Tuesday, July 21, 2009

80's Anthems

The 80s. Oh dear reader, were you there? Do you remember the the bad perms...on the guys? The spandex? Neon? Shoulder pads? Fringed coats? Ladies, do you remember when we all thought the generic rocker with big feathered hair was sexy?

Love is a Battlefield, Heart of Glass, Another Brick in the Wall, Bette Davis Eyes, Take On Me, Jesse's Girl, I Love Rock'n'Roll, Eye of the Tiger, Beat It, Maniac, Every Breath You Take, Footloose, Jump, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Like a Virgin, Money Ain't For Nothing, How Will I Know, Broken Wings, Walk Like an Egyptian, Livin' On a Prayer, Heaven is a Place on Earth, Pour Some Sugar on Me, Straight Up, Every Rose has It's Thorn, Down Under, I Wanna Know What Love Is, You Shook Me All Night Long

What about the videos? Do you remember all the facial expressions which were supposed to look broodingly (is that a word?) intense but which now just look pained? All the gauzy curtains blowing in the wind? The original Emo incarnation? The back lighting which made the damaged and frizzy hair look even bigger?

Total Eclipse of the Heart. Everyone knows that soft background whisper of 'turn around, bright eyes' and the crash of 'every now and then I fall apart'. Have you ever seen the video? I must admit, I hadn't until about a half hour ago. What is supposed to be going on there? Demon eyes? Gauzy curtains? Fencers? Gymnasts? Ninjas? Please, take a minute right now to watch the original.

...ok, 5 and a half minutes later. Reaction?

Now check this out.

Ha. What's with videos these days? I think they just might make too much sense. Let's get back to the senseless classics.

1 comment:

  1. 1980s music videos were classics that's for sure. Good to see Down Under on your list. I remember most of those but in Australia we had a bigger fascination with British pop than you obviously did. Apart from Wham there was Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, The Human League, Bananarama, Culture Club, Simple Minds, Depeche Mode, Thompson Twins, Tears for Fears etc.
    Sydney - City and Suburbs

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