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Showing posts from November, 2014

Kate Bush - Babooshka (1980)

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" Babooshka " is a song by English singer Kate Bush, taken from her album Never for Ever . Released as a single in June 1980, it spent 10 weeks in the UK chart, peaking at number five. It was an even bigger hit in Australia, where it was the 20th best-selling single of the year. Read more about the song

Ace of Base - Living In Danger (1995)

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" Living in Danger " is the title of a song recorded by Swedish group Ace of Base. It was released as the seventh and final single from their debut album, Happy Nation . The song reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart, and it peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. in 1994. The song also topped the American dance chart in December of that year. Read more about the song

Stevie B - Because I Love You (The Postman Song) 1991

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" Because I Love You (The Postman Song) " is a song recorded by Stevie B. The song peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December, 1990 spending four weeks at number one and spending two weeks at number one on the Adult Contemporary chart, as well. It reached number six in the UK Singles Chart and number eight in the Australian Singles Chart. Read more about the song

Beastie Boys - (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) 1987

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" (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!) " (sometimes shortened to " Fight for Your Right ") is a song by American group the Beastie Boys, released as the fourth single released from their debut album Licensed to Ill (1986). One of their best-known songs, it reached no. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the week of March 7, and was later named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. The Beastie Boys also included the track on their hits album, The Sounds of Science in 1999, and Solid Gold Hits in 2005. Read more about the song

New Order - Blue Monday (1983)

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"Blue Monday" is a single released in 1983 by British band New Order, later remixed in 1988 and 1995. The song has been widely remixed and covered since its original release, and became a popular anthem in the dance club scene. Read more about the song

Toploader - Dancing in the Moonlight (2000)

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Onka's Big Moka is an album released in 1999 by the Britpop band Toploader. The album reached #4 on the UK charts, and a song from the album, " Dancing in the Moonlight ", a cover of the King Harvest song, was featured in a television commercial for supermarket chain Sainsbury's. Read more about the album

Céline Dion - The Power Of Love (1994)

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Celine Dion covered " The Power of Love " for her 1993 album, The Colour of My Love . It was produced by David Foster and released as the first single in November 1993 in North America, in December 1993 in Japan, and in early 1994 in the rest of the world. ORIGINAL SONG - JENNIFER RUSH Read more about the song

James Brown - Living in America (1985)

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" Living in America " is a 1985 song composed by Dan Hartman and Charlie Midnight and performed by James Brown. It was released as a single in 1985 and reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song entered the Billboard Top 40 on January 11, 1986, and remained on the chart for 11 weeks. It also became a top five hit in the United Kingdom, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart; it was his only top 10 single in the UK. It was his first Top 40 hit in ten years in the US, and it would also be his last. In 1986, it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and won Brown a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. Read more about the song

Imagination - Just an Illusion (1982)

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" Just an Illusion " is a song by the British trio Imagination. Co-written by Steve Jolley, Tony Swain, Ashley Ingram and Leee John, the song was a major European hit, peaking at number 2 in the group's native UK. In the United States, "Just an Illusion " went to number 27 on the Black chart. The song also peaked at number 15 on the dance charts. Read more about the song

Everlast - What Its Like (1999)

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" What It's Like" is a song by American musician Everlast. It was released in November 1998 as the lead single from his album Whitey Ford Sings the Blues . The song is typical of the style Everlast embraced after leaving hip-hop trio House of Pain, being a combination of rock, hip-hop and blues incorporating characterization and empathy towards impoverished protagonists. Read more about the song

2 Unlimited - No Limit (1993)

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No Limit was 2 Unlimited's fourth single released in January 1993. It was the first single released from their second album No Limits! . The UK release once again omitted the rap lyrics of Ray Slijngaard. However, unlike the other songs by 2 Unlimited that omitted Ray's rap as well as including their rap versions on the UK releases of their singles, No Limit did not have the rap version included on the UK single, although the rap version was included on the UK release of their album "Hits Unlimited" . Read more about the song

Paula Abdul - Straight Up (1989)

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" Straight Up " is a 1988 hit single by American singer Paula Abdul, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and brought her widespread public attention. It was written and produced by Elliot Wolff. The song is a mid-tempo dance tune. The synthetic lead trumpet sound comes from the Roland D-50 (preset 1-5) from Tell It To My Heart . Daniel J. Levitin's This Is Your Brain On Music praises the song as " hold[ing] a certain appeal over many, many listenings ." Read more about the song

Commodores - Nightshift (1985)

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" Nightshift " is a 1985 hit song by the Commodores and title track from the album of the same name. The song, written by the lead singer at that time, Walter Orange, in collaboration with Dennis Lambert and Franne Golde, was a tribute to soul/R&B singers Jackie Wilson and Marvin Gaye, who both died in 1984. The single was released on January 31, 1985 in the United States. Read more about the song

Bruce Springsteen - The River (1981)

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" The River " is a song written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen, accompanied by the E Street Band. It was the title track of his fifth album, The River , and was a hit single in parts of Europe. It reached #25 in the Netherlands, and reached the top 10 in both Sweden and Norway. Its B-side was either " Independence Day " or " Ramrod ", depending on the country. Read more about the song

The Rolling Stones - Saint Of Me (1998)

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" Saint of Me " is a single by The Rolling Stones from their 1997 album Bridges to Babylon . Mick Jagger sings about various people in history who had converted to Christianity, notably St. Paul and St. Augustine. Jagger then states that they will never make a saint out of him. Read more about the song

Bryan Adams - Thought I'd Died And Gone To Heaven (1992)

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" Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven " is one of the tracks on the Bryan Adams 1991-release Waking up the Neighbours. Penned by Robert Lange and Bryan Adams the song has much rock flavour in its music part, however lyrically it's a love song. The song reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 14 on the Album Rock Tracks chart. In the UK, it reached No. 8. In Canada, it reached No. 1. Read more about the song

Billy Ocean - Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car (1988)

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" Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car " is a single by British singer Billy Ocean, based on a line from Ringo Starr's song " You're Sixteen ". Part of its popularity lay in its cutting-edge (for the time) video, which featured cartoon mixed with live-action sequences. The song went to number one on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Black Singles charts. It also peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. Read more about the song

Phil Collins - Against all odds (1984)

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" Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) " (also simply titled " Against All Odds ") is a song by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins, recorded for the soundtrack to the 1984 film of the same name. It is a power ballad in which its protagonist implores an ex-lover to " take a look at me now ", knowing that reconciliation is " against all odds " while considering it worth trying. The single, while it reached number two in the United Kingdom, peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, the first for Collins. Read more about the song

Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart (1980)

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" Love Will Tear Us Apart " is a song by the British post-punk band Joy Division. It was written in August 1979, and debuted when the band supported Buzzcocks on their UK tour in September and October 1979. It is one of the few songs in which singer Ian Curtis played guitar (albeit somewhat minimally.) The lyrics ostensibly reflect the problems in Ian Curtis's marriage to Deborah Curtis, as well as his general frame of mind in the time leading up to his suicide in May 1980. The title is an ironic reference to " Love Will Keep Us Together ". Deborah Curtis had the phrase " Love Will Tear Us Apart " inscribed on Ian Curtis's memorial stone. Read more about the song

Blue Boy - Remember Me (1997)

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Remember Me is a 1997 song by Blue Boy. It peaked at #8 in the UK Singles Chart in February 1997 and number two on the American dance chart. The track originally appeared on Mark Farina's remix album " Mushroom Jazz Volume One ". Jive Records got hold of it and earmarked it for single release. The radio edit was remixed by Sure Is Pure, who were also responsible for a remix of Lost in Music , and was released on the Pharm sublabel imprint. Read more about the song

Nomad Feat. MC Mikee Freedom - I Wanna Give You Devotion (1991)

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" (I Wanna Give You) Devotion ," was the name of a House/Rave themed club track by the British dance outfit Nomad. The track was a top ten UK hit in 1991, where it reached number 2, and a number 1 Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart single in the United States, where it reached the top spot in June 1991 and stayed there for only one week. Read more about the song

Simply Red - The Right Thing (1987)

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" The Right Thing " is a single released by British soul group Simply Red in 1987. It was taken from the album Men and Women . It displays more of a funk influence than the group's previous hits, but also retains the blue-eyed soul sound that became their trademark during the '80s. It is similar to the sound of the album it was taken from, which also featured funk influence on many songs. Read more about the song

Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton - We've Got Tonight (1983)

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In 1983, country-pop star Kenny Rogers recorded the song as a duet with pop star Sheena Easton, and made it the title track of his album We've Got Tonight . It reached number one on the Billboard Country Singles chart, number six on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart, and number two on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It also reached the top 30 in the United Kingdom. Read more about the song

Air - Playground Love (2000)

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Air use many of their studio instruments (like Moog synthesizers, the Korg MS-20, Wurlitzer and Vocoder) live on stage, where their ability to improvise is more clearly highlighted. The band performs the well-known tracks from the albums live as extended or altered versions. Air often works together, both in the studio and live on stage, with artists like Beth Hirsch (Moon Safari), Françoise Hardy (" Jeanne "), Jean-Jacques Perrey (" Cosmic Bird "), Gordon Tracks (" Playground Love " and " Easy Going Woman " - Gordon Tracks is a pseudonym of the French singer Thomas Mars from Phoenix), Beck (10 000 Hz Legend), on the 2004 tour with Dave Palmer and on the 2007 tour with drummer Earl Harvin, Vincent Taurelle and Steve Jones. Read more about the band

Culture Beat - Inside Out (1996)

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" Inside Out " is a song recorded by the German eurodance band Culture Beat. It was released in November 1995 as the first single from their third studio album Inside Out . As for other Culture Beat's singles, a CD maxi entirely composed of remixes was added among the available media a short time after. The song was a hit in most of the European countries where it was released, and peaked at number 5 in Germany, its highest position in the various charts. Read more about the song

Tears for Fears - Advice for the Young at Heart (1990)

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" Advice for the Young at Heart " is a song by the British band Tears for Fears, taken from their 1989 album The Seeds of Love . It was released as the third single from the album in February 1990. The song was written by Roland Orzabal and keyboardist/singer Nicky Holland. The lead vocal was sung by Curt Smith (the only track on the whole The Seeds of Love album that he sang lead vocals on). The song was a Top 40 hit in the UK (#36), France (#31), Canada (#25) and The Netherlands (#22), and a Top 20 hit in Ireland (#15). In 1992, when Tears for Fears released Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82-92), " Advice for the Young at Heart " was re-released in Brazil. Read more about the song

Billy Ocean - When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (1986)

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" When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going " is a song co-written and originally recorded by English singer Billy Ocean in 1985. Written by Wayne Brathwaite, Barry Eastmond, Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Billy Ocean, the song was used as the theme song for the Michael Douglas film, The Jewel of the Nile , the sequel to the hit blockbuster film, Romancing the Stone . Boyzone 1999 Version Read more about the song

Adrian Gurvitz - Classic (1982)

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" Classic " is a soft rock song by British singer-songwriter Adrian Gurvitz from his 1982 solo album, Classic . It was released as a single in early 1982 and was a big hit in his native UK, reaching the Top 10 and peaking at #8 on the UK Singles Chart. Read more about the song

Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild (1968)

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" Born to Be Wild " is a song first performed by the band Steppenwolf, written by Mars Bonfire. The song is often invoked in both popular and counter culture to denote a biker appearance or attitude. It is sometimes described as the first heavy metal song, and the second verse lyric " heavy metal thunder " marks the first use of this term in rock music (although not as a description of a musical style). Read more about the song

Portishead - Glory Box (1995)

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" Glory Box " is a single by English musical group Portishead, released in 1995. The title song samples " Ike's Rap II " by Isaac Hayes (as does Tricky's " Hell Is Around The Corner " from Maxinquaye, released the same year). The song is a love song, featuring the frequent refrain, " I just want to be a woman. ". The main repeating melody of the song is sampled from the 1960s TV series The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. Read more about the song

Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - What I Am (1989)

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" What I Am " is a song written by Edie Brickell and Kenny Withrow and recorded by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians for their debut album, Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars (1988). It peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the charts in Canada, but only peaked within the top forty of the charts in the United Kingdom. This version was ranked number 77 on VH1's list of The 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders. The song was featured in a 1989 episode of Miami Vice , an episode of Beavis and Butt-head , as well as an episode of Doogie Howser, M.D. and in the 1989 Patrick Dempsey film Loverboy . Read more about the song

Phil Collins - Sussudio (1985)

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" Sussudio " is a song by Phil Collins, released as a single in February 1985. The song is the first track on Collins' third solo studio album, No Jacket Required , released in January of the same year. The song entered frequent rotation on MTV in May, and by 6 July, both the single and the album reached number one on their respective US Billboard charts. Read more about the song

Bob Marley & The Wailers - No Woman No Cry (1975)

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" No Woman, No Cry " is a reggae song by Bob Marley & the Wailers. The song first became known in 1974 through the studio album Natty Dread . The live version from the 1975 album Live! is best known — it was this version which was released on the greatest hits compilation Legend . The original demo version of the song which is unreleased was a Gospel version. This version had only the piano riff as the main instrument and was recorded in London for Island Records in 1973 with Peter Tosh and some unknown female backing singers. Read more about the song

Will Smith - Gettin' Jiggy Wit It (1998)

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" Gettin' Jiggy wit It " is a single by American actor and rapper Will Smith, released as the third cut from his debut solo album Big Willie Style (1997). The song is based around a sample of " He's the Greatest Dancer " by Sister Sledge. Released in January 1998, the song was Smith's second hit produced by Poke & Tone, who replaced his long-time partner Jazzy Jeff, though the record-scratching techniques of Jazzy Jeff can be heard in the song. Read more about the song

Richard Marx - Now & Forever (1994)

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" Now and Forever" is a 1994 song written, produced and performed by American rock singer-songwriter Richard Marx. The song was also used in 1994 film The Getaway starring Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin and directed by Roger Donaldson. Read more about the song

Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lucky (1988)

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" I Should Be So Lucky " is a song performed by Australian recording artist and songwriter Kylie Minogue from her debut studio album Kylie (1988). Released on 29 December 1987 by Mushroom Records and PWL Records, the song became a worldwide breakthrough hit; its now-iconic image of Minogue on the front cover was shot by David Levine. Read more about the song

Rufus & Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody (1983)

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" Ain't Nobody " is a 1983 hit single by Rufus & Chaka Khan. It was released as a studio bonus track on the band's live album Stompin' at the Savoy . It reached number one on the U.S. R&B chart and 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It has become one of Khan's signature songs. Read more about the song

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Could you be loved (1980)

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" Could You Be Loved " is a song by reggae group Bob Marley & the Wailers. It was released in 1980 on their last album Uprising and is included on Bob Marley & The Wailers greatest hits album Legend . It was written in 1979 on an airplane while The Wailers were experimenting on guitar. The song is considered by many reggae fans to be disco influenced, and by extension influencing the dancehall genre. Read more about the song

White Town - Your Woman (1997)

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" Your Woman " is a song by British one-man band White Town. It was released on 13 January 1997 as the lead single from the album, Women in Technology. It features a muted trumpet line taken from " My Woman " by Al Bowlly and it peaked at number one in the UK Singles Chart. It also topped the charts in Spain, and peaked at number two in Australia, number four in Canada, Denmark and Finland and number 23 in the United States. Read more about the song

Bon Jovi - Bed Of Roses (1993)

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" Bed of Roses " is a rock song released by Bon Jovi in late January 1993, from the album Keep the Faith . Jon Bon Jovi wrote the song in a hotel room while suffering from a hangover and the lyrics reflects his feelings at the time. The song contains drawn out guitar riffs and soft piano playing, along with emotive and high vocals by Jon Bon Jovi. Read more about the song

Ben E. King - Stand by me (1961)

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" Stand by Me " is a song originally performed by American singer-songwriter Ben E. King. It was written by King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, inspired by the spiritual " Lord Stand by Me ", plus two lines rooted in Psalms 46:2–3. There have been over 400 recorded versions of the song. The song is featured on the soundtrack of the 1986 film Stand by Me . Read more about the song

Bananarama - Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye (1983)

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The original recording of " Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye " has been released in many collections of oldies songs and re-recorded by other groups. In February 1983, UK girl group Bananarama released the song as a single off their album Deep Sea Skiving . This version became a top ten hit in the United Kingdom (#5), but only a minor hit in the US (Billboard #101) later that year. Read more about the song

Eels - Mr E's Beautiful Blues (2000)

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" Mr. E's Beautiful Blues " is a song by the American rock band Eels. It was the first single to be released from their 2000 album, Daisies of the Galaxy , and reached number eleven on the UK Singles Chart. It was produced and co-written by Michael Simpson of the Dust Brothers. Mark Oliver Everett wrote the song after finishing writing the album, and the record company insisted he put it on the album as well. He was against this idea, considering it a disruption of the albums vibe, but made the compromise by putting it in as a bonus track. The song features prominently in the 2000 film Road Trip , and is used in part in the 2008 film Charlie Bartlett. In his autobiography, Everett states that letting the song being used for the movie is one of the few real regrets he has ever had. He only agreed to it because the record company threatened to not release the album if he did not go along with the recording of the video clip, at this point the album had been gathering d

Ace of Base - Beautiful Life (1995)

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" Beautiful Life " is a song by Swedish band Ace of Base, released in October 1995. In North America, it was the first single released from The Bridge ; in Europe, it followed " Lucky Love ". The song was written on January 1, 1994 by band member Jonas Berggren while he was in the Canary Islands. His earlier song " The Sign " had just hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list. Berggren incorporated gospel elements into the song, and the single proved quite successful worldwide, reaching #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December, 1995 and on the UK Singles Chart. It also hit #1 on the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Read more about the song

Opus III - It's A Fine Day (1992)

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In 1992, " It's a fine day " was covered by Opus III, whose lead vocalist was Kirsty Hawkshaw. The two chief differences from Jane's original were that this version was not recorded a cappella but with a full instrumental accompaniment, and that it used only the first verse and chorus of the original song's lyrics. This version reached number 5 in the UK charts, and number 1 on the US Hot Dance Club Play Chart. The song's video featured Hawkshaw (with her standout shaved head and bodysuit) performing and dancing against a backdrop of what is supposed to be a fine day. Read more about the song

Madonna - Borderline (1984)

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" Borderline " is a song by American recording artist Madonna from her self-titled debut album. It was released on February 15, 1984 as the fifth single from the album, by Sire Records. Written and composed by producer Reggie Lucas, the song was remixed by Madonna's then boyfriend John "Jellybean" Benitez. She used a refined and expressive voice for the song. Its lyrics dealt with the subject of a love that is never fulfilled and was written as a rebellion against misogyny. Read more about the song

J. Geils Band - Centerfold (1982)

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" Centerfold " is a single released by The J. Geils Band from their album Freeze Frame . The song is about a man who is shocked to discover that his high school crush appeared in a centerfold spread for a men's magazine. The singer cannot decide between his anger and his lust. It was released in autumn 1981, and eventually went to Number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1982, and stayed there for six weeks. It was the first single released from the album Freeze Frame and was an early staple on MTV. Read more about the song

'N Sync - I Want You Back (1999)

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" I Want You Back " is the first single released from NSYNC self-titled debut album. This single is also included on NSYNC's Greatest Hits. It has been certified Gold by the RIAA. The song won a Billboard award for Best New Dance Clip. It peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the single sold over one million copies. The single was certified Gold by RIAA. Read more about the song

Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart (1983)

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" Total Eclipse of the Heart " is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. It was written and produced by Jim Steinman, and released on Tyler's fifth studio album, Faster Than the Speed of Night (1983). The single was released as a single by Columbia Records on 11 February 1983 in the United Kingdom, and on 31 May 1983 in the United States. Read more about the song

Texas - Say What You Want (1997)

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" Say What You Want " is a song by Scottish pop group Texas and the first single to be taken from their fourth studio album White on Blonde . It was remixed as " Say What You Want (All Day, Every Day) " featuring Method Man and RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan and re-released as a double A-side with " Insane " in 1998. Both versions featured on their 2000 album The Greatest Hits . Read more about the song