Top 5 80's "sellout" songs

[BMFClone]

My list of established artists who have maintained a good career, but then decided to stray away from their great mainstream music in order to succumb to the 80's "pop" in order to make a quick buck. Keep in mind...I like the artist, but these songs definitely do not live up to their respective reputation. Anyway, here goes:

5. John Fogerty - "Centerfield"
4. Peter Gabriel - "Sledgehammer"
3. Steve Miller - "Abracadabra"
2. Styx - "Mr. Roboto"
1. Starship - "We Built This City" (quite possibly the worst 80's song ever)

 

[Knownothing]

Berlin-Take my breath away. Probably the biggest sell out song ever

ALso Styx Mr. Roboto was not really a sell out song. They were trying to change direction at that point.

Starship We built this city not only was the worst song of the 80's. Possibly top 5 worst songs ever. Of course I am talking Pre Black Eye Pees. They have the top 5 worst songs ever.

 

[acoustimac]

Anything that Heart or REO Speedwagon did in the 80's would fit the bill.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

My list of established artists who have maintained a good career, but then decided to stray away from their great mainstream music in order to succumb to the 80's "pop" in order to make a quick buck. Keep in mind...I like the artist, but these songs definitely do not live up to their respective reputation. Anyway, here goes:

5. John Fogerty - "Centerfield"
4. Peter Gabriel - "Sledgehammer"
3. Steve Miller - "Abracadabra"
2. Styx - "Mr. Roboto"
1. Starship - "We Built This City" (quite possibly the worst 80's song ever)

I happen to like a few of these especially Centerfield - perfect summer song.

 

[CycloneYoda]

This list is 100% incomplete without the Dead's Touch Of Grey.

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Berlin-Take my breath away. Probably the biggest sell out song ever

ALso Styx Mr. Roboto was not really a sell out song. They were trying to change direction at that point.

Starship We built this city not only was the worst song of the 80's. Possibly top 5 worst songs ever. Of course I am talking Pre Black Eye Pees. They have the top 5 worst songs ever.

I'll take your BEP's as worst ever and raise you Nickelback. I win.:smile:

 

[3TrueFans]

1. Starship - "We Built This City" (quite possibly the worst 80's song ever)

Not only an awesome song but it gave way to a modern classic.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj7_E5Tpdhs]We Built Sioux City - YouTube[/ame]

 

[2020cy]

Most of the 80's ZZ Top music, the Cars on their last few albums and definitely High Infidelity by REO.

 

[Al_4_State]

I don't know if I'd put Sledgehammer in there...

I'd add
Van Halen "Jump"
Cheap Trick "The Flame"
Everything Aerosmith put out after the 70s.

 

[Senolcyc]

Centerfield doesn't belong on the list. That could have been a CCR song.

I'd nominate David Bowie, "Let's Dance." I was never a Bowie fan so I didn't get my undies in a bunch when he went pop, but it was pretty obvious he did.

 

[weR138]

Bowie and Iggy both sold out in the '80's. Bowie most notably with Blue Jean and Iggy with Candy.

Also, Bowie appeared in Labyrinth, wtf?

 

[iahawkhunter]

My list of established artists who have maintained a good career, but then decided to stray away from their great mainstream music in order to succumb to the 80's "pop" in order to make a quick buck. Keep in mind...I like the artist, but these songs definitely do not live up to their respective reputation. Anyway, here goes:

5. John Fogerty - "Centerfield"
4. Peter Gabriel - "Sledgehammer"
3. Steve Miller - "Abracadabra"
2. Styx - "Mr. Roboto"
1. Starship - "We Built This City" (quite possibly the worst 80's song ever)

I was a lifeguard in high school and almost fell out of the chair from laughing too hard when a Quad Cities radio station started off their "retro lunch", advertised as playing the best music of the 80's, with "We Built This City".

 

[BMFClone]

I don't know if I'd put Sledgehammer in there...

I'd add
Van Halen "Jump"
Cheap Trick "The Flame"
Everything Aerosmith put out after the 70s.

--These all should get honorable mention -- +1

 

[JP4CY]

What about every Ratt song? I think all they did was cover Slade almost identically as possible.

 

[Al_4_State]

What about every Ratt song? I think all they did was cover Slade almost identically as possible.

I think in order to "sell out" there had to have been some shred of integrity to begin with.

Thus excluding Ratt from the conversation.

 

[cyfanatic]

Heart

All you have to do is listen to their 70s songs vs their 80s songs...I am not going to "hate" on their 80s stuff...but "Magic Man" or "Crazy On You" vs "Alone" or "These Dreams" (just examples) are not even close to being similar style of music!

 

[brianhos]

This list is 100% incomplete without the Dead's Touch Of Grey.

That was the dead's only good song.

 

[weR138]

Billy Idol's entire career was a sellout.

There's an argument that Glenn Danzig sold out too, he clearly did in the '90's as did The Misfits.

In a sense I think Michael Jackson sold out on Bad. I know that pop artists don't really "sell out" because they're already selling but it seemed like such a Thriller rip-off. I dunno, in my old age I've learned to appreciate Off the Wall. That is a brilliant record.

Dave Mustaine sold out.

Metallica did later.

Ozzy sold out.

 

[CycloneYoda]

That was the dead's only good song.

It may have been their best song, but that doesn't change the fact that they sold out when the made it.

 

[Al_4_State]

That was the dead's only good song.