AT10 Spotlight

[donmccullen]

Just want to know what people think of this feature even since AT20 AC became AT10.

I kind of like how certain songs have a comon theme regardless of it is which is the pupose of the AT10 spotlight feature and since Casey Kasem is the only one talker its the best thing for AT10.

The one that really caught my eye and ears was the feature of those who have passed on.

What were your favorates or one that caught your attention?

[Hervard]

I think the AT10 Spotlight is a great new feature. I was disappointed in the fact that the show was cut back to 20, but then the Spotlight made up for it.
My favorite Spotlight was the one last week, #1 Pop songs of the year from the 1980s. It was cool, since I had fun predicting which one would be next, and tried to guess which ones wouldn't be featured. I was right on about 1984 ("Jump" by Van Halen - too hard rock) and 1989 ("Miss You Much" by Janet Jackson - too Rhythmic), but 1982 was the other year they omitted. "Open Arms" was the Top song of that year and that sounded AC-friendly to me - in fact, I hear it regularly on Lite Rock stations. The other seven years they did feature.
I also liked the songs that peaked at #2.
Recommendations for future spotlights: Year-end #1 AC songs from the 1980s and 1990s, Year-end #1 Pop songs from the 1990s, Australian Acts, and biggest songs from a given year. I haven't yet looked at this week's AT10 show, so I have no idea what the Spotlight is. Could it be one of the above?

[donmccullen]

ulij20 said:

I think the AT10 Spotlight is a great new feature. I was disappointed in the fact that the show was cut back to 20, but then the Spotlight made up for it.
My favorite Spotlight was the one last week, #1 Pop songs of the year from the 1980s. It was cool, since I had fun predicting which one would be next, and tried to guess which ones wouldn't be featured. I was right on about 1984 ("Jump" by Van Halen - too hard rock) and 1989 ("Miss You Much" by Janet Jackson - too Rhythmic), but 1982 was the other year they omitted. "Open Arms" was the Top song of that year and that sounded AC-friendly to me - in fact, I hear it regularly on Lite Rock stations. The other seven years they did feature.
I also liked the songs that peaked at #2.
Recommendations for future spotlights: Year-end #1 AC songs from the 1980s and 1990s, Year-end #1 Pop songs from the 1990s, Australian Acts, and biggest songs from a given year. I haven't yet looked at this week's AT10 show, so I have no idea what the Spotlight is. Could it be one of the above?

Hits by Brothers is this weeks Spotlight such as Bee Gees, Jackson 5, and they even play Los Lonely Boys

[OnWithTheCountdown]

If only I knew this board existed 15 years ago, let alone the shows. In 2004 I was only in touch with AT40 CHR, as that was the only countdown radio show associated with AT40/Casey Kasem that was airing in my area. Going through all the AT10 shows now. I'd probably listen to these shows more for the Spotlight feature than anything else. Looking at each of them, there's no single one that jumps out at me - they're all good in their own way.

[OnWithTheCountdown]

Inspired by the posting of the upcoming airing of AT10 from 4/7/2007 featuring Top Acts From Michigan, and not seeing this elsewhere in here (unless it's hiding somewhere else), I thought I'd post a list of all the AT10 Spotlights throughout its 5-year run (yes, there are duplicates).  I only listed regular shows; all others were either Christmas or year-ends.  Most of these have cue sheets available, which I have linked.  Maybe in time we will hear some more of these.  Updates are forthcoming until completed.

2004-03-20: Artists Who Left Successful Bands To Become Successful Solo Stars
2004-03-27: Top Hits From Movie Soundtracks
2004-04-03: Big Hits By Some Of The Biggest Duos Of The Rock Era
2004-04-10: Favorite Remakes
2004-04-17: One-Hit Wonders
2004-04-24: Artists Who Have Been Inducted Into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
2004-05-01: British Superstars
2004-05-08: Big Hit Duets
2004-05-15: Canadian Artists
2004-05-22: Hits From Diamond Albums (Sales Of 10M Copies)
2004-05-29: Remembering Stars We Lost Over The Years
2004-06-05: Big Hits That Peaked At #2
2004-06-12: Biggest Selling Hits Of The 1990s
2004-06-19: Songs Written For Fathers And Fathers Who Have Written Songs For Their Children
2004-06-26: Memorable Hits About Summertime
2004-07-03: Patriotic Hits As Well As Songs That Celebrate The Holiday
2004-07-10: Songs That Hit The Chart Twice By The Same Artists
2004-07-17: Hits Written Or Co-Written By Superstar Songwriter Diane Warren
2004-07-24: Big Hits Featuring Sisters
2004-07-31: #1 Pop Songs Of The 1980s
2004-08-07: Big Hits By Brothers
2004-08-14: Big Hits From The Year 1989
2004-08-21: Songs Recorded Live That Became Big Hits
2004-08-28: Artists Who Made Significant Chart Comebacks
2004-09-04: Title Hits From Movies
2004-09-11: Big Hits From The Year 1982
2004-09-18: Big Hits Featured In TV Shows
2004-09-25: Memorable Hits That Features A Woman's Name In The Title
2004-10-02: Acts From The British Isles
2004-10-09: Hit Songs That Share The Same Title
2004-10-16: Top AC Hits Of The 1990s
2004-10-23: Triple Crown Winners
2004-10-30: Spooky Hits From The Past
2004-11-06: Big Country Crossover Hits
2004-11-13: Past Winners In The Category Of Favorite AC Artists

2005-01-01: Acts Who Have Hit The AC Chart Four Decades In A Row
2005-01-08: Big Hit Medleys
2005-01-15: Piano Players
2005-01-22: Song Titles That Name Places Real Or Imaginary
2005-01-29: Biggest Male Groups Of The 1970s
2005-02-05: Past Grammy Winners: Best New Artist
2005-02-12: Songs From The Heart
2005-02-19: Big Hit Duets
2005-02-26: Oscar Winners
2005-03-05: Big Dance Hits
2005-03-12: Big Hits From The Year 1978
2005-03-19: Songs That Ask A Question
2005-03-26: Successful Solo Acts Who Came From Successful Groups
2005-04-02: Big Hits By Duos
2005-04-09: Songs With "Angel" In The Title
2005-04-16: Successful Women Of The 1970s
2005-04-23: Successful Remakes Of 1980s Hits
2005-04-30: Rainbow Of Hits
2005-05-07: Songs By Famous Mothers In Honor Of Mother's Day
2005-05-14: Biggest Selling Singles Of The 1970s
2005-05-21: Big Hits From The Ten Best Selling Soundtrack Albums
2005-05-28: Remembering Singers Who Died
2005-06-04: One-Hit Wonders Of The 1970s
2005-06-11: Big Hits From The Year 1983
2005-06-18: Big Hits From Famous Dads
2005-06-25: Big Hits From The Year 1972
2005-07-02: Hits By American Acts
2005-07-09: Big Hits From The Year 1975
2005-07-16: Big Hits About Dancing
2005-07-23: Songs That Peaked At #2
2005-07-30: Songs About Songs
2005-08-06: Hits Written Or Co-Written By Diane Warren
2005-08-13: Acts Who Went To #1 With Their Debut Hit
2005-08-20: Big Hits From The Year 1984
2005-08-27: Same Title, Different Song
2005-09-03: Big Hits From Diamond Albums
2005-09-10: Big Remakes Of 1970s Songs
2005-09-17: Big Hits Featured In TV Shows
2005-09-24: Big Hits From The Year 1985
2005-10-01: Celestial Hits
2005-10-08: Big Hits By Trios
2005-10-15: Big Hits From The Year 1971
2005-10-22: Hits That Feature A Woman's Name In The Title
2005-10-29: Songs That Put You In The Mood For Trick Or Treating
2005-11-05: Songs About Night

2006-01-07: Hit-Making Husbands And Wives
2006-01-14: Big Hits By 1970s Bands
2006-01-21: Most Popular Song Titles Of The Rock Era
2006-01-28: Hits From The Animal Kingdom
2006-02-04: Grammy Records Of The Year
2006-02-11: Songs About Love
2006-02-18: Hits That Borrow Or Sample
2006-02-25: Artists Who Scored Five Or More Hits From One Album
2006-03-04: Big Hits From The Year 1977
2006-03-11: Big Hits By Irish Acts
2006-03-18: Songs About Time
2006-03-25: Drummers Who Became Singers
2006-04-01: Singers With Songs From Movies They Starred In
2006-04-08: Big Hits From The Year 1980
2006-04-15: Worldly Songs
2006-04-22: Solo Women Of The 1980s
2006-04-29: Albums That Debuted At #1
2006-05-06: Big Hits By British Bands
2006-05-13: Famous Moms In Music
2006-05-20: Songs About Cars, Planes, Boats And Trains
2006-05-27: Remembering Singers Who Died
2006-06-03: Big Hits From The Year 1986
2006-06-10: #1 Remakes Of #1 Songs
2006-06-17: Big Hits By Musical Dads
2006-06-24: Acts From Around The World
2006-07-01: Biggest All-American Acts
2006-07-08: Big Hits From #1 Films Of The 1980s
2006-07-15: Big Hits From The Year 1976
2006-07-22: Singing Guitarists
2006-07-29: Remakes Of 1960s Hits
2006-08-05: Famous Falsettos
2006-08-12: Tribute Songs
2006-08-19: Big Hits From The Year 1988
2006-08-26: TV Theme Songs
2006-09-02: Song Titles About Work
2006-09-09: Famous B-Side Hits
2006-09-16: Teen Acts
2006-09-23: New Wave Bands Of The 1980s
2006-09-30: #1 Pop Hits From The Year 1979
2006-10-07: Platinum Hits From The 1990s
2006-10-14: Songs About The Physical Body
2006-10-21: Top Solo Men Of The 1980s
2006-10-28: Spooky Hits For Halloween
2006-11-04: Hits That Feature The Saxophone
2006-11-11: Song Titles In Foreign Languages
2006-11-18: Songs That Feature Name-Dropping
2006-11-25: Songs About Streets

2007-01-06: Superstar Acts With At Least Ten #1's
2007-01-13: Acts Famous For Their Harmonies
2007-01-20: Singing Dancers
2007-01-27: Intergalactic Hits
2007-02-03: Grammy Songs Of The Year
2007-02-10: History Of The Long Distance Dedications
2007-02-17: Hits Recorded By Multiple Acts
2007-02-24: Past Oscar Winners For Best Original Song
2007-03-03: Hits From The Year 1991
2007-03-10: Hit Songs About Dreams
2007-03-17: Groups And How They Got Their Names
2007-03-24: Songs That Feature A Choir
2007-03-31: "Fool" Songs
2007-04-07: Top Acts From The State Of Michigan
2007-04-14: #1 Hits From #1 Albums Of The 1980s
2007-04-21: Songs About The Weather
2007-04-28: Songs That Feature The Harmonica
2007-05-05: Big Hits From The Disco Era
2007-05-12: Big Hits By Famous Moms
2007-05-19: Acts Who Made A Comeback At Least Ten Years After Being Off The Top 20 AC Chart
2007-05-26: Remembering Musicians Who Have Died
2007-06-02: Big Hits By Girl Groups
2007-06-09: Big Duets From The 1980s
2007-06-16: Songs About Fathers And Their Children
2007-06-23: Big Summer Hits
2007-06-30: AT10 Book Of Records
2007-07-07: Rememberable Baby Hits
2007-07-14: Hits From Animated Films
2007-07-21: Power Ballads Of The 1980s
2007-07-28: Songs That Are Tributes To Cities
2007-08-04: Top Solo Women Of The 1990s
2007-08-11: Acts Who Started Out As Backup Singers
2007-08-18: Hits By Big Bands (Six Members Or More)
2007-08-25: #1 Hits From The Year 1987
2007-09-01: Break-Up Songs
2007-09-08: Top Duos Of The 1980s
2007-09-15: TV Theme Songs
2007-09-22: Acts From The State Of New Jersey
2007-09-29: Top Latin Recording Artists
2007-10-06: Artists Who Use Stage Names
2007-10-13: Songs About "Life"
2007-10-20: Big Hits By Australian Acts
2007-10-27: Hits With A Hint Of Halloween
2007-11-03: Numerical Hits
2007-11-10: Big Trios Of The 1980s
2007-11-17: Hits That Appeared In TV Commercials
2007-11-24: Singles That Have Sold More Than Ten Million Copies

2008-01-05: Top Solo Men Of The 1970s
2008-01-12: Hits With "Dance" In The Title
2008-01-19: Songs Recorded Live
2008-01-26: Acts From The State Of Florida
2008-02-02: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance At The Grammys
2008-02-09: Hits With "Kiss" In The Title
2008-02-16: Acts That Scored The Most #1 Songs On The AC Chart
2008-02-23: Song Titles That Mention Bodies Of Water
2008-03-01: Hits From #1 Movies Of The 1990s
2008-03-08: Songs About Time
2008-03-15: Irish Acts In Honor Of St. Patrick's Day
2008-03-22: Top Bands Of The 1980s
2008-03-29: Famous Husbands & Wives
2008-04-05: "Rock" Songs
2008-04-12: Hits From The Year 1984
2008-04-19: Triple Crown Winners
2008-04-26: Top Selling Singles Of The 1970s
2008-05-03: Songs About "Tonight"
2008-05-10: Famous Moms In Honor Of Mother's Day
2008-05-17: Two-Hit Wonders
2008-05-24: In Remembrance - In Honor Of Memorial Day
2008-05-31: Canadian Acts
2008-06-07: "Believe" Songs
2008-06-14: Songs About Fathers And Their Children
2008-06-21: Songs That Feature The Violin
2008-06-28: Colorful Song Titles
2008-07-05: Acts With The Most Gold & Platinum Singles
2008-07-12: Hits By Brother Acts
2008-07-19: Acts Who Charted Four-Plus Decades In A Row
2008-07-26: Medleys
2008-08-02: Hits That Charted Twice
2008-08-09: Albums With Five Or More Hits
2008-08-16: Second-Generation Stars
2008-08-23: Hits From The Year 1985
2008-08-30: Singers Who Started Out As Drummers
2008-09-06: Dance Hits From The 1980s
2008-09-13: Acts From The State Of Pennsylvania
2008-09-20: Acts That Scored Five Or More Consecutive #1 Hits
2008-09-27: Song Titles Not Found In The Lyrics
2008-10-04: Acts From Europe
2008-10-11: #1 Title Tracks From #1 Albums
2008-10-18: Hits From The Year 1978
2008-10-25: Halloween
2008-11-01: Songs About Heaven
2008-11-08: Top Solo Men Of The 1980s
2008-11-15: Scottish Singers
2008-11-22: Charity Singles

2009-01-03: Hits From The Year 1994
2009-01-10: American Idol Finalists
2009-01-17: Girl Songs
2009-01-24: The Music Of Ohio
2009-01-31: Music Heard At Sporting Events
2009-02-07: Hits From Album Of The Year At The Grammys
2009-02-14: "Heart" Songs
2009-02-21: Best Original Songs At The Oscars
2009-02-28: Famous B-Sides
2009-03-07: Top Solo Men Of The 1980s
2009-03-14: Songs About "Tonight"
2009-03-21: One-Named Artists
2009-03-28: Top Solo Women Of The 1990s
2009-04-04: Remakes Of 1960s Songs
2009-04-11: Hits From The Year 1980
2009-04-18: Transportation Songs
2009-04-25: Top Bands Of The 1970s
2009-05-02: Top Selling Hits Of The 1990s
2009-05-09: Famous Moms
2009-05-16: People's Names In Song Titles
2009-05-23: In Remembrance: Memorial Day
2009-05-30: Hits From Diamond Albums
2009-06-06: Hits From The Year 1982
2009-06-13: Top Solo Men Of The U.K.
2009-06-20: Father's Day: Honoring Singing Dads
2009-06-27: Movie Titles
2009-07-04: Biggest Chart Stars Of The Past 40 Years

[OnWithTheCountdown]

Looking at this list, there was the occasional spotlight on a particular year. Even 1991 got a little love for a week. However, there is one 1980s year that didn't get selected as a Spotlight feature. Which year was it?

Well, it was the year two songs that spent 9 weeks at #1 battled it out for the #1 song of the year. It was the year of the medley. It was the year two songs with the same title hit #1 (one was the actual title, but known to us in the States as the subtitle). The Dodgers beat the Yankees to win the World Series. It probably didn't take you very long to figure out that year was...1981. Surprised? Yeah, didn't think so.