A POLL Bizarre ~~~ It's the ILM 80's R&B TRACKS POLL ~~~ RESULTS THREAD!!!

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Yes. Wanna Be Starting Something is undeniable.

"word up" is great and iconic but i like "candy" better

otm

I voted Single Life but should've gone with Candy

"Candy" > "Word Up"

that said, I rule karaoke with "Word Up"

I voted for 'Word Up' but it wasn't particularly high on my ballot.

Totes agree with Tuomas re: 'Wanna Be Startin' Something'. Nothing about the results of this poll has been at all predictable except which song would take the top spot.

i didn't expect "wanna be startin' somethin'" to even threaten for the top. i'm be delighted with it as a deserving and non-obvious winner :)

Agreed, though its non-obviousness as a winner is fading fast (e.g. Pitchfork '80s #2, et al).

"Candy" > "Word Up"

Yup.

The #1 and #2 were my #2 and #3, so I'm content.

https://img.discogs.com/8iEwgziTrSe0BpuzZGrzYsdBKqA=/fit-in/484x480/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-940077-1253924969.jpeg.jpg
2. Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
1433 points, 21 votes, 2 number ones
https://youtu.be/4Uj3zitETs4

Shock-a Khan!!!!!

WHOA!!!!!!

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9f/Iwantanewdrug45.jpg/220px-Iwantanewdrug45.jpg
1. Huey Lewis & the News - I Want a New Drug
13,972 points, 465 votes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxGxl-IbVFk

Something endearing about the idea of "Wanna Be Startin' Something'" as a perpetual second-best in every single runoff.

hell yeah chaka!!

(unless it's not her in which case boo)

(altho that is def not happening lol)

is "wanna be startin' somethin'" the first to show w/ 2 number one votes?

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" was also #2 in the Jacksons poll.

wow so no "Outstanding," huh?

Patrick Bateman approves of this #1

Thread needs a lot fewer Patrick Bateman name checks.

If "Early in the Morning" didn't place, there's no way "Outstanding" could. Gap Band is essentially a 3 single band, with a couple of also rans.

Southern Freeez is the most scandalous omission. (Yes, I am British.)

If "Early in the Morning" didn't place, there's no way "Outstanding" could. Gap Band is essentially a 3 single band, with a couple of also rans.

This is the wrongest thing this thread's seen.

https://img.discogs.com/SXfOK8nnRQ5XSmIgmZ1x73ZFPcQ=/fit-in/600x604/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-6088398-1413155473-2964.jpeg.jpg
1. Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
1474 points, 25 votes
https://youtu.be/hX9E44mClKs

background vocals by Barry Manilow!

xp A+ finale!

no number one votes! :O

There she is

In a way, "I Feel For You" is a much more surprising #1 than "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," so extra excited for the win.

The confluence of Chaka, Prince and Stevie doesn't hurt.

Yes, much more surprising, but good on Chaka.

true this is a somewhat surprising winner so i'm pretty psyched

I love this song but it feels... weird I guess, to see it at #1

like, IMO this is a #8 song (although I guess if everyone voting thinks it's a top 10 song but not #1, aggregation will make it #1 so never mind me)

btw how many point per position? I'm wondering if I would have influenced the outcome had I voted

Should at least swap places with "Ain't Nobody" to feel less weird.

Nope, nothing weird here.

'Feel for You' was #6 on my ballot. Somewhere around there feels most right to me (obvs).

Yeah, "Ain't Nobody" definitely a better tune than "I Feel for You". But props to Chaka for making a fairly generic Prince song into something so memorable!

Also, was it the first hit tune with a guest rapper?

crazy that 'early in the morning' didn't place, that's the best song ever

good poll tho, learning about so many great songs :)

Tempted tho I am now to run a separate runoff "Ain't Nobody" vs "I Feel For You" poll, I'd rather just bask in the right results on display here.

This poll is an embarrassment of riches, barely a dud from the bottom to the top. Excellent work everyone, but especially ArchCarrier.

good ass poll everyone

Ballots?

Ranked

01. Prince - The Beautiful Ones
02. Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
03. Chaka Khan - I Feel for You
04. Pebbles - Mercedes Boy
05. Juicy - Sugar Free
06. Stevie Wonder - Do I Do
07. D-Train - Keep On
08. Soul II Soul - Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)
09. Alicia Myers - I Want to Thank You
10. Bobby Brown - On Our Own
11. Tom Browne - Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move)
12. Janet Jackson - The Pleasure Principle
13. Gwen Guthrie - Seventh Heaven
14. Nick Straker Band - A Little Bit of Jazz
15. Unlimited Touch - I Hear Music in the Streets
16. Prince - Baby I'm a Star
17. Gap Band - You Dropped a Bomb on Me
18. Prince - Adore
19. Jeanette "Lady" Day - Come Let Me Love You
20. Joe Smooth - Promised Land
21. Frankie Knuckles - Your Love
22. Was (Not Was) - Wheel Me Out
23. Lisa Stansfield - All Around the World
24. Joubert Singers - Stand on the Word
25. Sharon Redd - Can You Handle It
26. Seduction - Two to Make It Right
27. Chaka Khan - What Cha' Gonna Do for Me
28. Universal Robot Band - Barely Breaking Even
29. Geraldine Hunt - Can't Fake the Feeling
30. Chanelle - One Man
31. Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
32. Janet Jackson - Alright
33. Zapp - I Can Make You Dance
34. Sylvia Striplin - Give Me Your Love
35. Imagination - Burnin' Up
36. Prince - Pop Life
37. Yarbrough and Peoples - Don't Stop the Music
38. Michael Jackson - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
39. Odyssey - Inside Out
40. Cherrelle - I Didn't Mean to Turn You On
41. Donna Summer - State of Independence
42. Chaka Khan - Clouds
43. France Joli - Gonna Get Over You
44. Jacksons - Can You Feel It
45. Loleatta Holloway - Love Sensation
46. Sparque - Let's Go Dancin'
47. Grace Jones - Slave to the Rhythm
48. Edwin Birdsong - Cola Bottle Baby
49. Al Jarreau - Mornin'
50. Fonda Rae - Over Like a Fat Rat

Unranked

Anita Baker - Giving You the Best That I Got
Barbara Mason - Another Man
Bobby Brown - Every Little Step
Change - Paradise
Cherrelle & Alexander O'Neal - Saturday Love
D-Train - You're the One for Me
David Joseph - You Can't Hide (Your Love From Me)
Dayton - The Sound of Music
Donna Summer - Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)
Earth, Wind & Fire - Fall in Love With Me
Earth, Wind & Fire - Lady Sun
Ednah Holt - Serious, Sirius Space Party
Evelyn "Champagne" King - I'm in Love
Freeez - I.O.U.
Freeez - Southern Freeez
Gap Band - Burn Rubber on Me
Gary's Gang - Knock Me Out
George Benson - Give Me the Night
Inner Life - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Isley Brothers - Between the Sheets
Jane Child - Don't Want to Fall in Love
Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do (Without You)
Janet Jackson - What Have You Done for Me Lately
Jets - Crush on You
Julia and Company - Breakin' Down (Sugar Samba)
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy
Loose Ends - Hangin' on a String
Mary Jane Girls - Candy Man
Maze - Before I Let Go
Michael Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel
Michel'le - No More Lies
Mtume - Juicy Fruit
Pointer Sisters - Dare Me
Prince - Do Me, Baby
Prince - Erotic City
Prince - How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?
Prince - If I Was Your Girlfriend
Prince - Private Joy
Prince - Sexuality
Prince - She's Always in My Hair
Rainbow Brown - Till You Surrender
René & Angela - I'll Be Good
Stevie B. - In My Eyes
Stevie Wonder - Lately
Surface - Falling in Love
Sylvester - Do Ya Wanna Funk
Sylvester - I Need You
Sylvia Striplin - You Can't Turn Me Away
Tom Browne - Funkin' for Jamaica
Vanity 6 - Nasty Girl

thank you archcarrier!

the results were indeed amazing. i'm sure once the full results are shown tho i will be aghast at the songs that the votership collectively decided were not as good of r&b as madonna's "crazy for you" (??)

Of what I voted for, am truly shocked these didn't place:

Anita Baker - Giving You the Best That I Got
Maze - Before I Let Go
Michel'le - No More Lies
Prince - Do Me, Baby
Seduction - Two to Make It Right
Sylvester - Do Ya Wanna Funk

"No More Lies" not making it is 100% travesty