Calling Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, and company “metal” is kind of like calling Rhianna a “singer.” You have to stretch your definition really far to make it fit.
top 10
Eighties Alt Rock
Because I went to a foofy liberal arts university in the 80s, I should know all these songs by heart. Unfortunately, I was too busy listening to the Go Gos.
Earth, Wind & Fire
How awesome were Earth, Wind, & Fire? Even their obligatory dumb disco song, “Boogie Wonderland,” is awesome. Plus, when they performed it live with the Emotions, there were about 150 people onstage. The 70s rocked.
Eagles
The Eagles are probably my least-favorite band of all time. “Hotel California” is definitely my least favorite song. When they reunited in the 2000s (for the fans, not for the money), they called the album “Hell Freezes Over.” To my ears, a better title would have been “Back in Hell.”
Doo Wop
If you ever want to make yourself really sad, listen to Joni Mitchell’s cover of “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” (awful), then Diana Ross’s (worse), then James Taylor’s version of “Up on a Roof” (deadly dull), then Bruce Willis’s take on “Under the Boardwalk” (at which point, you might want to shoot yourself). Then play the originals, get happy again, and wonder why anyone ever tries to mess with perfection.
Doors
In the early 70s, the Campfire Girls (kind of a Girl Scouts knock-off) had a commercial where they used “Light My Fire” as the theme song. I guess nobody told them that the song wasn’t exactly about toasting marshmallows—unless, you know, “toasting marshmallows” is a metaphor for something else.
Doobie Brothers
I guess when you have “doobie” right in your band name, it would make sense that your music gets mellower … and mellower … over time.
Donna Summer
There are some things I have an intense and possibly unhealthy passion for. In the food category, peanut butter and plums. In music, Donna Summer. I know, I know—”Adam and Steve” blah blah blah. I said it was possibly unhealthy.
Django Reinhardt
My old roommate Bobby (sorry, “Robert”) was always trying to get me to listen to people like Django Reinhardt. I thought he was just being a snob. Later he became a travel writer, living in places like Paris and Brazil. So I guess “snob” means, “way more cultured than me.” Sorry, Robert.
Playlist of the Day 