1980s Top 40 Rate - The Synth Off Part 1

 

So, we've not got long left until all 40 positions are filled in our Ultimate Top 40 final, and all winners of the bottom half of the chart are all safe and certain to be there for the final...or are they?

 

Below are the winners vs the runner ups of the numbers 21 to 40 rates:

 

21. The Jam - That's Entertainment vs Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror

22. De La Soul - Me Myself I vs Cure - Boys Don't Cry

23. The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side vs Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation

24. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now? vs Janet Jackson - The Pleasure Principle vs Queen - Who Wants To Live Forever *

25. The Smiths - This Charming Man vs Prince & The Revolution - Raspberry Beret

26. The Smiths - Big Mouth Strikes Again vs Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Perfect Skin

27. Cure - Catch vs Damned - Alone Again Or

28. Wonder Stuff - Who Wants To Be The Disco King? vs New Order - Shellshock

29. New Order - Temptation vs Cocteau Twins - Pearly-Dewdrops Drops vs The Clash - I Fought The Law *

30. Clash - Rock The Casbah vs The Smiths - Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

31. Cure - A Forest vs Sade - The Sweetest Taboo

32. Abba - The Day Before You Came vs Jennifer Holliday - And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going

33. Abba - Thank You For The Music vs Fraggles - Fraggle Rock Theme

34. Joy Division - Atmosphere vs Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb - Guilty

35. The Fall - Victoria vs Yoko Ono - Walking On Thin Ice

36. Weird Al Yankovic - Eat It vs Eartha Kitt - Where Is My Man

37. Kate Bush - The Big Sky vs Echo & The Bunnymen - Crocodiles

38. New Order - Procession/Everything's Gone Green vs Pop Will Eat Itself - Can U Dig It?

39. Blondie - War Child vs Kraftwerk - Pocket Calculator vs Berlin - You Don't Know *

40. Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling/The Ballroom Of Romance vs Wonder Stuff - It's Yer Money I'm After Baby

 

If you want to change the outcome, this will be your ONLY chance to do so. Simply pick your winner of each peak position. If there is a tie, then the original victor will secure their place in the final. So, will all the winners be safe? It's up to you.

 

* Numbers 24, 29 and 39 saw two tracks tie for the runner up spot.

Edited June 13, 201510 yr by AH Gold

21. The Jam - That's Entertainment

22. Cure - Boys Don't Cry

23. The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

24. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?

25. Prince & The Revolution - Raspberry Beret

26. The Smiths - Big Mouth Strikes Again

27. Cure - Catch

28. New Order - Shellshock

29. New Order - Temptation

30. The Smiths - Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

31. Cure - A Forest

32. Abba - The Day Before You Came

33. Abba - Thank You For The Music

34. Joy Division - Atmosphere

35. The Fall - Victoria

36. Eartha Kitt - Where Is My Man

37. Kate Bush - The Big Sky

38. New Order - Procession/Everything's Gone Green

39. Kraftwerk - Pocket Calculator

40. Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling/The Ballroom Of Romance

 

 

Very happy that some of my favourite 80s songs are through to this stage.

Edited June 9, 201510 yr by AntoineTTe

21. The Jam - That's Entertainment

22. De La Soul - Me Myself I

23. The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

24. Queen - Who Wants To Live Forever

25. The Smiths - This Charming Man

26. Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Perfect Skin

27. Damned - Alone Again Or

28. Wonder Stuff - Who Wants To Be The Disco King?

29. New Order - Temptation

30. Clash - Rock The Casbah

31. Cure - A Forest

32. Abba - The Day Before You Came

33. Fraggles - Fraggle Rock Theme

34. Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb - Guilty

35. Yoko Ono - Walking On Thin Ice

36. Eartha Kitt - Where Is My Man

37. Kate Bush - The Big Sky

38. New Order - Procession/Everything's Gone Green

39. Blondie - War Child

40. Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling/The Ballroom Of Romance

This is a good idea! It's like a big Brother twist! the bottom half was a bit disappointing for me as none of my songs won. It looked a bit like an 80s uni art student playlist.

 

21. Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror

22. De La Soul - Me Myself I

23. Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation

24. Queen - Who Wants To Live Forever

25. Prince & The Revolution - Raspberry Beret

26. The Smiths - Big Mouth Strikes Again

27. Cure - Catch

28. Wonder Stuff - Who Wants To Be The Disco King?

29. The Clash - I Fought The Law

30. The Smiths - Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

31. Sade - The Sweetest Taboo

32. Abba - The Day Before You Came

33. Fraggles - Fraggle Rock Theme

34. Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb - Guilty

35. Yoko Ono - Walking On Thin Ice

36. Weird Al Yankovic - Eat It

37. Kate Bush - The Big Sky

38. Pop Will Eat Itself - Can U Dig It?

39. Kraftwerk - Pocket Calculator

40. Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling/The Ballroom Of Romance

ooh, twist!

 

 

 

21. Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror

22. Cure - Boys Don't Cry

23. Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation

24. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?

25. The Smiths - This Charming Man

26. Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Perfect Skin

27. Damned - Alone Again Or

28. New Order - Shellshock

29. Cocteau Twins - Pearly-Dewdrops Drops

30. Clash - Rock The Casbah

31. Cure - A Forest

32. Abba - The Day Before You Came

33. Abba - Thank You For The Music

34. Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb - Guilty

35. Yoko Ono - Walking On Thin Ice

36. Eartha Kitt - Where Is My Man

37. Kate Bush - The Big Sky

38. New Order - Procession/Everything's Gone Green

39. Berlin - You Don't Know *

40. Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling/The Ballroom Of Romance

 

now isn't that a much better list? :lol:

 

PS stop all this Fraggle Rock childhood nostalgia immediately! I know it's going to be a landslide.... :P

Heyyy!!! Cracking idea. Here's my alternative 20 (even changed some where my fave got through just for a more interesting 40)

 

21. The Jam - That's Entertainment

22. De La Soul - Me Myself I

23. The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

24. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?

25. Prince & The Revolution - Raspberry Beret

26. Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Perfect Skin

27. The Damned - Alone Again Or

28. The Wonder Stuff - Who Wants To Be The Disco King?

29. Cocteau Twins - Pearly-Dewdrops Drops

30. The Clash - Rock The Casbah

31. The Cure - A Forest

32. Abba - The Day Before You Came

33. Fraggles - Fraggle Rock Theme

34. Joy Division - Atmosphere

35. The Fall - Victoria

36. Eartha Kitt - Where Is My Man

37. Echo & The Bunnymen - Crocodiles

38. Pop Will Eat Itself - Can U Dig It?

39. Kraftwerk - Pocket Calculator

40. The Wonder Stuff - It's Yer Money I'm After Baby

 

Can we please get rid of Chris De Burgh!!?!

 

*EDIT* - AND, BY CHRIST, DON'T PUT BARBARA EFFING STREISAND IN OVER JOY DIVISION!!!

Edited June 10, 201510 yr by richie

21. The Jam - That's Entertainment

22. Cure - Boys Don't Cry

23. Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation

24. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?

25. The Smiths - This Charming Man

26. Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Perfect Skin

27. Cure - Catch

28. Wonder Stuff - Who Wants To Be The Disco King?

29. Cocteau Twins - Pearly-Dewdrops Drops

30. Clash - Rock The Casbah

31. Cure - A Forest

32. Abba - The Day Before You Came

33. Fraggles - Fraggle Rock Theme

34. Joy Division - Atmosphere

35. Yoko Ono - Walking On Thin Ice

36. Eartha Kitt - Where Is My Man

37. Kate Bush - The Big Sky

38. New Order - Procession/Everything's Gone Green

39. Kraftwerk - Pocket Calculator

40. Wonder Stuff - It's Yer Money I'm After Baby

 

It will make me very happy if Fraggles could somehow sneak in...that ABBA track is one of their worst so I can honestly say I'd rather listen to Fraggle Rock Theme!

21. Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror

22. Cure - Boys Don't Cry

23. Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation

24. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?

25. The Smiths - This Charming Man

26. The Smiths - Big Mouth Strikes Again

27. Cure - Catch

28. New Order - Shellshock

29. The Clash - I Fought The Law

30. Clash - Rock The Casbah

31. Sade - The Sweetest Taboo

32. Abba - The Day Before You Came

33. Abba - Thank You For The Music

34. Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb - Guilty

35. The Fall - Victoria

36. Eartha Kitt - Where Is My Man

37. Kate Bush - The Big Sky

38. New Order - Procession/Everything's Gone Green

39. Blondie - War Child

40. Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling/The Ballroom Of Romance

It will make me very happy if Fraggles could somehow sneak in...that ABBA track is one of their worst so I can honestly say I'd rather listen to Fraggle Rock Theme!

 

I'd say it's a foregone conclusion The Fraggles will get through, though if it were on the radio all the time (like Abba) I would be chucking bricks at the radio after a short while :lol:

 

and Richie, I prefer to regard it as Barry Effing Gibb featuring La Streisand :lol: . Nothing against Joy Division, it's just that Atmosphere is a bit miserable and they are going to walk it with Love Will Tear Us Apart which is WAY better by a massive distance. Babs n Bazza will have no other chance to feature...

Can we please get rid of Chris De Burgh!!?!

 

Yes, please. His song is the most ridicolous winner so far.

 

 

21. Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror

22. De La Soul - Me Myself I

23. The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

24. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?

25. The Smiths - This Charming Man

26. The Smiths - Big Mouth Strikes Again

27. Damned - Alone Again Or

28. Wonder Stuff - Who Wants To Be The Disco King?

29. New Order - Temptation

30. The Smiths - Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

31. Cure - A Forest

32. Jennifer Holliday - And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going

33. Fraggles - Fraggle Rock Theme

34. Joy Division - Atmosphere

35. The Fall - Victoria

36. Eartha Kitt - Where Is My Man

37. Echo & The Bunnymen - Crocodiles

38. Pop Will Eat Itself - Can U Dig It?

39. Blondie - War Child

40. Wonder Stuff - It's Yer Money I'm After Baby

21. The Jam - That's Entertainment

22. Cure - Boys Don't Cry

23. The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

24. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?

25. The Smiths - This Charming Man

26. The Smiths - Big Mouth Strikes Again

27. Damned - Alone Again Or

28. Wonder Stuff - Who Wants To Be The Disco King?

29. Cocteau Twins - Pearly-Dewdrops Drops

30. Clash - Rock The Casbah

31. Cure - A Forest

32. Abba - The Day Before You Came

33. Fraggles - Fraggle Rock Theme

34. Joy Division - Atmosphere

35. The Fall - Victoria

36. Weird Al Yankovic - Eat It

37. Echo & The Bunnymen - Crocodiles

38. Pop Will Eat Itself - Can U Dig It?

39. Blondie - War Child

40. Wonder Stuff - It's Yer Money I'm After Baby

so far, it looks like FIVE winners will be replaced in the final.

 

Just a couple of days left to decide, so vote wisely (in other words, choose Yoko rather than the Fall please :kink: )

and Richie, I prefer to regard it as Barry Effing Gibb featuring La Streisand :lol: . Nothing against Joy Division, it's just that Atmosphere is a bit miserable and they are going to walk it with Love Will Tear Us Apart which is WAY better by a massive distance. Babs n Bazza will have no other chance to feature...

 

Heh - I can't have it both ways I suppose. Was just pleasantly surprised that Atmosphere made it - and it's not actually that far behind LWTUA in terms of quality, just that LWTUA is one of the best songs ever written.

 

That said, it hasn't been scoring so highly in the last few no.13 rates - it might get overtaken by something else :blink:

 

21. Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror

22. De La Soul - Me Myself I

23. Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation

24. Janet Jackson - The Pleasure Principle

25. The Smiths - This Charming Man

26. Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Perfect Skin

27. Cure - Catch

28. New Order - Shellshock

29. New Order - Temptation

30. Clash - Rock The Casbah

31. Sade - The Sweetest Taboo

32. Jennifer Holliday - And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going

33. Abba - Thank You For The Music

34. Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb - Guilty

35. The Fall - Victoria

36. Eartha Kitt - Where Is My Man

37. Kate Bush - The Big Sky

38. New Order - Procession/Everything's Gone Green

39. Blondie - War Child

40. Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling/The Ballroom Of Romance

two days ago, it looked like we were going to say bye bye to five winners. Now, it's down to just TWO. Another seven are tied, so I'll keep this open for another day.

 

two days ago, it looked like we were going to say bye bye to five winners. Now, it's down to just TWO. Another seven are tied, so I'll keep this open for another day.

 

Hmmm. Fraggles. Yes. Well. Hmmm, 80's classic :P I look forward to Star Trekkin' winning the number one slot :lol:

Hmmm. Fraggles. Yes. Well. Hmmm, 80's classic :P I look forward to Star Trekkin' winning the number one slot :lol:

 

well, with Black Lace doing quite well with Superman, it wouldn't surprise me :lol:

Results start shortly. If you haven't voted yet, you still have a little time

You've had your say. Now the 21-40 positions will be set in stone. Who's safe, who's not?

 

21. The Jam - That's Entertainment (5) vs Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror (5)

 

Ah, one of seven ties. But in the case of a tie, it's the original victor which secures its place in the final, so The Jam just hold on at the expense of Jacko.

 

22. De La Soul - Me Myself I (5) vs Cure - Boys Don't Cry (5)

 

Same thing again here. We almost lost our only urban entry (so far), but the Cure fans here shouldn't be too disappointed. More from them in a bit.

 

23. The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side (5) vs Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation (5)

 

And again! It seems you lot are very much split between these. The Smiths have (currently) FOUR entries. This one's safe...

 

24. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now? (7) vs Janet Jackson - The Pleasure Principle (1) vs Queen - Who Wants To Live Forever (2) *

 

As is this - not much competition here, with 7 out of 10 votes securing The Smiths' second Ultimate Top 40 entry.

 

25. The Smiths - This Charming Man (7) vs Prince & The Revolution - Raspberry Beret (3)

 

Make that a third.

 

26. The Smiths - Big Mouth Strikes Again (5) vs Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Perfect Skin (5)

 

Is it too late to change the rules and let Perfect Skin through? Doh! All four Smiths tracks are safe.

 

27. Cure - Catch (5) vs Damned - Alone Again Or (5)

 

Another tie, so the winner stays the same.

 

28. Wonder Stuff - Who Wants To Be The Disco King? (6) vs New Order - Shellshock (4)

 

The Wonder Stuff have a mighty battle with Chris de Burgh coming up (lol), but against New Order they win with relative ease.

 

29. New Order - Temptation (4) vs Cocteau Twins - Pearly-Dewdrops Drops (4) vs The Clash - I Fought The Law (2)

 

But fear not, they keep the No.29 spot.

 

30. Clash - Rock The Casbah (7) vs The Smiths - Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me (3)

 

Thankfully, no chance of a fifth Smiths finalist here. (I do love them, but I think FOUR is enough!)

 

31. Cure - A Forest (7) vs Sade - The Sweetest Taboo (3)

 

No change in winners so far. An easy win for the Cure's first Top 40 hit here.

 

32. Abba - The Day Before You Came (8) vs Jennifer Holliday - And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going (2)

 

A landslide win here, and rightly so.

 

33. Abba - Thank You For The Music (4) vs Fraggles - Fraggle Rock Theme (6)

 

Ah, and our first casualty. Goodbye to Abba and Hello Fraggles!

 

34. Joy Division - Atmosphere (5) vs Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb - Guilty (5)

 

We almost had a Babs victory, but the indie lot help secure Joy Division's place in the final

 

35. The Fall - Victoria (6) vs Yoko Ono - Walking On Thin Ice (4)

 

Poor Yoko

 

36. Weird Al Yankovic - Eat It (2) vs Eartha Kitt - Where Is My Man (8)

 

And what happened here??? With a staggering eight votes to two, Eartha Kitt replaces a Jacko parody and is safely through to the final.

 

37. Kate Bush - The Big Sky (7) vs Echo & The Bunnymen - Crocodiles (3)

 

No contest here.

 

38. New Order - Procession/Everything's Gone Green (6) vs Pop Will Eat Itself - Can U Dig It? (4)

 

New Order's second winner holds on.

 

39. Blondie - War Child (5) vs Kraftwerk - Pocket Calculator (4) vs Berlin - You Don't Know (1) *

 

It was nearly Kraftwerk, but Blondie hold on to their place.

 

40. Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling/The Ballroom Of Romance (6) vs Wonder Stuff - It's Yer Money I'm After Baby (4)

 

Sorry Richie :lol:

 

And so, the Ultimate 80s Top 40 now looks like this:

 

1.

2.

3.

4.

5. Kate Bush - Babooshka

6.

7. Prefab Sprout - The King Of Rock N Roll

8.

9. Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush - Don't Give Up

10.

11. Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money)

12.

13. Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

14. Dusty Springfield - In Private

15.

16. Eurythmics - You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart

17.

18.

19. Pet Shop Boys - Love Comes Quickly

20. Kate Bush - Cloudbusting

21. The Jam - That's Entertainment

22. De La Soul - Me Myself I

23. The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

24. The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?

25. The Smiths - This Charming Man

26. The Smiths - Big Mouth Strikes Again

27. Cure - Catch

28. Wonder Stuff - Who Wants To Be The Disco King?

29. New Order - Temptation

30. Clash - Rock The Casbah

31. Cure - A Forest

32. Abba - The Day Before You Came

33. Fraggles - Fraggle Rock Theme

34. Joy Division - Atmosphere

35. The Fall - Victoria

36. Eartha Kitt - Where Is My Man

37. Kate Bush - The Big Sky

38. New Order - Procession/Everything's Gone Green

39. Blondie - War Child

40. Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling/The Ballroom Of Romance