I've blogged before about how music is my workout buddy. My tastes center on 80s, as that was the time period when I graduated high school (technically 1979), and then college and graduate school.



This project began with perhaps 30 songs in mind. Then 40. Then 50. I could not whittle it down. Then 80. Well, we're at 160. If you load your mp3 player up with these and shuffle them, it will be awhile before you are beset with a repeat. If you are a subscriber to Rhapsody subscription music, message me and we'll discuss how to transfer the full list to you, within that service's software.



No quizzes, as I do not have time to research the answer key; just a list. Here goes:



1. Need You Tonight - INXS
2. Cold Hearted - Paula Abdul
3. What Have I Done to Deserve This? - Pet Shop Boys
4. Burning Down the House - The Talking Heads
5. Call Me - Blondie



6. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
7. Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen
8. Cruel Summer - Bananarama
9. Tuff Enough - The Fabulous Thunderbirds
10. Footloose - Kenny Loggins

How we doin' so far? Liking this?...



11. Let's Go Crazy - Prince
12. The Warrior - Scandal
13. Der Kommissar - After The Fire
14. Alive and Kicking - Simple Minds
15. Kyrie - Mister Mister



16. Kids in America - Kim Wilde
17. Stray Cat Strut - Stray Cats
18. Personal Jesus - Depeche Mode
19. We Didn't Start the Fire - Billy Joel
20. Conga - Miami Sound Machine



Not too shabby of a list, huh? Hang on...

21. Cherry Bomb - John Mellencamp
22. Walk Like an Egyptian - The Bangles
23. Tainted Love / Where Did Our Love Go - Soft Cell
24. Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners
25. Our House - Madness




26. If You Leave - Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark
27. I Ran - A Flock of Seagulls
28. I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany
29. Devil Inside - INXS
30. Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and The Waves



Trip Down Memory Lane? Thought it might be. More...


31. It's The End of the World and I Know It - REM
32. Twist of Fate - Olivia Newton John
33. Livin' on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
34. Good Thing - Fine Young Cannibals
35. Gloria - Laura Branigan



36. Love in an Elevator - Aerosmith
37. Straight Up - Paula Abdul
38. Separate Ways - Journey
39. Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams
40. Like a Virgin - Madonna



Apparently, Madonna and I are the same age. Also apparently, Madonna has a slightly larger bank account. Alas...

41. Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
42. I Hate Myself For Loving You - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
43. R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. - John Mellancamp
44. Don't You Want Me - Human League
45. Jump - Van Halen



46. Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benetar
47. The Heart of Rock and Roll - Huey Lewis & The News
48. Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money) - Pet Shop Boys
49. Centerfold - J. Geils Band
50. And She Was - The Talking Heads



Wow, 50 already...

51. I Heard a Rumor - Bananarama
52. Right Here, Right Now - Jesus Jones
53. New Sensation - INXS
54. Your Love - The Outfield
55. My Prerogative - Bobby Brown



56. People are People - Depeche Mode
57. Our Lips are Sealed - The Go Gos
58. Abracadabra - The Steve Miller Band
59. No Surrender - Bruce Springsteen
60. Always Something There to Remind Me - Naked Eyes



There are always 80s songs, there on my mp3 player, to remind me...

61. All For You - Sister Hazel
62. The Tide is High - Blondie
63. Pop Goes the World - Men Without Hats
64. Super Freak - Rick James
65. New Year's Day - U2



66. Material Girl - Madonna
67. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
68. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
69. Tell Her About It - Billy Joel
70. Your Mama Don't Dance - Poison

Ah, Poison. Hair bands. Did you have hair like that? Do you, still?



71. Losing My Religion - REM
72. Physical - Olivia Newton John
73. Rockin' in the Free World - Neil Young
74. Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
75. Authority Song - John Mellencamp




76. Self Control - Laura Branigan
77. Wrap it Up - The Fabulous Thunderbirds
78. Hazy Shade of Winter - The Bangles
79. Keep Your Hands to Yourself - Georgia Satellites
80. Rhythm is Gonna Get You - Miami Sound Machine



Don't you just break a sweat listening to Gloria Estaban belt that one out?...

81. Glory Days - Bruce Springsteen
82. I've Had the Time of My Life - Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes
83. Let's Hear it For The Boy - Deniece Williams
84. Talking in Your Sleep - The Romantics
85. Voices Carry - 'Til Tuesday



86. Wanna Be Startin' Something - Michael Jackson
87. One Way or Another - Blondie
88. Life During Wartime - The Talking Heads
89. You Keep Me Hanging On - Kim Wilde
90. What You Need - INXS

Yes, a few artists appear on this list more than once. Think I like INXS?

91. 1999 - Prince
92. Vacation - The Go Gos
93. You Can't Touch This - MC Hammer
94. Opposites Attract - Paula Abdul
95. West End Girls - Pet Shop Boys



96. Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
97. Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
98. Venus- Bananarama
99. Don't Go - Yaz
100 . Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode

So I got to 100, but I just couldn't get enough! So...

101. A Million Miles Away - The Plimsouls
102. Start Me Up - The Rolling Stones
103. Suicide Blonde - INXS
104. Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order
105. Nothin' At All - Heart



106. Whip It - Devo
107. Church of the Poison Mind - Culture Club
108. A Girl Like You - The Smithereens
109. No More Words - Berlin
110. She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals

You'd have thought a band with a name like "Fine Young Cannibals" would be a one-hit wonder. Well, they actually have two songs on this list. Yes, the 80s were weird...

111. Funky Town - Pseudo Echo
112. Heartbreak Beat - The Psychedelic Furs
113. Original Sin - INXS
114. Suddenly Last Summer - The Motels
115. It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls




116. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
117. Just a Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody - David Lee Roth
118. Money for Nothing - Dire Straits
119. Centerfield - John Fogerty
120. Take on Me - A-Ha

Ah... Money for Nothing and Chicks for Free. Hey, how come that was never me in the 80s?...

121. 99 Red Balloons - Nena
122. Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Great White
123. We Built This City - Jefferson Starship
124. American Girl - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
125. Tall Cool One - Robert Plant




126. Real Wild Child - Iggy Pop
127. Video Killed the Radio Star - The Buggles
128. Bang the Drum all Day - Todd Rundgren
129. Don't Leave Me This Way - The Cummunards
130. Sex (I'm a) - Berlin

Video did indeed kill the radio star. They called it MTV.

131. Wild, Wild West - The Escape Club
132. Dance Hall Days - Wang Chung
133. Disappear - INXS
134. Obsession - Animotion
135. Goody Two Shoes - Adam Ant



136. You Spin Me Around (Like a Record) - Dead or Alive
137. Send Me An Angel - Real Life
138. St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) - John Parr
139. Eye of the Tiger - Survivor
140. Heat of the Moment - Asia



Asia came out in 1982. That was the year that Argentina thought the Falkland Islands belonged to them, and Britain, in response, pretended it was 1805 all over again.

141. Make a Circuit With Me - The Polecats
142. In a Big Country - Big Country
143. Don'y You Forget About Me - Simple Minds
144. I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
145. Modern Love - David Bowie



146. Puttin on the Ritz - Taco
147. One Thing Leads to Another - The Fixx
148. The Look of Love - ABC
149. 867-5309 (Jenny) - Tommy Tutone
150. Missing You - John Waite



I really am missing the 80s...

151. Rock This Town - The Stray Cats
152. Everybody Wants to Rule The World - Tears for Fears
153. Wild, Wild Life - The Talking Heads
154. Kokomo - The Beach Boys
155. The Dead Heart - Midnight Oil



156. The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em Like That Anymore) - Greg Kihn Band
157. Ghostbusters - Ray Parker, Jr.
158. Hold Me Now - The Thompson Twins
159. Turn the Beat Around - Miami Sound Machine
160. 65 Love Affair - Paul Davis



Whew...