Matt's Books and Music

[This post is part of a large project in which I am going through the popular music released in each year. Please see the note at the bottom of the post re: omissions and limitations.]

Introduction

At the time of writing this, I’ve completed twenty-four of these annual deep-dives, and 1987 was by far the worst year to date, and the first year when finding sixty songs I wanted to put on my year-end playlist was a challenge. So what happened?

It was clear last time that 1986 was a transitional year. The new wave that had been providing so much of the new energy to the industry in the first half of the decade had crashed, and while it definitely had a lasting impact on pop and dance music as the decade wore on, it would never be what was ‘new’ or ‘cool’ in rock music again. And, whether it was the result of particular instrumentation and arrangement choices, the swing back towards R&B (emphasis on the blues part of that for a large number of white artists), or the industry following its baby boomer audience into maturity, a lot of what was popular in 1987 seems remarkably grown-up, ‘easy listening’, and, well, un-cool. There are big exceptions to this of course. Amidst the creeping electric pianos and power ballads there were generation-defining albums from U2, INXS, George Michael, and Michael Jackson. But I think my critique holds overall, and it’s notable that none of these albums fit well into any larger trend. It’s a case of what’s really good transcending fads.

But where did the ‘cool’ go?

I think the answer to that is college radio, or at least the indie sound that we associate with it in the ‘80s through early ‘00s. While groups like R.E.M. had been putting out good work throughout the ‘80s, it seems like 1987 saw a huge influx of stripped-back production and songwriting-forward rock music: In addition to R.E.M., there were great albums from the likes of 54.40, Blue Rodeo, the Indigo Girls, Suzanne Vega, and Robbie Robertson. And perhaps unsurprisingly, a lot of the new wave bands that were still standing — the Smiths, Depeche Mode, and The Cure — were those whose sound already leaned more in that direction.

What we’re left with is an odd assortment of music, and an unexpected playlist for me.

(If you were around and listening to music in 1987 and can offer any insight into any of this that I missed, please let me know in the comments!)

Top 10 Albums

1. The Joshua Tree (U2): We’re at a point when it’s popular to dunk on U2, but in their prime, they did amazing, lush, and sonically interesting stuff, and for my money, The Joshua Tree is their magnum opus.
2. Kick (INXS): I spent my childhood hating this album, but revisiting it as an adult, I’m really impressed, both by the hits (”Need You Tonight, “New Sensation”) and its depth. It manages to follow the retro trend that was so popular in the decade without it feeling old or derivative. It takes talent to make the twelve-bar blues sound fresh, but they did it.
3. Faith (George Michael): This is another album that I’ve come to appreciate only as an adult. Its sultry sound and overt sexual themes set it apart from a lot of the ‘supermarket rock’ that dominated the year. “Careless Whisper” flirted so Faith could fuck.
4. Bad (Michael Jackson): There was no bigger artist on the planet in the 1980s than Michael Jackson. I’m continually shocked that he managed this while releasing only two albums in the decade. While Thriller is better remembered, Bad still produced five number-one singles, which is crazy depth!
5. Show Me (54.40): This is my first trip this year off the beaten path, but this third album from Canadian indie stalwarts 54.50 is pretty awesome — even if it is the band’s least favourite. If you’re new to it, check out “Get Back Down,” “Everyday,” and “One Day in Your Life.”
6. Whitney (Whitney): Any album with “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “So Emotional,” and “Didn’t We Almost Have It All” on it is a very good album.
7. Heaven on Earth (Belinda Carlisle): Former Go-Go’s singer Belinda Carlisle’s first foray into her solo career was solid, but this sophomore effort represented her peak, with three top-ten singles (all of which made my end-of-year playlist).
8. Savage (Eurythmics): This is my least favourite Eurythmics album, but it still finds itself easily within my top ten albums of the year. Partly it’s because it’s a weaker year over all, but mostly it’s because Annie Lennox can really do no wrong when it comes to music.
9. Outskirts (Blue Rodeo): This debut album from Canadian country and indie darlings Blue Rodeo shows a new band already fully formed. The sign of big things to come!
10. Tango in the Night (Fleetwood Mac): That a 1987-era Fleetwood Mac largely running on fumes could still produce two songs as unbiquitous as “Everywhere” and “Little Lies” goes to show just how amazing they are.

Other Albums of Note

Where was the ‘cool’ in 1987? For me it was largely between number 11-18 in my album rankings:

• Kiss Me Kiss Me Miss Me (The Cure)
• Document (REM Number 5) (R.E.M.)
• Solitude Standing (Suzanne Vega)
• Raindancing (Allison Moyet)
• Strange Fire (Indigo Girls)
• Robbie Roberson (self titled)

Top 10 Songs

1. “With Or Without You” (U2): I didn’t want to put this at number one, but from the introduction on it’s simply undeniable. (Favourite lyric: “Sleight of hand and twist of fate / On a bed of nails she makes me wait / And I’ll wait without you”)
2. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (U2): That we never find out what it is Bono is looking for makes this song universal; there’s nothing quite as human as wanting an unspecified ‘more’: (Favourite lyric: “I believe in the Kingdom Come when all the colours will bleed into one / But yes, I’m still runnin’”)
3. “The One I Love” (R.E.M.): The lyrics of this song couldn’t be simpler — or more confounding. But man is it catchy. (Favourite lyric: “A simple prop to occupy my time / This one goes out to the one I love”)
4. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” (Whitney Houston): For an artist best known for her heartfelt ballads, Whitney excelled when she dipped her immense talents into catchy dance music like this. (Favourite lyric: “I need a man who’ll take the chance / On a love that burns hot enough to last”)
5. “Alone” (Heart): Few songs match as subtle and melodic a verse with as powerful a chorus as this one, and it hits every. single. time. (Favourite lyric: “’Til now, I always got by on my own / I never really cared until I met you”)
6. “Father Figure” (George Michael): Some of the imagery in this long is pretty disturbing, but the groove is so good I almost forget. (Favourite lyric: “If you ever hunger / Hunger for me”)
7. “Just Like Heaven” (The Cure): A surprisingly earnest love song from The Cure, it matches sweet (and sexy) lyrics with an unbeatable hook. (Favourite lyric: “Lost and lonely (you) / Just like heaven”)
8. “It’s the End of the World As We Know It” (R.E.M.): Featuring a unique, stream-of-consciousness narration, infectious melodies, and luscious harmonies, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more fun song about anxiety than this. (Favourite lyric: “World serves its own needs / Don’t mis-serve your own needs”)
9. “So Emotional” (Whitney Houston): Once again, Whitney’s vocal and party-music sensibilities come together perfectly. (Favorite lyric: “I get so emotional, baby / Ain’t it shocking what love can do?”)
10. “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us” (Starship): The ‘80s were known for their great movie soundtracks, so it’s fitting that the last song in my top ten list for 1987 had its origins on the Mannequins soundtrack. It’s great piece of 1970s pop rock updated perfectly for the ‘80s. (Favourite lyric: “Let ’em say we’re crazy, I don’t care ’bout that / Put your hand in my hand, baby, don’t ever look back”)

Other Songs of Note

• “Never Gonna Give You Up” (Rick Astley): The Rick-rolling trend of the late ‘00s aside, this song really was everywhere.
• “Weak in the Presence of Beauty” (Allison Moyet): Raindancing was no ALF, but it was still a great album, and this was unquestionably its best track.
• “Heart and Soul” (T’Pau): A fantastic one-hit-wonder song.

Most Surprising Inclusion

• “Gypsy” (Suzanne Vega): Before doing my 1985 deep-dive I really only knew Suzanne Vega from “Luka” and the remix of “Tom’s Diner.” I didn’t expect her to feature repeatedly in my end of year lists.

Notable Song that Missed the Cut

• “Here I Go Again” (Whitesnake)

[Note: It’s of course impossible to listen to everything, so while I’ve tried to be as comprehensive as possible, omissions are inevitable. For consistency’s sake, I’ve gone with the year music was released, rather than when it became popular. Any ratings or rankings are my own and entirely subjective. This has nothing to do with objective quality but is simply reflective of my personal taste.]