Reading missb's post about aging inspired me to finally write something that has been on my mind recently. It's 80's music - the music of my youth.
Recently I have been buying a lot of CDs spanning the sixties to the present. I am tracking down various musicians and picking up albums I have never heard before solely for the purpose of hearing what other albums those musicians worked on. While I have been enjoying most of the CDs, I have to admit that the ones from the 80's have had me wincing a bit. Once that keyboard sound starts, those echo drums and vocals, and that jangly pop-guitar get going I can't help but think, "Ugh, that is so eighties." I look at the photos in the CD inlay card and I see the hair, the make-up, the clothes and I think, "People thought that was cool...?" The ballads seem so formulated (but aren't they still?) and each album has me listening cautiously to find something that I can feel confident listening to in the car with the windows rolled down.
The strange thing is that many of my all-time favourite albums and songs are from the eighties. But those are metal tunes and not pop. I was 11 years old in '82 when I got the Rock '82 compilation and heard Private Eyes by Hall & Oats, Take It Easy On Me by the Little River Band, Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield, Betty Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes and Take It On the Run by REO Speedwagon. At the time I liked only a few songs on the cassette but now if I hear any songs from that compilation I feel as though I like them.
The same thing happened when I watched The Wedding Singer. There were so many songs that used to make me grimace and disappointed me everytime I wanted to watch Friday Night Videos and saw the same fare of Thompson Twins, Cindy Lauper, Michael Jackson (when he looked human) and Culture Club, among a hoard of others whose names I can't recall. But listening to the soundtrack for that movie (my girlfriend bought it) I find those songs I used to hate are now familiar and fun to listen to. And it doesn't just stop there. When a radio station in Vancouver played their old school lunch program I found myself humming along to the music and feeling good.
What the heck happened to me? Since when was Cory Heart fun to listen to? I was a headbanger for crying out loud. I liked the Scorpions, Accept, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden. Helix! Motley Crue! Cory Heart and his silly sunglasses at night did nothing for me. David Bowie and his red dancing shoes did not interest me. Madona and her lingerie I didn't need... no... no, that's right. I didn't. Crowded House? Simply Red? UB40? No! They were the reason I didn't listen to the radio at home. And now I find I am actually liking that stuff. I'll admit I still can't get thrilled about Wham! but lots of other stuff from the 80's seems to have become engrained in my psyche and now disillusions me into thinking I like 80's music.
Is there an exorcism ritual for this?
Will listening to vintage Slayer or Metallica put me back in the right mind about 80's music?
hotaka posted on Apr 13, 2007
| views: 2489
Comments
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polarheart said on Apr 13, 2007....
Hotcakes, no remedy dear, it comes with age (sorry!) I am also an 80s music "fan", for lack of a better word. I was a teenager in the 80s too :-)You mean to say you dont like "Wake me up before you go go!", "Last Christmas I gave you my heart" or "Careless whisper"? HAHAHAHAHADo you remember AHA? I was friends with a group of girls and we were so infatuated with the boys of AHA. . .I wonder what ever happened to them. Here's a little reminder:Good post, thanks Hotcakes!
Polar x
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hotaka said on Apr 13, 2007....
A-ha. Yes, I loved their video with the animation and real world. I liked the song too and probably now I will like it even more. Take On Me.
No sound on this computer so I will have to watch later. Thanks, polar.
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polarheart said on Apr 13, 2007....
Hotaka, that one is called "The sun always shines on TV", here is your favourite: "Take on me":
Enjoy when you have sound! Polar :-) -
PAPERBACKWRITER said on Apr 13, 2007....
Ooooooooooooooooh I love this post Hotaka = ) !!!
Sniff (teary-eyed), are you both on an icy nostalgic trip!?!?!? You and missb :D !
TAAAAAKE ME WITH YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!
; )
I grew up with MTV . . . it was an event, watching the very first music videos! And for me AHA´s vids were one of the most impressive = )
Polar, I borrowed a DVD of the AHA´s reunion, months ago. . .gosh, I forgot the title. I´ll try to find out. But it seems everyone took a creative break. And they got back together again, and did a world tour!
They are all still "yum" to look at, even more appealing, in my opinion!
Warm regard,
j~
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Lioness said on Apr 13, 2007....
My brother-in-law would usually tease me when the 80s songs are played over the radio, making me feel I was very old. If it were earlier, I'd protest. LOL
I actually enjoy the beat of those songs.. Still dancing with the beat of Madonna, Cindy Lauper, Paula Abdul, Milli Vanilli's disco songs and singing along with those memorable love songs of White Lion, Bon Jovi among others. =)
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missb said on Apr 13, 2007....
Hotaka,
Feeling a bit nostalgic, are you :) I love the 80's music. It was the best music IMO.
In the real cancun - the movie, one guy was singing this song called "back in the 80's". I loved it.
[missb singing]
There was a time in our lives that i know we all miss
A time when girls would slap snap bracelets up on their wrists
We'd listened to tapes because we didn't have CDs
And the guys would fantasize about ally sheedy
Life was simple way then,
With michael jackson and the jackson 5
And we meet at the pub, to watch the breakfast club
And we'd feel like back in the 80's
When all the gentlemen and ladies lived life - lived life
How it was meant to be
Watching three's company on TV
Wouldn't you agree to sell your soul to live back in 1983.......
Back in the best decade in historyyyyyy.....
Cheers ;)
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Alyss said on Apr 13, 2007....
Ah, the 80's those were the days...
Asia, Foreigner, Queen, Gabriel, Genesis, Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Heart, The Police, & Yes to name just a few that adorn my shelves here.
I was and still am a 80's rock girl at heart.
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silverwhisper said on Apr 13, 2007....
heh...take on me is for my money still the best video of all time.
ed -
secretlife said on Apr 13, 2007....
I saw Foreigner as the back-up band for Jackson Brown at Bucknell University in 1980!
And Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Yes, the Stones, Meatloaf! among others.....at Madison Square Garden in the late 70's/very early 80's...
Those were the days!
Ok, now i'm humming Paradise By the Dashboard Light...
I think Hotaka, that the nostalgia begins to kick in when you reach your mid-30's...and it never ends after that!
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hunter_boyce_chandler said on Apr 13, 2007....
Nuggies to my Canadian Minidisc buddy. Every ten years or so I regenerate into a current music junkie. I am now in the punk/rap/metal/industrial/latin stage. In the 80's I was chasing and catching married women as a sort of hobby.
I remember those pre-Aids days with a nostalgic "Whummm" or two. I bought my first bigscreen entertainment center. It was a $2000.00 Magnavox monstrosity made of Mahogany. It stood 8 feet high and had a pretty cool turntable, tuner, 8 track and 25 inch color TV. What can I say I was a babe magnet.
My Apartment had a library, fireplace and wetbar. I got some pretty horrifying carpet burns there. They never really heal you know.
HBC
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SexAndMoney said on Apr 13, 2007....
Hall & Oates, Phil Collins, Madonna, The Police, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Journey, Bon Jovi, Wham, New Kids On The Block, Van Halen, Def Leopard, Guns N Roses, OMD, Duran Duran, Tears For Fears, New Edition, Billy Ocean, Lionel RitchieJust to Name a Few. -
polarheart said on Apr 13, 2007....
Has anyone mentioned Pet Shop Boys? "What have I done to deserve this", "Its a sin", "Westend girls". Here's a reminder: -
SexAndMoney said on Apr 13, 2007....
Pet Shop Boys rule! -
TinSoldier said on Apr 13, 2007....
I love 80s music... I, too, was a teen during the 80s. In fact, the 80s coincided with my teen years almost perfectly: Ten years old at the beginning of 1980 and nineteen years old at the end of 1989.
I didn't have a cassette or record player or any recorded music so whatever top 40 radio they were playing was what I had. Either that or Friday Night Videos (no cable TV either).
Heh. I didn't really discover harder rock or metal until after I moved away from home!
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dailyachesandpains said on Apr 13, 2007....
I LOVE 80's music!To think, my Parent's freaked out about me listening to "Like a Virgin" back then. I can't imagine what they think of what my Niece listens to.Daily -
Holly-Go-Lightly said on Apr 13, 2007....
Don't forget The Cure!! That look was after Alice, but before Marilyn. The Clash, The Police ( the only song I ever liked of their's ROXANNE), KISS, Cheap Trick (ohmygod, I was in love!!)--just mentioning a few I hadn't seen up here yet!
How did it go by so fast?? The funny thing is--I've always exposed my kids to all kinds of music, and taught them about the culture then etc. and for most of their growing up years "The Breakfast Club", and "Sixteen Candles" were 2 of their faves!!
The Brat Pack!!! The age of Molly Ringwald, remember Pretty in Pink??
Oh and the awesome chick bands, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Pat Benetar... geez...now I'm all wound up!!!!
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louthomas said on Apr 13, 2007....
It was in the early 60s when a radio station consultant decided thusly: There are a certain number of pleasurable things, like kissing, dating (and even earthier pursuits) that happen to you for the very first time in your teens. Anything that can even subconsciously remind you of those events will make you think kindly of the source.
In practical terms, then ... if you want to determine the "target group" for a radio station, listen to their "Golden Oldies." When those oldies were hits, people who were 11-20 years at the time are now the group that station's trying to hit.
Works every damn time.
SPEAKING OF MUSIC .... http://www.tropicalglen.com has a free jukebox that you'll absolutely love: it's all broken down by year.
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hotaka said on Apr 13, 2007....
polarheart, I was telling my girlfriend about this post and the first band she mentioned was A-ha. She was around ten years old when that song came out and living in Japan. I think she didn't hear it until years later be she says the sound of that song sums up the 80's for her. Thanks for the video links. By the way, polar x sounds cool.
PAPER, I have been meaning to send you that card but I can't remember where I put it after cleaning up my room. I will find it. Glad you liked the post. I was checking reviews on Amazon about a new CD and most people were praising it because the sound captured the essence of 80's rock. I was turned off immediately. My favourite musical period is '68 to '76 as far as rock is concerned. But the 80's did have a special magic and I can't escape from the music of my adolescent years.
Lioness, Milli Vanilli? Now there was a couple of guys whose secret got out quick. Have you ever gone back and watched the first Terminator movie? That disco scene? Woah!
missb, it was your post that got me going. Three's Company used to be my favourite show. I watched it for about eight years. Funny how songs about a past era always sound so romantic. For me the 80's were a period when the craziness of the seventies got really out of control and tried to say it was perfectly normal.
Alyss, now you've mentioned some bands that almost made it to my cassette shelf. They were close to my taste then but not close enough. I think I can appreciate their music now though. Ah, well, Pink Floyd of course. I saw their Momentary Laspe of Reason concert. That was awesome. And the Police's Synchronicity album I have on CD. Yes, there was a lot of good stuff I want to listen to still.
silverW, it sure was great for its time and still stands out today.
secretlife, does this mean I am doomed to wallow in 80's nostalgia for the rest of my life?
HBC, you have a lot of catching up to do with all the people who are waiting to hear from you again. We're glad to have you back. Now that latest tidbit of info about your past is new to me. I think guys like you are often written in scripts for comedy romance movies. You are the amusing best friend who is a always after the girls and doesn't get romance. I guess you have evolved since then. Loved reading the recollection though. And yup, I am still dubbing CD mixes on MD.
SexAndMoney, Thanks for adding to my list. So many names eluded me while I was trying to dig up the old files in my data base. How long will the 80's be remembered? How many generations will revere those days of hairspray and lace and lots of make-up?
I'll have to get back to the rest of you later...
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hotaka said on Apr 14, 2007....
Now then, where was I?
TinSoldier, you would have been hard pressed to find hard rock and metal with only a top 40 radio and Friday Night Videos. I used to stay up late and wait out an hour of top 40 pop just to see a Scorpions video or Motley Crue. How many times did I have to watch the video for Billy Jean just to see my favourite long-haried spike studded axe weilding metal heads shake their mops in unison and grab their crotches.
daily, Like a Virgin was pretty risque back then but nothing like now with the Black Eyed Peas Humps song or that one I like Big Butts. The other day I was in Tower Records and the song playing went something like "Do you wanna be my f**k boyfriend?"
Holly-Go-Lightly, Feel my heat, taking you higher. Burn with me. Heaven's on fire. Talk about classic songwriting. The other bands you mentioned were close to my taste but not quit enough for me to get a cassette. I still love that Joan Jett song I Love Rock 'n' Roll. I used to have a cassette by The Runaways, an album from 1978 by Lita Ford and Joan Jett's first band.
louthomas, I certainly agree with you there. But for me, the top 40 was rarely exciting so there is little that radio can offer me. Yes, I find those old 80's tunes fun now, but I will not turn the dial just so I can listen to them. I once called up an "oldies station" that played music from the late fifties up to the early seventies. They claimed they had anything you wanted to hear. I requested Louie Louie, the version done by The Sonics in 1965. The guy had never even heard of the band. Then I requested I Ain't Done Wrong by the Yardbirds. He said they only had For Your Love and Heart Full of Soul. I asked for It's My Pride by the Guess Who, thinking that since it was a Canadian station they would have that song since the Guess Who were Canadian. Nope. Didn't have that either.
So, I have come to the conclusion that oldies stations and classic rock stations are part of the reason why a lot of good music gets buried and forgotten. Those stations are only interested in regurgitating and recycling the top of the top hits. The rest is up to the collectors to cherish.
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louthomas said on Apr 14, 2007....
Hot, you have put your finger on what I regard as the #1 problem with radio today ... a slavish adherence to a very narrow playlist. One guy setting the 40 records or so a hundred radio stations will play. Fortunately, most of my time in that milieu was spent in an environment where the jock had a certain amount of freedom and creativity. More than once, WE were the ones who determined the hits, not some guy in New Jersey. I don't think I'd like working radio today. (Fortunately, this is not a problem). You might get a kick out of the totally opposite tack, no format at all, just a library of 10,000 tunes. Operated by Harding University, it's available on the web at http://www.kvhu.net . 9-11 p.m. weeknights (CDST) is of interest only to those who enjoy a capella religious music; ditto Sunday afternoon. Overnights, they do OLD OLD radio shows of the Fibber McGee ilk but, the rest of the time, it's oldies from every possible category, with a minimum of commercials. What the hell: it's free. -
gina绿日 said on Apr 15, 2007....
Hey! I love those 80's song, even I'm Chinese! Thanks all you do. -
gina绿日 said on Apr 15, 2007....
when Doves cry -
hotaka said on Apr 15, 2007....
louthomas, thanks for the tips. One thing I advocate is the sharing of music. One person may have something that will totally knock my socks off. I have heard a lot of good tunes by renting CDs and borrowing from friends. So I love to share music too, but I like delving into the lesser known. College radio doesn't quite do it for me because I am not turned on by a lot of the alternative stuff they play, but I am glad there is such a thing. Good music shouldn't be buried and forgotten. There's a lot of great stuff out there that someone would just be thrilled to hear.
gina, thanks for reading. Are you in China?
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Lioness said on Apr 15, 2007....
hot, I watched the Terminator 1, but haven't watched it again after a couple of years.. Gotta go check it out again! =) -
louthomas said on Apr 16, 2007....
Hot, sorry I mis-lead you. This is a commercial station that just happens to be leased by the University. They've got 10K cuts in their computer and the young jocks speak minimally and have NO say in what gets played. This is, quite literally, a case of if you don't like what's playing, wait three minutes and you'll be taken someplace else entirely.
No acid rock or metal.
http://www.kvhu.net -- some think it's dull, others think it's Different.
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SecretFetish said on Jul 10, 2007....
I was also a teen in the 80's. A head banger as well. I went to see my first concert when I was 14. It was Ozzy's Bark at the Moon tour.
So, you took me for a walk down memory lane and I went to youtube and search for the first band that popped in my head. So, it's RATT n ROLL baby!!!
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hotaka said on Jul 11, 2007....
SecretF, you and I have way too much in common. I used to listen to Ratt and Ozzy (still have Blizzard of Ozz on CD). Matter of fact, helping me get over this recent drama was a mix of music that included Judas Priest (The Rage), Rainbow (The Gates of Babylon), Black Sabbath (Digital Bitch) and a new song by Joe Lynn Turner that sounds very much like an 80s metal tune. My first concert was Judas Priest when I was 13 and the next year I saw Iron Maiden.
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SecretFetish said on Jul 11, 2007....
Ha, That is crazy! I had this huge Judas Priest wall hanging that I put on my ceiling. It almost covered the whole ceiling..lol. Yea, we do have very similar interests. While I love my 80's rock, I do love the rock right now. Do you?
About a month ago I went and saw Godsmack, which as an amazing concert. If you like Godsmack and haven't seen them in concert yet..I would definitely go if you get a chance. Sully Erna does a drum solo that is effing awesome!
I'm going to see Hinder,Papa Roach and Buck Cherry next month. I'm taking my two teenagers with me. It is going to be their first concert.
I also use music to get me through rough times. It really does help.
A few weeks ago I was downloading music from Limewire.... Motley Crue mostly. They were my absolute favorite band back in the day. I wanted to lose my virginity to Vince Neal..hahaha
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hotaka said on Jul 11, 2007....
SecretF, to be honest, although I have heard a lot about Godsmack (and I read about them on your blog) I am not sure if I can say I know any of their songs. I might have heard them on the radio in Vancouver or my friend might have put some songs on a mix CD for me. I know he likes the groups you mentioned.
I like a lot of modern rock bands or at least a number of songs by some groups. I liked some songs by Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Disturbed, Filter, Nine Inch Nails and so on. But I am also a big fan of hard rock from 1968 to 1978. I have lots of CDs by groups related to Deep Purple and I have all the Deep Purple studio albums. Other modern stuff I like are Canadian bands like Sloan, The Tea Party, Sum 41 and Matthew Good.
I used to have a big Judas Priest poster on my wall. I still have my Defenders of the Faith concert shirt though it seems really small now. I still enjoy some old Motley Crue songs. Shout at the Devil was a favourite album of mine for a while.
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gina绿日 said on Jul 11, 2007....
hotaka: yea, I am. -
hotaka said on Jul 13, 2007....
Wow, gina, that was like a three-month delay time for a response. I already figured out the answer a day after asking the question. Good to know you are still here. I'll try to visit you soon, your blog I mean. -
anonymous said on Aug 12, 2007....
Foreigner and Journey were ****ocks! In late May 1985, 8 of the US Billboard Top 10 were by British artists. To find out who they were, go to www.daveches.co.uk/80s/index -
Reflex said on Aug 14, 2007....
This site really is taking me on a walk down memory lane!! I loved the 80's, the music now just doesn't compare!
So, there I was thinking about the good old days and I thought I'd research 80's music festivals, to see if I could find anything for me and a few of my friends who would appreciate a good reunion...... AND......for all those lovers of the 80's I came across this:
RETROFEST!
I can't believe my luck.......its an 80's music festival in September.....and i am going to be there!!
I've booked my tickets already i'm SO SO SOOOOOO excited....Belinda Carlise is playing there......AND Bananarama!!!!!!!!!
Is anyone else going there?????? Its so exciting!!
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silverwhisper said on Aug 14, 2007....
reflex: holy hell, that sounds like a blast! although i gotta confess, the moment i saw your username, i was reminded of an old duran duran tune. :>
ed -
Reflex said on Aug 14, 2007....
i know, doesnt it!!!!it sounds amazing on the website too! ill give you the name then you can have a look: www.retrofest.co.ukim so unbelievably excited about it.......im actually counting down the days!theres sooooooo many artists playing, the line up is huge!do you know what.........i think im gonna dress up for the occassion: any suggestions people????? -
anonymous said on Aug 14, 2007....
i'm enjoying the thread, but a bit disappointed that nobody has expressed amazement that on May 25 1985 *8* of the US Billboard Hot 100 top 10 were by British artists. We have barely dented their charts at all since the 80s. If this isn't proof that the 80s was our last golden age for pop, I don't know what is. I'm not sure what you should wear to the festival: maybe a duffel-coat? -
Reflex said on Aug 14, 2007....
I have to agree on that!!!! the 80's were the golden ages and i am able to go back in time on the 1st Sept at EUROPES BIGGEST 80'S FESTIVAL!!!!RETROFEST!! Yes i am extremely excited about this! -
geekpie said on Aug 15, 2007....
Reflex, you're not working for this festival are you? I hope not.as for what to wear, maybe a plastic-mac / dirty raincoat? -
Reflex said on Aug 15, 2007....
No........i wish!!!!!! how amazing would that be!!!!!!!!! im just overly excited about this! sorry, i am just a true 80's fan! -
geekpie said on Aug 15, 2007....
well there are plenty of good bands although I wouldn't have given Belinda Carlisle top billing. She wasn't that popular at the time. It's an example of the americans rewriting pop history. YOu get it on Channel 4 top 100 80s tracks type programmes: they have loads of stuff by Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Bon Jovi and that sort of nonsense that we took the piss out of in the 80s cos it sounded so backward. -
gina绿日 said on Aug 17, 2007....
Hi hotaka I'm sorry reply you so late again. I've been very busy. I'm working on make free Madarin Courses on Myspace blog. but it's really diffcult. I can't put recording on it and seems like won't show the Chinese pinyin at all. God, drive me crazy.