16 Songs I Loved At 16
Be thankful I’m not listing 160 songs.
I love pop music. That song by M, not so much. I grew up on Maui, where MTV wasn’t available until late 1989. Therefore you will notice a lack of things I would’ve been aware of at 16 if I could watch things like Yo, MTV Raps, Headbanger’s Ball and 120 Minutes. Also, the DJ at my Junior Prom wouldn’t have asked “who sings” Depeche Mode.
Somehow, I managed to get exposed to some great songs that came out when I was 16. Some weren’t even part of Casey Kasem’s Top 40 radio show! I am not exaggerating that I could come up with a quality list of 160+ songs I loved at 16. These 16 have been on my playlists in the last year and include some deep cuts (I think. MTV in 1989 folks.)
10,000 Maniacs — “Like The Weather”
I heard this in someone’s car off the adult contemporary station. Made a point to remember the artist. This album, In My Tribe, is still one of my favorite entire albums.
This video, though. Watch it on mute and see if you’d guess the song is about debilitating depression. I get depressed for Natalie Merchant having to be so happy in this video for a song that is the opposite of that.
Breathe — “Don’t Tell Me Lies”
Breathe had two big hits off their album All That Jazz; “Hands To Heaven” and “How Can I Fall?”. This was their lesser hit in the US, which is a shame. For one thing, it’s not a slow sappy love song. If there’s anything that can be said about my musical tastes, the forgotten cuts often outrank the ones everyone remembers.
Erasure —”A Little Respect”
The OG literal music video.
Guns N’ Roses — “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
There are two types of music listeners in this world. Ones who freaked out the first time they heard that opening riff, and ones with extremely questionable taste in music. This is easily in my list of the top 100 songs that grabbed me the first time I heard them.
Whitney Houston — “One Moment In Time”
If there was one thing we could count on Whitney Houston to do, it was belt out an inspirational song. This was timed with the 1988 Olympics. To this day, it’s a great song to pump yourself up with.
INXS — New Sensation
There are a number of great songs off of Kick. I remember distinctly liking this one the best at the time. Imagine how many more songs of theirs I would’ve known if I could’ve come of age watching 120 Minutes (or if they were reggae). It’s still sad to think of how much more INXS had in them if Michael Hutchence hadn’t died.
Living Colour — “Cult Of Personality”
I remember it was such a big deal that Living Colour was a rock band with black people in it. Whatever. They could’ve been green with purple polka dots and this song would still rock.
Madonna — “Like A Prayer”
This video was SO controversial. HERESY! My mom watched it and didn’t get it. She saw it as the passion play it was intended to be. My sister enjoyed pointing out how Madonna’s bra strap kept jumping its position because of the edits. I can’t unsee that just like I can’t unsee how Judy Garland’s hair keeps randomly changing lengths throughout The Wizard Of Oz. You’re welcome.
This whole album rules. It has her duet with Prince I often forget even happened. The other noteworthy thing about this album’s initial release was the incense somewhere in it. If memory serves, they did it to both the vinyl album and the CD. It was so strong! My entire record collection ended up smelling like it.
I got my first record store job my senior year. I could spot the Australian tourists a mile away based on the stacks of albums they would buy. No one else found Hawaii prices for them a bargain. They’d usually buy at least a dozen, which no local would be buying at one time. It was the best of the three malls we had. Regulars came in multiple times a week when hanging out at the mall like we all did as teens. I could also tell when this album was being purchased, even if it wasn’t visible. If the customer thought I was some kind of psychic, I would reveal my secrets.
Maxi Priest — “Some Guys Have All The Luck”
Hawaii loves its reggae. There was no escaping it in my formative years. I don’t even consider myself a fan of reggae but like I said, no escaping. Maxi Priest’s cover of “Wild World” may have been the bigger hit off his self-titled album. I just remember liking this one more.
Glenn Medeiros — Love Always Finds a Reason (duet with Elsa)
I am convinced there was a law requiring all radio stations in Hawaii to play every song off Glenn Medeiros’ albums in heavy rotation. This explains why this is included. That and I had a high school friend into this sort of love song.
Midnight Oil — “The Dead Heart”
I am also convinced all those years of Hawaiian History and Hawaiiana in school is why I find this song superior to “Beds Are Burning”. Like most people from Hawaii, I am not Hawaiian. Yet this song was relatable. There is a lot in common between the struggles the native Hawaiians and Australian Aborigines experienced.
Pet Shop Boys Feat. Dusty Springfield — “What Have I Done To Deserve This?”
This makes my top 100 duets. I think. Definitely my second favorite Pet Shop Boys’ song. Also a gateway into discovering Dusty’s awesome music catalog predating my existence.
Brenda K. Starr — “I Still Believe”
Still gives me goosebumps after all these years. It’s been covered but this version is still the best.
U2 Feat. B.B. King — “When Love Comes To Town”
This must make my top 100 duets list too. I think. Definitely on a list of top 100 duets with a contemporary and retro hitmaker. Just like the aforementioned “What Have I Done To Deserve This?” should.
I saw B.B. King in concert and don’t remember a thing about it. I was sober so that’s no excuse. He might’ve said which number Lucille (his guitar) he was on at that point in his career.
Janet Jackson — “Miss You Much”
Back in my sophomore year, I had to do a science fair project with a friend. No recollection what it was. I do recall it was nearly 100 pages of documentation and we put pictures for every section. All we could think of to put as the picture for the ‘Control’ title page was a picture of Janet Jackson from the cover of her album Control. Not only did no adult mention it, but we somehow got honorary mention. To this day I bet we could’ve filled the entire middle section with just the lyrics of every song from that album and none of the judges would’ve noticed.
“Miss You Much” was the first single off Rhythm Nation 1814. Seemed at the time like the album was treated like some comeback when it came out a whopping three years after. The last single off Control, “Funny How Time Flies (When You’re Having Fun)” was released at the end of 1987. That was hardly a long release gap in the 80s. They even acted like it in the video for this song. Just because the song’s name is “Miss You Much” doesn’t require the video implying she’s been gone noticeably long.
Steve Winwood — “Roll With It”
I didn’t truly appreciate most of the singles that came off his previous album, Back In The High Life Again at the time. My adult self considers the singles off that far superior than what came off Roll With It. Didn’t help that “Don’t You Know What The Night Can Do” was in all the Michelob ads at the time. I got sick of that song like my beer hating self would’ve gotten sick off drinking Michelob. That being said, “Roll With It” rocks its way back to when he was Little Stevie Winwood in the Spencer Davis Group.
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