Episode9: The Top 40 Dangerous Memory List

Welcome to the Dangerous Memory Top 40 of the 1980s. The era had so many defining songs. This is not a list of the most popular. It is not even a list of my faves. Rather, this is a list of songs that defined the era politically and culturally.
The book Dangerous Memory:Coming of Age in the Decade of Greed is very rooted in the experience of the Toronto/Canadian scene in the 80s - so if you are from other jurisdictions some choices will be a surprise.
You can listen to the list on spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5kAITvWS3nf5O0jIbAln4K

1.99 Luftballons  Nena  1983
2. Sun City  Artists United Against Apartheid 1985
3. B Movie   Gil Scott Heron 1981
4. Do they Know it’s Christmas Band Aid 1984
5. Thriller  Michael Jackson 1982
6. Redemption Song Bob Marley 1980
7. Material Girl   Madonna 1984
8. Rise Up  Parachute Club  1983
9. The Message    Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five  1982
10. London Calling      the Clash  1980
11. Karma Chameleon  Culture Club 1983
12. Biko Peter Gabriel 1982
13. Sweet Dreams   The Eurythmics  1983 
14. Just Like Starting Over John Lennon.
15. Stand Down Margaret    the English Beat 1980
16. My Hometown  Bruce Springsteen 1984
17. Ghost town    the Specials 1981
18. Fast Car  Tracy Chapman 1988
19. If I had a Rocket Launcher   Bruce Cockburn 1984
20. Beds are Burning   Midnight Oil 1987
21. Fight the Power   Public Enemy 1989
22. Once in a Lifetime   Talking Heads 1980
23. Ashes to Ashes     David Bowie 1980
24. Boy in the Bubble   Paul Simon 1986
25. Echo Beach    Martha and the Muffins 1980
26. Misguided Angel Cowboy Junkies 1988
27. Rocking in the Free World   Neil Young 1989
28. People Have the Power    Patti Smith 1988
29. Living on a Prayer Bon Jovi 1986
30. It’s the End of the World as We Know It REM  1987
31. Guns for the Afghan rebels  Angelic Upstarts  1981
32. Blue Monday    New Order  1983
33. Video Killed the Radio Star   the Buggles  1980
34. Cherry Beach Express  the Pukka Orchestra 1984
35. There is Power in the Union  Billy Bragg 1986
36. Ronnie Talk to Russia  Prince  1981
37. Breathing  Kate Bush 1980
38. High School Confidential Rough Trade 1980
39. Enola Gay Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark 1980
40. Rio Duran Duran  1982