{"id":687,"date":"2024-12-08T01:57:09","date_gmt":"2024-12-08T06:57:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/danjkroll.com\/blog\/?p=687"},"modified":"2024-12-08T02:16:57","modified_gmt":"2024-12-08T07:16:57","slug":"the-80s-countdown-a-lesson-in-history-geometry-and-gravity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/danjkroll.com\/blog\/the-80s-countdown-a-lesson-in-history-geometry-and-gravity\/","title":{"rendered":"The 80s countdown: A lesson in history, geometry, and gravity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hello! Welcome to the first 80s countdown top 5 recap. Every week SiriusXM’s 80s on 8 channel broadcasts a countdown from the “decade of excess” hosted by the original MTV VJs. (Remember music videos?) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 80s countdown is based on Billboard<\/em>‘s Hot 100<\/em> chart for a given week somewhere between 1980 and 1989. Every week, it’s a different year and I will be providing fun feedback about the song and trivia tidbits about songs on the countdown. We’re calling it Nick’s Mix as a nod to the mixtapes we all made back in the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First of all, let me introduce myself. I am Nick Masterjohn, and I live in Minnesota. When I was a teenager, I loved All My Children<\/em>. I found a soap website that Dan J Kroll created and then eventually followed him on Twitter. Now that Dan has started building a community here<\/a> on his new web site, I thought I could contribute something about one of my biggest passions: music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without further ado, let’s kick off December 6, 1986, when The Golden Child<\/em> and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home<\/em> were popular at the box office. Here are the top 5 songs from that week!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Number Five: Strike a pose on a Cadillac<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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“Walk Like an Egyptian” by the Bangles. This was a huge hit for them by reaching #1 and staying for 4 weeks in December and January (1987). Did you know that since the Billboard<\/em> calculates the 100 biggest songs from December 1 through November 30, “Walk Like an Egyptian” was the biggest song of 1987? It really seems weird to me. I think there are better songs during that timeframe, but it was #1 for 4 weeks which was the longest. It was also based on airplay. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I love the long, I think it’s fun and has a nice vibe. This song probably did not age well as we I can’t see the masses approving of a song that could be seen as mocking the way the Egyptians walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Number Four: A song with Range<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

“The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby and the Range. This song went to #1 and was a huge hit. This song was described by Hornsby; Verse 1 is about the divide between the rich and the poor. Verse two is about social issues from the voice of someone who supports racial Segregation. The final verse recounts the passage of the Economic Opportunity Act in 1964 “to give those who ain’t got a little more” the song says. Also, about the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a victory in the movement against job discrimination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wow, this song is so deep but as a 17-year-old kid, I loved to sing the song and enjoyed the beat — I was not really paying attention to the lyrics. I do like Bruce’s music. He didn’t have a ton of hits, but the music is still good none the less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a video<\/a> for my favorite from him: “Mandolin Rain.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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