1981 Billboard Top 100: #70-66

Nov 28, 2007
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#70: "Hello Again" by Neil Diamond

Ah, one of those singers that are well liked by people over 40, but not so much under.

Music is basically a guy on a piano. Think Barry Manilow. For that matter, the singing style is basically that of a deeper voiced Barry Manilow.

The lyrics are another love song. People really liked those in '81, I guess. Basically, the singer is missing his girl, and singing about how great they are together, and how when they are apart, all he wants is to hear her talk with him again. It's not bad, but it's not really all that good, either. The song is quite sentimental, but it's basically cliche after cliche. Calling her "my friend", saying he thinks about her every night, and how he can't wait to see her again, and so on. It's fine, I guess.


#69: "Master Blaster" by Stevie Wonder

Yay, more Stevie Wonder!

Music is very funk. It starts off with a drum solo, then the guitar kicks in, followed by keyboard, before finishing off with some brass, all before the singing. Which is, of course, awesome.

The lyrics are pretty sweet. Basically, Stevie is singing about partying. Yeah, that's right, this is a party song. He basically is saying "Yeah, there are problems, we get it. But we'll deal with them later." Until then, it's time for "jammin' till the break of dawn." It's definitely better than most current party songs. Not Stevie's best work, but it is still pretty good.


#68: "While You See A Chance" by Steve Winwood

Steve Winwood is a decent artist, but I haven't heard much by him.

Ah, this song. Love the synthesizer opening. So easy to jam to. As for the singing, Steve Winwood is a decent singer, sounding like most soft rock band singers.

The lyrics are quite good. Basically, he is telling the listener "when you see a chance, take it." In other words, nothing will be handed to you. You are in charge of your own life. All you can do is wait for an opening and take advantage of it. That is a message of motivation I can get behind. Encouraging people to be a little proactive is not a bad thing. I love this song, actually.


#67: "I Can't Stand It" by Eric Clapton

Most people know of Eric Clapton, whether it be through his solo work, Cream, or "Layla".

Music is pretty standard Eric Clapton stuff, being fairly reminiscent of Cream. As for the singing, again, it is standard Clapton.

Another song about cheating. Apparently, when people weren't listening to love songs, they were listening to anti-love songs. Basically, what the singer "can't stand" is his woman running around and playing with his heart. This is definitely weaker than "I Ain't Gonna Stand For It", though. Clapton is just too repetitive. He basically repeats three things over and over: he can't stand her "foolin' around", "runnin' around", or "playin' around with my heart". Other than that, he sings maybe three other lines. It's not bad, but there's just not much to it.


#66: "Games People Play" by Alan Parsons Project

The name is quite accurate. This "band" basically was singer Eric Woolfson, Alan Parsons on keyboards, and whoever the fuck they wanted to work with. But hey, my first prog rock band to review for these lists.

Naturally, the keyboard line is pretty awesome, but then, so are all the instruments. The singing is pretty solid as well.

Basically, this is another anti-love song. The singer is basically tired of his love life, and is telling his girl that he is leaving, because he feels that their relationship is heading down a dead-end road, and he doesn't want to spend his life "quietly fading away", pretending they are happy in the same way many couples do. The titular games are basically holding up the masquerade of a healthy relationship when the reality is anything but.

I like this song, but not as much as I thought I would. I love prog rock, and this definitely holds up in that way. But the song is way too bitter and cynical for my tastes. I don't mind a bit of cynicism, but when the whole song is basically saying "no one has a healthy relationship, it's just about how well you can pretend that your relationship works", that's going a bit too far for me.


That wasn't a bad set, but it could have been a whole lot better.

Previously: #75-71 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.393684-1981-Billboard-Top-100-75-71?time=1352783776#15925694]

Next: #65-61 [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.394025-1981-Billboard-Top-100-65-61]
 

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Apr 25, 2010
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I wasnt keen on that 5.... Steve Winwood i only ever enjoyed Higher Love from oddly.. wasnt he the lead singer of another bigger band? *thinks* i remember along the lines of smth *checks wiki* guess not.... oh well either way hes super huge!