Get ready for a time-travel jolt back to February 27, 1988, a week where R&B slow jams, pop anthems, rock comebacks, and sample-driven dance hits all vied for the top. Bret takes you on a countdown loaded with Michael Jackson’s call for change, Cher’s epic return, Debbie Gibson’s teenage triumph, and so much more. We’ll also explore why the 80s never stayed in one musical lane for long.

Plus, big announcement: our Patreon is officially closed, and we’re bringing the entire Top 80 Protest Songs of the 80s series to the main feed as bonus episodes—because these songs are too important to hide. The next bonus episode is Adult Contemporary Top 20 from March 25, 1989—stay tuned.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and Mastodon @GenX80sCountdown, and if you love what we do, consider helping us keep the coffee flowing at BuyMeaCoffee.com/GenX80sTop20Countdown.

Intro music by Roman Orekhov from Pixabay

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This is it, the final chapter of The Top 80 Protest Songs of the 80s.

Originally a Patreon-exclusive, this series is now free for everyone, because these songs deserve to be heard.

The biggest, boldest, most history-making protest anthems of the decade are all right here.

From Public Enemy and Midnight Oil to U2 and Tracy Chapman, these are the anthems that called for justice, demanded change, and left a permanent mark on the world.

📢 Want more exclusive episodes? Join us on Patreon for early access, bonus content, and more.

📢 Follow us on social media. Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and Mastodon, we’re keeping the 80s alive everywhere.

☕ Love what we do? Support the show and fuel our caffeine addiction at Buy Me a Coffee.

🔊 Turn it up, share it, and keep the fight alive.

Intro music by Roman Orekhov from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re doing something different.

There’s no countdown. No rankings. No flashy transitions.

Just 30 songs from the 1980s that offer light when the world feels heavy.

This is a playlist of power, compassion, resilience, and love—songs that say: you’re not alone, and you’re not done yet.

These aren’t just hits from a bygone decade. These are lifelines.

And in times like these, we all need something to hold on to.

We’re taking a pause from our regular UK Top 20 and Patreon releases this week to bring you this special one-off collection—because sometimes the music matters too much to wait.

If one of these tracks speaks to you, let us know. And if it helps even a little… that’s everything.

New: Bonus Episode 3 of our Top 80 Protest Songs of the 1980s series is now live.

You can also support the show at Buy Me a Coffee or join our exclusive content on Patreon.

Thank you for being here.

Intro music by Vasileios Ziogas from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some songs get played. Others get banned. Fears. Censored.

Originally a Patreon-exclusive, this series is now free for everyone, because these songs matter now more than ever.

In Part 3 of The Top 80 Protest Songs of the 80s, we continue the countdown with tracks that were so powerful, they were seen as a threat.

From Simple Minds and The Human League to The Style Council and The Clash, these anthems didn't just define a decade, they fought for change.

Want more exclusive episodes? Join us on Patreon for early access, bonus content, and more!

Follow us on social media! Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and Mastodon, were keeping the 80s alive everywhere!

Love what we do? Support the show and fuel our caffeine addiction at Buy Me a Coffee!

🔊 Turn it up and hear the music that fought back.

Intro music by Vasileios Ziogas from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we count down the Top 20 songs in the UK—from soul-drenched ballads and synth-laced pop to arena-sized rock and unexpected chart-toppers.

🎶 New Order delivers a synth masterpiece

🎤 Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Heart battle it out in the Top 5

🎙️ Pet Shop Boys take us to church (and back)

💥 Bruce Willis surprises us with a soulful throwback

🎉 And Los Lobos bring it all home at #1 with a classic reimagined

This isn’t just another chart. It’s a late-summer mixtape from a year when the world was in motion, and music was everywhere.

📢 Bonus content now available!

🎙️ Episodes 1 & 2 of the Top 80 Protest Songs of the 1980s are now released to the public feed

🔥 Episode 4 (the final chapter!) is now live for Patreon supporters

Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and Mastodon, and support us on Buy Me a Coffee if you love what we’re doing!

Let’s bring back the magic—one song at a time.

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This week on the Gen X 80s Top 20 Countdown, we’re diving into the pop power, cultural crossover, and quiet courage of the week ending August 7, 1987; a chart that didn’t just bring the hits, it brought the heart.

We’ve got:

💃 Whitney, Madonna, and Janet bringing the dancefloor heat

🎸 Richard Marx and Bob Seger turning up the guitars

🎤 Suzanne Vega’s Luka quietly shifting the world

🎬 Three songs from Beverly Hills Cop II that turned the soundtrack into a chart monster

🎧 And U2’s #1 anthem of faith and searching, closing it all out

Plus:

✨ A story about making mixtapes in your bedroom

📸 A forgotten 1987 obsession that wasn’t a gadget

🎙️ And an emotional sendoff as we drop the final episode of our Patreon-exclusive series, Top 80 Protest Songs of the 1980s; with Episodes 1 & 2 now available as bonus drops in the main feed.

This countdown is more than just songs; it’s a reminder of how music carried messages we’re still listening to today.

☕ Support the show: BuyMeaCoffee.com/GenX80sTop20Countdown

📲 Follow @GenX80sCountdown on Instagram, Facebook, Mastodon, and Bluesky

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Originally a Patreon-exclusive, this series is now free for everyone—because these songs need to be heard.

In Part 2 of The Top 80 Protest Songs of the 80s, we continue counting down the tracks that challenged the system, spoke truth to power, and left a lasting impact.

From Tracy Chapman and Public Enemy to Paul McCartney and the Dead Kennedys, these songs tackled the biggest issues of the decade—with lyrics that still resonate today.

📢 Want more exclusive episodes? Join us on Patreon for early access, bonus content, and more!

📢 Follow us on social media! Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and Mastodon—we’re keeping the 80s alive everywhere!

☕ Love what we do? Support the show and fuel our caffeine addiction at Buy Me a Coffee!

🔊 Turn it up and keep the fight alive!

Intro music by Roman Orekhov from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK charts were electric on September 30, 1983—a vibrant mix of genres, shifting sounds, and timeless icons. This week’s countdown is a ride through everything that made the early 80s unforgettable.

🎶 New Order brought the future with “Blue Monday”

🎶 Culture Club lit up the top spot with “Karma Chameleon”

🎶 David Bowie, UB40, Paul Young, Genesis, and Soft Cell all make powerful appearances

🎶 And a few unexpected gems from Monyaka, Ryan Paris, and Modern Romance add extra flavor to this unforgettable chart

Plus, we’ve got: ✨ An unbelievable (but true!) trivia break about McDonald’s rap videos

🎮 A Game Boy showdown with Tetris vs. the music charts

📼 And a mid-show story you won’t forget about Mr. T releasing a rap album for kids

This episode is all style, all substance, and all 80s.

📢 Don’t forget to check out Episode 3 of The Top 80 Protest Songs of the 80s, now available on Patreon—featuring powerful tracks that challenged the status quo and changed the world.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and Mastodon to keep the memories spinning, and if you love the show, support us on Buy Me a Coffee to keep this 80s machine fueled!

🔊 Turn it up and relive the music that defined a generation.

Intro music by Roman Orekhov from Pixabay

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.