DAILY DIRT: Don’t dis Bonnie, The Loaf or ‘sleepy reggae’

I predict after you are finished with today’s Daily Dirt, you will be singing “We Are The World” for the rest of the day … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 863 of The Daily Dirt.

1. A few years ago, the Phoenix New Times named what it felt were the 10 worst pop songs ever to reach No. 1.

That same list is again making the rounds — why, I’m not sure — and it doesn’t make any more sense than it did before.

We’ll count down this ridiculous list in reverse order. See what you think:

• 10. “Informer,” by Snow (1993): I have no idea what this song even is, so we’ll give this one to the Phoenix New Times.
• 9. “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” by UB40 (1993): This was the first red flag when I revisited this list. Next to Elvis, I consider this the best interpretation of what is a timeless classic. Writer Serene Dominic discarded it as “sleepy reggae”.
• 8. “You Light Up My Life,” by Debby Boone (1979): I have to agree with writer Dominic on this one. How this song was No. 1 for 10 weeks is way beyond me.
• 7. “Ebony and Ivory,” by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder (1982): Give another one to the Phoenix New Times. This is one of those songs that would never, ever end.
• 6. “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” by Bonnie Tyler (1983): Dominic seemed to have more of a problem with the video, which would be an entirely different category, correct? This song by the raspy-voiced Tyler was one of the best of the 1980s. The Phoenix New Times and writer Dominic were so far off base here that not even Rickey Henderson could save them from embarrassment. 
• 5. “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That),” by Meat Loaf  (1993): How dare they ridicule The Loaf? Another miss for the Phoenix New Times and writer Dominic.
• 4. “Macarena,” by Los Del Rios (1996): This was termed a dance remix of “The Lone Ranger Theme”. While it did not deserve to be No, 1 for 14 consecutive weeks, it does not deserve to be on this list.
• 3. “Bad Day,” by Daniel Powter (2006): The third-worst No. 1 song ever? Harsh. Way too harsh. I liked this song, too.
• 2. “We Built This City,” by Starship (1985): We’ve almost reached the point of ridiculous by putting this song on such a countdown. Granted, the lyrics are a bit weak in parts, but this is one of the anthems of the Big ’80s!
• 1. “We Are The World,” by USA for Africa (1985): Raise your hand if you spent at least part of 1985 singing this song. I thought so. We loved this song. If the Phoenix New Times and writer Dominic had even a shred of credibility left by the time this countdown reached No. 1 it was lost right here. To this day, I still love watching and listening to Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Huey Lewis, Stevie Nicks, Smokey Robinson and about two dozen others sing this song in an effort to raise funds for the famine in Africa.

If you were keeping score, we’ll give the Phoenix New Times and writer Dominic three correct choices. That’s seven incorrect, a big fail on any kind of scoresheet.

2. Yep, it’s a music theme today.

Here are the 15 finalists for 2024 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

• Mary J. Blige
• Mariah Carey
• Cher
• Dave Matthews Band
• Eric B. & Rakim
• Foreigner
• Peter Frampton
• Jane’s Addiction
• Kool & the Gang
• Lenny Kravitz
• Oasis
• Sinéad O’Connor
• Ozzy Osbourne
• Sade
• A Tribe Called Quest

The inductees will be announced in April. Induction will be in the fall on a date yet to be announced.

Although there is never any set amount as far as number of inductees, since 2019 either six or seven have been inducted each year.

3. Want to feel old while finishing up today’s music-themed Daily Dirt?

The following songs turn 40 this year:

• “Purple Rain,” by Prince and the Revolution: The song that catapulted the diminutive one to superstar heights.
• “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” by Tina Turner: From the album “Private Dancer,” which in itself is an all-time classic.
• “Like A Virgin,” by Madonna: The song that made her a household name.
• “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” by REO Speedwagon: Just me, or did every REO song sound the same?
• “Born in the U.S.A.,” by Bruce Springsteen: One of those classics that embedded itself in pop culture.
• “Time After Time,” by Cyndi Lauper: Is it this song or “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” that she will be best remembered for?

Steve Thought O’ The Day — My rock and roll hall of fame picks from the above list: Cher, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Mariah Carey, Kool & the Gang and Sinead O’Connor.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Yes, the Phoenix New Times has put forth a list worse than anything Steve ever cranked out.