80s Song of the Week: Howard Jones "What is Love?"

Ahhhhh... do you notice that there is hardly any feel-good music in this day and age? It's all so sex and bling-driven, it's no wonder our kids are all messed up.

Not quite with the 80s - - music still talked of love and feeling good and being romantic - - all to the tune of pre-recorded keyboard synthesizers. Here is a fine example of an 80s ballad by Brit crooner Howard Jones - his trademark orangish-peroxide faux-hawk hidden under a not so raspberry beret (alluding to another 80s phenom: Prince).

I love how he is portrayed having almost a magical power of insight and shows him do an action right before another character does it. The lyrics are beautiful and deeper than I remember giving them credit for as a teen. Perhaps it's because I've been so disillusioned myself with the subject. What is love anyway? Why does it seem almost impossible between 2 lovers, a mother and her child, 2 friends, 2 fighting countries with different religious beliefs? Only within ourselves can we find the answer...

80s Song of the Week: Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls"

I still like this 1985 song and its basically being completely programmed on a keyboard synthesizer is SO 80s :)
Pet Shop Boys are actually still around, still recording and still successful - in Europe. But their heyday in the USA was definitely during the 80s starting with this hit. Made up of the duo Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe they wrote danceable tunes with intelligent lyrics delivered solemnly by the stoic Tennant.

Interestingly enough, by watching their videos again I only recently came to realize that the lead singer is obviously gay - well, shoot - I wasn't a fag hag in 1985 in 7th grade (or WAS I- - but didn't know it yet?)hahahaha It seems he is publicly "out" since 1994. Also, Patrick recently informed me that their clever name leans to something very gay - again, I grew up so innocent and sheltered for so long (how on EARTH was I supposed to know?) :)

Whatever the case - good songs, great memories :)

80s Song of the Week: Modern English "Melt With You"

I decided to choose this week's 80s Song of the Week as Modern English. A trio from Essex, England - they are mostly remembered for their major New Wave hit, "Melt With You." Being Patrick's birthday week and all, I also chose it as a sort of ode to him for various reasons 1)- it is one of his favorite songs ever; 2) I dedicate the lyrics to him (a very 80s thing to do - remember when you could call in to the radio stations and request and dedicate songs??) and 3) - I chose it because the song was featured in the hit 80s movie: Valley Girl with Nick Cage (who happens to be one of P's favorite actors). I will save details for a whole other blog, but one of the celebrities that people think P resembles is a younger Nicolas Cage (before the receding hairline, and back when he was a punk and funky and cool).

Thus, I also post below the song set to the movie for a little more 80s' nostalgia... (the original video is a little lackluster anyway, and lead singer, Robbie Grey is not funky, hip, punk or anything - he is just scrawny and unphotogenic.)

80s Song of the Week - INXS "Don't Change"

*Sigh*.

I am serious. I watched this video and that is what my reaction was...

Okay, okay, for those of you who are loyal elsamart readers: I know! I have been lagging on posting my 80s Music Videos of the week. Mi 'Scusi!! For those of you just tuning in - I decided when I started my blog that since I love my 80s music and love the nostalgia of it, I'd post one (along with my commentary) every week.

Now - back to INXS. This was the first INXS hit that I can remember in the 80s. In fact, this is the first time I've ever even seen the video. My reaction? LOVE IT!!! HOT DOG!!! Lead singer and late Michael Hutchence was packing some serious sex appeal!!! Of course I long knew this, but I hadn't seen this video back when they were REALLY still a rock band with great guitar licks, raw, not over-produced songs! I mean: lean and virile Michael (not yet sporting his longer wavy hair that became his trademark in later years) seemed to be channeling a young Mick Jagger - with a FAR more handsome, rugged face. SIGH.

This video is the sheeit - you can totally do my infamous 80s 'skank' dance move to it. And it really makes me want to go to Australia and meet some rugged, handsome, beer-guzzling man - oh, wait - I already got one of those - he's just Irish...

80s Song of the Week - Tears for Fears "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"

Ahhh, yeah: who can forget Tears for Fears and the cherub-faced, mullet wearing duo Roland Orzabel and Curt Smith. Formed in the early 80s, the Brit group was part of the New Wave British invasion but quickly became more pop and mainstream with tons of hits from their album, "Songs from the Big Chair". This was their first one. I remember watching it and my brother Ben teasing the way they sang with their mouths SO open - it's actually correct singing. hahaha.

Interesting things in the video - not much is going on. Just a lot of driving in the Southern California desert (the 15 freeway to be exact) on the way to Las Vegas and Joshua Tree National Park. Been on the same stretch of road several times, seen the kids on their dirt bikes blazing paths on the sand dunes, at the beginning you catch a glimpse of the famous truck stop where the 2 huge dinosaurs stand menacingly at the edge of a little grass section where kids can play while eating their fastfood (also featured in the fabulous 80s movie, "Pee Wee's Big Adventure").

Other things I love in the video: the 80s fashion of preppy salmon-colored polo shirt (altho the collar should have been lifted up at the back of the neck); the round (totally 80s, totally ugly!) spectacle-shape wire sunglasses (not flattering on ANYONE); the horrible 80s big, puffy jacket and tight pants that he wears while driving; the 80s hair mullets; and the lone, dangling earring on Roland.

The song is just so cheerful and brings me back to 1984 - I was in 6th grade, happy as a clam riding horses and playing with my siblings, summer beach days with the family on Sundays - starting to have crushes on boys at school...sigh - such a sweet song.

Two years ago, my old neighbor and sweet friend, Matthew, took me to a concert of Tears for Fears and I couldn't believe how many songs I still knew all the lyrics! It was a lot of fun - even though they were fatter and with receding hair lines - their voices still sounded the same! Good stuff!

80s Song of the Week - Madonna "Lucky Star"

You better work! This was the first huge single I remember of Madonna back when I was in Jr. High. What can I say? The woman is STILL going strong! But NOTHING compares to how big she was in the 80s...

I loved her in the 80s! I love that gay men love her! I love her big, ethnic eyes with 80s eyeliner! I love this video - I remember learning the choreography to it! I love how she incorporated her dance training into it - basic steps, not major, polished dance routines that came later. I Love that she was one of the few who could pull off teased hair tied up in a bow on the top of her head. I love her rolling around on the floor. I love that people now do get how scandalous and sexy and provocative she was for that time!! I mean Madonna was HUGE!! Everyone dressed and did their hair like either her or Duran Duran in the 80s. Say what you want, I respect her for her longevity and uniqueness. I still love her older stuff :)

80s Song of the Week - Duran Duran "Save a Prayer"

After an exhausting last couple weeks I can sure use a dose of my 80s fave: the Fab 5 of Duran Duran. Say what you want, fan or not: this was one of the most melodically and lyrically beautiful (if abstract) songs of the decade. It still gives me goosebumps and the video is so beautifully shot, once again, in a foreign, exotic land - all of it forming unattainable but well worth it dreams in the imagination of a teenage Elsa. I will always lose myself in it..

80s Song of the Week - Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams are made of This"

Good Lord - I am long overdue on posting a blog revealing my 80s Song of the Week. *Sigh* Please forgive. I just got back into town tonight and have a splitting headache. But I feel much better listening to the very kick-ass expressive yet soothing alto voice of Annie Lennox from "Eurythmics". LOVE HER and this song is practically synonymous with the 80s. The video is strange, and creative and she looks fabulous with her signature short crew-cut and pale, pale British complexion. She was definitely a pioneer, and can claim to have one of the first videos portraying androgyny. I love how her movements are fierce, and move on the downbeat of each phrase in a very dramatic way while her partner (and ex boyfriend) Dave Stewart keeps up with the musical rhythm of the synthesizer. For his part, Stewart was very innovative with his production techniques in all their songs. This musical duo had many major hits and I still enjoy their unique sound of intelligent pop. I just never understood the part about the cow...
Enjoy!

80s Song of the Week - Thompson Twins - "Lies"

I think this was the first TT song I had ever heard. Their album "Into the Gap" was just huge with hits though! And I just love the hands shoved in pockets, unkept mod look that lead singer Tom Bailey wears while bitterly peering into camera, "You told me you love me, so I don't understand..." But what I love the most is that this is one of the ultimate 80s songs that one can 'skank' dance to (you see the 3-some come out doing it somewhat at the beginning of the video). Such a great beat and chorus, "Lies! Lies! Lies! Ye-ah!"

80s Song of the Week - A-HA "Take on Me"

Oh, how I ADORED this video in my teens!!! I think it is so innovative and creative - even by today's technological standards in video-making. This first hit by the Norwegian trio, A-HA, was a massive hit in the early 1980s with a simply perfect video that was way ahead of its time!

I remember being a romantic teen and reveling in the wonderful, creative, story line in this video with parts of it drawn like a cartoon as it tells the romantic story of a young, unfulfilled gal reading a comic book which turns into reality when the lead singer and hero of the book invites her into his dream-like cartoon world. (I ate the romance of this right up, let me tell you!) And my young heart would break that they could only see each other as real humans (not cartoon drawings) when on either side of a mirror. Of course, the antagonists show up, break the mirror and harm our handsome, boy-faced hero as he sacrifices himself to let the girl escape back to reality before they miraculously are reunited again at the end. ISN'T IT ALL DELICIOUS??!!

I just love, LoVe, LOVE it!! :)

80s Song of the Week - Duran Duran "Lonely in your Nightmare"

Reading like poetry, this song from the "Rio" album was not a hit, but one of my favorite DD songs ever. It was songs and lyrics like these that I lost - and then found - myself in. They don't write songs or make videos like this anymore. This one is for the original DD fans, and those of us who must fight the nightmare in our heads...