Errant Eighties

I gather you were not cognizant then?

Read a history book.

wow, steven. This is perhaps more wrong than my arrogant, ignorant summation of the fifties as "a waste of time" in a college paper (I have considered myself as doing penance for that egregious error continually in the intervening years). The difference is, you LIVED through the eighties and should KNOW better...I DIDN'T live through the fifties.

You start off on a faulty premise with the music. Hair Metal? guess what, love it or hate it, it was 80's. There was a LOT more music than "punk" and "Springsteen" in the 80's (ever hear of John Cougar? U2? Metallica?).

I'll stop there so that readers that follow can pull apart their own sections of this mini-rant.

Actually, Punk was 70's, not 80's. The 80's was the era or the New Romantics, ska, big hair bands and the occasional techno-pop offering (think Flock Of Seagulls and Devo).

Actually, Punk was 70's, not 80's. The 80's was the era or the New Romantics, ska, big hair bands and the occasional techno-pop offering (think Flock Of Seagulls and Devo).

Actually, in the US, punk was more of an '80's thing. We were a long way behind the UK in that regard. Dead Kennedies, Suicidal Tendencies, Violent Femmes and similar groups made their mark in the 80's, and most of us on this side of the pond weren't even aware of the Clash, the Ramones, or the Sex Pistols until early '80s.

Actually, in the US, punk was more of an '80's thing.

Really? I didn't know that. In the UK, Punk came about in the mid to late 70's and was on the way out in the 80's. Sid Vicious died in '79, so I thought that the US had been exposed to the Sex Pistols before his demise. In fact, I know that they toured the US right before they broke up in '78. See my confusion now?

I knew the Femmes and Siouxsie and the Banshees made their marks in the early 80's...but I always thought that Blondie were big over here at the same time they were in the UK, which would have been the late 70's.

Hmm...I learned somehting today. Thanks, Gid!

I gather you were not cognizant then?

Yes, as far as music went; I still listen to Percy Faith! Btw, it was not intended to be history just because it was under that "category."

Hmm...I learned somehting today. Thanks, Gid!

Oh? I don't even get a nod?

Gid: I make no pretense to be a scholar of music--simply a passing thought--metal, acid all the same to me. 

The 80's were the shit, man! I was in high school then, so music and movies was pretty much all I knew.....but I did like Reagan. I have him to thank for drawing me away from the starry-eyed liberalism of youth before it seized me for life.

Saying Reagan had nothing to do with ending the "Evil Empire" is like saying Salk had nothing to do with ending Polio. There might have been "resistance", but it was by no means "stiff". Especially in the years immediately preceding Reagan's election. We were in retreat everywhere, thanks to Carter's inept machinations. I suppose Reagan won a crushing landslide by accident, and then got himself elected again just because. I have to agree with Doc Guy...read a history book, man.
Reagan was the only...and I mean ONLY...president to take the offensive in dealing with the Soviets. What he did could have been done decades before, but they were all to nervous to try it. Reagan saw for all those decades that the Russians were all smoke and mirrors, bark and no real bite. He was right. His military buildup and increase in troop and missle deployment bankrupted them and shattered the Warsaw Pact alliance. It ultimately brought down the USSR. Reagan is probab;y the first president since Roosevelt to have left a solid, tangible legacy. God bless him for it.

Other than that, man....the 80's! I loved the 80's! Some favorite songs that leap to mind:

Dexy's Midnight Runners---"Come on Eileen"

Slade---"Run, Run away"

Naked Eyes---"Always something there to remind me"

A-Ha---"Take on me"

AC/DC---"For Those about to Rock" & any song off "Back in Black"

Ray Parker Jr.---"Ghostbusters"

Don Henley----"Boys of Summer"

Anything by Ronnie Milsap from the decade.

Nena---"99 Luftballoons" (yes, I know it was a protest song about Reagan's missle deployment in Germany. It still rocked. And she was a freakin' BABE!)

Joan Jett---"I Love Rock n' Roll"

Men at Work---"Who Can it be now?"

Man so many leap to mind.....

Movies!

"First Blood" and its sequels

"Raiders of the Lost Ark" and its sequels

"Red Dawn"

"Rocky" III thru V "I pity the fool!"

"Planes, Trains and Automobiles"

"Porky's"

"Back to the Future"

Anything with Molly Ringwald in it. Chick flicks, yes, but I had it bad for her in my day.

"Uncle Buck"

"Back to School"

"Full Metal Jacket"

The list goes on.........

Ever notice how all the "definitive" 80s songs were one-hit wonders? Think about it.....

By the way, too.....not to pick nits, but the whole "Who shot JR" hullaballo was in early-mid 1980. Lennon was killed in December, and Reagan was shot in March of 1981. Nice of you to show such concern for a man you completely dismissed little more than a paragraph before, though.

Really? I didn't know that. In the UK, Punk came about in the mid to late 70's and was on the way out in the 80's. Sid Vicious died in '79, so I thought that the US had been exposed to the Sex Pistols before his demise. In fact, I know that they toured the US right before they broke up in '78. See my confusion now? I knew the Femmes and Siouxsie and the Banshees made their marks in the early 80's...but I always thought that Blondie were big over here at the same time they were in the UK, which would have been the late 70's.

Well, "big" is a relative term. Blondie was touring clubs in the late '70's, but punk was still QUITE underground at that point. The Sex Pistols actually gained most of their American notoriety AFTER Sid Vicious' death, and I believe that our collective American fascination with rock and roll deaths (see: Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin...the list goes on) helped to facilitate the explosion of punk this side of the pond.

errgh...I'm starting to feel like Kurt Loder now...lol!

Ever notice how all the "definitive" 80s songs were one-hit wonders? Think about it.....

I have to disagree with this statement. One of the more "definitive" 80s songs was "Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats, who were, technically, a TWO hit wonder ("Pop goes the world") and Men at Work, while best known for the song you mentioned, actually had a few releases (who can forget "Land Down Under", the tune that cemented my enduring fascination with Australia). I would also have to add that Kenny Loggins practically wrote the soundtrack for the 80's ("I'm All Right", "Footloose", Danger Zone").

Gosh, now I'm starting to feel old. Thanks for bringing up the topic, steven.

One of the more "definitive" 80s songs was "Safety Dance"

---GidMac


Well, that's one. I was a big fan of Men at Work, myself, and yes, they did have more than one hit. I believe they had four or five, actually. Pretty good run.
But think about some others...."Come on Eileen", "Video Killed the Radio Star", "True", "Our House", "Big Country", "99 Luftballoons", "Major Tom (Coming Home)", "19", "Break Out", "Obsession"....all 80s hits, and all one-hit-wonders. There so many more.
Kenny Loggins had lots of hits in the 80s, but "wrote the soundtrack"? Naw....to be fair, you'd probably have to give that to Michael Jackson. "Thriller" and "Bad" were two of the definitive 80s albums.
Or, maybe even Madonna or The Police.
Madonna's self-titled debut album and its follow-up, "Like a Virgin", and The Police's "Ghost in the Machine" and "Synchronicity" were all huge.

The 80s rock.

But think about some others...."Come on Eileen", "Video Killed the Radio Star", "True", "Our House", "Big Country", "99 Luftballoons", "Major Tom (Coming Home)", "19", "Break Out", "Obsession"....all 80s hits, and all one-hit-wonders. There so many more.

Man, I didn't think anyone rememebered "19". That was cool, with the narration and all. "Big Country"... I still get tingly whenever I hear that song on Sirius First Wave (all 80's proto-alternative channel). I saw Big Country perform on SNL back in the day. Fan ever since.

Men At Work, excellent choice. Had both albums, their first one (name escapes me) and "Cargo". Good stuff, even their non-released singles. Fave MAW song: "Overkill". Happy to hear it reprised on an episode of Scrubs last season. Acoustic guitar, Colin Hay singing throughout the episode.

Kenny Loggins didn't write the soundtrack to the 80's. He wrote the soundtrack for every 80's film. Good money in a couple of throwaway songs between albums, according to his own bio. Who doesn't associate "Top Gun" with "Danger Zone"? Or "Caddyshack" with the dancing gopher and "I'm Alright"?

Let me add a few good songs/bands to the list: decadent dance tunes, like Dead or Alive ("You Spin Me Round" or "My Heart Goes Bang") or Erasure (the entire "Innocents" album).
Goofy pop, like They Might Be Giants ("Istanbul not Constantinople", "Don't Let's Start", or "Birdhouse in Your Soul"), early REM ("It's the End of the World"), or the aforementioned Men Without Hats (surprised anyone remembers "Pop Goes the World").

Speaking of soundtracks, don't forget "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds from the soundtrack for "The Breakfast Club" or "Oh Yeah" from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". Two John Hughes films that spoke for my generation.

and I believe that our collective American fascination with rock and roll deaths (see: Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin...the list goes on) helped to facilitate the explosion of punk this side of the pond.

Kurt Cobain was big before he died. 'Nevermind' made him and Nirvana HUGE. Hendrix was pretty big before his death too.

Hendrix was pretty big before his death too.

--dharma

Janis was no slouch, either, though. Death only helped increase her cache. Especially the way she died.
The "rebels" are always more fondly remembered if they died young. Hank Williams, Jim Morrison and John Belushi, call your offices.
Chris Farley, call your mother.

singrdave: It's cool to reminisce with someone who remembers 80s tunes so well.
I had both MAW albums, too. Actually, the cassettes; so small! So futuristic! I was a big fan of theirs. I saw a compilation album of theirs at a flea market (was released sometime in the late 90s), but had to run and find the wife to get some more cash. By the time I found her and got back, it was gone.


How about Murray Head, "One Night in Bangkok"? I always wondered exactly what he was talking about. Took me years before I finally heard it again and really listened to the words and realized it was about chess.

Falco: "Rock me Amadeus!!" Stupid song, but it had a nice dance beat!

Kenny Loggins had lots of hits in the 80s, but "wrote the soundtrack"?

The reason I made this statement (and I will defend it...lol!) is because most of Kenny Loggins' hits made it to the soundtracks of definitive 80's movies. Madonna would be a close runner up, but Michael Jackson, despite his musical dominance, didn't make it to the soundtracks as consistently as either of the aforementioned. Possibly because his asking price was too high, but Loggins seemed to appear at least once a year with a hit from a movie soundtrack.

Even though we have different preferences, though, it's still fun to have this discussion.

Kurt Cobain was big before he died. 'Nevermind' made him and Nirvana HUGE. Hendrix was pretty big before his death too.

Yes, they were big before their deaths, and even huge. But their "rock and roll deaths" made them untouchable.

The best comparisons I can give you would be to look at the Beatles. John Lennon is a rock and roll immortal because of his death. There's no denying that. Paul McCartney, while prolific and an excellent songwriter, has lost much of the luster that he once had. George Harrison did as well. And as for Ringo, well...umm, I won't touch that one. While all four will be forever remembered, none of the remaining three have even REMOTELY the iconic status of Lennon.

(another comparison: I don't see any punkers wearing Johnny Rotten shirts around, but plenty wearing Sid).

We're a morbid lot. Really, we are.

The best comparisons I can give you would be to look at the Beatles. John Lennon is a rock and roll immortal because of his death.

---Gidmac

Well, let's not forget King Elvis. A heart attack after a life of wild indulgence....sounds kinda like Mama Cass, too.

Let's also not forget that McCartney went to be a Wing and be a "Band on the Run" that sang about "Silly Love Songs", but Lennon went on to write deep odes to "Woman" and to "Imagine" a better world. Two very different outlooks.

Let's also not forget that McCartney went to be a Wing and be a "Band on the Run" that sang about "Silly Love Songs",

You think "Imagine" is deeper than, say "Ebony and Ivory" or McCartney's post 9/11 release "Freedom"? The HELL you say (said positively DRIPPING with sarcasm).

Ebony and Ivory" or McCartney's post 9/11 release "Freedom"?

---Gidmac

Well, okay....but he HAS had 25 years more than Lennon had.
I wonder what Lennon would have sung about 9/11?

Probably something about embracing others differences and cultural whatevers and make love not war and let's all hug and make up and let's try to understand them and why they hate us and we need to give them whatever they need to be happy and at one with the universe and.....well...he HAD those dinky little glasses!

I see that perhaps I am the only one to see the 80s music as just garbage. the 60s had some greats, the 70s a lot, the 90s we got some good stuff going, and then this decade? Nothing so far.

But the 80s? Guess I am too old. of the 6 decades I am cognizant of, the 80s rank lowest. 60s first, 70s second, 90s third, 50s foruth (too bubble gum really), this one 5th, and the 80s?

Sorry, Whip it with Devo is not my cup of tea!

I see that perhaps I am the only one to see the 80s music as just garbage.

---Dr. Guy


Well, here's one position of the Doc's that I gotta say I can't support. Of course, I was in my early-mid teens from 1980-85 (and, as any fan of 80s music can tell you, the 80s were SO over by 1986-87. By then we'd started down the slippery slope toward the 90s), and it's the music I came of age to. Any music that brings back memories of the golden teen years will always be the most welcome to our ears. First love....first job...cruisin'....hangin' out...now, I like all kinds of music; I have very eclectic tastes. I'll listen to Sinatra and Martin, Goodman and Ellington, Lennon and McCartney, Bowie and Stewart...just about anything. Rock, Gospel, classical....But the 80s; those tunes rule, dude!

But the 80s? Guess I am too old. of the 6 decades I am cognizant of, the 80s rank lowest. 60s first, 70s second, 90s third, 50s foruth (too bubble gum really), this one 5th, and the 80s?

80's below 90's and 00's? Sorry, I think that's a little HARSH! I guess I have to question what sort of music you like. I mean, if you're into hard rock, sure there was a lot of fluff, but how can you overlook the most significant portion of Ozzy Osbourne's solo career, the coming of age of punk, Ted Nugent...I mean, there was more to the 80's in metal than just Tommy Lee's hair.

90's did get some good stuff going again, but let's not forget how much of grunge was rooted in 30's BLUES music! While it was creative, it was rather derivative at times. And the fifties did nothing more than set the stage for the sixties...it was a cultural "bridge", as it were.

Yes, I'm biased, but I believe I can defend my position here.