“We Built This City” Named “Worst Song of the 1980s”

I agree that Starship was a waste of time (and hey, what’s Grace saying now?) but the Safety Dance was actually a really good tune when it came to synth pop. Men Without Hats are much more than the Safety Dance just like Focus were always so much more than Hocus Pocus which the group considered a joke.

Wait til my kids see this list and recognize a few of the songs Dad plays in the car, I will be heckled all the more :)

“We Built this City” was named as the worst pop/80s song of all time in a poll by Blender magazine a few years ago. I think those results stuck that song in the minds of music fans and critics as being somehow worse than all the others. Were I Rolling Stone, I’d be a little dismayed that a competitor had so strongly influenced my own poll. The song is schlocky, but no so bad to have won both of these kinds of polls in blow-out fashion.

The only ones on this list that I really agree with are “We Built This City” and “Rock Me Amadeus,” which was one of the most pretentious and egotistical songs ever (Falco including himself and the song in the chronology of important dates in Mozart’s life and legacy!) The fact that some of these songs are novelty records should be taken into account (but that still cannot justify “Rock Me Amadeus!”)

The funny thing is, I remember when this song came out–right after Starship kicked Grace Slick to the curb–and when it put the band back on the charts, they blamed Grace for holding them back from making the heavy, hard pounding rock hits they’d always wanted to make. lol. “We built this city” climbed the charts and anyone who ever tapped their foot while listening to it is partly to blame.

Safety Dance was (is) an awesome song and does not belong on this list. Bieber fans should NOT be allowed to vote.

I’d like to recommend that abcnews follows up this article with another called “Worst Lyrics of the 80′s.” My vote goes to Chicago’s ditty in ’82, ‘Hard to Say I’m Sorry,’ where they proclaim: “After all the hoo you’ve been through….” W.T.F. ??

Awww-they are so wrong! All of the songs on the list were great **in their day**. But I have to laugh because I HATED ‘We Built This City’ back then. As I got older I grew to like it because I understood their energy, and put it on my Ipod. Yes its corny now but hey–it was ok to get excited, have fun and have big hair back in the 80′s. :-) I miss those days.

LOL @ Joshua…if we start dissecting lyrics we wont have ANY music to listen to–from the 80′s through today. LOLLLLLL-I can hear Peter Cetera now, thanks to you…

By far, Men Without Hats — “The Safety Dance” should be No 1 on that list. It blew chunks.
Europe– “The Final Countdown,” was actually a very good tune.

I don’t agree with #9, 6, 3 or 2 I love those songs. The other I like too. I’d rather listen to 80′s music than music that is played today

Say what you like. But those 80′s songs were better than the CR*P we have today.

Sorry but this old girl……still can’t help but smile when Wake me up before you go go comes on the radio….in fact even if I am having a horrible day the song never fails to perk me up and yes ….smile from ear to ear! To each their own!

I defy ANYONE to hear Mickey come on the radio and not sing along. The voters are total hypocrits.

Ironically the groups that ranked these songs now listen to so-called “music” in which there is very little actual singing and virtually NO artists play an instrument….my how culture has fallen.

# 4 had to be the worst, Wham? Come on, that was awful!

The rest of the songs shouldn’t have even been available choices in the poll. That was some good music.

Was Achy Breaky in the ’80′s? Not certain, that was bad too.

“We Built this City” was named as the worst pop/80s song of all time in a poll by Blender magazine a few years ago. I think those results stuck that song in the minds of music fans and critics as being somehow worse than all the others. Were I Rolling Stone, I’d be a little dismayed that a competitor had so strongly influenced my own poll. The song is schlocky, but no so bad to have won both of these kinds of polls in blow-out fashion.

Posted by: Jeff | October 7, 2011, 11:09 am 11:09 am

Maybe they really didn’t have a poll and someone got lazy and found this and used it as their own?????

7. Bobby McFerrin — “Don’t Worry Be Happy” <== Right on the Money. Well…actually it should have been the worst. Even has a child, I HATED this syrupy and catchy, but nauseating song. Here's another song that should have made the list. Although I absolutely adore and love… and I mean LOVE Stevie Wonder, his song "I Just Called to Say I Love You" should also have been on this list. Sorry…

I grew up listening to all of these songs, loved everyone of them then, love most of them now….the funny thing is, right now on Broadway (and touring the US) is a musical called Rock Of Ages that uses several of these songs in it’s repertoire. I saw the show and sang my heart out along with the cast! these are the songs we grew up with and I’m sure in 20 years, todays teens will be saying the same about todays music that they are growing up with.

Today’s music blows.

Of course Rolling Stone fans are going to put down pop music. It’s like asking New York sports fans to rate the worst teams. They’d pick a bunch of other Northeast teams with Boston being #1!

‘Muskrat Love’ (1972) misses the list by 8 years. And yet, it’s so bad, I’d gladly make an exception. (Same goes for ‘Midnight at the Oasis’ I’m tossing my cookies just thinking about it.)

No Bruce Willis, Don Johnson or Eddie Murphy tunes made the list? Also, Billy Joel’s “We didn’t Start the Fire” should be on here too.

How did ‘Take On Me’ by Aha not make the list?

okay, maybe I’m an old fogie who was in HS in the 80′s, but I loved most of those songs, with the exception of #2 and #3. Don’t go bustin’ on the 80′s man!

Wham! was one of the best groups of the 80′s

Rick Astley that album and song was fun and High energy…..

Who voted kids born in the 90s cause the 80s artist and musicians made real music.

Bryan Danielson should make the people who voted for Final Countdown tap out!

Worst song of the 80′s? Heartbeat by Don Johnson. Game. Set. Match

How can anything be worse than Puttin On The Ritz? wow….

Now I remember why my sister and I were listening to music from the 70′s during the 80′s. On top of all this, Heavy Metal hair bands were beginning to evolve; which also stunting musical growth. Few if any of the artist from this era are still recording-performing now. Unlike many of the bands from the 60′s and 70′s.

I think there is some inherent hate of the 80′s by some unknown figure because I still like most of thos songs. They were great for their time. How many people listen to Brook Benton or The Carpenters today? Hardly anybody who wasn’t born in that era but that doesn’t make the music bad. I’m surprised Eddie Murphy’s “Party All the Time” isn’t on this list. Whoever is hating the 80′s needs to get a life!

My kid was born in 83 and she absolutely loves all 80s music. There were definitely some stinkers. I agree with “Take on Me.” The two I absolutely DESPISE that weren’t mentioned are David Soul’s “Don’t Give Up on Us” and Diana Ross’ “Upside Down.” OMG, if they come on, I either turn off the volume or change the station IMMEDIATELY. Gag me with a spoon. Funny, we never grow out of songs to talk about, no matter what year we’re talking about!!

Hindsight is 20-20. (or sometimes distorted)

Studies/polls have shown, for instance, that Reagan enjoys a popularlity now that he never did in his time, despite the myth. In fact, his numbers and Obama’s are virtually neck and neck to date at every point during their ist terms (Obama’s recent “record low” approval rating of 42% virtually tied Reagan’s 43% rating at the same point in HIS 1st term).

In a similar (but inverse) way, these songs are now rated the WORST when at the time they were very popular.

I don’t particularly care for any of them, myself (not when compared to the other great offerings of the 80′s…the Cure, U2, Talking HEads, The Knack, even;) but there are a few I would not rate as among “the worst ever”.

Most of these ‘worst’ lists aren’t about truely BAD songs- it’s about people who are tired of hearing a particular song. Safety Dance and HMM BOP were bad right fromt he start!

“Wishing Well” by Terence Trent D’Arby, “Johnny B. Goode” by Judas Priest, and “Glory of Love” by Peter Cetera should have been on the list…and then the list should have been immediately destroyed so no one would have to admit to having thought of these awful, awful songs.

The music of the 80′s may have…no, it was definitely dopey but also imaginative and more importantly, fun. “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” by Wang Chung was one of the stupidest songs I’ve ever heard but I got the happy feet every time I heard it.

There is something wrong with the idea of having a poll to create a “worst songs” list. I can understand a beauty contest but this poll is like having an ugly contest – who wants to win that? What’s the point? Come on, Rolling Stone, get a life! There is NO accounting for taste, so why bother? Some will love it, some will hate it. Who cares, they are only opinions anyway, and like the old adage, everyone has one and most of them smell.

What year was “Undercover Angel?” That one still has a very special place in my heart from the years I got my own apartment, lived alone, and spent many nights staring at the ceiling. The song spoke to me in a way few others did. A close second is “Knock Three Times” by Tony Orlando. I listened many hours for those knocks on lonely Saturday nights but I don’t think my neighbor was home. Another is “Cracklin’ Rosie” by Neil Diamond. Profound lyrics that perfectly describe a period in my life when I turned to alcohol from time to time in order to survive certain Saturday evenings. All superb songs, written by fine composers, and performed by outstanding artists.

How about Sheena Easton’s – My Baby Takes The Morning Train?

Oh come on, The Safety Dance? That song was the bomb!
“Cause your friends don’t dance and if they don’t dance Well they’re no friends of mine!”
Pure poetry.

The absolute worst song of the 80′s was the Police Roxanne

I can’t believe it, ABC finally got something right.

This list is BS…..what demographic did you pull this from??

I think the key here is what age you were when you listened to these songs. Most who were adults then enjoyed them then and now. What do those taking the poll know anyway? They probably weren’t even born yet.

“The Safety Dance” absolutely does NOT belong on this list. It’s a terrific little song — very catchy, tightly written, and totally addictive. And, from what I can make of most of the persons who mention it here, they agree that it’s a mistake to have it on this list. :P

I wonder how many of the voters actually remembered songs from the ’80′s..not many it seems from the list. I still listen to the 80′s songs to this day, because of the great energy a lot of them had. “Puttin on the Ritz” should be number one, but where is “Break My Stride” by Matthew Wilder, or “Girl you Know its True” by Milli Vanilli, two of the worst songs of all time??????

I’m not sure if “We Built This City” was the absolute worst song, but it was by far the most obnoxiously overplayed on the radio. I still have memories of being jolted awake many mornings in my college dorm by that song blaring from my clock radio. I couldn’t shut it off fast enough!

HEY JUDE is the god awfullest song if you don’t count Stairway to Heaven!

I know they were’nt from the 80′s it just felt that way!

This is stu[id.

My vote goes to The Escape Club, Livin in the Wild Wild West. Horrible, ANNOYING song! Not to mention the stupid video that went with it.

“Don’t worry be happy” is WITHOUT a doubt the WORST song in the HISTORY of music!!!!!!! bar none!

I’m embarrassed because I liked some of these songs. I actually liked “We built this city”, and even played it for a friend back in the 80s. He hated it back then. Guess I should have paid attention.

I LOVED those top seven “worst” songs. Heres my list:

7) Everybody want to rule the world-Tears For Fears

6) Take on me-A-Ha-or is it a-Ha?

5) Dont stop believing-Journey

4) I cried in your arms tonight-Cutting Crew

3) Total eclipse of the heart-Bonnie Tyler

2) Seasons Change?- Expos’e

1) Whats love got to do with it-Tina Turner

I can’t stand anything by Stevie Nicks, that would be my top ten

Safety Dance and Rock Me Amedaus do not deserve to be on here. Hell none of the really do.

What are people going to say about the worst of the 90′s the 00′s and the 10′s, Music in these decades cannot hold a candle to the 60′s 70′s and 80′s. There is no nostalgia associated with music the last 20 years, it’s all garbage.

Does nobody remember “Video killed the Radio Star?” Not only the worst song of the 80′s up there for worst song of all time

Worst song of the 80′s?

The phrase “Ain’t nothin’ gonna break-a my stride…” leaps to mind, before I quickly push the thought away. “Maniac” by Micheal Sembello comes in a close second.

How in god’s green hell did “Let’s Get Physical” not make this list?

I like several songs on the list. Someone mentioned the Escape Club, I remember changing MTV every time the video came on. Truly horrible. As was Wang Chung’s Everybody have tonight. Definitely stupid to create these lists as it’s all subjective. Rolling Stone once published the 100 most influential guitarist edition and Joan Jett was like number 60 and Jerry Garcia was number 13 while Eddie Van Halen was 90 and Slash didn’t even make the list. When I was 13 I’d play air guitar to GN’R and VH in my bedroom. I didn’t know any kids pretending to be Jerry Garcia and Joan Jett probably couldn’t play a solo to save her life – Lita Ford was a heck of better than her and sexier too. Again, lists are just stupid.

Worst songs..really? music snobs…ugh…

These are all pop songs and I didn’t dig pop back in the 80′s. Why did someone have to mention that bieber kid. It’s been about two weeks since I’ve heard his name mentioned so I thought his 15 minutes of fame were over.

For bad music, you can pretty much hand the lifetime “achievement” awards to The J Geils Band, Styx, Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show, and George Michael.

I liked all these songs; a lot! I still have them on my iPod.
List’s like this are a complete waste of time; what’s next are we going to judge the top ten songs from the 1930′s or 40′s? Why don’t we do this for every decade; lets critically judge people’s taste from the 1880′s? Is this all this guy can think to write about?
I guess he got what he was after; attention for his scribblings.

so sad cause all of the songs that were named the worse were the ones that i loved

How did Devo’s “whip it” not get on the list, even tho its funny

This is all really ridiculous. If the RS is supposed to be so insightfully cool and hip they would note that this poll is probably registering the opinions of people who by age did not really experience the 80′s scene and people who just want to register that they are so much cooler than all the people who in actuality made all these songs hits in the first place. For the rest of us it is really a matter of taste. I for one (of millions), think that most of the stuff that passes for hits now is in fact just a bunch of crap. Several commenters wanted to place “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler on their worst list while think it was one of the most creative true rock endeavors of the decade. In reality I’m a fifties guy who swore that the fifties was the best decade for music… until the 80′s came along and music was fun again. My Ipad is chock full of 80′s music but only a handful from the last 20 years.

This list is a joke. Only #7 truly sucked.

Look at all these people acting as though their opinions are ‘facts’.

“We Built This City” is an Awesome Song!! This Era of Music in the 80s had a certain positive energy to it that most people just don’t understand!!! If you want Cheesy Listen to today’s music!! Some of the worst ever produced in my opinion!! I remember when songs on the radio used to make you feel like a million bucks and Put Goosebumps on your arms!!! Songs were still songs and had something called Passion, Melody, Harmony, and Emotions to them..Something music is suppose to have!! Today all you get is mindless numbing, trashy, angry crap on the radio!! I’ll take “We Built This City” played any day over virtually ANY top 40 song played within the past 20 years!!! In the 80′s I cranked up the radio Top 40 with excitement!! Today I shut it off because I can’t even stand to listen to it!! What the Heck is wrong with the music industry now days I’ll never know!! It’s sucked for Years Now and it’s Ruined our Culture!!! While “We Built this City” was one of the cheesier songs of the 80s…it does not compare anything close in comparison to How Bad Today’s Top 40 Music Is!! At least the 80s was upbeat and positive and striving for the future!! Today It’s the complete opposite…Bunch of Crap!!

I often find when a music “critic” claims something is the best, they don’t really base it on the “Music”, but often something that annoys them, like a poorly rhymed lyric, or the fact that the band wears cone hats, or something displaced. Usually people who make such ignorant claims aren’t’ musicians themselves either. And if they are, they are often speaking from their one-dimensional, in-a-box set of limits which would not appease you nor I. It used to be that some great hits were ripped to ribbons for not having correct English either. Trying to repair the phrases in some songs to contain what is “correct” often destroys what was originally written and takes all the punch out of it. Recall that a piece of music isn’t just the words sprinkled on top, but the song is a musical creation on it’s’ own and the complex relationship of all it’s parts. That said, We Built This City is actually a masterful piece of music, with a sturdy melody and complex progressions going on that few critics would dare to try and understand because it would be beyond their comprehension or abilities. It’s EASY to be an arm chair critic. I think a critic should support their reasoning with real logic. Like I think a lot of Soulja boy’s music is horrible because it simply LACKS music. Instead it contains 2 second, looped drum pieces that he mumbles over. Of course it may be someone’s favorite, but let’s face it. It didn’t require a music degree to create. we built this city required very well trained writers and musicians however….

Also if you look at PETER’s post above. He is an example of someone who’s worried about the origins of the band, and worries about the band “taking credit” for literally building the city, lol. OMG what a fool. Being a musician and writer myself, this is what I’m talking about when someone who’s perhaps tone deaf, and doesn’t really listen to the music tries to tell us all why the music isn’t any good. And he thinks “Horse with no Name” should also be on the list of worst songs. OMG, again, this is a person who does NOT listen to the music, but bases their decision on something entirely different because of their inability to listen to the music. — Also anyone can make a list of “worst” music and if they display it to a mass audience and nut balls will show up out of nowhere to laugh and agree, regardless of it’s relationship to music. If it’s about music, then it should list truly poorly written music, not list what might not be someone’s favorite. I have some songs that I do not like, but I can still admit they are well written for example. But in this case, people will hate on songs just because they didn’t like them. THAT is why a list like this works. It’s a honey pot for musically inept people to come to, aka a water cooler conversation.

Just wanted to add that I share the like of You can Dance. Another “fun” song everybody should stop being so crabby about and just LIKE, okay?! :p