Unfortunately for me, not all talents are created equal.?

For example, my? “special” ability? involves remembering impossibly random 80′s songs and lyrics.? This skill (and I use that term very loosely) is infinitely less desirable than, say, the ability to change dog poop into diamonds (in which case I would be a bazillionaire by now) or the ability to see out of the back of my head (great for catching my son BEFORE he? “decorates” baby sister with red duct tape).?

Heck, I’d even take the ability to cook dinner while taking a nap.? But alas, no such luck.

Thus far, the only real use I’ve discovered for? my “talent” is to annoy friends by screaming “It seems I care enough to know that I could never love you” any time Poison Arrow comes on at a party or bar.

At long last, though, I’m getting? a chance to utilize my talent to better mankind.? Or, at least,? to make? my 20 year high school reunion music selection not suck (although, “not suck” and “80′s music”? is something of an oxymoron).? And yes, I said 20 year—the midlife crisis? provoked by this? landmark? will undoubtedly fill another fifty blog posts at some later date.

But back to 80′s music.? Here’s the part where you help me out.? Below is a list of songs I remember from my high school years (1984-1988).? If YOUR favorite song from that time period is missing, please, put it in the comment section below.

In turn, I promise not to scream ABC lyrics ever again.? ? So long as? Dead or Alive? is still fair game.

Mission Viejo High School Class of 1988 Reunion Song List:

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Squeeze (happy now, Joe?? J? ? –Tempted,? Hourglass, Pulling Mussels from a Shell

Beastie Boys—Brass Monkey, Fight for Your Right, Paul Revere, Girls, She’s Crafty

Guns n’ Roses—Welcome to the Jungle, Mr. Brownstone, Sweet Child of Mine, Paradise City

General Public—Tenderness, Never You Done That, General Public

The Cult—She Sells Sanctuary, Love Removal Machine, Wild Flower, Lil’ Devil

Oingo Boingo—Dead Man’s Party, Not My Slave, Only a Lad, Wild Sex (in the Working Class)

The Cure—Just Like Heaven, the Lovecats, Why Can’t I Be You,? Hot! Hot! Hot!

Thompson Twins—Lay Your Hands on Me, If You Were Here

Bryan Ferry—Slave to Love

New Order—Bizarre Love Triangle, The Perfect Kiss, Blue Monday, Shell Shock, Subculture (re-mix)

Gene Loves Jezebel—Desire

Dead or Alive—You Spin Me Right Round, Something in My House

Flesh for Lulu—I Go Crazy

Yaz—Situation, Don’t Go

Spandau Ballet—True

INXS—Need You Tonight, Original Sin

Tears for Fears—Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Shout

The Call—Everywhere I Go, I Still Believe

The Alarm—The Stand, Strength

Psychedelic Furs—Pretty in Pink, The Ghost in You

Frankie Goes to Hollywood—Relax, Two Tribes

Wham! –Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Everything She Wants, I’m Your Man

Siouxsie and the Banshees—Cities in Dust

Soft Cell—Tainted Love

Animotion—Obsession

Simple Minds—Don’t You (Forget About Me), Up on the Catwalk, Alive and Kicking

The Fixx—One Thing Leads to Another, Are We Ourselves?

Berlin—No More Words, Sex (I’m a…..)

Duran Duran—Hungry Like the Wolf, The Reflex, Rio

Thomas Dolby—She Blinded Me with Science, Airhead

The Smiths—Bigmouth Strikes Again, How Soon is Now?, What Difference Does it Make?

Hoodoo Gurus—Bittersweet

Naked Eyes—Always Something There to Remind Me

Talk Talk—It’s My Life

Go West—We Close Our Eyes

Sly Fox—Let’s Go All the Way

UB40—Red Wine

The Clash—Should I Stay or Should I Go?, Rock the Casbah

Madonna— Holiday, Into the Groove, Like a Virgin

Bangles—Hazy Shade of Winter, Walk Like an Egyptian

ACDC—You Shook Me All Night Long

Wall of Voodoo—Mexican Radio

Bryan Adams—Run to You, Summer of 69

Cutting Crew—I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight

Whitesnake—Here I Go Again

Crowded House—Don’t Dream its Over

REM—The One I Love

U2—With or Without You, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking for, The Sweetest Thing

Falco—Rock Me Amadeus

Bananarama—Venus, Cruel Summer

LL Cool J—I’m Goin’ Back to Cali

Wang Chung—Everybody Wang Chung Tonight

Howard Jones—Things Can Only Get Better

Level 42—Something About You

Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam —Take Me Home

Boys Don’t Cry—I Wanna Be a Cowboy

Van Halen—Jump, Dreams

David Lee Roth—Just a Gigolo?

Tones on Tail—Go!

Shannon—Let the Music Play

Chaka Kan—I Feel for You

? Klymaxx– Meeting in the Ladies Room

The English Beat—Mirror in the Bathroom, Save it for Later

Michael Jackson—Billie Jean, Thriller, Smooth Criminal

Peter Murphy—All Night Long

Go-Go’s—Head Over Heels, Our Lips are Sealed

Michael Sembello—Maniac

Cameo—Word Up

ABC—Poison Arrow, Be Near Me

Midnight Oil—the Power and the Passion

Alphaville—Big in Japan

Pet Shop Boys—West End Girls, Heart

Icicle Works—Whisper to a Scream

Modern English—Melt With You

Billy Idol—Rebel Yell, Mony Mony

OMD—If You Leave

Heaven 17—Let Me Go

Book of Love—I Touch Roses

Samantha Fox—Naughty Girls Need Love Too

Suicidal Tendencies—Institutionalized

Dramarama—Anything

Aha—Take on Me

Steve Perry—Oh Sherrie

Poison—Every Rose Has Its Thorns

Sting—We’ll Be Together

Ratt—Lay It Down

Janet Jackson—Nasty

Katrina and the Waves—Walkin’ on Sunshine

King—Love and Pride

Murray Head—One Night in Bangkok

Los Lobos—La Bamba

Don Henley—Boys of Summer?

Nena—99 Luftballons

Jermaine Stewart– We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off

Nik Kershaw—Wouldn’t It Be Good?

? Lloyd Cole and the Commotions—? ? ? Perfect Skin

Ministry—Everyday is Halloween?

Depeche Mode—Master and Servant, Something To Do, A Question of Time, Stripped, Black Celebration, Shake the Disease

Altered Images—Happy Birthday

Big Audio Dynamite—The Bottom Line

Warrant—Heaven

XTC—Dear God

Divinyls—Pleasure and Pain

The Pretenders—Show Me

Joe Jackson—Right and Wrong

Sisters of Mercy—This Corrosion

Violent Femmes—Blister in the Sun, Add it Up

Morris Day and the Time—Jungle Love

Prince—Let’s Go Crazy, U Got the Look, When Doves Cry,

The Outfield—Your Love

The Romantics—What I Like About You

Bronski Beat—Hit that Perfect Beat, Why?

Erasure—Sometimes, Who Needs Love Like That?

Club Noveau—Lean on Me

Junior—Mama Used to Say

Terence Trent D’arby—Sign Your Name

David Bowie—Modern Love, China Girl

George Michael—I Want Your Sex, Hard Day, Faith

Love and Rockets—No New Tale to Tell, Ball of Confusion

Bon Jovi—Livin’ on a Prayer, Wanted Dead or Alive

Def Leppard—Pour Some Sugar on Me

Ready for the World—Oh Sheila

C-Bank—One More Shot

Shannon—Let the Music Play

Sheila E—The Glamorous Life

Vanity—Nasty Girl

Expose—Point of No Return

Cover Girls—Show Me

Fivestar—All Fall Down

The Dead Milkmen—Bitchin’ Camaro

Aerosmith—Dude Looks Like a Lady

Echo and the Bunnymen—Sugar Kisses

Robert Palmer—Addicted to Love, Simply Irresistable

Salt N Pepa—Push It

Grand Master Flash—White Lines

B-52’s –Rock Lobster, Summer of Love

Kim Wilde—Keep Me Hangin’ On

JoBoxers—Just Got Lucky?

Billy Squier—The Stroke

Elvis Costello—Veronica

Eurythmics—Sweet Dreams

INXS and Jimmy Barnes—Good Times

Kenny Loggins—Danger Zone, Footloose

Motley Crue—Looks That Kill

Peter Gabriel—Big Time, In Your Eyes

Phil Collins—Easy Lover

Queen—Under Pressure

Real Life—Send Me An Angel

The Police—Roxanne, Message in? a Bottle, Don’t Stand So Close To Me, Every Breath You Take

Talking Heads—Burning Down the House

The Cars—Hello Again

The Ramones—I Wanna Be Sedated

The The—Infected

Til Tuesday—Voices Carry

ZZ Top—Sharp Dressed Man

Yello—Oh Yeah

Run DMC—Walk This Way

Tin Tin—Kiss Me

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