Most depressing songs of the 80s (#41-50)
Turn the lights low. Pour yourself a drink of scotch. Maybe keep a pack of cigarettes and a tissue box close by. The list of the Top 50 Most Depressing Songs of the 80s is here.
Thanks go to the all the Stuck in the 80s readers who offered a ton of suggestions via the blog and e-mail. I can proudly admit I've spent days weeping over the final rankings, looking up lyrics, listening to the tunes, sobbing openly and swearing in public at inappropriate times. (Again, I apologize to all those kids last night at Chuck E. Cheese.) You name it. But I did it all for you.
I'll roll out the list 10 songs at a time -- trust me, that's more depression than anyone can handle in a single day. As always, fire away with the comments, feedback, phone numbers for suicide hot lines.
TOP 50 MOST DEPRESSING SONGS OF THE 80s: Nos. 41-50
50. Friends of Mine (Duran Duran): "I thinks it's time you were told I think you're growing old."
49. Ghost Town (Cheap Trick): "Life goes on around me every day but it might as well be half a million miles away."
48. Always Something There to Remind Me (Naked Eyes): "If you should find you miss the sweet and tender love we used to share, just come back to the places where we used to go and I'll be there."
47. Hell Is For Children (Pat Benatar): "Be a good little boy, and you'll get a new toy. Tell grandma you fell off the swing."
46. Rockville (R.E.M.): "At night I drink myself to sleep and pretend I don't care that you're not here with me."
45. Who's Cryin' Now (Journey): "So many stormy nights, so many wrongs or rights."
44. Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division): "Do you cry out in your sleep?"
43. Haven't We Been Here Before (Styx): "Footsteps lead down to the note on the door that says I can't stay here anymore."
42. Better Be Home Soon (Crowded House): So don't say no, don't say nothings wrong 'cause when you get back home maybe I'll be gone."
41. Last Night I Dreamt that Somebody Loved Me (The Smiths): No hope, no harm. Just another false alarm."
Sneak peak at tomorrow's list: More Duran Duran, the Cure and the Cars.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
Art, did you toss in your list for the depressing songs? If I'm not mistaken, this list is a compilation of reader sugestions. Although, I think my choice for the most depressing 80s song won't even make the list ... and that will make me sad; therefore, making it an even more depressing tune!!!!
Posted by: Marissa | October 25, 2007 at 08:10 AM
The one singer that defined depression, for me, was Melissa Etheridge. She boasted an easy 6 or 7 good suicide songs, and that was just on her FIRST album. Want to really get those tears out? Just play her first three albums, with a few singles from others (Indigo Girls have a few great ones "Walking on Broken Glass", et. al., although sadly they'll always be known for their one "biggie" which was far less depressing. Heck, even Tom Dolby's "Europa" was a great wrist cutter. Oh, and the Femmes... man, how could anyone not put almost the entire Violent Femmes first album in the top 50, except of course, again, their best known song (which IS great, just not nearly as depressing). Brenda Kahn is a little known, but highly depressing great musician, though more so on "Epiphany in Brooklyn" than any of her others. And then there's the ultimate hate filled glory of Softcell's "Tainted Love"... God, where does it stop? Man, I miss the music of the 80s, and even the early 90s (early Tori Amos and Alanis Morissette)... Even all time great Billy Joel had some good antifreeze drinking music, and then don't forget the Fixx, (Cure has too many in here already scoring what 2 or 3 already and no Melissa Etheridge?) Suzanne Vega? Lisa Loeb? like I said.... OH THE HUMANITY!!!! Where does it end?? God I love that stuff.
Posted by: Art | October 25, 2007 at 03:50 AM
well for some of us , anything we can remember from the 80s while being deafened in the back of of a Firebird Driving around and around Clearwater Beach is Depressing...
Posted by: AJ | October 24, 2007 at 07:46 PM
I'm glad Joy Division made the list.
Posted by: Felicia Y. | October 24, 2007 at 12:50 PM
...i'm so bummed. sadness overwhelms me. is this what emo kids feel like?
PSYCH!!
One of the songs I suggested is on here. I'm so touched.
Posted by: Marissa | October 22, 2007 at 09:37 PM
We used Always Something There to Remind Me (Naked Eyes) for our Junior Ring Banquet theme, since we'd always have our high school rings to remind us of the great times even after those times were long gone. I love that song!
Posted by: Spiky Sandy | October 22, 2007 at 08:44 PM
I'm not sure I'd put a Burt Bacharach song on this list, but if you say so.
Prepping the black clothing and mopey look for the rest of the week...
Posted by: Brad | October 22, 2007 at 08:41 PM
Turn the lights low and scotch? Huh?
Sorry Steve, it was get in the car with the brothers, pop in The Queen is Dead (on cassette) and play over and over and over, There is a light that never goes out. If we were lucky we could scam wine coolors with are horrendous fake I.D.s! There is always something there to remind me!!
Great list!
All the best,
M in A
Posted by: Mike in Austin | October 22, 2007 at 02:59 PM
My song made it in the top 50... yay me!
"Silly lies, don,t have to advertise
When will you realise, Im sick of you alibis" Friends of Mine
Great list so far! I can't wait for the rest tomorrow.
Posted by: specialk | October 22, 2007 at 02:50 PM