#28 - Little By Little

Artist: Robert Plant

Album: Shaken 'n' Stirred
Video: From YouTube.

Robert Plant is the distinguished frontman from Led Zeppelin, one of the most influential and innovative groups in the history of rock ‘n’ roll.  You’d never know it from listening to this song.

Plant released his third solo album “Shaken ‘n’ Stirred” in 1985, not that I noticed.  However, I did enjoy his subsequent solo album, 1988’s “Now And Zen”.  And I probably discovered Led Zeppelin sometime after that.  Zeppelin rules, especially when played loud.

“Little By Little” peaked at a robust #36 on the Billboard Hot 100.  It won’t surprise you to learn that I’m mystified by its high placement in the MTV countdown.  The song did spend two weeks at the top of the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, so there’s that.

Maybe I’m being too harsh.  In a vacuum the song is actually kind of OK.  The message is optimistic and hopeful, and I guess the rhythm is decent.  But I expect more this deep in the countdown, and I expect more from Robert Plant.

I found the video odd.  Mimes, equestrians, sheep.  A wedding in a small village.  Probably full of deep meaning that I didn’t understand.  But there were also lots of wide open plains, and I like that.

#29 - Careless Whisper

Artist: Wham!

Album: Make It Big
Video: From DailyMotion.

Today was a great day for the blog - awesome to receive props from an MTV icon.  Regrettably, I've been an infrequent blogger as of late.  But with Martha Quinn in the audience, I need to get my game on.

And good timing, since we have arrived at one of 1985’s most sensuous songs.  I’m pretty sure statistics prove that more furtive makeout sessions were inspired by “Careless Whisper” than any other ballad of the era.  It’s a timeless classic, with tender sensitive lyrics and a killer sax solo. 

This is essentially George Michael’s first effort as a solo artist, although it is technically credited as “Wham! Featuring George Michael”.  It was released a full three years before his first solo album.  It is one of three songs from the “Make It Big” album to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song features a man wrestling with feelings of remorse following his infidelity.  Hence, “guilty feet have got no rhythm”.  Yes, it is shocking that an internationally acclaimed pop star would be sexually involved with multiple women at the same time.  But possibly this led to his desire to explore monogamy after Wham! broke up.

The video, bookended by sweeping shots of city lights, juxtaposes plenty of face time for the lead singer with scenes of the relationship gone awry.  As his girlfriend catches him cheating, the music explodes into the “tonight the music seems so loud…” sequence.  She flies away on an airplane while the protagonist looks longingly after her.

#30 - Forever Man

Artist: Eric Clapton

Album: Behind The Sun
Video: From DailyMotion.

Here's another legend whose awesomeness I did not appreciate in 1985.  I did not discover the majesty of Clapton until his MTV Unplugged album was released in 1992.  Even today, I'm really only familiar with a small portion of his catalog.

"Behind The Sun" is one of those albums which completely escaped my attention.  Phil Collins collaborated on many of the songs.  I was blissfully unaware of all this in my youth, content to be entertained by songs like this.

"Forever Man" did not enjoy much mainstream chart success, peaking at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100.  However, it was Eric Clapton's first ever music video.  That might explain its high placement in this countdown.  Clapton finally made a video?  Put it in the top 30.

I vaguely remember hearing the song around the time it was released.  Although I wasn’t a fan then, it strikes me as moderately groovy now.  That opening guitar riff is killer. 

The music video is simply Clapton and the band performing on a large circular stage in an empty arena.  No kooky storyline.  The video was directed by Godley & Creme.  That's right, these guys.

#31 - I Want To Know What Love Is

Artist: Foreigner

Album: Agent Provocateur
Video: From DailyMotion.

In the first five years of their existence, Foreigner churned out four multi-platinum albums.  The band authored classic rock staples such as "Hot Blooded", "Cold As Ice", and "Juke Box Hero".  They even topped the pops with their "Foreigner 4" album in 1981.

But it 1985 they reached their peak with "I Want To Know What Love Is".  It is their greatest song and their only number one hit.  It makes grown women weep and has caused the upper lip of many a man to quiver.

From humble beginnings, the song builds powerfully into a thundering declaration of love desire.  The questioning verses in the opening blend into the earnest "in my life..." pre-chorus, which explodes into the titular chorus.  The second time around, that chorus features a gospel choir.  Talk about piling on. 

The song can be interpreted as a longing for romantic love, or it can be seen as a hunger for a spiritual connection to the divine.  It can also be viewed as a complete and total ass-kicking power ballad.

The video features the New Jersey Mass Choir performing with the band.  Scenes of rehearsal are interspersed with ordinary people going about their daily lives, seemingly deep in thought, united in their want of love.