« Wading in my own thoughts | Main | The New Reality »
February 13, 2003
The Beat Goes On
So when writing about the 80's culture divide, I tried to think up some of the more ubiquitous tunes that have survived, mostly through the sheer volume of 80's compilations they are on. This is by no means a complete list, but a good start?
‘Dancing With Myself" ‘ Billy Idol
It still gives me a chuckle that I used to think Billy Idol was this hard core rocker. He's the Skinemax to Metallica's "Girls Gone Wild", though, in retrospect. He had the look, he had the sneer, he had that guitarist who inexplicably in is the Michael Jackon ‘Dirty Diana’ video’I was young and foolish, what can I say. ‘Rebel Yell’ is the infinitely superior pop rock song, but this one lives on more, annoyingly with an ‘extended remix’ that makes the song roughly 47 minutes long. There’s only so many ‘Oh oh oh oh’s I can taken before I go completely postal.
"Hungry Like the Wolf", Duran Duran
This was one seriously high budget video for it’s time, I think because it wasn’t shot on an entirely white set with a lens filter than made the set even whiter. Early MTV videos were Aryan propaganda, I’m pretty sure. Anyways, Simon Le Bon goes out into the jungle, gets attacked by Sade’s cousin, and the song is an enormous hit. Oddly enough, if you ever tell a girl that you’re hungry like the wolf, she’ll generally mace you.
‘Tainted Love", Soft Cell
Audience participation Casio keyboard action, baby! People can't enough of that "UH UH" before the "Get Awaaaay!" part. Hot diggity. This could only have been a hit in the early 80’s, since the onslaught of AIDS into the mainstream media by ‘85 or so pretty much made this song about as uncomfy as possible. Anyone else but me wonder if Soft Cell is off somewhere now selling soft serve at a Dairy Queen’
”Down Under", Men At Work
I didn’t know what a vegemite sandwich was until I was 22. This is what happens when you’re raised by carnivores. Men at Work rival Hall and Oates for ‘Worst…Videos…Ever’. I saw what happened to these guys on one of those ‘Where Are They Now’’ shows---the drummer is a physics teacher, I think. How you go from ‘Grammy Winning Artist’ to ‘teaching 14 year olds the about coefficients of friction’ is absolutely beyond me.
”Come On Eileen", Dexy’s Midnight Runners
How a banjo and fiddle tune becomes of the most enduring 80’s songs is potentially explained by the success of the ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou’’ soundtrack, but probably better explained by a complete lack of sense on the part of an entire culture. If you saw this group walking down the street together in its heyday, you’d take your children by the hand and cross the street lest they soil you. Yet they’re still collecting royalties. Don’t get me wrong, I like the song, I just can’t imagine why it’s still so popular. (PS---Does anyone have a clue what the lyrics are? I know it’s about Poor Ol’ Johnny Ray, but what ABOUT him? Does he fall in love? Does he get run over by a truck? Does he work for Amway? I need to know!)
”Mickey", Toni Basil
Scariest. Cheerleaders. Ever. Moving on, before I start to cry from fear.
”She Blinded Me With Science", Thomas Dolby
Maybe we could ask the drummer from Men at Work is this is actually possible. Another song made popular by the ‘we only have 43 videos, so we have to play them all a lot’ phenomenon in the early MTV era. Seriously, there were like 10 Rod Stewart videos, The Buggles, Pat Benetar, and this. They had no choice. Parents I imagine sit their children down, play this record, and extoll the virtues of a college education, lest you end up like the guy singing this song.
”Take On Me”, A-Ha
Again, like ‘Come on Eileen’, a very average 80’s song, kept alive by the fact that people seem to love animated homicidal plumbers. Anyone else have a theory on why this song is alive except for it’s cool video? I don’t think it’s the castrati-influenced chorus. But I’m willing to learn.
”Walk Like An Egyptian”, Bangles
An entire nation did this dance for like, a year. And we wonder why other nations hate us so much.
”We Built This City”, Starship
You think this song came on the radio in the 80’s, and the kids asked their parents to turn it up, and the parents then heard the DJ say the name of the band, and the parents drove themselves of a bridge when they learned that the same band who once wrote ‘White Rabbit’ wrote this song? And while we’re at it, who is Marconi, and why does Starship fascistically make him play the mamba.
"Wake Me Up (Before You Go-Go)", Wham
Not one heterosexual knew he was gay. Simply stunning. None of them knew who Doris Day was, either, which may or may not be related to the first misidentification.
‘Talk Dirty to Me", Poison
The sheenest of sheen metal, this song is so polished that I can see my reflection in the guitar chords. We can attribute roughly 27% of ozone depletion on the hair products consumed by bands like this.
‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ and ‘Making Love Out of Nothing at All’ ‘ Bonnie Tyler and Air Supply
Lumped together because Jim Steinman writes them both. Mr. Steinman wrote all of Meatloaf’s songs as well. This guy never met a cliché didn’t meet, love, and French kiss on the first date. As bombastic of opera and as heartfelt and uncalculated as a Backstreet Boys song, these two are utter howlers when you simply read the lyrics on a sheet of paper. I mean, I can break every tackle of the sound of the whistle, I can make all the stadiums rock, but every now and then I fall apart, so turn around, bright eyes.
******
See what I mean? Fill me in on more of these ubiquitous songs that you love (or love to hate)...
Posted by Ryan McGee at February 13, 2003 12:05 PM
Comments
You forgot "Sunglasses at night" and "We Got The Beat"
Posted by: Leah at February 13, 2003 12:52 PM
My addition to the list: Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield. Recently a station in Boston, Mix 98.5, had a NCAA tournament-style contest were they took the best 64 songs of the 80's put them in brackets, chose winners to come up with the Best Song of the 80's
The Final Four - Def Leppard (Pour Some Sugar on Me), Bon Jovi (You give love a bad name - my choice to win), the aforementioned Come on Eileen and Jessie's Girl. The winner-Jessie's Girl (the weakest finalist in my book). Jessie's Girl (what the f*ck), c'mon people. That songs sucks. An investigation needs to be done. This is a farce.
Anyways, my other suggestion: One night in Bangkok
Posted by: Tony at February 13, 2003 01:20 PM
With no commentary on quality, I have yet to buy an 80s compilation that doesn't have both "Sweet Dreams" and "In Cars" on it.
Posted by: Commander Foley at February 13, 2003 01:43 PM
Ok, so... remember the part in "She Blinded Me With Science" where Thomas Dolby shouts "SCIENCE!"? Well. My SanFran friend Kayt reported that, during baseball season, some radio station convinced him it would be a good idea to appear live on their program and play the song, but sing "GIANTS!" instead. Hooo boy. That's some scary stuff.
You forget the Best Song, Best 45" Cover and Best Eyeshadow Job of all time --> "Shadows of the Night" by Pat Benatar.
Posted by: shannon at February 13, 2003 02:46 PM
Shadows of the Night, she's like a WWII pilot in the video, right? Outstanding.
I hate "Jessie's Girl".
I couldn't think of anything funny to say re: "Sweet Dreams"...just a great synth pop song.
Posted by: ryan at February 13, 2003 02:54 PM
Can't leave out "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" and "Blue Monday."
Posted by: Jay at February 13, 2003 03:13 PM
Can we talk about borderline 80s songs making some of these compilations? Like "Simply Irresistable," which came out in, what, '89? I don't remember it even being popular until it had been out for a year. Also, "I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That" is on one of my 80s compilations and I could have sworn that wasn't spoofed on SNL until around the time of the "Wayne's World" movie. Fie, fie, I say!
Toto's "Africa" and Mike and the Mechanics "All I Need Is a Miracle" remain favorite staples of 80s mixes.
Posted by: Commander Foley at February 13, 2003 03:46 PM
Mony, Mony - Billy Idol
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
Huey Lewis & The News
Whip It - Devo
867-5309 - Tommy Tutone
Cheap Trick
Flock of Seagulls
My Sharona - The Knack
Blondie
Culture Club
Richard Marx
Oh Christ, why do I remember all these?!?!?
Posted by: Meigan at February 13, 2003 03:52 PM
Umm...
1. Get out of my dreams, get into my car--Billy Ocean
2. Uptown girl--Billy Joel
3. Conga--Gloria Estefan
4. Manic Monday--The Bangles
I leapt into my teenaged years right at the tail end of the 80s... you can tell...
Posted by: glovefox at February 13, 2003 04:14 PM
The best "80's Song", IMO, is "(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight" by Cutting Crew. Hot Damn that's a great bad song. But it's on virtually no 80's mixes that I have come across.
A great drinking game, I imagine, would be to watch VH1 and drink everytime someone says "Holy *expletive*!!!" Guaranteed vomiting.
Posted by: ryan at February 13, 2003 04:36 PM
That is one of the best, Ryan. You gotta love a song that uses the words "by proxy" in the lyrics.
My favorite 80's song is "One Night in Bangkok". The music of Vice City has made me partial to "Life's What You Make It" by Talk Talk and "Japanese Boy" by Aneka. There are songs I like better, but I put them in the "music that happened to be made in the 80's" category.
Posted by: Susan at February 13, 2003 05:36 PM
What I miss when I go away for a day! 80's talk!
In my hey-day in concert production I used to get a lot of front row seats.
One that will forever stand out in my mind (EEK!)
Billy Idol split his pants at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto during "White Wedding" this was after his car/bike accident and he was using a cane onstage. Instead of beating a hasty retreat he pulled himself all the way out of his leathers (he doesn't indulge in skivvies) and was making comparisons to the size of his cane. Fully aroused by his own antics I might add... Toronto morality police had a fantastic time with him that night!
Oh, and does anyone remember Jon and Vangelis? Best dreaming music...
Posted by: trish at February 14, 2003 12:14 AM
Remember them? I never forgot them! I still love it all... at least the songs that aren't on the radio anymore.
My votes for lost 80's classics:
After The Fire - Der Komissar
Nick Kershaw - Wouldn't It Be Good
The Church - Under The Milky Way
Posted by: Mike at February 14, 2003 08:31 PM
I've been looking for ages the video
"get out of my dreams, get into my car" by Billy Ocean, but can't find it anywhere.
If someone could help me that would be nice.
ciao
Posted by: Marie at February 21, 2003 12:17 PM
2 more additions:
99 luft balloons
China Girl by David Bowie
My favorite is "blinding me w/ science
Posted by: JILL at February 22, 2003 06:23 PM
I've only one thing to say folks- How can I miss 80's music when its never gone away???
Posted by: nadinesgirl at February 24, 2003 09:27 PM
Ok, I have to add yet another group that MTV had in the early 80's: Taxxi. The London trio Taxxi managed to carve out a small but devoted following with its blend of new wave-tinged pop/rock on several releases in the '80s. Good muvid (music video) too! Sad to say tho, MTV is no longer for the music.
BTW- does anyone know where early MTV muvids can be found?
Cheerz!
Posted by: Bob H. at June 3, 2003 02:11 PM
i got really bored one night so here ya go,
not about Johnny Ray, about dude trying to get Eileens dress off for certain reasons ...
“Come On Eileen" – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Come on Eileen
Come on Eileen
Poor old Johnny Ray sounded sad upon the radio
He moved a million hearts in mono
Our mothers cried,
And sang along who'd blame them?
You've grown (so grown), so pretty though (so pretty)
Now I must say more than ever
(Come on Eileen) Toora Loora Toora Loo-Rye Aye
And we can sing just like our fathers
Come on Eileen , I swear (well he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
You in that dress, oh my thoughts i confess
Verge on dirty
Ah come on Eileen
Come on Eileen
These people round here, wear beaten down eyes
Sunk in smoke dried faces, so resigned to what their fate is
But not us, (no never) no not us (no never),
we are far too young and clever
(Remember) Toora Loora Toora Loo-Rye-Aye
Eileen , I'll hum this tune forever
Come on Eileen, I swear, (well he means)
Ah come on let's, take off everything (everything)
Pretty red dress Eileen(Tell him yes)
Ah come on let's, ah come on Eileen
(Come on, Eileen taloo-rye-aye
Come on, Eileen taloo-rye-aye)
Now you are grown, now you have shown, oh, Eileen
Said Come on, Eileen taloo-rye-aye (repeat in background)
(You've grown
So grown) Show, how you feel
Now I must say more than ever
Things 'round here have changed
I said too-ra-loo-ra-too-ra-loo-rye-aye
Come on Eileen, I swear (well he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
You in that dress, my thoughts (I confess)
Verge on dirty
Ah come on Eileen
Come on Eileen, I swear (well he means)
At this moment, you mean everything
(in that dress), whoa, my thoughts I confess
Well, they're dirty
Come on Eileen
Posted by: Ominith at June 19, 2003 10:43 PM
I can't be bothered reading through the WHOLE list but I have some additions....
"Something to Believe In" and "Unskinny Bop" by Poison
"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" - Starship
"The One And Only" - Chesney Hawkes
"And She Was" - Talking Heads
"The Final Countdown" - Europe
"More Than Words" - Extreme
"Sweet Child O Mine" - Guns N Roses
I ask - HOW is it possible to know the 80's and not love the 80's?
Posted by: Tania at September 11, 2003 08:12 AM
Marconi is (somewhat erroneously) credited with inventing the radio. I have no idea why Starship would make him play the mamba. Mamba? Not mambo?
Heard "Wouldn't It Be Good" today by Nick Kershaw, for the first time in ages.
Speaking of ages, that's about how long it's been since anyone posted to this site! Is it still up?
Posted by: Joyce at May 17, 2005 09:59 PM