Category Archives: 1980s songs

The best 500 songs from the 1980s. Lyrics, meanings and interpretations from the eighties. The Cure, Prince, Michael Jackson, Cindi Lauper, The Smiths, The Cars, REO…see what artist ranks highest in our greatest all-time songs rankings.

1980s songs, outcasts

#497 Smooth Criminal- Michael Jackson

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Annie are you okay, are you okay, Annie?

Most music critics will tell you that Billie Jean is Michael Jackson’s best song. It isn’t. “Smooth Criminal” is Jackson’s best song. (Sorry to spoil a bit of this list.) This song is out there. It shows off Jackson’s talent, knack for beat and bizarre song concepts perfectly.

The “Annie are you okay?” line is crazy. That is what we learned in freshman health class to when we practiced CPR on the dummies. It can’t be a coincidence that Jackson used the same line, can it? Was my teacher a closet Michael Jackson fan goofing on us? Was Jackson incorporating his CPR training into a song about killing? I almost don’t want to know the answer. Both are equally fantastic.

Smooth Criminal Meaning
The King of Pop

The lyrics of “Smooth Criminal” are particularly graphic. They describe the bloody murder of a woman. I can think of songs that take on similar dark topics, but few that are graphic like this (I don’t count rap songs). Strange Fruit is an example of an extremely dark song, but the language is mostly metaphorical. Jackson’s high octave range and staccato delivery soften the impact. But when you listen to the words they are pretty jarring.

The sound is dark and the signature guitar riff is great. I think it is one of his finer vocal performances as well. He sings the backup as well (I think) by layering his vocals. He appropriately speeds up the pace of the song to simulate the frantic nature of someone discovering a crime like this. It really is a fantastic concept for a song. There are a few too many of his trademark “Ows” and “Oohhs”, but some people like that. I could use 90% fewer.

Smooth Criminal Lyrics

As he came into the window,
Was a sound of a crescendo.
He came into her apartment,
He left the bloodstains on the carpet.

She ran underneath the table,
He could see she was unable.
So she ran into the bedroom,
She was struck down, it was her doom.

Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie are you okay?
Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie are you okay?
Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie are you okay?
Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie are you okay? Are you okay Annie?

Annie are you okay?
Will you tell us that you’re okay?
There’s a sign at the window,
That he struck you, a crescendo Annie.
He came into your apartment,
Left the bloodstains on the carpet.
Then you ran into the bedroom,
You were struck down,
It was your doom.

Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie are you okay?
Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie are you okay?
Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie are you okay?
Are you okay, Annie?
You’ve been hit by,
You’ve been hit by,
A smooth criminal.

So they came into the out way,
It was Sunday, what a black day.
Mouth to mouth resuscitation,
Sounding heartbeats, intimidation.

Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie are you okay
Are you okay, Annie
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie are you okay
Are you okay, Annie
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie are you okay?
Are you okay, Annie?
Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie are you okay? Are you okay Annie?

Annie are you okay?
Will you tell us that you’re okay?
There’s a sign at the window,
That he struck you, a crescendo Annie.
He came into your apartment,
Left the bloodstains on the carpet.
Then you ran into the bedroom,
You were struck down,
It was your doom.

Annie, are you okay?
So, Annie are you okay?
Are you okay, Annie?
You’ve been hit by,
You’ve struck by
A smooth criminal.
Annie are you okay?
(I don’t know)
Will you tell us that you’re okay?
(I don’t know)
There’s a sign at the window,
(I don’t know)
That he struck you, a crescendo Annie.
(I don’t know)
He came into your apartment,
(I don’t know)
Left the bloodstains on the carpet,
(I don’t know why, baby)
Then you ran into the bedroom.
(I don’t know)
You were struck down,
It was your doom, Annie (dag gone it).

Annie are you okay?
(Dag gone it, baby)
Will you tell us that you’re okay?
(Dag gone it, baby)
There’s a sign at the window,
(Dag gone it, baby)
That he struck you, a crescendo Annie.
He came into your apartment,
(Dag gone it)
Left the bloodstains on the carpet.
Then you ran into the bedroom,
You were struck down.
(Dag gone it)
It was your doom, Annie.

Songwriters: Michael Jackson

1980s songs, outcasts

#479 White Wedding- Billy Idol

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Hey little sister shot gun!
It’s a nice day to start again.

Speaking of Superman. In “White Wedding” Billy Idol imagines himself as Superman to his little sister, and now he finds out she is pregnant out of wedlock. He obviously didn’t protect her. He has feelings of remorse and wonders who this new guy is. But he is a pragmatic guy: “It’s a nice day to start again.” How about a shotgun wedding?

White Wedding Meaning
Billy Idol

So why “white” wedding? So traditionally white is only worn by virgins. Obviously if his sister is pregnant, she is not a virgin. I think Idol is coming back and trying to protect his sister’s reputation and saying, “screw tradition, we’ll have a white wedding anyways because that is what my little sister deserves.” Remember, he is her superman, and he’ll help his sister get the special wedding she deserves. Tradition be damned.

White Wedding Lyrics

Hey little sister, what have you done?
Hey little sister, who’s the only one?
Hey little sister, who’s your superman?
Hey little sister, who’s the one you want?
Hey little sister, shotgun!

It’s a nice day to start again.
It’s a nice day for a white wedding.
It’s a nice day to start again.

Hey little sister, who is your whip?
Hey little sister, what’s your vice and wish?
Hey little sister, shot gun (oh yeah).
Hey little sister, who’s your superman?
Hey little sister, shot gun.

It’s a nice day to start again (come on).
It’s a nice day for a white wedding.
It’s a nice day to start again.

Take me back home.
Hey little sister, what have you done?
Hey little sister, who’s the only one?
I’ve been away for so long (so long).
I’ve been away for so long (so long).
I let you go for so long.

It’s a nice day to start again (come on).
It’s a nice day for a white wedding.
It’s a nice day to start again.

There is nothin’ fair in this world, baby.
There is nothin’ safe in this world.
And there’s nothin’ sure in this world.
And there’s nothin’ pure in this world.
Look for something left in this world.
Start again!

Come on
It’s a nice day for a white wedding.
It’s a nice day to start again.
It’s a nice day to start again.
It’s a nice day to start again.

Songwriters: Billy Idol

1980s songs, unrequited love

#467 Heartbreaker- Dianne Warwick, The Bee Gees

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Why do you have to be a heartbreaker,
When I was bein’ what you want me to be?
Suddenly everything I ever wanted has passed me by..

Dianne Warwick’s “Heartbreaker” is a great song written by the Bee Gees. The Bee Gees would release their own version but it doesn’t compare to the version where they split the lead with Warwick. Warwick has a stronger voice than the Gibb brothers, and that works better for the verses. For the chorus, the Bee Gees Falsetto is perfect. The song’s melody is rather complex. It is another one of those songs that sounds like it could have been split into two songs, but as one song, it blends fantastically well.

Heartbreaker Meaning
Diane Warwick

The lyrics are outstanding. I don’t think the Bee Gees get enough credit as lyricists, songwriters or performers. They are an amazing band with tons of hits and great songs. The story of the song is simple, the narrator is in love with a man who is not present. She feels that love should be “everything or nothing at all”. What is this spell that she is under? She was being everything he wanted her to be. Another unrequited love song.

Heartbreakers Meaning
Bee gees

The change in the melody on the bridge is amazing: (Only to find any dream that I follow is dying.) And again, the melody change at the chorus is also fantastic. I think this song is one everyone knows, but not many consider great. It is time we reconsider that.

Lyrics Heartbreaker
I got to say it and it’s hard for me,
You got me cryin’ like I thought I would never be.
Love is believin’ but you let me down;
How can I love you when you ain’t around?
And I,

Get to the morning and you never call.
Love should be everything or not at all.
And it don’t matter what ever you do;
I made a life out of lovin’ you.

Only to find any dream that I follow is dying.
I’m cryin’ in the rain.
I could be searchin’ my world for a love everlasting,
Feeling no pain, when will we meet again?

Why do you have to be a heartbreaker?
Is it a lesson that I never knew?
Gotta get out of the spell that I’m under,
My love for you.

Why do you have to be a heartbreaker,
When I was bein’ what you want me to be ?
Suddenly everything I ever wanted has passed me by,
This world may end, not you and I.

My love is stronger than the universe.
My soul is cryin’ for you,
And that can not be reversed.
You made the rules and you could not see;
You made a life out of hurtin’ me.

Out of my mind, I am held by the power of you love.
Tell me when do we try, or should we say goodbye ?

Why do you have to be a heartbreaker,
When I was bein’ what you want me to be ?
Suddenly everything I ever wanted has passed me by.

Oh, why do you have to be a heartbreaker ?
Is it a lesson that I never knew ?
Suddenly everything I ever wanted,
My love for you, oh,

Why do you have to be a heartbreaker,
When I was bein’ what you want me to be ?
Suddenly everything I ever wanted has passed me by

Songwriters: Barry Alan Gibb / Maurice Ernest Gibb / Robin Hugh Gibb