Little pink houses? Just buy mine instead
John Mellencamp obviously had to be a rock singer -- he had no instincts for being a Realtor. Why wax poetically about a little pink house when you can buy my lovely 4-bedroom, 2-bath home in lovely Florida?
That's right. The "Stuck in the 80s" mansion is for sale, and today is an "Open House" so I need to find a dark corner in the universe to curl up in for 5 hours while complete strangers mock my Ferris Bueller and Weird Science posters. Not to mention my complete collection of Star Trek salt and pepper shakers. 
(Kirk is the salt; Spock is the pepper -- for those wondering -- except for my "Mirror Mirror" pair, in which they're curiously reversed.)
So to get the good mojo going, I've compiled a quickie playlist of home related songs from the 80s (or recorded by 80s artists -- hey, I needed a little extra wiggle room.)
Did I miss any obvious songs? And before you all start screaming about the obvious one, my Realtor, who lives next door, has specifically forbid me from putting the Talking Heads' "Burning Down the House" on this list!
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:
Steve, Steve, Steve.
If you're going to plug your house, you've got to play up its strongest selling points. How can you tell people about the house without telling them about the Grotto?
Posted by: Johnny B. Goode | March 30, 2008 at 11:15 AM
That's right! The Spearsy Grotto! I guess my dreams of sippin' a margarita poolside are sailing away.
Good luck with the open house. I hope you have your DVD and CD collection tightly locked up. Word is out that the Rhino Records Valley Girl Soundtrack is now out of print and going at a high price in Ebay.
Posted by: Marissa | March 30, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Steve, I'm going through the same thing right now. We have been 'fixing up' several things to get the house on the market by next week. Problem is I have a bad case of bronchitis right now, so I'm practically useless to do anything.
Posted by: Bassnote | March 30, 2008 at 11:32 AM
Steve... Two songs that may not be obvious, but still come to mind are, "In My House" by the Mary Jane Girls and "A House is not a Home" by Luther Vandross.
Good luck with the selling of the house!
Posted by: Carla | March 30, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Not all specifically mention 'house' or 'home'
"In Your Room" ~ The Bangles
"Dancing On the Ceiling" ~ Lionel Richie
"Movin' On" ~ Bananarama
"Home for Sale" ~ Dwight Yoakum (for your inner Urban Cowboy *wink*)
"Hidden Houses" ~ Depeche Mode
"Houses In Motion" ~ Talking Heads
Posted by: Marissa | March 30, 2008 at 11:54 AM
How about 'Movin' Out' by Billy Joel.
Posted by: Bassnote | March 30, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Birdhouse in Your Soul - TMBG
Upstairs in My House - Men at Work
House We Used to Live In - Smithereens
The House is Rockin - Stevie Ray Vaughan
Run's House - Run-DMC
His House Her Home - Squeeze
And, finally, surely your house is the Love Shack, baby!!!
Posted by: Big Tex | March 30, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Big Tex, I knew there was an obvious one I couldn't remember... Love Shack!
TIN ROOF ...... RUSTED!
Ah, but my favorite line from Love Shack... "Folks lining up outside just to get down"!!
Excellent!
Posted by: Carla | March 30, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Jeez, I can't believe I didn't think of that one.
I can, however, give the link for the vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8NhJNpQlsY
Posted by: Marissa | March 30, 2008 at 12:42 PM
My meager contributions:
This one's got a double shot of good mojo, baby:
"Better Be Home Soon" -- Crowded House
"Celebrate Me Home" -- Kenny Loggins
"Spy in the House of Love" -- Was (Not Was)
The anti-hurricane song:
"Tear the Roof off the Sucker (We Want the Funk" -- Parliament
Posted by: jane | March 30, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Wow. So many suggestions so quickly!
I'm at my secret retreat location now, and Johnny B. Goode is right. He's visited the Grotto first hand and knows that it has super-powers over females. One glance at the calm, cool waters of the aquatic options and clothes magically fly off!
Posted by: Spears | March 30, 2008 at 01:16 PM
Steve,
Excellent Star Trek joke. Love the reference. Anything that makes me laugh while doing my Law case studies is gold!
Posted by: Al | March 30, 2008 at 02:08 PM
Steve, is that little tidbit about clothing magically falling off in the "perks" section of the house description? I think it's only fair to give prospective buyers warning.
Posted by: Marissa | March 30, 2008 at 03:15 PM
BTW, Steve, I call BS on using the Full House theme...
Posted by: Big Tex | March 30, 2008 at 03:55 PM
Alrighty Steve-o,
good luck on the move. One song you forgot was another from the Speaking in Tongues album. Sure you can't use Burning Down The House, but what about This Must Be The Place? (Home, is where I want to be, pick me up and turn me 'round...)
A mighty fine little song. Besides, who can forget David Byrne dancing with the lamp during this song in Stop Making Sense?
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | March 30, 2008 at 09:09 PM
Hey! The playlist jukebox has been updated. I'm so delighted to see a couple of my songs on there. Go me!
Posted by: Marissa | March 31, 2008 at 08:34 AM
The greatest 80's power-ballad:
Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue
Posted by: Greg | March 31, 2008 at 08:48 AM
Good luck on selling the house... If I only knew a few months ago, I had a friend considering a move down to TB area, but he got a better job offer to stay here at the last minute.
Love the site...
www.revengeofthe80sradio.com
Posted by: Chris C | March 31, 2008 at 08:53 AM
Ouch! I really feel off my game. How the heck I could have missed "Home Sweet Home"? Nice one!
Posted by: Carla | March 31, 2008 at 10:05 AM
How about "Happy House" by Siouxsie and the Banshees?
Posted by: malibu | March 31, 2008 at 04:36 PM
This Ol' House - Shakin' Stevens
King of the Road - Roger Miller (Trailer for sale or rent)
Home on the Ranger - Whoever Wrote It!!
Any song by Crowded House
And finally, happy first birthday to my darling little girl - Grace from Down Under - With a Little bit of Texas Thrown In. Darn hyphenated names.
Posted by: Ian from Down Under | March 31, 2008 at 05:53 PM
Should have been Home on the Range.
Posted by: Ian from Down Under | March 31, 2008 at 05:55 PM
Thanks for clearing tht up Ian; I thought you were telling me something about Tonto I didn't know!
Posted by: DoctorDrew | March 31, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Haven't you heard of that great old cowboy standard Doc - Homo on the Ranger.
Posted by: Ian from Down Under | April 01, 2008 at 08:42 AM
Happy Birthday Grace from Down Under! Turning one is serious (and fun) business!
Posted by: jane | April 01, 2008 at 08:57 AM
Ian, that must have been the inspiration for "Brokeback Mountain," right?
Posted by: Marissa | April 01, 2008 at 09:02 AM
Thanks Jane, Just a pity she's over in Texas with Mrs Down Under visiting family, while I'm at home alone with the dog until my holidays in May.
Riss, still only seen about half of that movie. Closed my eyes when the man o man parts were on. Can't wait for the sequel, it's an all girl movie "Bent my Fingernail Back Mounting Him"
Posted by: Ian from Down Under | April 01, 2008 at 09:12 AM
Ok, if it doesn't sell... how about
Burnin down the house by Talking Heads
Posted by: CJ | April 02, 2008 at 06:19 AM