7/20/84, 23a US, 37 AR) Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Robert Hazard) [3:58] (10/18/83, 2 US, 2 UK, 16 AR, 80 RB, sales: 1.0 m) When You Were Mine (Prince, Doctor Fink) [5:06] Time after Time (Cyndi Lauper, Rob Hyman) [4:01] (12/17/83, 1 US, 3 UK, 1 AC, 10 AR, sales: 0.5 m, airplay: 2.0 m) She Bop (Lauper, Rick Chertoff, Gary Corbett, Stephen Broughton Lunt) [3:47] (2/17/84, 3 US, 46 UK, 27 AR, sales: 0.5 m) All Through the Night (Jules Shear) [4:33] (5/28/84, 4a US, 64 UK, 4 AC, 38 AR) Witness (Lauper, John Turi) [3:40] I’ll Kiss You (Lauper, Shear) [4:12] He’s So Unusual (Al Sherman, Al Lewis, Abner Silver) [0:45] Yeah Yeah (Hasse Huss, Mikael Rickfors) [3:18] Total Running Time: 38:42

Rating: 4.114 out of 5.00 (average of 16 ratings) Quotable: “One of the great new wave/early MTV records.” – Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album: “If Cyndi Lauper’s She’s So Unusual evokes memories dominated mostly by her cartoonish image, then try to get over it so you can pay attention to the music.” BB “The title of Lauper’s debut isn't self-deprecating or even self-parodying; it’s self-congratulatory. Listen to it again, and you'll find this pleasure to be far from guilty.” BB The album is “one of the great new wave/early MTV records,” STE “a giddy mix of self-confidence, effervescent popcraft, unabashed sentimentality, subversiveness, and clever humor. In short, it’s a multifaceted portrait of a multifaceted talent, an artist [who’s] far more clever than her thin, deliberately girly voice would indicate.” STE “Her vocals have an impish quality, but there’s also tremendous strength, articulation, and nuance.” BB This album “captured her persona better than anyone could imagine.” STE It is especially impressive how much Lauper’s personality comes through when one realizes how many of these songs are covers, including All Through the Night (Jules Shear), Money Changes Everything (Bad Brains), When You Were Mine (Prince), and even a song from the 1929s, He’s So Unusual (Helen Kane). Most impressively, however, is how Lauper doesn’t just put her stamp on Robert Hazard’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun, but makes it her defining song. “Lauper’s voice suits her musical persona, since its chirpiness adds depth, or reconfigures the songs whether it’s the call to arms of ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ or the tearjerking Time After Time.” STE The former went top 10 in 19 countries and hit #1 in 10 countries. WK while the latter hit the top ten in 15 countries. WK “Time” has been covered by everyone from Everything But the Girl to Miles Davis, “if you need further proof of her credibility.” BB The front half of the album is dominated by the singles whether it be the “longing” BB “All Through the Night” or “intense” BB She Bop. Lauper became the first female singer to land four top 5 singles from one album on the Billboard Hot 100. WK Unusual “is astonishing in its consistency, so strong that it makes the remaining tracks – all enjoyable, but rather pedestrian – charming by their association with songs so brilliantly alive.” STE “The instrumental arrangements are quite inventive and rich, and although the musicality is pointedly ‘80s, the album sounds more winsome than dated.” BB The only problem is “when a debut captures a personality so well, let alone a personality so tied to its time, the successive work can’t help but pale in comparison. Still, when it’s captured as brightly and brilliantly as it is here, it does result in a debut that retains its potency, long after its production seems a little dated.” STE Not surprisingly, Lauper won the Best New Artist Grammy. She also took home the prize for Best Recording Package and earned nominations for Album of the Year, Record of the Year (“Girls”), Song of the Year (“Time”), and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (“Girls”). “Girls” was also named Best Female Video of the Year by MTV and was nominated for Video of the Year. Notes: The 2000 reissue adds live versions of “Money Changes Everything,” “She Bop,” and “All Through the Night.”

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Cyndi Lauper BB Beth Bessmer, Amazon.com STE Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide WK Wikipedia