POP GOES THE DECADE- A totally rad look back at the glorious 80's and all the flicks, fashions, tunes, and TV shows that made the decade so cool and memorable in the first place. Like, for sure!
Aaah, the 80's. Although released in 1988 on the band's ninth album, this song is one Siouxsie's best-known singles- their breakthrough hit in the United States, and their first to hit the US Billboard charts. "Peek-A-Boo" received tons of airplay on alternative rock radio, and MTV as well. Siouxsie and the Banshees are just kind of awesome, ya know. And this song is funky and just plain weird, and sounded like no other tune at the time.
"Here Comes Your Man" by The Pixies was the first single off their US debut album, Doolittle. Generally known as one of the quintessential alternative rock albums of the 80's, the album would be hugely influential, and "Here Comes Your Man" became a hit in the summer of 1989. Charting at #3 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks charts, it was the breakthrough single for The Pixies. It's a killer track that's classic 80's Rock and a perfect summer jam.
The breakout hit for British New Wave group Culture Club, "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" hit the radio waves September 1 of 1982. From the smash album Kissing To Be Clever, this was the group's first hit in the US and due to the song's popularity, reached #2 on the US Billboard charts. Only Michael Jackson's " Billie Jean" prevented it from hitting #1.
The song found fame partly due to Culture Club's last-minute appearance on Top Of The Pops, which showcased lead singer Boy George's androgynous persona. It garnered headlines, and before you know it, everybody in the US was crooning the words to the song- even my parents. It would be the first of many hits for the band throughout the decade.
This was the one, folks. This is classic Madonna all the way, in all her Boy Toy glory. This was the video that truly got her noticed, and put her first album firmly in the public eye. She only went up from here. "Lucky Star" is magnificent 80's synth dance pop- this was just one of the first of many club anthems Madonna would propel into pop culture. "Lucky Star" was Madonna's first Top 5 hit, and the first of a record-breaking string of 16 consecutive Top Ten hits on the Billboard charts.
As of February of 1982, super-group ABBA was officially on break. Frida wanted to branch out a bit on her own, and recorded "I Know There's Something Going On" for a solo project. Attempting to shy away from ABBA's extremely successful but extremely pop sound, Frida instead went for a more rough and 80s approach. She collaborated with Genesis frontman Phil Collins, who produced and played drums on the track.
Released in the fall of 1982, the song became an instant smash hit. Eventually selling over 3.5 million copies, it hit #1 around the world and reached #13 on the US charts. The very chic and stylish video quickly became a staple on the new and hot MTV music video channel. This song hasn't lost one ounce of its cool factor.
Regarded as a milestone of 80s British house music, "Pump Up The Volume" by MARRS dominated radio in 1987 upon its release. Reaching #13 on the Billboard US charts and #1 on Billboard's dance charts, the song made an impact. It sounds as if it could be recorded and released today- it's quite ahead of its time. This would be the only hit single from MARRS.
"Genius of Love" by Tom Tom Club, was released in 1981 and became a huge #1 Dance/Club smash, even peaking at #2 on the US Rap/Hip-Hop Charts. The song would be Tom Tom Club's only US Billboard hit, peaking at #31- although it would go on to become one of the most sampled tracks of the 80s. This song instantly reminds me of summer whenever I hear it. It's pure, joyous 80s dance pop, and this is a perfect tune to blast on a warm summer evening with the top down.
"Vienna", released on January 15 of 1981 by British New-Wave band Ultravox, would become the band's signature song. The song was hit in the UK, it would spend 4 consecutive weeks at #2 on the UK charts and would also win 'Single of the Year' at the '81 Brit Awards. It's a somewhat underrated track, but is widely loved by 80's purists. Myself included. This is classic synth pop, kids. It's dreamy, it's other-worldly, it's magnificent.
June of 1983 saw the arrival of one of the most iconic and defining songs of the 1980's. Cyndi Lauper's irresistible pop classic "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" entered pop culture in that memorable summer of 1983. The song was Cyndi's breakthrough hit, rocketing to #2 on Billboard's Top 100 charts and instantly becoming an anthem the world over.
It ranks #45 in MTV'S 100 GREATEST VIDEOS EVER MADE, and received a Grammy nomination for Record Of The Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Cyndi Lauper was a huge presence throughout the 1980s, busting out hit after memorable hit. Many music critics thought it would be Lauper to surpass Madonna. Of course Madonna went on to icon status, but that doesn't detract from the impact of Cyndi whatsoever. I loved Cyndi just as much as I did Madonna or Pat Benatar or Annie Lennox- they were all some bad ass ladies. I've seen Cyndi Lauper in concert- she opened for Cher in 2003 and let me tell you- she was AMAZING. Cyndi put on one hell of a show. Well, both of them did, actually. It was certainly a night I will never forget. Cyndi Lauper is one of the most memorable acts of the decade, and left us with some great tunes.
Released with "Physical Attraction" as a B-side, "Burning Up" hit the clubs in March of 1983. Although the song would fail to do much on the Billboard pop charts, it did peak at #3 on the Dance/Club charts- a place Madonna would be soon accustomed to. Being many people's first glimpse of a then-unknown Madonna, it became a minor hit on the fledgling MTV video channel. It's a powerful clip- it brazenly shows Madonna's raw ambition and blatant air of defiance. This is one of the hottest songs of the 80s, and of all time. This song perfectly personifies Madonna in all her unabashed glory. Still one of my favorites of her.
Released in January of 1982, "We Got The Beat" by the Go-Go's would become the band's biggest hit to date, spending three weeks at #2 on the US Billboard charts. The song is immortal- not only was it used in the opening credit sequence of the 80s classic "Fast Times At Ridgemont High", but it was also named one of The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock And Roll. The video received very heavy rotation on MTV and quickly became a staple on the video channel. With its simple yet instantly recognizable intro, the song still never fails to get people moving and is classic Go-Go's.
Released as a single in early 1983 and known as the breakthrough song for British group The Eurythmics, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) became an instant smash, making it all the way to the #1 position on the Billboard charts. The accompanying video made a huge impact on young MTV viewers- I for one will never forget the astonishing sight of androgynous Annie Lennox and her brightly orange, close-cropped hair brandishing a cane. She was super cool, and kinda scary at the same time... Her gender-bending identity quickly became a household name in the early 80s, although "Sweet Dreams" would become their only #1 smash in the US. Still, they were extremely influential, and honestly the song sounds as if it could be released today. The video is widely considered a classic of the era, and was in heavy rotation on MTV throughout '83 and '84.
Epitomizing the emerging new wave movement of the early 80s, Berlin's "The Metro" is a heavenly robotic and blissful melding of punk rock and pop and glazed with some utterly delicious synthesizers. Although "The Metro" only made it to #58 on the charts, the video was in heavy rotation on MTV at the time and Berlin was honestly more of a cult band anyway. Teri Nunn had great style and sex appeal, and they would go on to have a handful of hits throughout the decade. This is probably my favorite Berlin track though- to me it perfectly captures that delicious 80s energy, circa 1983.
Although only a minor hit in 1982, "Destination Unknown" by Missing Persons became an MTV staple and a classic example of 80s New Wave/Pop. The combination of their New Wave sound mixed with Dale's quirky voice and outrageous fashions totally personified the newly emerging look and sound of the MTV era. This is still one of my all-time favorite songs of the 80s.
Taken from Queen's 1980 album "The Game", the band scored their biggest selling single ever with the irresistible "Another One Bites The Dust". The song was tremendously successful, hitting #1 on the US Billboard charts and becoming a #2 hit on both the R&B and Disco charts. The single would sell over 7 million copies worldwide, and ranked #34 on Billboard's All Time Top 100. The pounding bass line was inspired by Chic's "Good Times", and supposedly after attending a Queen concert, Michael Jackson suggested to Freddie Mercury to release "Another One Bites The Dust" as a single. Luckily for us, Freddie listened to MJ.
In 1983, Bonnie Tyler unleashed one of the most memorable anthems and music videos of the decade. "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" would become a #1 smash hit in the US and UK, and would be certified platinum. The sweeping song was a mega-hit of '83, and the accompanying video quickly became an MTV staple. Looking back on the video today, it's surprisingly homo-erotic, which must have went right over my little head back in 1983 (I was 11...). And the high level of drama and camp make this video a masterpiece of the medium. It's so over-the-top and dramatic, and that makes it just awesome. At least in my eyes.
It's rather surprising that Bonnie Tyler didn't go on to become a superstar of the decade- after this one, her only other hit of the 80's would be "Holdin' Out For A Hero", from "Footloose". Bonnie, on top of a great, raspy voice, obviously had a strong music video presence. It seems she could have churned out smash after smash throughout the 80's, but sadly, it was not to be. Anyway, we will always have "Total Eclipse Of The Heart", which has become a bona-fide pop culture phenomenon today. Everything about this song and video is CLASSIC. God, I love the 80's...
Widely considered one of the all-time great and classic music videos of the 1980's, A-Ha's "Take On Me" would become a #1 smash in 1985. Thanks in large part to the cutting-edge and memorable video, which would end up winning 6 different awards at the MTV Music Video Awards. This is truly one of the most imaginative and creative music videos of all time.
DJ Afrika Bambaataa was one of the originators of break-beat deejaying, and their single "Planet Rock" from 1982 was groundbreaking in that it seamlessly meshed rock, funk and electronic music together into one explosive and irresistible hit. Incorporating the melody of Kraftwerk's "Trans-Europe Express" with elements of their own music, they created what would become known later as electro funk. "Planet Rock" was only a minor hit in the US and UK, but its importance is undeniable in that it helped develop the electro style and helped pave the way for techno, trance, and house music. Rolling Stone magazine would rank "Planet Rock" at #237 in their list of the 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time.
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