Worst songs of the 80s: 31-40

The countdown of the 80 worst songs of the 80s is halfway home with numbers 31 through 40. A lot of Prince references in this particular list of 10. No wonder he gave these songs away. (Click here to see 41-50, 51-60, 61-70 and  71-80).

40. I Feel For You (Chaka Khan)
Written by Prince (harmonica by Stevie Wonder)
"I wanna love you, wanna hug you, wanna squeeze you too"

39. Sussudio (Phil Collins)
Critized for -- among many things -- sounding too much like Prince's 1999.
"Now she don't even know my name. But I think she likes me just the same"

38. Heaven is a Place on Earth (Belinda Carlisle)
Carlisle posed nude for Playboy in 2001. Song's video directed by actress Diane Keaton
"When I'm lost at sea, I hear your voice, And it carries me"

37. All She Wants to do is Dance (Don Henley)
Kool & The Gang covered the song on their 1989 album.
"Rebels have been rebels since I don't know when. And all she wants to do is dance"

36. She's Like the Wind (Patrick Swayze)
He also wrote the song for the movie Dirty Dancing.
"Just a fool to believe I have anything she needs"

35. Manic Monday (The Bangles)
Prince wrote it and offered it to the group while wooing Susanna Hoffs.
"These are the days when you wish your bed was already made"

34. Hangin' Tough (New Kids on the Block)
In 1990, the band made more money than Michael Jackson.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, just hangin tough, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, hangin tough."

33. Tainted Love (Soft Cell)
Originally recorded in 1964 by northern soul artist Gloria Jones.
"Don't touch me please. I cannot stand the way you tease"

32. To All the Girls I've Loved Before (Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias)
One of Willie's two most popular tunes, along with "Always On My Mind"
"To all the girls I once caressed. And may I say I've held the best"

31. Kyrie (Mr. Mister)
Band name comes from Mr. Misty, a drink sold by Dairy Queen.
"Somewhere between the soul and soft machine is where I find myself again"

Sneak preview of 21-30: Two stinkers each by Stevie Wonder and Sheena Easton.

By the way, our Stuck in the 80s podcast this week is also about the worst songs of the 80s. Click here to download it or click here to subscribe to us for free on iTunes.

Comments

[Anonymous]

How dare you put Chaka Khan in there.

[lockBull]

..Have to agree with including Chaka, Melle Mel's rap does not save it, definitely among her weakest stuff...Imagine you'll catch flak for "Tainted Love", but otherwise like you promised this list is really coming together! (sing "I can't stand the way you...Tease!")If NKOTB is in the 30's the rest much be truly wretched...

[Wendy O]

My ears bleed every time Kyrie comes on the radio...but Sussudio? Really? It's just so catchy. And what the heck is a Sussudio? Is it her name? We don't know.

[Steve Spears]

Sussudio is a generic name for a girl that a guy falls for, according to Phil Collins. It's meant to represent the "unattainable girl."

[Anonymous]

No WAY can you put Stevie Wonder on tomorrow's list. This is getting sadder by the minute.

[beach mom]

#33!! no way.. tainted love was/and still is .. a top fav all the years i have been spinning, until this one you have hit every one of them right.missmary

[beach mom]

ok ABC was ok last nite, nice as heck theatre [largo cultural center] intimate as all get out no seat was a bad seat but we were smack dab in the middle!!! the only thing lacking was a decent lite show and ambience....bright white lites dominated the stage and there were no color changes except on a back drop....played all the favs and did poison arrow twice!!! didnt hear 4ever together or many happy returns [even though i yelled it loudly for him to consider, i know he heard me he looked my way when i said it!!!!!!] all in all i love the return of the 80's new wave bands! bring it on all summer!!did i say how fab martin looked in his orchid silk lounge suit!

[Anonymous]

I thought chaka khan would be spared. I will just sing it to my self.

[Steve Spears]

Again, Tainted Love was another song that many people insisted be on the list. I will say, however, that Chaka Khan was one I was glad to add. I think it mainly suffers from overplay (as does Tainted Love).In fact, you'll find that overplay is probably one of the leading causes of inclusion on this list, until we get to the top 20.

[michelle]

Sorry, but I like to dance and sing to Tainted Love.

[missmary]

all the songs you have listed so far have been all top 40 [with the exceeption of tainted love and pass the dutchie and mexican radio ]....so they all fit perfectly in that niche....you said tainted love was over played, you must realize that that kind [new wave music] wasnt even played on the radio when it was actually a hit, only on underground stations and in the dance clubs.

[Anonymous]

overplay does not a bad song make

[Saur♥Kraut]

OK, another excellent list. My gag meter just tipped to full.

[Bassnote]

I agree that just because a song was overplayed, does not make it bad. Tainted Love is a classic of the 80's (especially the mix that includes Where Did Our Love Go), and a great song. And what's with all th Mr. Mister hating?

[Anonymous]

Tainted Love? Seriously? I think you OD'd on Pop Rocks and Coke.

[Anonymous]

Up until this point, the only picks I disagree with are Mexican Radio and Tainted Love. You keep insisting that readers wrote in and told you you to include these, but people have to remember that you're in Florida.

[Anonymous]

Just can't help but say that I think Soft Cell's rendition was the best version of Tainted Love. Better than the original, and FAR better than the new one.

[Mirrorball Man]

Overplayed does not make a song bad but it can definately ruin a song for you when you hear it fifty times a dfay every day when it was popular.Chaka Khan never bothered me, then again I didnt hear it all the time either.Stevie must play harmonica on everything the last time I know of this was for Sting On Brand New Day.Phil (what can be said about Mr.) Collins, you either love him or you hate him. I like Phil's in Genesis material better than his solo stuff. Sussudio is just silly.Don Henley was really bored when he did that song, I suppose or had be hanging out way too much at the Hotel California.Patrick Swayze - She's Like the Wind (out of my ass!) That is just an awful song.NKOTB - Suprised there not higher. one of my friend used to sing a song by them called calender Girl, He got punched for it.Tainted Love I still like but which version the 4 min radio or the 10 minute original vinyl? I like both versions. Marc Almond is a character.Still definately overplayed in its time.Mr Mister is named after a DQ drink,seriously? Did you know the lead singer was offered Peter Cetera's spot in Chicago after he left.? Nothing against this song either,dont hear that much.