In Defense of Band-Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
In 1984, an instantly classic holiday song tried to save the world. Thirty years later, it seems the song needs to be saved from itself. I originally intended to write a piece outlining how the 1984 version of Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” is infinitely superior to the 2014 version. (Sorry, One Direction guys, but it’s true.) But after some initial research, I realized the 1984 version is not quite as beloved as I...
Sampling the 80s
Why Current Artists Can’t Resist Picking from the 80s Buffet As if you need more evidence that 1980s music is the greatest, consider this: even now, almost a quarter-century after the decade folded, artists are still ripping off– oops! I mean, “sampling”– 80s hooks for their own songs. For example, just the other day, I was thrilled to hear on the radio Suzanne Vega’s “Tom’s Diner”...
The 5 Best Make-Out Songs of the ‘80s
The 1980s gave us so much great music—totally awesome music for partying, doing aerobics, slow dancing, cruising on Friday nights, and above all, making out! Who else remembers kissing in the backseat of the car or on the couch with one eye open, making sure Mom or Dad didn’t peek out the living room window or come down the stairs? Anyone? Depending on what area of the country you grew up in, making out might also have been called...
99 Luft Balloons Cover Using Only Red Balloons
Covers of songs can be a lot of fun; they pay the ultimate compliment to the original artist. And, an 80s cover, well, that’s even better. But, when you do a cover of Nena’s ’99 Luft Balloons’ using only red balloons (it is unclear whether it took 99 balloons to do this), it takes the whole cover song thing to a completely new level. Nena released the anti-nuclear song in 1983-1984 (depending on location)...
Bizarre Love Triangle, New Order Music Video
Bizarre Love Triangle, New Order New Order, Brotherhood, 1986 Information on New Order on MTV.com
When Don Met Bruce 25 Years Ago: “The End of the Innocence”
By Mark Dursin “Words and music.” Those three words (accompanied by a “fingers crossed” hand gesture) was Eddie Wilson’s mantra in the 1983 film Eddie and the Cruisers. For Eddie, those three words summed up the magic that happens when just the right lyric matches up with just the right melody. In the film, shy lyricist — and future English teacher — Frank “Wordman” Ridgeway (Tom Berenger) provides the poetry, which Eddie...
Best 80s Summer of Music – Results Are In
By Mark Dursin The results are in! Like Totally 80s wanted to know: “Of the ten summers of the 1980s, which one spawned the best music?” So, last week, we provided sample songs from the different summers and then asked you, the fine folks sitting at home, to vote on which summer you considered the best, music-wise. And here’s what you had to say . . . 3rd Best Summer (with 15% of the vote): 1984 2nd Best Summer (with...
Vote for the Best 80s Summer of Music
By Mark Dursin Music-wise, these were definitely NOT “cruel summers.” It’s funny: when I look back on the summers of my youth, I can distinctly remember so many of the popular songs on the radio at the time. But ask me to remember songs from last summer, I can maybe remember two . . . and one of them is “Blurred Lines,” which I am desperately trying to forget. So many great songs, from so many great artists, arrived during the summers...
Musical Theatre Fever – 80s Style
By Lori Ferraro I was/am a musical theatre geek. When I was eight-years -old my mom took me to see Annie (starring Sarah Jessica Parker!) on Broadway and I was hooked from the get go. In high school I was in the drama club and was a thespian. In college I received my Bachelor of Arts degree with a very useful Theatre Arts major. If West Side Story or Funny Girl come on HBO I will always stop and watch them – even if it’s a work night...
“Jump” Hits #1 30 Years Ago this Month
(and its role in the ongoing Van Halen / Van Hagar debate) February 1, 2014 By Mark Dursin It has been one of the most divisive issues of the past thirty years. A controversy that has inspired rancorous debate, has pit brother against brother, and has spawned heroes on both sides, with neither side claiming victory. I’m talking, of course, about the Van Halen vs. Van Hagar debate. Folks have bizarrely strong opinions regarding which...
The Best Christmas Song Ever
By Lori Ferraro I love Christmastime. I love buying and giving gifts, I love a big old tree in my living room, I love boozy egg nog. And I love Christmas music. Mostly I love traditional Christmas music or carols sung by the Rat Pack, like Dean Martin singing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” or that “Mistletoe and Holly” one by Frank Sinatra. I tend to shy away from anything new – Celine Dion or some random 90s boy bands singing...
Like Totally 80s Interviews John Waite
August 14, 2013 We recently had the extreme pleasure of talking with John Waite. After a successful stint in the 70s as front man for The Babys, John had two number one hits in the 80s: Missing You in 1984 and When I See You Smile with Bad English in 1989. We covered topics ranging from the writing of Missing You and his new album, Live: All Access, to his new favorite TV show. John & Nina Blackwood LT80s: Have you had a chance to...
Going Down Under in the 80s
To 80s kids, Australia was nothing short of magical. It had exotic animals, beautiful scenery, beaches—and the seasons were, like, reversed. We dreamed of visiting and hanging out with kangaroos, wallabies and koalas. As an added bonus, Australian accents were totally fun to attempt. From literature to movies to fashion, Oz rocked. Here’s an LT80s look back at how our cultural crush on Australia developed during the 80s, from...
Top 12 Breakup Songs of the 80s
By Julie Anderson One of the hard facts of growing up is the inevitability of heartbreak. As teenagers, we fell in love – and OH how hard we fell – but more often than not, we didn’t end up with our beloveds for the long haul. (Which, by and large, is a good thing, right? I mean, have you googled some of your exes?) When the end of a relationship was upon us, we might have felt angry, jubilant, remorseful, vindictive, or totally...
Idol Thoughts
Disclaimer: I love, love, LOVE me some American Idol. It’s like an extra holiday season in the year – Yay! It’s Idol Time again! – and the weeks it’s on kind of revolve around watching DVRed episodes with my husband after we get our preschooler in bed. Yes, I grieved when Paula left, but I think J.Lo is just as good if not BETTER (although I’m sick to death of those stupid goosies). And Yes, I’m missing Simon’s bitchy and brutal...
