Finally! My 1,000th post! I've been meaning to do this for a while, but I've never gotten around to it. For my 1,000th post, I've decided to do something I've never done before here on these boards: post a chart critique. Instead of doing a Casey Kasem countdown critique, I've decided to do one from the D'Shadoe years. I haven't seen critiques of Shadoe Stevens shows on these boards. My critique style is a mix of Hervard's, MrJukebox's, & Blackbowl's critique styles. Anyway, here it goes!
May 20, 1989
Droppers:
ETERNAL FLAME-The Bangles (40): This all girl group's 7th top 40 hit became their 2nd number one song. It's an OK song, but I wouldn't want to listen to it all the time. It's a lot better though than "Walk Like An Egyptian".
GIRL YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE-Milli Vanilli (35): This was the 1st top 40 hit for the duo of Fabrice Morvan & Rob Pilatus (well, before there were caught lip synching over session singers). I love this song. It got to #2 & it should've went to number one. Yeah, I said it!
ROCKET-Def Leppard (34): This heavy metal band's 9th top 40 hit was the 6th top 40 from their album Hysteria. This is a great song. It's also probably the least played of the Hysteria top 40 singles.
SEVENTEEN-Winger (27): This was the 1st top 40 hit for this heavy metal band led by bassist & lead singer Kip Winger. I like this song. I like "Headed For A Heartbreak" a little better.
SINCERELY YOURS-Sweet Sensation (26): This was the 1st top 40 hit for this female trio from New York City not to be confused with the British group who had the song "Sad Sweet Dreamer" in 1975. It's OK, but I like their follow up single "Hooked On You" a lot better.
And now, let the countdown begin:
40. I DROVE ALL NIGHT-Cyndi Lauper (debut): This song, first recorded by Roy Orbison in 1987, became Lauper's 10th & final top 40 hit & a future top 10 hit as well. I love this version of the song more than Orbison's version. It's also a whole lot better than Celine Dion's version.
39. A SHOULDER TO CRY ON-Tommy Page (-8): This was the 1st top 40 hit for this singer from West Caldwell, New Jersey who went to number one a year later with "I'll Be Your Everything". I like this song. It's a lot better than "I'll Be Your Everything".
QL: Were there any game show hosts in the top 40?
38. THE LOOK-Roxette (-10): This was the 1st top 40 hit for the Swedish duo of Marie Fredriksson & Per Gessle that also became their first of 4 number one songs. It's a great song, but it was edited. BTW, Shadoe mentioned that Swedish acts hit number one the first week of April which is what this song did.
37. DOWNTOWN-One 2 Many (+2): This was the only top 40 hit for this trio from Norway with a Swedish lead singer. I love this song. I first heard this song on Ron "Boogiemonster" Gerber's Crap From The Past.
QL Answer: No, but there were artists who later became game show hosts. Among the top 40 artists who weren't actively hosting game shows then were Merv Griffin ("Play Your Hunch"), Adam Wade ("Musical Chairs" from the most infamous year of game shows: 1975), Steve Allen ("I've Got A Secret"), & Wink Martindale (he wouldn't host "The Last Word" until September 1989). The top 40 acts Shadoe mentioned as active game show hosts were Bill Anderson ("Fandango"), Chuck Woolery (the host of "Scrabble" was in a group called Avant Garde), Vicki Lawrence (the NBC version of "Win, Lose, Or Draw"), & Bert Convy (the host of the syndicated version of "Win, Lose, Or Draw" was in a group called the Cheers).
36. HEAVEN HELP ME-Deon Estus (-14): This former top 5 song was the only top 40 hit for this singer from Detroit who was the bassist for Wham. It's a great song. The George Michael influence can be heard here as not only did George co-wrote the song, he also did background vocals.
35. GOOD THING-Fine Young Cannibals (debut): This was the 2nd top 40 hit for this British trio led by Roland Gift that would be a future number one. I like this song, but I like their 1st top 40 hit more. Spoiler alert: That song is coming up later in the countdown.
34. COMING HOME-Cinderella (debut): This was the 4th top 40 hit for this heavy metal band from Philadelphia. It's OK, but I like "Nobody's Fool" & "Don't Know What You Got 'Til It's Gone" better (I don't know "The Last Mile").
33. ROOM TO MOVE-Animotion (-12): This song, first recorded by Climie Fisher in 1988, became a former top 10 hit for this group's 2nd incarnation led by Paul Engemann & Cynthia Rhodes. I love this song. I actually love it more than "Obsession" by the first incarnation of Animotion. BTW, the 2nd game show reference is mentioned in this show when Shadoe mentioned that a trip to the resort that was used in Dirty Dancing (the movie Cynthia Rhodes was in) was once offered as a prize on Wheel Of Fortune.
32. LITTLE JACKIE WANTS TO BE A STAR-Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam (+6): This was the 5th top 40 hit for the group whose lead singer sung on those "Shine Free from Maybelline" ads during AT40, I believe. If it wasn't her, it sure did sound like her. Anyway, this song was OK, but I like their previous top 40 hits better.
LDD: THE ROSE-Bette Midler: Usually, this top 5 song from 1980 gets a "No. Just no." from me, but this song was OK for this dedication. This dedication was from a woman to her friend who had once tried to commit suicide. This was her friend's favorite song.
31. I ONLY WANNA BE WITH YOU-Samantha Fox (+2): This song, first recorded by Dusty Springfield in 1964, was the 4th & final top 40 hit for this fellow British artist. This is a "No. Just no." To me, the best version of this song was done by the Tourists in 1980. The Tourists were a British group featuring 2 people you might have heard of: Annie Lennox & Dave Stewart. Yes, those were the same people that formed the Eurythmics.
30. BABY DON'T FORGET MY NUMBER-Milli Vanilli (debut): Here is the follow up to "Girl You Know It's True" that would become the first of 3 number one songs for Milli Vanilli. Even though it was edited, I love this song. In fact, I love all of Milli Vanilli's songs. Yeah, I said it!
29. MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY-Natalie Cole (+8): This future top 10 song was the 10th top 40 hit for Nat King Cole's daughter. It's a "Meh. Just meh." song. I like the verses, but I hate the chorus.
28. THIS TIME I KNOW IT'S FOR REAL-Donna Summer (debut): This future top 10 song was the 20th & final top 40 hit for the late great "Queen Of Disco". I love this song.
27. POP SINGER-John Cougar Mellencamp (+9): This was the last top 40 hit under this name. His future top 40s would be as "John Mellencamp". This was also played after a commercial for his album Big Daddy. Anyway, I like this song.
SR: Shadoe talks about how Sting is trying to save tropical rainforests through his Rainforest Foundation charity.
26. VOICES OF BABYLON-The Outfield (+4): This was the 4th top 40 hit for this English trio. I love this song. This is in a 2 way tie for my favorite song on the countdown. The other song it ties with is coming up later in the survey.
25. SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY-Fine Young Cannibals (-6): Here is FYC's 2nd appearance on this week's countdown. Just like "Good Thing", this was also a number one song. It still gets a lot of overplay today, but I still love this song.
24. CRY-Waterfront (+5): This future top 10 song was the only top 40 hit for this Welsh duo of Phil Cilia & Chris Duffy. I didn't like this one, so I'll give it a "No. Just no." BTW, Shadoe also mentioned the other acts from Wales to hit the top 40 (Tom Jones, Bonnie Tyler, Mary Hopkin, Shirley Bassey, & Dave Edmunds).
23. FUNKY COLD MEDINA-Tone Loc (-6): This former top 5 song was the 2nd & final top 40 hit for this rapper whose real name is Anthony Terrell Smith. I'm tired of this song's overplay today, so this gets a "No. Just no." from me. BTW, if you count Love Connection as a game show, this is the 3rd game show reference on this show.
22. SATISFIED-Richard Marx (+10): This was the 5th top 40 hit for the husband of Animotion's Cynthia Rhodes. It would become his 2nd of 3 number one songs. It's a great song. It also gets less airplay today than his other 2 number ones.
21. THROUGH THE STORM-Aretha Franklin & Elton John (+4): This was a one off duet by 2 artists who had hit number one before with one off duets (Aretha with "I Knew You Were Waiting For Me" with George Michael & Elton with "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with Kiki Dee). I like this song, although I think it was edited. I'm not so sure. BTW, there was a funny story about how Aretha Franklin was caught with pickled pigs feet in a Jewish hotel.
20. WHERE ARE YOU NOW-Jimmy Harnen & Synch (+4): This song first went to #77 in 1986. Three years later, it would become the band's only top 40 hit & a future top 10 song. I think it's a great song, but I also think this was edited. Again, I'm not so sure.
19. BUFFALO STANCE-Neneh Cherry (+4): This was the 1st top 40 hit for this singer from Sweden that would become a future top 5 song. I've heard this song so many times that I'm just sick of it, so I give this song a "No. Just no." BTW, on this particular broadcast, was this a different version of the song?
18. THINKING OF YOU-Sa-Fire (-6): This was the only top 40 hit for this female singer from Puerto Rico. I thought it was OK, but I wouldn't want to listen to it all the time. BTW, Shadoe mentioned other top 40 acts with jewels in their name (Jewel Akins, the Detroit Emeralds, Ruby & The Romantics, Ronald & Ruby, the Crystals, Crystal Gayle, Garnett Mims & The Enchanters, Gale Garnett, the Diamonds, Leo Diamond & His Orchestra, Neil Diamond, & the Sapphires).
17. IKO IKO-The Belle Stars (-3): This song was originally recorded by the all girl group from England in 1982. Seven years later, thanks to its inclusion in Rain Man, it became their only top 40 hit, even though they were already broken up by this time. Anyway, it's a really great song.
16. CULT OF PERSONALITY-Living Colour (-3): This was the 1st top 40 hit for this heavy metal band led by lead guitarist Vernon Reid & lead singer Corey Glover. Just like "Iko Iko", this is also a really great song.
15. CLOSE MY EYES FOREVER-Lita Ford & Ozzy Osbourne (+5): This future top 10 song became Lita's 2nd & final top 40 hit, but it was Ozzy's 1st top 40 hit. Yep, he didn't even hit the top 40 as a member of Black Sabbath. Anyway, I like this song.
14. EVERLASTING LOVE-Howard Jones (+4): This was Howard's 7th top 40 hit & the other song tied with "Voices Of Babylon" by The Outfield as my favorite song on this countdown. As you can imagine, I love this song. The music video to this song was great as well.
SR: Shadoe talks about the Think Fast celebrity auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It's a charity race to warn about the dangers of drunk driving. Among the celebrities participating were Ted Nugent, Tommy Lee, Lynn Anderson, Vern Gosdin, Charlie Daniels, David Hasselhoff, Lorenzo Lamas, & .38 Special guitarist Jeff Carlisi. Speaking of .38 Special...
13. SECOND CHANCE-.38 Special (-6): This was the 8th top 40 hit for the band whose lead singer on this song was Max Carl. I like this song, although .38 Special was better when Don Barnes was their lead singer.
12. I'LL BE LOVING YOU FOREVER-New Kids On The Block (+4): This was the 3rd top 40 hit for Danny, Donnie, Joey, Jonathan, & Jordan that would become their 1st of 3 number one songs. I like this song. NKOTB is a guilty pleasure of mine.
11. ELECTRIC YOUTH-Debbie Gibson (even): This was the 7th top 40 hit for this teen superstar. I like this song, but I think it was edited.
10. LIKE A PRAYER-Madonna (-8): This song, more known for the controversy of its music video, became Madonna's 7th number one hit. Even though it faded early, I'm really glad that they played the version used in the music video. Also, Shadoe mentioned that Madonna spent 15 weeks at #1 in the 1980s, 1 more week than Olivia Newton John.
9. EVERY LITTLE STEP-Bobby Brown (+6): This was the 4th top 40 hit for this former member of New Edition which would become a future top 5 song. It's a really great song. There was this rap in the middle that I never heard before. I can't recall if it was in the music video or not.
FLASHBACK: Top 5 Of May 24, 1980
5. SEXY EYES-Dr. Hook
4. DON'T FALL IN LOVE WITH A DREAMER-Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes
3. LOST IN LOVE-Air Supply
2. FUNKYTOWN-Lipps Inc.
1. CALL ME-Blondie
Fact: These are 5 songs that Paul has never heard before.
I keed, I keed. Anyway, Shadoe mentioned that "Call Me" was in the movie American Gigolo. Speaking of movies...
8. AFTER ALL-Cher & Peter Cetera (-2): This was featured in the Cybill Shepherd-Robert Downey Jr. movie Chances Are. It was Peter's 2nd top 40 duet (his 1st was "The Next Time I Fall" with Amy Grant) & it was Cher's 1st top 40 duet (not counting Sonny & Cher). Anyway, I like this song.
7. WIND BENEATH MY WINGS-Bette Midler (+3): This future number one song from the movie Beaches was the 8th top 40 hit for the Divine Miss M. There are 3 words to describe this song: NO! JUST NO! Lou Rawls' version is a whole lot better than this dreck.
6. PATIENCE-Guns N' Roses (+3): This was the 4th top 40 hit & future top 5 song for this heavy metal band led by lead guitarist Slash & lead singer Axl Rose. I'm not a fan of this one, so I'm giving it a "No. Just no." I think the song is too long. Then again, I do like "November Rain". I guess something's wrong with me.
5. ROCK ON-Michael Damian (+3): This song first went to #5 in 1974 for David Essex. 15 years later, the 1st top 40 hit for the then cast member of "The Young & The Restless" would go on to hit #1. I like the remake, but I like Essex's version better.
4. SOLDIER OF LOVE-Donny Osmond (+1): This was Donny's 1st top 40 hit since he teamed up with his sister Marie for "On The Shelf" in 1978 & it was his 1st top 40 hit solo since "C'Mon Marianne" in 1976. It's a great song. I like his follow up ("Sacred Emotion") better. BTW, there was a great story about how Donny won an arm wrestling contest against a DJ who wouldn't play his song. I believe Rob Durkee was the one who got this story.
3. I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU-Bon Jovi (-2): This was the 7th top 40 hit & 4th & final number one song for the heavy metal band from New Jersey. I like it. BTW, if you want to hear the story about how Bon Jovi are camera shy, you might want to call the AT40 Hitline.
2. REAL LOVE-Jody Watley (+1): This was the 4th top 40 hit for the former member of Shalamar. I like this song. She never had a number one song. What a shame!
1. FOREVER YOUR GIRL-Paula Abdul (+3): This was Paula's 2nd of 6 number one songs & it would spend a second week at the top the following week. I love this song. It's a lot better than "Straight Up". Also, Shadoe mentioned that Paula became the 3rd female artist to take her first 2 solo top 40 hits to #1. The first 2 were Roberta Flack & Tiffany. I guess they didn't count Roberta's duets with Donny Hathaway.
Anyway, that is my chart critique. I hope you liked it. I know I repeat some stuff, but at least I don't use vague comments like "It's good, but not quite his/her/their best." What the hell does that even mean?
BTW, Shadoe mentioned a 4th (or 3rd if you're not counting Love Connection) game show reference at the end of the show when he said you can catch him on Hollywood Squares. So until I do another chart critique again, this is your best friend, D'Ponderousman. Bye bye out there!