La rivista PopMatters si è cimentata nell’impresa di selezionare le 100 migliori canzoni “alternative” degli anni 80 (una per artista). Ne è scaturita una lista articolata che tiene insieme generi come punk, post-punk, new wave, college rock, underground, goth, new romantic, ska, power pop, hardcore e indie-rock. “Generalmente, quando si pensa alla musica degli anni 80, i primi artisti che vengono in mente sono i vari Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Prince, Duran Duran, a-ha e altri artisti di punta di Mtv e della Top 40 – sottolinea Chris Gerard nella introduzione - Non c'è dubbio che sia stata un'età dell'oro per la musica pop, anche se alcuni dei successi per eccellenza degli anni 80 sono invecchiati meglio di altri”. Da qui il pregiudizio di tanti sulla presunta superficialità di un decennio che invece ha prodotto tante realtà alternative e di nicchia, e qui Gerard si imbarca in uno scivoloso discorso su come debba interpretarsi il termine “alternativo”, che potrebbe aprire dibattiti infiniti (non è questa la sede). Mettendo infine le mani avanti con alcune precisazioni del tipo “il fattore più importante nella compilazione dell'elenco è l'importanza artistica, tenendo conto anche del significato culturale” e “c'erano quasi 400 canzoni nell'elenco iniziale e restringerlo a 100 ha comportato tagli strazianti… molte grandi canzoni non sono incluse, ma ciò che ci rimane sono 100 tra le migliori e più importanti canzoni del decennio, che coprono un’ampia gamma di stili”.
Ovviamente, come ogni lista, presta il fianco a molte critiche, però è anche uno spunto per riportare alla luce tutta la ricchezza e la varietà musicali che hanno caratterizzato uno dei decenni più importanti della storia del pop-rock.
Qui sotto la lista completa delle 100 Best Alternative Songs of the 1980s di PopMatters, in questa pagina, invece, il servizio completo con commenti e video per ogni brano.
99. Laid Back – “White Horse” (1983)
98. Joboxers – “Just Got Lucky” (1983)
97. 10,000 Maniacs – “Like The Weather” (1987)
96. Concrete Blonde – “God Is A Bullet” (1989)
95. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Knock Me Down” (1989)
94. The English Beat – “Save It For Later” (1982)
93. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – “Enola Gay” (1980)
92. Happy Mondays – “24 Hour Party People” (1987)
91. Lloyd Cole & The Commotions – “Rattlesnakes” (1984)
90. Berlin – “Sex (I’m A…)” (1982)
89. Furniture – “Brilliant Mind” (1986)
88. They Might Be Giants – “Ana Ng” (1988)
87. Adam Ant – “Goody Two Shoes” (1982)
86. Violent Femmes – “Blister In The Sun” (1983)
85. Thomas Dolby – “Airwaves” (1982)
84. Fugazi – “Waiting Room” (1988)
83. The B-52’s – “Channel Z” (1989)
82. A Flock Of Seagulls – “Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You)” (1982)
81. Yaz – “Don’t Go” (1982)
80. Bob Mould – “See A Little Light” (1989)
79. Pale Saints – “Sight Of You” (1989)
78. Black Flag – “Rise Above” (1981)
77. Inxs – “Don’t Change” (1982)
76. The Sisters Of Mercy – “This Corrosion” (1987)
75. Love And Rockets – “So Alive” (1989)
74. B Movie – “Nowhere Girl” (1982)
73. Tracy Chapman – “Talkin ‘Bout A Revolution” (1988)
72. Nirvana – “Blew” (1989)
71. The Plimsouls – “A Million Miles Away” (1983)
70. Faith No More – “We Care A Lot” (1987)
69. Tom Tom Club – “Genius Of Love” (1981)
68. Big Country – “In A Big Country” (1983)
67. Ministry – “Stigmata” (1988)
66. House Of Love – “Shine On” (1987)
65. The Stranglers – “Golden Brown” (1981)
64. The Go-Betweens – “Cattle And Cane” (1983)
63. Gang Of Four – “I Love A Man In A Uniform” (1982)
62. Liquid Liquid – “Cavern” (1983)
61. Grace Jones – “Private Life” (1980)
60. The Human League – “Love Action (I Believe In Love)” (1981)
59. The Chameleons – “Up The Down Escalator” (1983)
58. Eurythmics – “Beethoven (I Love To Listen To)” (1987)
57. The Waterboys – “The Whole Of The Moon” (1985)
56. Magazine – “A Song From Under The Floorboards” (1980)
55. Midnight Oil – “Beds Are Burning” (1987)
54. Hüsker Dü – “Don’t Want To Know If You Are Lonely” (1986)
53. Sinéad O’connor – “Mandinka” (1987)
52. Meat Puppets – “Lake Of Fire” (1984)
51. Devo – “Whip It” (1980)
50. The Replacements – “Can’t Hardly Wait” (1987)
49. Missing Persons – “Destination Unknown” (1982)
48. The La’s – “There She Goes” (1988)
47. Icicle Works – “Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream)” (1983)
46. X – “Johnny Hit And Run Paulene” (1980)
45. The Jam – “Town Called Malice” (1982)
44. Cocteau Twins – “Carolyn’s Fingers” (1988)
43. Mission Of Burma – “That’s When I Reach For My Revolver” (1981)
42. The Cult – “She Sells Sanctuary” (1985)
41. Suzanne Vega – “Luka” (1987)
40. Peter Murphy – “Cuts You Up” (1989)
39. Patti Smith – “People Have The Power” (1988)
38. Suicidal Tendencies – “Institutionalized” (1983)
37. Nine Inch Nails – “Head Like A Hole” (1989)
36. Japan – “Ghosts” (1981)
35. Public Image Ltd. – “Rise” (1986)
34. Romeo Void – “Never Say Never” (1981)
33. The Psychedelic Furs – “Pretty In Pink” (1981)
32. The Blue Nile – “Downtown Lights” (1989)
31. Elvis Costello – “Veronica” (1989)
30. Bauhaus – “She’s In Parties” (1983)
29. Morrissey – “Everyday Is Like Sunday” (1988)”
28. The Sugarcubes – “Birthday” (1988)
27. The Clash – “Rock The Casbah” (1982)
26. The Stone Roses – “She Bangs The Drums” (1989)
25. The Pretenders – “Talk Of The Town” (1980)
24. Talk Talk – “It’s My Life” (1984)
23. Tears For Fears – “Mad World” (1982)
22. Peter Gabriel – “Games Without Frontiers” (1980)
21. Pixies – “Monkey Gone To Heaven” (1989)
20. The Police – “Spirits In The Material World” (1981)
19. R.E.M. – “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” (1984)
18. Siouxsie And The Banshees – “Peek-A-Boo” (1988)
17. Tom Waits – “Time” (1985)
16. Sonic Youth – “Teen Age Riot” (1988)
15. Jane’s Addiction – “Jane Says” (1988)
14. Depeche Mode – “Everything Counts” (1983)
13. U2 – “Bad (Live)” (1985)
12. The Church – “Under The Milky Way” (1988)
11. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – “The Mercy Seat” (1988)
10. Xtc – “Dear God” (1986)
9. The Jesus And Mary Chain – “Just Like Honey” (1985)
8. The Cure – “A Forest” (1980)
7. New Order – “Blue Monday” (1983)
6. Echo And The Bunnymen – “The Killing Moon” (1984)
5. David Bowie – “Ashes To Ashes” (1980)
4. Talking Heads – “Once In A Lifetime” (1980)
3. Kate Bush – “Running Up That Hill” (1985)
2. The Smiths – “How Soon Is Now” (1984)
1. Joy Division – “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (1980)
Ovviamente, come ogni lista, presta il fianco a molte critiche, però è anche uno spunto per riportare alla luce tutta la ricchezza e la varietà musicali che hanno caratterizzato uno dei decenni più importanti della storia del pop-rock.
Qui sotto la lista completa delle 100 Best Alternative Songs of the 1980s di PopMatters, in questa pagina, invece, il servizio completo con commenti e video per ogni brano.
100. The Primitives – “Crash” (1988)
99. Laid Back – “White Horse” (1983)
98. Joboxers – “Just Got Lucky” (1983)
97. 10,000 Maniacs – “Like The Weather” (1987)
96. Concrete Blonde – “God Is A Bullet” (1989)
95. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Knock Me Down” (1989)
94. The English Beat – “Save It For Later” (1982)
93. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – “Enola Gay” (1980)
92. Happy Mondays – “24 Hour Party People” (1987)
91. Lloyd Cole & The Commotions – “Rattlesnakes” (1984)
90. Berlin – “Sex (I’m A…)” (1982)
89. Furniture – “Brilliant Mind” (1986)
88. They Might Be Giants – “Ana Ng” (1988)
87. Adam Ant – “Goody Two Shoes” (1982)
86. Violent Femmes – “Blister In The Sun” (1983)
85. Thomas Dolby – “Airwaves” (1982)
84. Fugazi – “Waiting Room” (1988)
83. The B-52’s – “Channel Z” (1989)
82. A Flock Of Seagulls – “Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You)” (1982)
81. Yaz – “Don’t Go” (1982)
80. Bob Mould – “See A Little Light” (1989)
79. Pale Saints – “Sight Of You” (1989)
78. Black Flag – “Rise Above” (1981)
77. Inxs – “Don’t Change” (1982)
76. The Sisters Of Mercy – “This Corrosion” (1987)
75. Love And Rockets – “So Alive” (1989)
74. B Movie – “Nowhere Girl” (1982)
73. Tracy Chapman – “Talkin ‘Bout A Revolution” (1988)
72. Nirvana – “Blew” (1989)
71. The Plimsouls – “A Million Miles Away” (1983)
70. Faith No More – “We Care A Lot” (1987)
69. Tom Tom Club – “Genius Of Love” (1981)
68. Big Country – “In A Big Country” (1983)
67. Ministry – “Stigmata” (1988)
66. House Of Love – “Shine On” (1987)
65. The Stranglers – “Golden Brown” (1981)
64. The Go-Betweens – “Cattle And Cane” (1983)
63. Gang Of Four – “I Love A Man In A Uniform” (1982)
62. Liquid Liquid – “Cavern” (1983)
61. Grace Jones – “Private Life” (1980)
60. The Human League – “Love Action (I Believe In Love)” (1981)
59. The Chameleons – “Up The Down Escalator” (1983)
58. Eurythmics – “Beethoven (I Love To Listen To)” (1987)
57. The Waterboys – “The Whole Of The Moon” (1985)
56. Magazine – “A Song From Under The Floorboards” (1980)
55. Midnight Oil – “Beds Are Burning” (1987)
54. Hüsker Dü – “Don’t Want To Know If You Are Lonely” (1986)
53. Sinéad O’connor – “Mandinka” (1987)
52. Meat Puppets – “Lake Of Fire” (1984)
51. Devo – “Whip It” (1980)
50. The Replacements – “Can’t Hardly Wait” (1987)
49. Missing Persons – “Destination Unknown” (1982)
48. The La’s – “There She Goes” (1988)
47. Icicle Works – “Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream)” (1983)
46. X – “Johnny Hit And Run Paulene” (1980)
45. The Jam – “Town Called Malice” (1982)
44. Cocteau Twins – “Carolyn’s Fingers” (1988)
43. Mission Of Burma – “That’s When I Reach For My Revolver” (1981)
42. The Cult – “She Sells Sanctuary” (1985)
41. Suzanne Vega – “Luka” (1987)
40. Peter Murphy – “Cuts You Up” (1989)
39. Patti Smith – “People Have The Power” (1988)
38. Suicidal Tendencies – “Institutionalized” (1983)
37. Nine Inch Nails – “Head Like A Hole” (1989)
36. Japan – “Ghosts” (1981)
35. Public Image Ltd. – “Rise” (1986)
34. Romeo Void – “Never Say Never” (1981)
33. The Psychedelic Furs – “Pretty In Pink” (1981)
32. The Blue Nile – “Downtown Lights” (1989)
31. Elvis Costello – “Veronica” (1989)
30. Bauhaus – “She’s In Parties” (1983)
29. Morrissey – “Everyday Is Like Sunday” (1988)”
28. The Sugarcubes – “Birthday” (1988)
27. The Clash – “Rock The Casbah” (1982)
26. The Stone Roses – “She Bangs The Drums” (1989)
25. The Pretenders – “Talk Of The Town” (1980)
24. Talk Talk – “It’s My Life” (1984)
23. Tears For Fears – “Mad World” (1982)
22. Peter Gabriel – “Games Without Frontiers” (1980)
21. Pixies – “Monkey Gone To Heaven” (1989)
20. The Police – “Spirits In The Material World” (1981)
19. R.E.M. – “So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)” (1984)
18. Siouxsie And The Banshees – “Peek-A-Boo” (1988)
17. Tom Waits – “Time” (1985)
16. Sonic Youth – “Teen Age Riot” (1988)
15. Jane’s Addiction – “Jane Says” (1988)
14. Depeche Mode – “Everything Counts” (1983)
13. U2 – “Bad (Live)” (1985)
12. The Church – “Under The Milky Way” (1988)
11. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – “The Mercy Seat” (1988)
10. Xtc – “Dear God” (1986)
9. The Jesus And Mary Chain – “Just Like Honey” (1985)
8. The Cure – “A Forest” (1980)
7. New Order – “Blue Monday” (1983)
6. Echo And The Bunnymen – “The Killing Moon” (1984)
5. David Bowie – “Ashes To Ashes” (1980)
4. Talking Heads – “Once In A Lifetime” (1980)
3. Kate Bush – “Running Up That Hill” (1985)
2. The Smiths – “How Soon Is Now” (1984)
1. Joy Division – “Love Will Tear Us Apart” (1980)
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