30-Day Blog Challenge #5

My Five (5) Favorite Songs!

“30-day blog challenge” prompts often ask you to share your favorite songs, and as someone who dives deep into music nostalgia, I have to say I am still an 80s girl all the way.

I love me some “old school” music and the music of that decade.

There’s something magical about the era when MTV actually played music videos, when synthesizers ruled the airwaves, and when artists weren’t afraid to be bold, experimental, and utterly unforgettable.

The 80s gave us a perfect storm of innovation, emotion, and pure sonic brilliance that still gets my heart racing today.

This is a hard one for me because there are soooo many songs out there from the ’70s-early 2000s that I absolutely love.

We’re talking about decades that birthed disco, funk, new wave, post-punk, early hip-hop, and so much more. From the guitar gods of the 70s to the digital revolution of the 80s to the grunge explosion of the 90s – how do you even begin to narrow down such a plethora of riches?

But since I can’t name 10,000 songs here (though believe me, I could try!), I’ll stick to the five that have truly stood the test of time in my soul.

1 “When Doves Cry” – Prince

2. “Wanna Be Startin Somethin” – Michael Jackson

3. “Pleasure Principle” – Janet Jackson

4. “Everything She Wants” – Wham!

5. “Under Pressure” – Queen & David Bowie

The Soundtrack to My Life

These songs are on my workout playlist right now, and let me tell you, there’s nothing like hitting your stride on the treadmill when “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'” kicks in, or feeling that surge of empowerment when “Pleasure Principle” starts playing during a particularly challenging set.

They put me in a good mood, have a lot of soul, and bring back memories of “Friday Night Videos” and other unforgettable memories of my teenage years.

Those Friday nights were special, weren’t they?

Before streaming, before YouTube, before we could access any song at any moment, there was something almost sacred about gathering around the TV to see the latest videos (visuals) for your fave songs.

The 80s were about more than just the music – they were about the complete sensory experience.

The fashion, the videos, the larger-than-life personalities, the technological innovation, the social changes happening all around us.

These songs don’t just represent great music; they represent a moment in time when creativity felt boundless and the future seemed full of endless possibilities.

The Impossible Choice

Even within these 5 artists, there are some 20+ songs of theirs that I’m in love with. This challenge was truly that – a challenge!

Prince alone could have filled this entire list – try choosing between “Purple Rain,” “Kiss,” “Sign O’ the Times,” “Little Red Corvette,” and “1999.”

Michael Jackson? We’re talking about the King of Pop here – “Billie Jean,” “Smooth Criminal,” “Pretty Young Thang (PYT),” “Rock With You,” the list goes on and on.

Janet Jackson gave us “Rhythm Nation,” “That’s the Way Love Goes,” “If,” and “What Have You Done for Me Lately.”

George Michael, whether with Wham! or solo, created an incredible catalog including “Careless Whisper,” “Faith,” “Father Figure,” and “Freedom! ’90.”

And Queen with David Bowie? Their individual catalogs are among the greatest in rock history.

But that’s what makes music so beautiful – these impossible choices force us to really think about what moves us, what defines us, and what soundtracks the most important moments of our lives.

These five songs represent more than just great music to me; they’re time machines that transport me back to a period when everything felt possible and the world was full of rhythm, melody, and pure joy.