This week, I decided to do another musical comparison, both because music charts interest me and because my mother dared me to do something on music from the ‘80s. I widened the space between this time, so that there was more music that I didn’t have opinions of already. I’m going to be looking at 1983 VS 2003.
10. “Take A Chance”-John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John VS “Look Through My Eyes”-Phil Collins
Winner: It was hard for me to decide which one to give this to, since neither of them are really my type of thing, but I’m going to give this one to 1983, because of the sound, which I can only describe as “smoky” that it has, which is typical of songs made for ‘80s movies’ soundtracks.
9. “Uptown Girl”-Billy Joel VS “The First Cut Is The Deepest”-Sheryl Crow
Winner: This one goes to 2003, because the song is sad, but it’s also inspirational, which is kind of my favorite kind of song.
8. There was no eight for 1983, so we’re throwing this out, I guess?
7. “Make Believe It’s Your First Time”-The Carpenters VS “Big Yellow Taxi”-Counting Crows feat. Vanessa Carlton
Winner: 2003. I respect The Carpenters, but I feel like their music is too sad.
6. “I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues”-Elton John VS “White Flag”-Dido
Winner: 2003. There’s something about “White Flag” that just draws me in that I can’t really explain.
5. “What’s New”-Linda Ronstadt VS “Forever And For Always”-Shania Twain
Winner: I’m really conflicted here because I really enjoyed “What’s New”, and it sounds a lot like something I would listen to now if I wanted to relax, but I was raised on Shania Twain, so to not pick her would feel a lot like betraying my roots. I didn’t expect for this to be a hard choice, but I think I’m still going to go with 2003. “Forever And For Always” isn’t a song that I have to be in a specific mood to listen to. “What’s New” would be.
4. “Break My Stride”-Matthew Wilder VS “Drift Away”-Uncle Kracker feat Dobie Gray
Winner: 2003. “Drift Away” has this carefree ease to it that always makes me think of long drives on sunny, breezy days.
3. “Say Say Say”-Paul McCartney And Michael Jackson VS “Calling All Angels”-Train
Winner: 1983, because my mom would kill me if I let Train win out over Michael Jackson because I appreciate that this was a song about a love triangle that wasn’t heavy and that you could still listen to if you’re trying to have fun. It has a sing-a-long quality to it.
2. “The Way He Makes Me Feel”-Barbra Streisand VS “Sending You A Little Christmas”-Jim Brickman With Kristy Strarling
Winner: 2003. It may seem out of place to be picking a Christmas song in April, but I love Christmas music and I had never heard this song before. I’m sure I’ll come back to it this winter.
1. “Read ‘Em And Weep”-Barry Manilow VS “Unwell”-Matchbox Twenty
Winner: 2003.
Overall: 2003 won by a landslide. Sorry, Mom.
