Tonight we're going to party with songs from 1980-1999

As the decade draws to a close (or enters its final year, depending on how you want to look at it), let's take one final look back...at the pop music from the two previous decades that I've been chronicling all year. I'm sure most of you have been compiling your own data as the top 500 countdown went along, but please bear with me anyway.

Best Artist: Madonna, 17 songs in the top 500

Runners Up: Bon Jovi and Janet Jackson, 10 each; Michael Jackson and Prince, 8 each

Honorable Mention: George Michael had 9 entries when his solo stuff (including his duet with Elton John) is combined with his work with Wham!.

In all, 280 groups and solo performers made the list, 191 of them with just one song.

Best year for music: 1987 and 1988 had 36 songs each, but'88 gets the nod since 2 songs from other years were rereleased that year (although its top-ranked song was #39).

Worst year: 1981 (8 songs, highest #73) and 1980 (10 songs, highest #56) got the shaft. There were just 16 hits from '99 included, but that year did produce the "#1" song and five others in the top 80.

Most overrated songs: The choice of "Smooth" as #1 is still baffling, but to me it's more fitting than "Iris" at 6, and infinitely more appropriate than "Two Princes" as #11.

Most underrated songs: I'm not surprised "Wannabe" and "The Final Countdown" appeared back to back on the list, but I would expect it to be much, much higher than 462 and 463. Bowie's "Modern Love" is a top 40 song in my mind, but was only ranked #439.

Best one-hit wonder: Santana and Peter Gabriel both cracked the top 10 with their only songs on the list, but they aren't really one-hit wonders. If Natalie Imbruglia was a one-hit wonder (I don't recall anything else by her), she wins this category by placing 12th; otherwise the award goes to The Rembrandts at #50.

Most glaring omission: I know some were surprised at the absence of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," but the pop bent of the station and their list make the inclusion of a few Poison, White Lion and Pearl Jam songs more surprising than any metal, grunge or alternative artists who were left out. No, the most inexplicable omission (noticed by my brother) is the absence of Lionel Richie from the list.

That's right, we had three songs each from Bananarama and Jewel, but no "All Night Long." Four each by Billy Idol, Don Henley and Richard Marx, but no "Hello." Five Paula Abdul songs made the list, but there was no room for "Dancin' on the Ceiling." Crazy.

Well, I think that's it. If you want any additional statistical analysis, contact me privately, because this topic will not be addressed on my blog in 2010. Happy New Year, everyone!