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

it's just sinking in after 34 years, but the parenthesis in that song title is a thing of wonder

so his lipstick

Girl.

(An inevitable selection and I can't argue against it.)

Yes! Not the biggest fan of Richie, but this tune is undeniable, so sweet and warm and full of joie de vivre.

https://img.discogs.com/WWP6P3RBc0jfK8LwRFYls8bRK7I=/fit-in/589x597/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-709422-1150723910.jpeg.jpg
63. Teena Marie - Square Biz
489 points, 9 votes
https://youtu.be/o9wotiDai5U

TOO LOW

about right

Huh! I wouldn't have expected it to show up this late in the game, but I welcome it.

Whenever I see this title I think of the Scottish coloquialism 'square go' and that's abut as familiar as I am with it

https://img.discogs.com/TAb5IQC6CjPt6aBZEYRJy1JN6F8=/fit-in/599x596/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-526450-1234486244.jpeg.jpg
62. Alexander O'Neal - Criticize
501 points, 8 votes, 1 number one
https://youtu.be/CySYwZNH65I

Hi!

my #1, I believe

Another pleasant surprise! The last two were trimmed from my ballot last minute.

Any curveballs at this point much appreciated!

yes!! an amazing song. i love how the women's backing vox in the chorus sound, like a voice in your head or the ~truth descended from the sky

they're barely different but i think i slightly prefer the mix on the album version to the single/video mix (which is in the youtube link)

actually upon listening to the single mix again not even slightly, the album version >

https://img.discogs.com/n0n3zZHF2_LJwg6h9BxO92efddY=/fit-in/600x595/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-214108-1360858441-4404.jpeg.jpg
61. Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out
503 points, 10 votes
https://youtu.be/zbYcte4ZEgQ

"I'm Coming Out" was my #62, so this is an acceptable position.

Criticize far too low. Does that mean Fake won't place now? :(

Pulling for "Saturday Love" still.

That too

i love how the women's backing vox in the chorus sound, like a voice in your head or the ~truth descended from the sky

― dyl, Tuesday, May 16, 2017

well put!

I voted for I'm Coming Out but I had My Old Piano much higher on my list. That's always been my favourite of the singles from that album.

Glad to see Criticize make it. I guess I'll have to give up on A Broken Heart Can Mend making it now?

https://img.discogs.com/ooPoc3Wcvj4Ecr7yNYtte78fQBk=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-1516399-1225455588.jpeg.jpg
60. Ashford & Simpson - Solid
509 points, 11 votes
https://youtu.be/w3PoTnkLfxE

This song is 100% ridiculous but that is what makes it work.

solid!
solid as a rock!

Yay! One of the greatest a capella intros in pop music, and the rest of the tune is just as solid. I've never actually seen the video before, they're so cute in it! :)

Also, how many other pop hits there are which are odes to a long-term relationship and the work it takes to keep it working? This song is just so awesome in every way.

https://img.discogs.com/HlBrd1RoSiExHCS_PaUg-GYqPjY=/fit-in/593x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-266321-1330602889.jpeg.jpg
59. The Gap Band - Burn Rubber on Me
516 points, 10 votes
https://youtu.be/zSsXRWhfN3w

The first salvo in refining this (amazing) style, but I like some of the subsequent ones even better.

this countdown has been a weird combination of songs I heard a million time during my childhood and things I've never heard before, not a lot of middle ground

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9v3sAck-QQ

https://img.discogs.com/CQr9Z_2vbV7dK5YHTZejMUwtn9o=/fit-in/560x566/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-2976488-1337649992-9733.jpeg.jpg
58. Culture Club - Time (Clock of the Heart)
524 points, 8 votes
https://youtu.be/8tI1_KlO6xI

not sure what people's favorite culture club songs are but i hope they don't place a bunch this far up :\

There isn't a single Culture Club song I would consider to be R&B.

Now expecting "Hold Me Now" by Thompson Twins to crack the top 40.

lol

"miss me blind" actually did cross over to the top 10 on the r&b charts

I'm pretty sure "Time"'s the favorite. Although I think "Church of the Poison Mind" is also a fantastic song and I wish it had placed somewhere in the top 250.

(I just created and deleted a fake entry for "Shattered Dreams" by Johnny Hates Jazz because I think everyone gets my position by this point)

xp: okay I can make an exception for "Miss Me Blind", I'd forgotten that song

https://img.discogs.com/rHFf2ezTaRAf2NkBR6fpDBDH5s0=/fit-in/600x599/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-323394-1222344197.jpeg.jpg
57. Imagination - Just an Illusion
526 points, 9 votes
https://youtu.be/TnfHdZrmMAw

i'll be gladder if it doesn't re: "church of the poison mind"

becoming aware of imagination for the first time is my main discovery from this poll and i'm really glad about it

The all-time roller skating rink classic in my town.

There isn't a single Culture Club song I would consider to be R&B.

As I mentioned in the voting thread, I only just realized while preparing for this poll that 'Church of the Poison Mind' sounds an awful lot like something the Miracles could've recorded.

Not a fan of that culture club song regardless of genre but really

Imagination are maybe my favourite band of the 80s, still hoping for one more in particular but not confident

Body Talk is a lock surely.

There isn't a single Culture Club song I would consider to be R&B.

There are just some artists when you see them on a list of nominations you just know they're going to show up and ludicrously high at that.