Notes on a Playlist (updated throughout the day)

here's what i came up with, last night. they're the songs that i distinctly remember from my childhood; music i either chose to listen to ("Dear Santa, for Christmas, please bring me Samantha Fox's I Wanna Have Some Fun on cassette") or just remember enjoying from the radio which was never off in our house...

1. Rio (Duran Duran): it was all about the video; Duran Duran always had such great videos.
2. Gloria (Laura Branigan): c'mon, who didn't love this song?
3. All Through the Night (Cyndi Lauper): when She's So Unusual 1st came out, Cyndi was everywhere. she had like 5 singles from that one album but this one was my absolute favorite; the video made me so sad when i was a kid...
4. Iko Iko (Cyndi Lauper): i had such a vivid imagination when i was a kid and this song was so visual to me; i saw the flagboys and the kings and the fire and i'll admit it...i was fascinated by this song because of the line "he ain't a man/he's a lovin machine", when i was a kid...i didn't know what it meant but i liked how it sounded.
5. Miss Me Blind (Culture Club): my brother got Colour By Numbers, on vinyl, for Christmas one year. that was an album that never really got old, 'cuz every song on it was so fun.
6. Little Red Corvette (Prince):
7. Sugar Walls (Sheena Easton): one of the 1st albums i ever asked for, Sheena Easton's Private Heaven, this song was my second favorite. i knew it was about something i didn't understand but i loved the music and Sheena's sultry, smoky vocals.
8. Naughty Girls Need Love Too (Samantha Fox):
9. Rock This Town (the Stray Cats):
10. Your House or My House (Samantha Fox):
11. Time (Culture Club)
12. Jump (the Pointer Sisters): the Pointer Sisters were the ultimate 80's "girl group"; they had such a great sound for the time.
13. Thriller (Michael Jackson): this song hit me hard; the video scared the living shit out of me for years (it was the zombie/cat-people thing coupled with Vincent FUCKING Price at the end), but i always loved the song. it's only the last couple of years that i can listen to and enjoy it without having flashbacks to the video.
14: the Stray Cat Strut (the Stray Cats)
15. Let's Go Crazy (Prince): perhaps my absolute favorite Prince song
16: Mr. Telephone Man (New Edition): i played this cassette till it snapped. their music and lyrics were so simple and accessible to a kid, plus i was able to hit those obscenely high notes...
17: It's a Miracle (Culture Club):
18: Goody Two Shoes (Adam Ant): this song has such a great hook and incredibly repetitive lyrics which are sure to stick with you for the rest of your life...
19. Manic Monday (the Bangles): i just adored the Bangles when i was a kid; talk about catchy lyrics...
20. When You Were Mine (Cyndi Lauper): another song which fascinated me, as a kid, because it sounded like she was singing to a guy...who wore her clothes...it wasn't until much later on that i learned it was written by Prince and that Cyndi never bothered to change the words.
21. Venus (Bananarama): again...all about the video...hot men writhing around half naked, being treated like meat. oh yeah...the song is terribly catchy too.
22. 1999 (Prince)
23. Magic (the Cars): loved the video...loved the song.
24. She Blinded Me With Science (Thomas Dolby): so campy and fabulous. plus the old guy barking out "science" was a hoot!
25. Oposites Attract (Paula Abdul): so...um..yeah...i really thought the cat could sing.
26. She Bop (Cyndi Lauper): can you think of anything cuter than a kid singing a song with veiled references to masturbation? me neither.
27. the Reflex (Duran Duran): they really epitomized the 80's power-pop sound.
28: Take On Me (A-Ha!): i have no idea why, but the 1st time i heard this song was when i saw the video and it made bawl. i thought it was so poignant that the two lovers were trying to get back together even though they were from different worlds; he looked so sad and so hot...
29. the Way That You Love Me (Paula Abdul)
30: Karma Chameleon (Culture Club)
31. Toy Soldiers (Martika)
32. Wake Me Up Before You Go Go (Wham!)
33. You Got It (the New Kids on the Block)

there are about 75 more, but i'm too busy to keep updating....you get the idea, though.
now if only i could find Matthew Wilder's Break My Stride.