Sidetracked

I can remember getting in some heated debates about Def Leppard when I was younger, the crux of my argument being that Def Leppard sucked.

Needless to say, I really, really REALLY hated Def Leppard. (That’s them in the, uh, interesting shorts above.) Still do, in fact.

So you can imagine how upset I was to see that their song “Pour Some Sugar On Me” — which, I might add, also sucks — was rated the No. 2 song on the VH1 show “100 Greatest Songs of the 80s.”

Not to besmirch the good programming of VH1. Frankly, I love their list shows. But I had to voice disgust with this list, supposedly voted on by viewers (though it seems there’d be many more repeat entries from huge acts, like U2 and Michael Jackson, if that were the case.)

Overall, the list was pretty decent, with a good smattering of Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran, the Police, Prince and the likes. But there were a few other selections – Ratt, ABC and Motley Crue — that made me want to gag myself with a spoon.

I was also surprised by how many of the featured acts had recently performed in the area. To name a few: Tone-Loc, Joan Jett, Go-Gos, Aerosmith, and Lionel Richie. (REO Speedwagon, who hit No. 67 with “Keep On Loving You,” was just announced for a Jan. 31 show at Chumash Casino.)

Anyway, the top ten songs were:
1. Bon Jovi / “Livin’ on a Prayer”
2. Def Leppard / “Pour Some Sugar On Me”
3. Duran Duran / “Hungry Like the Wolf”
4. Michael Jackson / “Billie Jean”
5. Prince / “When Doves Cry”
6. Hall & Oates / “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)”
7. Guns N’ Roses / “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
8. Madonna / “Like a Virgin”
9. Run-D.M.C. / “Walk This Way”
10. AC/DC / “You Shook Me All Night Long”

To see the entire list, look here.

To see how really awful Def Leppard is – and I really encourage you not to – check out this video.

- Pat P.

Posted on January 2nd, 2008 by Pat
Filed under: Music