The Time of My Life – And 7 Other songs

Remember this girl? You might best remember her as Ferris Bueller’s sister or Johnny Castle’s underage summer fling. Or, you might think of her as a Dancing With the Stars champion or as Mrs. Agent Phil Colson.

Whenever I think of Jennifer Grey, memories of my youth of growing up in the 1980s flood my mind. I remember her in “Red Dawn” (her first screen appearance with Patrick Swayze) as the grubby freedom fighter.

Of course I remember her as Jeannie in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and later, as Frances “Baby” Houseman in “Dirty Dancing.”

What I like best about my memories of times gone by include remembering the feelings that accompanied said memories.

Ms. Grey was a guest VJ this morning on  Sirius’ 80s on 8. She revealed her top 8 (get the branding?) favorite songs from the 1980s. I found myself disappointed in her list of 8:

• When Doves Cry;
• Nasty (by Janet Jackson);
• Express Yourself (by Madonna). Grey said Madonna claimed to be inspired by her when writing this song;
• Looking for a New Love ( by Jody Watley);
• What’s Love Got to Do With It;
• I Wanna Dance (With Somebody);
• Every Breath You Take;
• Everybody Wants to Rule the World

It’s tough to compare favorites because it’s all a matter of opinion. With that said, I thought I could easily share my Top 8 from the 80s. As I started compiling my list, I had too many choices. There are just hundreds of 80s songs that I love.

So I set this requirement: I had to have heard the song during the 80s and not later in life. Before I give the list, here are the honorable mentions:

Purple Rain, Don’t Know Much, Just Another Part of Me, Tell it to my Heart, Smooth Criminal, Forever Your Girl, Every Little Step, Living in America, One Night in Bangkok, Need You Tonight, Lean on Me, Don’t Stop Believing, Everybody Wants to Rule the World.

So with that, here’s my favorite 8 from the 80s in no particular order:

1. (I’ve had) The Time of My Life: That’s right, I’m taking Baby out of the corner. If I hear this song on the radio, I’m never turning the channel.
2. Beautiful Boy: My mother sang this to me as a child and I sing it to my 1-year-old every night before bedtime.
3. We are the World: The NY Post recently published a reader-submitted list of the 20 Worst Songs Ever and this was on that list. I totally disagree.
4. Strange Love: This song inspired my love for Depeche Mode. There are about 15 versions of this song and I love them all.
5. Lost in Your Eyes: Debbie Gibson was one of my first celebrity crushes. I actually got to dance with her at Disneyland at an old dance spot called Videopolis. This, in my opinion is her greatest song.
6. Crazy For You: Everytime I hear this ballad by Madonna, I picture her singing in that lounge in Vision Quest. The funny thing is that I had that image in my mind before I saw the movie.
7. Head to Toe: This song is a guilty pleasure and what keeps it in my heart is that it doesn’t get a lot of airplay, so when I hear it I still get good feelings.
8. The Power of Love: I thought I’d end with this song because this whole post takes me Back to the Future.

I’m sure I’ve left out some songs that you love. I encourage you to leave a comment or write your own blog!

Until next time …