The Love Song of Jonny Valentine: A Novel

Playlist for The Love Song Of Jonny Valentine by Teddy Wayne

The pop music in The Love Song of Jonny Valentine is, by 11-year-old singer Jonny’s own admission, utterly disposable. It’s a mainstream product that goes in one ear and out the other, but not before separating the listener from her money. Yet he dreams of creating art that is timeless, along the lines of his idol, Michael Jackson (especially “Billie Jean”). And though my own musical taste runs counter to Top-40 aesthetics, I, too, have a soft spot for catchy, hook-driven pop.

The contemporary landscape of dance-pop shares some attributes with the crooners of the 1950s and early ’60s, but has its strongest roots in synthesizer-heavy pop from the ’80s. That also happens to be the music I grew up with. Here are 17 songs from the decade, some iconic, some lesser-known. All remain, to me, listenable and danceable after all these years. In other words: timeless.

1. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson

2. (I'm a) TV Savage by Bow Wow Wow

3. 88 Lines About 44 Women by The Nails

4. Kiss by Prince

5. I Think We’re Alone Now by Tiffany

6. Take on Me by A-ha

7. She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals

8. Since Yesterday by Strawberry Switchblade

9. Turning Japanese by The Vapors

10. Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles

11. Mexican Radio by Wall of Voodoo

12. Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves

13. Come on Eileen by Dexy’s Midnight Runners

14. Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper

15. Material Girl by Madonna

16. 99 Red Balloons by Nena

17. Kids in America by Kim Wilde