Time for an installment of the ever popular Top 5 list. When you think of iconic female artists from the 80s, a name that has to spring to mind is the wonderful Belinda Carlisle - a woman with a unique voice and a knack for perfect pop ditties.
That voice, so distinctly Belinda Carlisle (remember that great moment in "In Bed With Madonna" when one of her dancers did her best Belinda impression?) And while she struggled as the 90s went on, she certainly had some great tunes in both the 80s and early 90s. And will always love the stuff she did with The Go-Go's when she first started. "Alex the Seal" (Our Lips Are Sealed), anyone?
Now my lists are always very subjective, often songs that weren't even big hits make my countdowns - the same happens with this list. Now as always. there are amazing songs I feel bad for leaving off this list, corkers like "Mad About You", "I Plead Insanity", "Do you feel like I feel?" and "Leave a Light On". Belinda Carlisle is really one of those artists who make me smile when her songs come on!
So without further adieu, here are my Top 5 favourite Belinda Carlisle songs.
5 - Always Breaking My Heart
This was one of Belinda's later tracks, and was really only a hit in the UK. Written by Roxette's Per Gessle, this a great little slice of Euro pop / rock. Front and centre is Carlisle's wondrous voice, belting out in her emotive tone. It's a shame more people didn't discover this later gem from a true icon.
4 - Summer Rain
Ah, "Summer Rain", what a truly great song, it was massive here in Australia, the only country to take it Top Ten. I was in High School when it came out and used it to blare it loud when it came on "Video Hits". I even have memories of my very blokey Dad singing along to this song. A great pop song with strong lyrics about a woman who lost her lover in the war. The dramatic strings at the start of the song echo the richness of the powerful lyrics. Play this now, and thousands of Aussies will sing it loud and proud.
3 - Big Scary Animal
This great tune reminds me of Uni and playing this while studying (I was better at listening to music than actually studying). This is another example of how catchy Carlisle's songs can be. This has a great hook and some great imagery. And I always loved singing loudly along with, "Love is, love is, love is .. a big scary animal". I smiled while listening to this on the train again this morning.
2 - Runaway Horses
This is one of those tracks that I appreciate more as an adult than I did when I was a teen. It wasn't until I listened to this as an adult that I began to appreciate its nuances and complexities. This is a captivating mid tempo pop song where the vocals are great, the strings are uplifting and the lyrics are beautiful. Maybe I needed to have been in love to truly appreciate this song?
1 - Heaven is a Place on Earth
It really could be no other song. This is her most famous song, her most successful song and my favourite. The reason? It is as perfect as pop music can get. There are few 80s songs more iconic than this. In fact, I once squealed with delight when this song came on in a very blokey pub - guess they could guess my sexuality. From the chorus, to the vocals, from the beat to those great lyrics we all know. I think I need to try this one at karaoke! This is a great song, one of my favourites of all time!
What's your favourite Belinda Carlisle songs? Tell me in the comment section below. Or tell me which artist you'd like me to feature next week.
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