My Top 1000 Songs #888: Wouldn't It Be Good

[I've been writing up my Top 1000 songs on a daily basis--you can see them all in descending order by hitting the All My Favorite Songs tag.]

One of those 80s new wave-era songs that, whenever I hear it, reminds me of my high school & college years... or perhaps just reminds me of some movie that reminds me of my high school & college years. One can never be sure; the memory plays tricks.

Anyway, fantastic single from Nik Kershaw's 1984 debut Human Racing. Got that oh-so-80s-British-new-wave synthpop sound, should be hopelessly dated, but given added heft by some crunchy guitars and, ultimately, one of the most unforgettable choruses of the decade. (Plus given the John Hughes seal of approval in Pretty In Pink, albeit in a lame cover version.) Wish I could just bottle up that chorus and pour a little out whenever I wanted a fail-safe warm nostalgic glow.

At Live Aid 1985:

Updated by power popper Cliff Hillis:

Recreated as 90s alt.rock by Placebo: