Top 10 Underrated Songs of 1984 That Deserved to Be Hits
Today, we're counting down the Top 10 Songs from 1984 That Deserved BETTER! We play them all the time, but somehow they missed the Top 40, and Most are better than the biggest hits of the year. I’ve got the story of Prince's gut-wrenching ballad that has been rumored to be about three different women. It was written in a late-night session as a last-minute track for one of the most unforgettable films of 1984. But who is it really about? There’s also a classic song by rock icon Ian McCulloch that was so divinely inspired the songwriter literally gave half the songwriting credit to God. Plus, there’s the folk rock legend Leonard Cohen, who spent years and 80 verses trying to write his masterpiece. He went so mad over this song, and one night, while in a hotel room in his underwear, he started bashing his head on the floor trying to figure it out. Finally, Decades later the world would recognize him for his genius. Plus the most haunting song of the 80s and it missed the top 40! These stories and more are coming up next. Let’s go.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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FROM THE VAULT: Why Pat Benatar Refuses to Sing “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” Anymore
Pat Benatar has something of an adversarial relationship with one of her biggest songs… the Top Ten 10 hit “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.” It broke her career wide open. There’s a few reasons for this, but ultimately, even though she made it famous, it wasn’t her song to begin with. That distinction goes to a struggling songwriter who wrote it after punching pillows in a new age therapy session. Yeah, you can’t make this stuff up. Even though Pat doesn’t care for it, there’s no doubt that generations of fans haven’t been able to get enough of it. It’s an 80s classic rock radio staple for sure, oozing confidence and bravado, putting Pat Benatar forward as the 80s premier female rocker that would be followed by plenty of great hits like Love Is a Battlefield and We Belong.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis & No Doubt: Top 10 Songs of 1996
I can’t believe I initially stopped doing these yearly countdowns at 1994 because today’s yearly top 10 is truly great. These 10 songs were certainly surrounded by some of the worst songs ever, but they shined like the song that Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan wrote about an important landmark date in his life, 1979 but he had to use a different year than the actual one because it had better rhymes. But his hardcore producer deleted the song from the final album track list because it wasn’t good enough. This frontman was livid. He argued for it so passionately that the Producer gave him 24 hours to go back and rework it, or it was going in the trash bin. So he stayed up all night and perfected it. The next morning, it was undeniable.. It would make the album, but not only that it became the Smashing Pumpkins’ biggest hit and one of the best songs of its time. Plus, No Doubt's Don't Speak the song that was the most played song of the year, but due to a crazy technicality, the Billboard charts wouldn’t let it be included in the charts. So it was never a hit, but 30 years on, it has over 3 billion streams, plus the most Haunting Instrumental of the rock era, Children by Robert Miles. Plus Champagne Supernova by Oasis and Missing by Everything but The Girl as well as Journey Singer Steve Perry and his final song with the band When You Love a Woman. It’s all coming up on a star-studded year-end countdown.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Best of David Lee Roth Solo: Mountain Climbs, Covers & Comebacks
Today, we're diving into the solo career of one of rock's most over-the-top frontmen, David Lee Roth. After leaving Van Halen, one of the mightiest rock bands on the planet in 1985, this larger-than-life showman set out to prove he didn't need his former band to make killer rock music. Armed with a supergroup of virtuosos and a stadium-sized ego, he unleashed a string of hits that split fans right down the middle. But no one could deny Dave's charisma and ability to command the stage. On our latest edition of short and sweet, we’re counting down Roth's three biggest solo tracks, including a death-defying music video shot on the face of a mountain, a cover song that secretly featured a secret rock and roll legend, and a track that may have been a declaration of war against his former band. Find out which songs made the cut and the inside joke that he and his former band were perpetrating… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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The Curse of the Grammys: How Winning Best New Artist Destroyed Careers
Coming up, we’re turning back the clock to the days when the Grammys actually mattered… But for today’s bands, maybe that’s not such a good thing. Because if you landed on this countdown, it means you’re in for some surefire disappointment. I’m talking about the much-talked-about Grammy curse… the best new artist curse… Is it a ticking time bomb, ready to blow up careers? Well, we’re going to investigate this urban legend. And in the process, we’ll tell the story of the singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, who barely survived being shot in the head during a carjacking. Also, there’s the soft-rock quartet Starland Vocal Band that was behind one of the 70s biggest summer hits Afternoon Delight, whose career got flushed down the toilet… destroying two marriages in the process. And then there’s the mysterious singer Bobbie Gentry, who topped the charts at 23 with a haunting hit that captivated the nation. But years later, she vanished without a trace. So… what do all these musicians have in common? They won the Grammy’s Best New Artist award! Is it the kiss of death? Is it music’s greatest curse? Find out next on POR.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The ultimate rock music history podcast for fans of the greatest era of music. If you’ve ever wondered about the true stories behind your favorite songs, or wanted to hear directly from the legends who made them, Professor of Rock is your new go-to podcast. Hosted by music historian and superfan Adam Reader, this show brings the golden era of music back to life with exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and deep dives into the songs that shaped our lives. This podcast uncovers how timeless tracks were made, the creative breakthroughs, the near-breakups, and the powerful moments that defined music history. Each episode is a masterclass in rock culture and nostalgia—whether it's a chart-topping ‘80s anthem, a one-hit wonder with a wild backstory, or a candid conversation with the legends themselves. Hear the Stories. Relive the Music. Only on Professor of Rock.
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