In a visual sense, Billy Idol has consistently remained one of the most memorable and beloved icons of the '80s. But it's important to note that Idol most definitely distinguished himself in a musical manner as well, producing one of rock and roll's most seamless hybrid forms of punk rock-inspired melodic hard rock that could also double convincingly as new wave and dance pop. Here's a look at some of Idol's finest '80s tunes, most but not all of them achieving major hit status.
1. "Baby Talk"
Album Cover Image Courtesy of Chrysalis
Never during his successful pop music career did Billy Idol link more directly to his recent punk rock past than on this fine, uptempo track from his debut EP, 1981's Don't Stop. Possessing a singing voice full of attitude and swagger certainly didn't hurt Idol in making a transition to pop star, if for no other reason because it projected an edgy danger needed to separate him from the rest of the pack. After all, aside from the glossy, sneering, spiked blonde image, Idol has always been a skilled showman capable of shining just as brightly on record as on a TV screen. By reaching back to his Generation X days for simple, punchy riffs and catchy yet stylized melodies, Idol served notice that he would become and remain an '80s fixture.
2. "Dancing With Myself"
Album Cover Image Courtesy of Chrysalis
3. "Hot in the City"
An infectiously playful Idol fully embraced synthesized keyboards for the first time on this tune, a song that quickly begins to communicate just how dominant and on target the singer was during his first two or three years as a solo artist. Few '80s icons had the ability to blend dance and rock music this effectively, as Idol refused to abandon loud guitars even as his crossover appeal continued to reach new levels. Also painfully underrated as a songwriter, Idol always exhibited an uncanny ability to compose melodies and interpret them vocally as if each song had been around for a couple of decades. So, despite all the ways Idol's music and image seemed dated during the '80s, his musical offerings always had plenty of room to breathe.4. "White Wedding"
Having always believed that this song was a smash hit in 1983, I was amazed to discover that it actually cracked the Top 40 by only the smallest of margins, instead gaining most of its favor on rock radio and MTV. I think it's probably easy to underestimate Idol's firm status as a rock musician simply because of his universal and often overpowering image as an '80s icon. This alternately delicate and aggressive rocker would deserve praise in any era as a straight-ahead rocker, but in the subtle hands of Idol the tune becomes something more entirely. As a performer, he managed to stay impressively true to the renegade, unpredictable nature of rock and roll even as he dialed into its mainstream as well as intriguingly gothic potential.
5. "Catch My Fall"
Album Cover Image Courtesy of Chrysalis
Though a bit heavy on the saxophones, this sleeper track from Idol's most well-known album, 1983's Rebel Yell, proves the singer's increasing value as a treasure of the '80s. His vocal performance certainly revealed Idol's abundance of charisma, but it's easy to forget that he was also one of the era's most expressive singers. This tune failed to become a full-fledged hit for a variety of reasons, but it was certainly good enough to take over radio. Sporting a great central lyric ("If I should stumble, catch my fall") along with some singular guitar work from Idol's new collaborator, Steve Stevens, the tune represents the depth of quality of this artist's work during his mid-'80s peak.
