top 10 hits that no one remembers

Ned, that's marvelous.

^^^ seconded. Just came here to post that one person's song they've never heard in their life is another's straw that broke the camel's back.

one main's ceiling is another man's floor

Truly one of the most strangely influential songs of my life. (And if I had only heard it once or twice I doubt I would have cared but it got a LOT of play and I was so sick of it. Just thinking about the chorus causes a Pavlovian shudder response.)

Yeah, that Klymaxx song eclipsed their two other hits, none of which I remember:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiMUVPWE7ec

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHg_8-1EBPI

My trajectory is probably similar to Ned's. Top 40 > Classic Rock > the good stuff that defined what I listened to for the rest of my adult life.

The song that I remember singularly responsible for driving me down the radio dial from the top 40 station to the Classic Rock station was... Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name" (a song I don't have strong feelings about today, but I think it was extremely over-played on my chosen top 40 station, and for some reason it just drove my 13 year-old self crazy). The song has probably been in "classic rock" circulation for decades by now.

I didn't mind "I Miss You" specifically but there was something about 1986 that broke me too -- the combination of shlocky ballads, horrible Prince copycats, and somnambulant AOR drove me away from following music for about 2.5 years, which is an eternity for a 12-14 year old kid.

Neither you nor Ned are wrong (esp about the categories you cited), but I'll insist 1986 was a wonderful year for pop in every genre.

That's intriguingly counterintuitive from my personal experience but yeah, 1986 feels like a 'problem' year in my head still, just thanks to the personal vector. I figure a lot of it is down to the quality of local stations (or lack thereof) depending on where you were at, compounded by an MTV that was starting to calcify the more it was ingrained. Essentially you had to make your own steps, and mine were ultimately backward for a while. It was never completely the case -- that same top 40 station had a Saturday night dance party block that avoided DJ chatter much and was also where I first heard "Blue Monday" -- random overhearings of "Bizarre Love Triangle" soon after helped tie the two together and so forth. But these were examples of me hearing something in specific and with intent more than not, where before I just had top 40 on by default.

Kosheen are still probably a punchline in some circles for what they supposedly did with/to dnb but I've always been quite fond of their attempt to go full mainstream rock and earn some pop longevity. It didn't work, but this still went top ten. Britpop with an unreconstructed amen break basically, but better than that sounds (imo).

Video I grew up with on the Brit Awards 2004 DVD - but which inexplicably chops a minute off - now in HD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng4gs19lfEk

I don't think I recognise it but if you listen through squinted ears it sounds exactly like something the Sims2 would put on at their parties

I remember their massive earlier hit (though not what it sounded like -- I can't bring it to mind in my head). I think I remember hearing this one, but had certainly forgotten it. I like it, especially the way the guitar chords resolve on the fourth bar. I wish the drums were a bit less understated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_s49nGBrgQ
^^banger

Ann Lee - 2 Times

^^banger

Ann Lee - 2 Times

I could never forget this. I love it.

Perhaps the most notable thing about 'All In My Head' is its chorus and most uplifting vocals feel more befitting of the trance pop of the time but rather than stick a 4/4 under it which might've boosted sales a little more they went for the jangly drivetime MOR vibes. Their wildlife artwork at the time was pretty cool at least :)