The other night I was looking for some photos from my childhood that I had scanned, and thus I looked into a folder on the drive called "Scanned Photos" (seriously, my powers of deduction amaze me sometimes). Instead of my photos, I found some of Angus' scanned photos. I had expected to see photos of me in various states of hideous fashion homages to the eras, instead what I found was an explosion of the 80's.

The 80's were a time when I think it would've been great to be in your teens or early 20's. Must've been fantastic. The weirdness of the 60's were over, the strange groovy disco darkness and industrial action of the 70's had passed. The 80's were about being young, having money, and being irresponsible. Our kids, well, they'll be growing up recycling the air they breathe, the dirt they walk on, all with weird names like Scyelahr and Jaedeanene and shit like that. They're going to wish they had the 80's and its use of the word "entrepreneur".

The 80's in those pictures were immediately recognizable by the hair. You know - the hair. Throw a lit match into a room and the place would've gone up like a torch thanks to the vast amount of Aquanet in the room (and thanks for all that CFC action there, people.) The women had The Blush. You know the one, the one that looked like you had to stab a thick blush brush into a pot of orange rouge, then go up the cheek in one solid stripe until you hit the hairline? That Blush? Everyone was kneedeep in shoulder pads and the peasant look was hitting that group hard.

Good times, people, good times.

I think the 80's would've been great - sex, dancing, alcohol, money, and properly tragic clothing. I'm envious of Angus that he had that era. I had the 90's, and if claiming Vanilla Ice in my era isn't embarassing then I don't know what is (I do get a lot of mileage in pointing out that Angus got married in 1988, when I was just 14. That humors me somehow.)

But the 80's are spectacular for one important reason - their music kicked ass.

Honest.

See: Vanilla Ice if you don't believe me.

So to steal an idea from MsPruFrock I'm here to admit my shameful love of certain songs that I have on my iPod (all of mine from the 80's) and am not afraid to admit it*.

1) Always on My Mind - the Pet Shop Boys. Forget Elvis, man. This English group takes the song, buys it a drink, shags it, leaves a cheese sandwich on the nightstand and goes about its merry way.

2) Separate Lives - Phil Collins. Yes, that's right. The King of Smarm is on my list. Whenever I listen to this song I feel I should be flinging myself into someone's arms and begging them to remember the good days, when in reality what I usually do is open another can of Diet Coke.

3) House of Fun - Madness. Whenever I hear this song I immediately start jumping around like a Charlie Brown character. I know I can't dance and I'm ok with that. This song helps me believe that no one else can dance, either. I also love their other song Our House, which is forever intermingled with the frat boys singing "Our house...our house is burning down. Our house..." from Revenge of the Nerds because I think I watched that film 100 million times.

4) Tainted Love - Soft Cell. Of course I went there. Everyone goes there.

5) More Than This - Roxy Music. Even though today I kinda' hate Bryan Ferry and his pro-hunting stance, I fucking love this song. It should be danced to with lots of candles and a bottle of red wine, but I've never done that because really, think about the mess.

6) True - Spandau Ballet. Thank you, Sixteen Candles. Ahhh ha ha HAAAAA HAAAAA!

7) Down Under - Men at Work. The only song I know incorporating the words "vegemite sandwich". Don't tell me you didn't think they were cool as shit in their video.

We Belong - Pat Benetar. Doesn't it make you feel like you should be running underneath jumbo jets, the entire scene a bit orange and the wind all hot? No? It doesn't? Just me then.

9) Luka - Suzanne Vega. Yes. Just yes.

10) Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics. Annie Lennox is the coolest, even with The Hair. Not many people could shave themselves to look like a tennis ball, dye it bright red, and get away with it. She can.

11) Take on Me - A-Ha. I'll excuse the bad grammar just because I like shrieking at the top of my range with the guy in this song. I don't have a fucking clue what he's saying, I just like trying to make the dog bark. Plus the video! How cool was that? In the mirror are sketched people! Cutting edge at the time, man. Cutting edge.

12) Slave to Love - the evil Bryan Ferry again. This one is what Angus and I call "a bum clutcher", meaning if you danced to this one then you got to hold on to the other person's butt for a nice long song.

13) Every Breath You Take - The Police. I love The Police and I'm only moderately embarassed to admit that. I loved their song Russians as well, because I was nothing if not an idealist.

14) In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel. I love that man, I think he's fantastic, and naturally I loved the use of the song in Say Anything because it was a John Cusack film and if you read this blog you know my adoration of Le Cusack. Petey's aged and his music, it's a little out there now, but I think no one owned 80's music quite like he did.

15) 99 Luftballons - Nena. So groovy, even if most of us really never knew what she was singing. Still, very cool.

16) Rock Me, Amadeus - Falco. Forever associated with the film for me, I loved this song. I remember thinking it was edgy and different but let's be honest-when the guy is singing he sounds like he's choking. Plus once you hear it, this song will be on your mind for days on end, which is both a plus and a minus.

17) Africa - Toto. Admitting that one is pretty shameful, like admitting you used to wear jelly shoes and you liked it. But you had me at the lyrics: Its gonna take a lot to drag me away from you/ Theres nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do.

There are more, but I'll stop now. I've done enough damage.

You? What'd I miss? What horrors do I need to download?

-H

* online that is. In real life I'd never tell anyone I listened to these songs. Also I haven't yet admitted to you that of course I also have a whole lotta' Abba (Don't go wasting your emooooo-shunuuuuun! Lay all your love on me!) on the iPod because, well, I'm a bit shy.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 09:29 AM | Comments (40) | Add Comment
Post contains 1217 words, total size 7 kb.

1 What can I say, I was there and I can sing all of those. I graduated in 1984 so my student years were accompanined by Human League, Pet Shop Boys, Fine Young Cannibals (You Drive Me Crazy) and the like. I shall now go back down memory lane with a cup of tea.

Posted by: Caroline M at January 31, 2008 11:24 AM (x3QDi)

2 Oh crap. I have all of those songs too, plus some cheesy shit from the '70's.

Posted by: ~Easy at January 31, 2008 12:16 PM (XD24A)

3 I was 21 in 1988 and remember all of these and the videos. Tell me you have some Wham! Didn't everyone have Wham!? Is it too embarassing to admit that my youngest boy's middle name is Amadeus, simply because of that song? Or that my oldest boy's middle name is Heyward, y'know because of Haircut 100? Especially as they were born in 1999 and 2003? What? Oh forget I said that then!

Posted by: Gill at January 31, 2008 01:02 PM (yTSfd)

4 I have a friend with an internet show entitled "Guilty Pleasures." I like almost everything he plays and yes, he does have an 80s segment. I loves me some 80s. Incidentally, you didn't mention Duran Duran or Information Society or Depeche Mode, so they can go on your list too. If you like. And Erasure, who also have a cover album of several Abba songs.

Posted by: B. Durbin at January 31, 2008 01:55 PM (tie24)

5 I graduated high school in 84 and college in 88, so my entire secondary education was in the 80s. I love me some 80s. A few more songs for anyone listening: On The Turning Away - Pink Floyd. An incredibly weighty song. The Southern Cross - Crosby, Stills, & Nash. My favorite secular song of all time. I think Young was in jail at the time. Voices Carry - Til Tuesday. Everything about the video was cool. Save It For Later - The English Beat. Not a super popular song, but still one of the best of the 80s. And We Danced - The Hooters. I'm a Hooters addict even 20 years later. (no innuendos intended These Dreams - Heart. Heart's album "Heart" may be my favorite album of all time. King of Pain - The Police. The video for this was really cool too...singing in slow motion. Blister in the Sun - Psychedelic Furs. I was ashamed to admit I liked them then; and I'm ashamed to admit I like them now. : ) Awesome God - Rich Mullins. This is one of the first contemporary Christian songs I know of that didn't sound like it was from the Pat Boone mold. Time After Time - Cindy Lauper. It just hurts the heart to hear it. I Know There's Something Going On - Frida Lyngstad (sp?) It's the only song I know from an ABBA member after they broke up. I think her real name is Anafrid Lyngstad. Glory Days - Bruce Springsteen. Ironic, a song about people living in (or at least fixated on) the past comes up in a discussion focused on the past. I could go on all day. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. If you go on to YouTube, a lot of the videos from the 80s have been uploaded. I've nearly worn out "Anything She Does" by Genesis. It's not their most well known song, but it's one of their best IMO. Thanks again Helen.

Posted by: Solomon at January 31, 2008 02:25 PM (al5Ou)

6 Blister in the sun... I still listen and love that song. I was a wee bit in the 80's, so those years mesh together for me. I do recall a "We didn't start the fire" song... was that the 80's? Because of me, we have to play Trivia Pursuit, the 90's.

Posted by: Angela at January 31, 2008 03:30 PM (DGWM7)

7 I was there with the big hair. Graduated high school in 1983. My first thoughts are "And She Was" Talking Heads, "Blister in the Sun" P Furs, "Shook me All Night" AC/DC, "Melt with You" Modern English. I'm afraid to admit that I do not have an iPod. That makes me very un-hip.

Posted by: sophie at January 31, 2008 04:12 PM (ZPzQL)

8 Gill, I adore you. YOU CANNOT DENY THE POWER OF WHAM! And that Aha video STILL holds up, dude. I have to recommend: Romeo Void--"Never Say Never"

Posted by: Ms. Pants at January 31, 2008 04:48 PM (+p4Zf)

9 *cough*I have Careless Whisper on there too*cough*

Posted by: Helen at January 31, 2008 05:03 PM (ZDY2c)

10 Some really good songs there!

Posted by: Jen(aside) at January 31, 2008 05:03 PM (UFabB)

11 I am with ya on everything EXCEPT the stupid Luft Baloons song. I grew up in the 80's had the hair and the Gunny Sak dresses, orange blush and Siebaka shoes. Music will never be the same!

Posted by: Cheryl at January 31, 2008 05:32 PM (n3lCA)

12 I thought Blister in the Sun was the Violent Femmes - No? I was a pre-teen but I remember all of these songs. How bout Go West and anything by The Bangles.

Posted by: Kimmykins13 at January 31, 2008 06:02 PM (OKezc)

13 While I don't do it in German, I rock the shit out of Nena at karaoke. And I've recently discovered that my voice was MADE for 80s music. Journey, Pat Benetar, Scandal... I will be Miss 80s Power Song, 2008. You know. As soon as they invent that award.

Posted by: amy t. at January 31, 2008 06:04 PM (3dOTd)

14 I remember all those songs, those were the days. Have you considered "Shout" by Tears for Fears let alone all those great Madonna and Janet Jackson hits ?

Posted by: Ernie E at January 31, 2008 06:12 PM (RyVEh)

15 People - "Blister in the Sun" is the Violent Femmes! Psychedelic Furs gave us "Pretty in Pink," another fabulous 80's song. Personal faves are The Cure "Just Like Heaven," Journey "Don't Stop Believing" and the ultimate slow-skate song of all time, "Total Eclipse of the Heart." Sigh - if only I would have ever been asked to slow skate...

Posted by: Jeannine at January 31, 2008 06:24 PM (NzjX3)

16 Oh well, Nena... A song about imperialism and stupid military, in a disco at top volume. She still tries to appear tragically naive, but doesn't quite succeed at forty-something. But give me some Police, or the early Sting.Or Mr Mainstream aka Phil Collins and Against All Odds- I was 18 yo in 1981, and I remember them all. And my first CD in 1989 (I think it was in 89...) Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms. Thanks for the trip on memory lane :-) Lily

Posted by: Lily at January 31, 2008 07:02 PM (lFw2G)

17 I think the 80's would've been great - sex, dancing, alcohol, money, and properly tragic clothing. As someone in her teens/early 20's in that era, I can tell you that one song for me epitomizes it all: Glass Tiger - "Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone." There was a club. . .eh. The 80's are a big old blur for me. I don't think I have a single surviving picture of that time. I'm thinking that's a VERY good thing. Mwheh. Oddly, I'm not very nostalgic about 80's music. I can, however, discuss with frightening accuracy all of the 70's one-hit wonders and schlock music of the mid- to late-70's. I wax very nostalgic about ridiculous radio hits like "Chevy Van," something like your 80's thing. Yeah, I know. Hah. xoxo

Posted by: Margi at January 31, 2008 07:08 PM (IYBY1)

18 P.S. It's NOT 80's music but download Suzanne Vega singing "Caramel." I guarantee you'll love it. Well, I do, at least.

Posted by: Margi at January 31, 2008 07:11 PM (IYBY1)

19 Can I please add "The One Thing" by I.N.X.S? (stupid comment filter) Kthksbai.

Posted by: Margi at January 31, 2008 07:17 PM (IYBY1)

20 Was never a big Madonna fan, although I had her "True Blue" album because the cassette was the first see-through cassette I'd owned and it roooooooocked. (The see-through cassette, that is, not her album). Lily-love the summary of 99 Luftballons. Love it. Also Jeannine? Slow skating? You're fabulous, not just for "Pretty in Pink" but because of the trip down the memory roller rink. No one ever asked me to slow skate either. *sigh*

Posted by: Helen at January 31, 2008 07:43 PM (ZDY2c)

21 my fellow 80's sister... in addition to everything else listed here... I now am singing She's a maniac, Maniac on the dance floor... That and the Man Eater song

Posted by: stinkerbell at January 31, 2008 08:46 PM (VJEl8)

22 The Police; the Eurythmics, all great music.The Moody Blues fit in there somewhere. The 80's also marked the onset of the Age of AIDS. And the end of the relaltivley carefree sport Fucking of the 60's and 70's. One did become concerned about herpes. Do you think the music refected this change?

Posted by: Foggy at January 31, 2008 11:13 PM (Kq6pH)

23 What, no Frankie Goes to Hollywood? All of yours I love, as well as Come on Eileen, Don't Stop Believin', Hello, No One is to Blame, Every Breath You Take, Shout, Beat It, Warrior, Only a Lad, I Wanna Be Sedated, Rock the Casbah, Rio, Veronica (where my daughter got her name), Don't Worry, Be Happy, Take My Breath Away, If You Don't Know Me by Now....sigh...I could go on and on like this all day. Give me Prince's Purple Rain album and I am a happy girl indeed. My one true shameful 80's pick though? Pop Goes the World by Men Without Hats. Shame, shame, shame. The truth is I am really a grunge girl at heart. Oh Nirvana, how I miss thee. BTW, I never got asked to slow skate either-and yes, I am still a little bitter about that.

Posted by: Teresa at January 31, 2008 11:18 PM (E9iEg)

24 Memories .... no, not the song. I mean really memories. I was a teenager / early 20's in the 80's and had the snood and fingerless gloves to prove it. All in daygo yellow - hm hm! I would def add 'Flashdance' to this ... love love loved it!! What a feeling .... )

Posted by: Mas at February 01, 2008 10:35 AM (UGBIN)

25 LOL, Class of 85 here. Wow. I don't think anyone mentioned Red Skies at Night yet. Dang, I can't remember who sings it!hey It's early and I haven't had coffee yet, plus apparently I am old, very old now! Yeesh.

Posted by: justme at February 01, 2008 12:03 PM (rLKdp)

26 oh and does every one remember the buttons. As many as you could get on your denim jacket??? I still have a ton of mine lol.

Posted by: justme at February 01, 2008 12:06 PM (rLKdp)

27 My bad on "Blister in the Sun". Kimmykins13 was right, it was Violent Femms. Good thing I didn't have that question on a game show; I'd have been 100% certain it was Psycedelic Furs until I heard the correct answer.

Posted by: Solomon at February 01, 2008 01:48 PM (al5Ou)

28 I was an 80's teen and 20-something - I love everyone's lists! you inspired me to watch Top Gun on tv last night...yes indeed, I had that Kelly McGillis hair...

Posted by: Suze at February 01, 2008 05:02 PM (+kr97)

29 You mean you don't remember Duran Duran? Hungry Like The Wolf? I STILL love that song to this day. My problem was that my closest friends tended to be unabashed heavy metalers. Y'know, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Van Halen, Judas Priest, AC/DC, to name a few. Though I listened to a lot of that too I had to guard some of my more secret tastes. Remember, this was the time period in which you were defined by what you listened to and the wrong music in the wrong place would get your ass kicked. Yet my best buddy (and still is to this day) had a particularly shameful secret: despite his undying devotion to The Metal Gods, his guiltiest pleasure was Prince's When Doves Cry. (Steve, if you ever read this, sorry man.) And Helen, please don't tell anyone, but I liked Spandau Ballet's True as well. One final horror to add to the list: does anybody here remember ABC? The Look of Love? Oh, the humanity!

Posted by: Diamond Dave at February 01, 2008 05:06 PM (ZDY2c)

30 Well, I've been listening to Hall & Oats Greatest Hits in the Car along with the sound tracks from The Wedding Singer (which is all 80's, Culture Club, The Thompson Twins ect. ect.) I start singing in the car....and hope that nobody is watching! 1988....was the year that I graduated...It's been 20 years and I still cant believe it.

Posted by: Heidi at February 01, 2008 06:34 PM (SlCUD)

31 Grew up in the 80s - all the mentioned songs are fab and bring back so many memories. For some reason I now have Bonnie Tyler rolling around in my head - I Need a Hero and Total Eclipse of the Heart. (.....turn around bright eyes....)

Posted by: loribo at February 02, 2008 04:11 AM (MY7JG)

32 Oh, Tears For Fears. I got to see them last year. It was definitely a case of "sing along"— even the songs from the recent album. I particularly recommend "Floating Down the River." It's not 80s, but it's happy fun and by TFF, so it sounds similar enough to slip by.

Posted by: B. Durbin at February 02, 2008 11:30 PM (tie24)

33 For some reason I've been unable to get to your site for a while and have just spent about a half hour catching up. I have all of the songs mentioned in your post and in all the comments on my iPod, plus many more. I graduated in 82 and spent 3 nights a week for the next year at a dance club, the best year of my life!

Posted by: Donna at February 03, 2008 02:45 AM (lQSbL)

34 Since I lived in a small Texas town, I did, however, drill a hole in my bedroom wall so I could wire my stereo up to the cable box, allowing me to listen to those forbidden Dallas rock stations instead of my local Christian, country stations. There's a reason why NE Texas is still called "Radio Wasteland." I graduated from High School in 1986, and college in 1990. I went skating every Friday night and NEVER got asked to slow skate. When left to my own devices, I listened to heavy metal, hair metal mixed with shameful 80s pop that remains a guilty pleasure even today. :shudder: I suppose I outed myself when I chose the nickname "Kyrie Eleison." Mister Mister, anyone?

Posted by: Kyrie Eleison at February 03, 2008 06:24 AM (1zzKR)

35 I wrote a post about Nena and 99 Red Balloons once. You wouldn't believe the number of hits I get for "Nena hairy armpits"! What about Bananarama, or Adam Ant? I can't even remember the last time I went to a roller rink...

Posted by: Liza R at February 03, 2008 11:25 AM (m2Q5s)

36 Oh my word....need hours to do this but in the nano second I have spare here's my 2 pennuth worth. Rio - Duran Duran Wham - Wake me up before you go go Dont you want me baby - Human League

Posted by: Becks at February 03, 2008 02:38 PM (GLo1j)

37 Oh yeah .... was there. With dayglo gloves listening to Wham .. with a snood too!! Arg! What about 'Flashdance' - what a feeling!! I so wanted to be a gorgeous, skinny, bsllet dancing welder too )

Posted by: Mas at February 03, 2008 05:33 PM (UGBIN)

38 No. Don't be ashamed of any of those songs. Except maybe Spandeau Ballet. And I love that song, too, I just know when to be ashamed and when not to be and one should NEVER be ashamed of Madness or Phil Collins. But if you want to know the truth, I really, really miss the Funky Bunch sometimes.

Posted by: Bonnie at February 04, 2008 05:49 PM (5hnPX)

39 ...don't you forget about me.. i'll be alone, dancing you know it baby.. LOL this is so funny cuz I'm watching The Wedding Singer right now ..totally 80's music. love it!! I'm a serious 80's fan and love all the songs you listed ..and the ones in the comments too.. LOL I graduated in 1984, so I was all about the music and music and MTV..Boy George, Madonna, WHAM..not so much the fashion, I've never been a fashion follower and pretty much go my own way in that department.. I love all the 80's movies too..all the brat pack stuff and still watch them over and over. now you've got 80's songs stuck in my head and i'm off to Singsnap to do some serious 80's kareoke damage .. LOL And we danced, like a wave on the ocean, romanced We were liars in love and we danced..

Posted by: JaxVenus at February 05, 2008 09:14 AM (8rW15)

40 OMG. Your iPod and my iPod were identical twins in the pod.

Posted by: Lori at February 05, 2008 11:30 PM (LibAD)

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