RYM - Top 25 singles of 1982 - choose your top 5

All charts calculated by RYM - see their rules rateyourmusic.com/wiki/RYM:Charts FAQ

A-sides are prioritized, but B-sides are absolutely fair in your vote

Rules -

Reissues of songs are not applicable (David Bowie - Heroes)

Single must have a commercial release

Singles off of albums a year prior are allowed, as are singles on albums a year later (Japan - Nightporter and Iggy Pop - The Passenger is not applicable)

A-side takes priority for release year - if the B-side is applicable by release date, but not the A-side, the single is not applicable (Blue Oyster Cult - The Reaper/Burnin For You)

I will allow whining about how your favorite no. 1 is missing or whatever, keep in mind this is voted based on song quality/retrospect/impact, not how much it was on your radio that year

 

This was really, really hard, but ended up losing More Than This for Come On Eileen

Prince - 1999
Dexys - Come on Eileen
OMD - Maid of Orleans
Japan - Ghosts
Tears for Fears - Mad World

 

Bruce
Psych
Jam
XTC
Dexy

 

What a stunning group of songs. It was very hard to narrow it down, but I went with:

The Message
Suspended In Gaffa
More Than This
1999
Only You

I would have voted for I Feel Love, but I assumed that this version was a remix (or was it simply rereleased?).

 

A lot of good tracks there

Golden Brown by the Stranglers was always a favourite.
A Town Called Malice, the first Jam song I was aware of.
Uncertain Smile by The The got plenty of air time on 96fm in Perth, and I loved it.
Senses Working Overtime, was my introduction to XTC, I always loved it. English Settlement is still my favourite Xtc album
Joan Of Arc (Maid Of Orleans) absolutely dazzled me when it came out. It is one of the songs responsible for me succumbing to the synthesiser. Architecture and Morality was a brilliant album.

Atlantic City by Bruce just missed out and quite a few others, but they were the important songs for me.

 

Roxy, Prince, Furs, XTC, Dexy

Did not pick Donna S. for the same reason as DirkM.

 

The 1982 release is the "Mega Mix" by Patrick Cowley (and as a huge fan of the original song itself I think the remix portions are absolutely dreadful).

I picked The Stranglers "Golden Brown", Kate Bush "Suspended In Gaffa", Prince "1999", Fleetwood Mac "Gypsy" and Donna Summer "I Feel Love" (because at it's core it's still the same great song after all).

 

I voted Grandmaster Flash, New Order, the Cure, Tears for Fears, and Springsteen. The New Order 1982 12” version of “Temptation” is one of my all time favorite songs. A perfect love song.

 

The only one on the list I could go for was Fleetwood Mac/Gypsy

My top five singles of 1982 would be:

Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out
Steve Winwood - Valerie
Dan Fobelberg - Missing You
Judas Priest - You Got Another Thing Comin'
Aldo Nova - Fantasy

 

Many a gem on that list:
Flock
Bruce
Duran
Furs
New Order

 

What the hell is Donna Summer’s I Feel Love doing on this list? It was 5 years old in 1982..

 

Some really good singles on the list but I've chosen:

The Stranglers - Golden Brown (gotta love a punk band with a harpsichord!)

Fleetwood Mac - Gypsy ( Don't hear this one on the radio too much so I;m surprised it's made the list. Great song though)

OMD - Maid Of Orleans (Well done, chaps. )

Duran Duran - Save a Prayer (I would have probably organized burnings for this back in the day but I've warmed to Duran Duran over the years and this is my favourite single of theirs)

Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen Sunny folk pop genius. Never fails to make me smile)

My favourite singles from 1982 though would be:

Toto - Africa

REO Speedwagon - Keep The Fire Burnin'

 

First thing I saw. Stupid, since the OP said reissues were off the table.

This RYM list is a real lousy one, to me. It’s not as representative as the Billboard chart, certainly.

 

I Feel Love was a U.K. #1 in 1977. If they wanted a Donna Summer song in the list, they could have gone for Love Is In Control which was both decent and actually from 1982.

I may do a poll of the top Billboard hits from 1982. There are some real head-scratchers in the RYM list.

 

Grandmaster Flash - still one of the best rap singles
Bruce - not a great single per se but a great song
Prince - come on!
Furs - one of their best
XTC - their best (ok - a tie with "Generals And Majors")

 

I think it’s a pretty snooty list that purports that these songs have some kind of superior influence. Half these songs don’t, to me. Look at the Prince selection!...Bah!

 

The 1979 list was even more terrible.

RYM - Top 25 singles of 1979, choose your fav 5

 

This is how the 1979 list should have looked.

Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1979 - Wikipedia

 

This list leans very alternative. Do people think it makes them cool not to consider undeniable classics like "Ebony and Ivory" and "Take It Away?"

 

The best single of the year isn't on the list. It used to be but this update thing they're doing sucks. Anyway, It's Planet Rock by Afrika Bambaata and the Soul Sonic Force.

 

There you go. And if you picked the top 25 songs from that list that you thought were influential, it would smoke the RYM one.

 

And here’s the 1982 one.

Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1982 - Wikipedia

 

Crazy that "I Feel Love" is on that list but "Sexual Healing" is not...

From that poll:
The Message
Atlantic City
1999
Gypsy
Come on Eileen

but my personal top 5 would be:
Sexual Healing
Save It For Later
Jack & Diane
Goody Two Shoes
Dirty Laundry

 

Yea i see these songs, and think "I'm sure there were bigger hits than these in ****"

I guess RYM has votes from people either not their at the time, or specifically avoiding the songs that were actually hits ? idk

 

Tears For Fears - Mad World
Dexys Midnight Runners & The Emerald Express - Come On Eileen