So why is The Go-Go’s Beauty and the Beat on this best 1,000 albums ever thing?
The Go-Go’s had a knack for bridging early-’80s pop catchiness with driving new-wave beats.
I’ll start quickly by pointing out two spectacular songs that aren’t included on Beauty and the Beat: “Vacation,” off the 1982 album by the same name, and “Head Over Heels,” from the 1984 album, Talk Show.
But it’s The Go-Go’s 1981 debut album, Beauty and the Beat, that consistently captures Belinda Carlisle and crew at their very best.
“We Got the Beat” is The Go-Go’s best song and remains their most-played to this day – at least if Spotify has a say (78 million streams and counting as of this writing). It’s got a killer hook and super singalong-able chorus that’s ideal for a party, drive, or moment.
I love how “Our Lips Are Sealed” layers in a gorgeous, melodic hook into The Go-Go’s driving beat/new wave model, and it’s one of my most favorite songs from the 1980s. Carlisle and the band’s vocals are just perfect on this one as well: sunshiny and hopeful sounding, somehow.
And that optimistic, driving sound pops out on “Can’t Stop the World,” which boasts yet another standout and catchy chorus.
You would think a song title such as “Skidmarks on My Heart” – which, it must be pointed out, is a fantastic song title – would be much more at home on a late ‘80s hair metal album versus a Go-Go’s record. Nonetheless, it’s a really fun and catchy deep cut.
Some stats & info about The Go-Go’s – Beauty and the Beat
- What kind of musical stylings does this album represent? Rock Music, Pop Music, New Wave
- Rolling Stone’s greatest 500 albums ranking – #400
- All Music’s rating – 4.5 out of 5 stars
- When was Beauty and the Beat released? 1981
- My ranking, the one you’re reading right now – #341 out of 1,000
The Go-Go’s Beauty and the Beat on Spotify
A lyrical snippet from The Go-Go’s Beauty and the Beat that’s evocative of the album in some way, maybe
Can you hear them? They talk about us, telling lies – well, that’s no surprise.
What does the “best 1,000 albums ever” mean and why are you doing this?
Yeah, I know it’s audacious, a little crazy (okay, maybe a lot cray cray), bordering on criminal nerdery.
But here’s what it’s NOT: a definitive list of the Greatest Albums of All-Time. This is 100% my own personal super biased, incredibly subjective review of what my top 1,000 albums are, ranked in painstaking order over the course of doing research for nearly a year, Rob from High Fidelity style. Find out more about why I embarked on a best 1,000 albums ever project.