Everything’s Not OK

Adult contemporary- a sub-genre of pop music- can be easy to ridicule given its often slick ‘80s sounding production and the fact that one usually hears it at the dentist, waiting on hold, or riding in the car with mom. But there is a dark side to adult contemporary and it’s this darkness- with its themes of pain, disappointment, and loss of innocence- that stays with me and in some cases has stayed with me since childhood. For many, adult contemporary means light office music but for me the best of adult contemporary haunts, hurts, and reminds us what life is really about: no pain no gain, things are tough all over, and everything is definitely not OK. Here are some of my favorites. Enjoy!

01. Don Henley – “The End of the Innocence” (1989)
02. Elton John – “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (1973)
03. Martika – “Toy Soldiers” (1988)
04. Elton John – “Someone Saved My Life Tonight” (1975)
05. Neil Diamond – “Hello Again” (1980)
06. Don Henley – “The Boys of Summer” (1984)
07. Sheryl Crow – “The First Cut Is the Deepest” (2003)
08. Billy Joel – “We Didn’t Start the Fire” (1989)
09. Jackson Browne – “I Am a Patriot” (1989)
10. Jackson Browne – “My Problem Is You” (1993)
11. Jackson Browne – “Sky Blue and Black” (1993)
12. Bryan Adams – “Straight from the Heart” (1983)
13. Jackson Browne – “Everywhere I Go” (1993)
14. Rod Stewart – “Downtown Train” (1989)
15. Elton John – “Little Jeannie” (1980)
16. Elton John – “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues” (1983)
17. Bonnie Tyler – “It’s a Heartache” (1977)
18. Bonnie Tyler – “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (1983)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify... 

Recommended Links:

Billy Joel – “We Didn't Start the Fire”