[musictaste filter] Can you help me fill out my playlist?

August 30, 2011 7:31 AM

I've got a short 80's centric playlist started with Somebody's baby, She's a beauty, and Jessie's girl. Can you help me think of more songs like this with the same feel, sound?

So this is what I'm in the mood to listen to right now. For some reason I can't think of any other songs that are the same-ish. I know there are more though, maybe even some I've never heard. I'll give you my playlist so far and wait for your knowledgeable additions to make it longer.

Somebody's Baby - Jackson Browne
She's a Beauty - The Tubes
Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
Rosanna - Toto
My Best Friend's Girl - The Cars

Thanks! :)

posted by chocolatemilkshakes to Media & Arts (29 answers total)

Diana by Bryan Adams kind of fits the theme.
posted by rocket88 at 7:43 AM on August 30, 2011

She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals
Is She Really Going Out With Him - Joe Jackson
Rich Girl - Hall & Oates
Dirty Diana - Michael Jackson
Rasberry Beret - Prince
posted by Flood at 7:47 AM on August 30, 2011

sara by jefferson starship
posted by noloveforned at 7:47 AM on August 30, 2011

Hmm...maybe?

Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes
So in Love - OMD
Pretty in Pink - The Psychedelic Furs
posted by phunniemee at 7:49 AM on August 30, 2011

I'm not sure you can count it as of the '80s but I always felt the Gin Blossoms' "Hey Jealousy" went along well with "Jessie's Girl"
posted by ghharr at 7:50 AM on August 30, 2011

All I Need is a Miracle - mike and the Mechanics
Your Love - The Outfield
posted by reverend cuttle at 7:50 AM on August 30, 2011

Check out the Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack here, there are some samples there you can listen to.
posted by illenion at 7:50 AM on August 30, 2011

Your playlist HAS to include He Can't Love You by the Michael Stanley Band.
posted by BurntHombre at 8:02 AM on August 30, 2011

Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band
Centerfold - J Geils Band
Poison Arrow - ABC
If You Leave - OMD

(I always liked [I just] Died in Your Arms Tonight - Cutting Crew, but um *cough*, many don't.) :)

Heat of the Moment - Asia?
posted by Glinn at 8:05 AM on August 30, 2011

Oh Sherry - Steve Perry
Take On Me - A-Ha
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 8:09 AM on August 30, 2011

Hurts So Good-John Cougar
You Might Think-The Cars
Dancing in the Dark-Bruce Springsteen
Infatuation-Rod Stewart
On the Dark Side-John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band
Human Touch-Rick Springfield
posted by wyldeboi at 8:15 AM on August 30, 2011

Summer of '69
867-5309
posted by kirst27 at 8:18 AM on August 30, 2011

and, not sure if this fits but one of my faves:

Steppin' Out - Joe Jackson
posted by kirst27 at 8:20 AM on August 30, 2011

Considering I had those on my own similar playlist (which was taped from the radio on a cassette tape actually in that decade) (SEE, OED?!) -- I'm pretty sure "Do You Believe in Love" by Huey Lewis and the News comes next in the middle-of-the road 80's oeuvre. Followed by Asia's Heat of the Moment, yes, and you kids getting offa my lawn and then I'm afraid you'll also have to listen to Laura Branigan's Gloria, which does thankfully lead to Kim Wilde's "Kids in America", followed by me Googling my old best friend's older brother so I can hopefully feel grateful that he didn't actually fall in love with me over the tater tots at their dinner table before the sleepover, thus leading to a lifelong romance and the ten kids I was going to give names such as "Mandy", "Luke" and yes, "Jessie".
posted by peagood at 8:23 AM on August 30, 2011

See, that's why I ask you guys these questions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XhiOnO6Gng&feature=related 00:18 - 0:40

Thanks, really helpful suggestions! If any one else has any more feel free to add them. Just can't get enough!
posted by chocolatemilkshakes at 8:46 AM on August 30, 2011

Seems like early 80s pop-rock hits is what you're feeling...

Bryan Adams - This Time
Martin Briley - The Salt In My Tears
Lindsey Buckingham - Trouble
The Fixx - Saved By Zero
Genesis - No Reply At All
Golden Earring - Twilight Zone
Billy Idol - Eyes Without A Face
Donnie Iris - Ah! Leah!
Journey - Who's Crying Now
Greg Kihn - The Breakup Song
The Kinks - Come Dancing
Kenny Loggins - I'm Free
John Cougar Mellencamp - This Time
Men At Work - Overkill
Steve Miller Band - Abracadabra
Eddie Money - Think I'm In Love
Moody Blues - Gemini Dream
The Motels - Suddenly Last Summer
Quarterflash - Harden My Heart
Red Rider - Lunatic Fringe
John Waite - Change
posted by otters walk among us at 8:53 AM on August 30, 2011

Here's a little-heard gem in that same vein: "Andrea" by Blue Öyster Cult's Buck Dharma.
posted by limeonaire at 9:06 AM on August 30, 2011

I came here to post "Salt in My Tears" and "Ah Leah"

Well played otters, well played.
posted by humboldt32 at 9:25 AM on August 30, 2011

Hall & Oats, You Make My Dreams Come True
posted by jabes at 9:46 AM on August 30, 2011

Thirding "Salt in My Tears" and "Ah! Leah!," and adding "Somebody to Love" by the Dwight Twilley Band. I just acquired Dwight Twilley's retrospective collection, 21, and I've been listening to "Somebody to Love" over and over and over.
posted by bakerina at 10:16 AM on August 30, 2011

Rather obscure 80's, but I think Resist Her by Comateens fits in nicely.
posted by kimdog at 10:18 AM on August 30, 2011

Sign up for a Pandora account (a free one), and create a new station with those artists in it. Enjoy the collection of similar-sounding songs that it spits out, and be sure to thumbs-up the soundalikes and thumbs-down the misses. This is, quite simply, the thing Pandora is best at.
posted by davejay at 10:47 AM on August 30, 2011

Back Where You Belong - 38 Special
Feels Like the First Time - Foreigner
Laaaaaaaaady!!! - Styx
Keep On Lovin' You - REO Speedwagon (which, I must say, really should be remade by the Lonely Island)

And just for good measure (because how often do you get to link it): [Everybody's] Workin' for the Weekend! - Canadia's Finest (Airsupply, what? You thought I meant the RCMP or something?)
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 11:07 AM on August 30, 2011

Doesn't Really Matter - Platinum Blonde
Strange Animal - Gowan
Refugee - Tom Petty
posted by jimmythefish at 1:30 PM on August 30, 2011

Do You Really Want to Hurt Me, Culture Club
Church of the Poison Mind, Culture Club
Karma Chameleon, Culture Club
Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Cyndi Lauper
Billie Jean, Michael Jackson
I Just Want to Be Your Everything
Shadow Dancer, Andy Gibb
PYT, Michael Jackson
I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Whitney Houston
Freedom, George Michaels
Careless Whisper, George Michaels
Maneater, Hall and Oates
Don't You Want Me, Human League
Boys of Summer, Don Henley
Safety Dance
99 Luftballoons
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), Eurythmics
True
The Reflex, Duran Duran
Rio, Duran Duran
I'm Still Standing, Elton John
Stand Back, Stevie Nicks
Footloose, Kenny Loggins
Dancing in the Sheets, Shalamar
Let's Hear It For the Boy, Deniece Williams
Feel the Beat of the Rhythm of the Night, Debarge
Video Killed the Radio Star, the Buggles
Hit me with your best shot, Pat Benatar
We Belong, Pat Benatar
Ghostbusters, Ray Lewis
Looking for Love, Johnny Lee
Look What You've Done to Me, Boz Scaggs
I Had the Time of My Life
If This is It, Huey Lewis and the News
Private Eyes, Hall and Oates
Physical, Olivia Newton John
Have to Believe We are Magic, Olivia Newton John
Miss Sun, Boz Scaggs
Dancing on the Ceiling, Lionel Richie
Hello, Lionel Richie
Waiting for a Girl Like You
All Night Long, Lionel Richie
Running with the Night, Lionel Richie
Bad Girls, Donna Summer
posted by elle.jeezy at 4:51 PM on August 30, 2011

sounds kinda power pop ish

you need Cheap Trick

maybe Southern Girls or Dream Police
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 5:30 PM on August 30, 2011

Eric Carmen - Make Me Lose Control

Maybe also Hungry Eyes
posted by yawper at 8:25 PM on August 30, 2011

The Outfield - Say It Isn't So

Night Ranger - Sister Christian
posted by screamingnotlaughing at 1:17 PM on August 31, 2011

Nikita by Elton John.
posted by Halloween Jack at 2:39 PM on August 31, 2011