Sam Draws the 80s and It’s Totally Awesome
You may have seen Sam’s drawings online; he’s developed quite a following. In fact, he’s been featured in the Huffington Post, Good Morning America and has received praise from the likes of George Takei, Martha Quinn, and the guys from Wang Chung. If you are new to Sam’s work, he is a 6 year old artist in Portland, Oregon. After hearing a steady stream of 80s music (thanks to his 80s-loving mom), he was moved...
80s Power Ballads: A Rating System
AUTHOR’S NOTE: “How did I forget ‘Home Sweet Home’?” That’s what I’ve been asking myself ever since I read the feedback to my last post, the one about the greatest songs from 1985. Sure, I couldn’t mention every big song. But, next to Dead or Alive’s “You Spin Me Round,” Motley Crue’s signature love song was probably the most glaring omission. Of all the songs to overlook, how did I miss THAT one? (Actually, I think I know how:...
1985: Thirty Year Retrospective (Music Edition)
Bowling for Soup sure picked the right year to celebrate in its song “1985.” Now, I know that I once proclaimed, on this very site, that 1983 was the best year in music ever. And last fall, Rolling Stone magazine called 1984 “pop’s greatest year.” But 1985’s got some game as well. So why, thirty years on, are we still preoccupied with 1985? Well, 1985 was the year of… Defining the Decade: Quintessential 80s tracks were released...
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...
5 Ways Christmas Was Better in the 80s
When I think back to Christmas as a kid in the 80s, things seemed a lot less complicated. There was the glow of the television screen — not of the iPad/iPhone screen — with the yule log burning or “Emmet Otters Jugband Christmas” playing on a loop on HBO. When we wanted to watch our annual Christmas specials, we had to check the TV Guide to make sure we were home in time for Rudolph or Frosty; there was no On Demand back...
