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The Top 20 Most Embarrassing Songs of the 80s

Posted Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:35pm PDT by Robert of the Radish in The Y! Music Playlist Blog

As someone who listens to a ton of music, I can say with high confidence that every decade has created its fair share of incredible and timeless music. The 80s were no exception. However, on the flip side, every decade also has its fair share of horrible, embarrassing music. And again, the 80s were no exception. I've run into a lot of people who say things like "the 80s sucked for music" or "there was no good music in the 90s". This is a false argument based on the individual's recollection of that particular decade, and the perception is usually formed by what was popular at the time. And as we know, what's the most popular does not usually correspond to the highest quality. I loved the music of the 80s, and the decade saw many new buds form that would become strong branches on the popular music tree. Everything from the emergence of a vital American punk scene, the birth of hip-hop, they evolution of college radio and new wave, and excellent growth in electronica, R&B and funk.

But for this playlist I've picked the 20 biggest losers. Songs that cause people to say, "the 80s sucked!" These are the culprits -- the songs that, when we hear them today, make us shake our heads in disbelief and turn us red with embarrassment.

I'll be the first to admit that I owned some of these, but I'll never tell you which.

What do you think is the most embarrassing song of the 1980s?

The Top 20 Most Embarrassing Songs of the 80s

   1. I Wanna Be A Lifeguard - Blotto   

   2. Mickey - Toni Basil   

   3. Maniac - Michael Sembello   

   4. I Love A Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt   

   5. Girl You Know It's True - Milli Vanilli

   6. Kokomo - The Beach Boys   

   7. We Built This City - Jefferson Starship   

   8. Dancing On The Ceiling - Lionel Richie   

   9. Heartbeat - Don Johnson   

   10. Puttin' On The Ritz - Taco   

   11. Sussudio - Phil Collins   

   12. We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off - Jermaine Stewart   

   13. Pass The Dutchie - Musical Youth   

   14. Sunglasses At Night - Corey Hart   

   15. Party All The Time - Eddie Murphy   

   16. Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice   

   17. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham!   

   18. Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley   

   19. Broken Wings - Mr. Mister   

   20. Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison 

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51 Comments

41. Daniel -
No Winger?

42. tooley -
The Clash-your losing it mate

43. Yahoo! Music User -
The Clash are a British instatution

44. Yahoo! Music User -
Earthbound, you can't believe he left out "Should Stay or Should I Go" by the Clash in a list of the most embarrassing songs of the 1980s? Are you serious? The Clash, embarrassing?
No cred for you my friend. Zero.

45. Kelly -
Oh come on!!!! I was very young in the 80s (3-13) and some of these songs are still favorites of mine!!! There are far worse songs that were not even mentioned!!

46. Carter -
OH Come on! Yes some of those songs were terrible. But I see no reason for SUnglasses at Night to be up there. "True" from Spandeau Ballet should be number one.

47. chris -
taco is better than flock of seagulls, night ranger, men at work, the list goes on, but putting on the ritz i still have on my playlist!

48. cool mom in clwtr -
OMG the one song I HATE THE MOST from that time period is C'mon Eileen....that video too -how goofy and embarrassing was that? And where is Safety Dance on this list - I like that song but really....a safety dance?

49. IdleHands70 -
How about embarassing videos. For the 80's i'd have to say MOST were embarassing to watch now. Prime example, Billy Squire - Rock Me Tonight. As I sit here watching it on YouTube, I am embarassed for Billy. I can only assume he has locked himself away in a cabin somewhere in the forests of Oregon - hopefully.

50. Thomas -
how is every rose has its thorn embarrassing

51. David -
hahaha!!! Very funny list. Some of these songs are also depressing!

David Hitt
Song Placements
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