An '80s Moment with Alan: Ballads Edition
When I last blogged about the '80s, I was hitting the pop pretty hard. Nothing has changed here except for the tempo. It's time for a slow dance. Let's begin:
"Hands To Heaven," Breathe
I always had a soft spot for these guys. They were good looking, European, and the song is totally killer. Fun fact: as a kid, I thought when they said "my restlessness" that they were saying "my breast-lessness," of course he didn't have breasts! It was only a few short years ago that I realized what he was actually saying.
"Seasons Change," Expose
Some things never change. I still get the chorus of this song stuck in my head on a near-weekly basis, because it's true.
"No One Is To Blame," Howard Jones
If I said I had never put this song on repeat and bawled my eyes out, I would be a total liar. It's "life's not fair" lyrics have totally resonated with me at many times in my life. It's a great song that holds up well, and will never get skipped in shuffle mode as long as I'm at the controls.
"Foolish Beat," Debbie Gibson
Though she's now known as "Deborah," she'll always be Debbie to me. What set Ms. Gibson apart from all the other pop starlets of her day, not to mention today's current crop, is that she wrote and produced her own records. Like, all of them. Bravo Debbie/Deborah!
This song has been used in the soundtracks to several movies as of late, and for good reason. While it's undeniably '80s, it has a timeless quality to it. The video itself is something to behold--is that hair crimped? Is that guy playing a giant stick? Did he just smash it in a fit of passion at the end? What ever happened to those clothes? Fun fact: this band went on to become Underworld.
I've been saving the best for last...
"All Cried Out," Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam featuring Full Force
This is the most epic pop ballad ever made. There are countless "moments" in this song and video--from her pronunciations ( "crying, cryaang, cryying," "O-I needed was a simple hello") and her outfits (what adult has that much pink in their bedroom?), to the headbands and the weird looking model dude. This is a perfect '80s experience rolled into 4 minutes and 41 seconds, and the reason karaoke was invented.
As some of my co-workers graciously pointed out to me, several of these songs appear to have quite a bit in common with the "genre" known as smooth jazz. It really threw me for a loop. At first I felt a little hurt, then sad, then I realized they were right. Does this mean that I like smooth jazz? I really, really, really, really hope not. Does this mean I'm throwing out my love of all things '80s to save my hipster cred? Ha! I'd rather like smooth jazz then quit the '80s--look for more coverage of my favorite decade in the future. Got any special sub-genre of '80s you'd like me to cover? let me know in the comments.
--Alan Wiley
Ian S. on January 18, 2009 at 10:36 PM
I should also mention for completeness that Allure remade "All Cried Out" in 1997 and it's also quite good because they had the good sense not to mess with the song aside from some elements of the production. However, the original's great because the vocals actually sound like she's on the edge where the remake's all computer-perfect, so it loses some of the impact.
Ian S. on January 18, 2009 at 10:16 PM
1985-88 was a fantastic time for pop music, probably the best 4 musical years since 1967-70. "Seasons Change" demonstrates it perfectly. The yummy DX-7 bassline and pads, the gated snare, the obligatory sax, and the great no-Autotune-required harmonies.
"All Cried Out" by comparison has nothing blatantly 80s about the production. You could probably play it on the radio right now and many wouldn't realize it was recorded 24 years ago. I'm taking nothing away from it's epic-ness though. The vocal melody starting with "apology not accepted" is so wrong and yet so perfect.
Record Shop Girl on January 18, 2009 at 09:20 PM
Enough of "smooth jazz," what about the '80s punk scene and how '70s bands like The Clash, Sex Pistols, Ramones, and even Frank Zappa paved the way for the likes of the Butthole Surfers, Circle Jerks, Dead Milkmen, Dead Kennedys, etc in the '80s...and how punk morphed again producing '90s bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Metallica, etc?
What are those boys, who as adolescents in the '80s bought the Surfers & Jerks, listening to now? Were they really buying their albums for the music or more for their provocative names?
This is the 1st time I've read an '80s Moments, so forgive me if this had already been covered. -- RSG
Tom on January 18, 2009 at 05:47 PM
Howard Jones had several good 80's songs (plus the early 90's Lift Me Up) but what really makes No One Is to Blame is the aching sound in his voice. It sounds like he really feels the lyrics (without going over the top IMO).
denise on January 18, 2009 at 05:25 PM
No "True" by Spandau Ballet?
denise on January 18, 2009 at 05:24 PM
No "True" by Spandau Ballet?
denise on January 18, 2009 at 05:24 PM
No "True" by Spandau Ballet?
jeremy on January 18, 2009 at 04:40 PM
Debbie Gibson's "Foolish Beat" plays "Lost in your Eyes" instead. The point still stands though.
jay on January 18, 2009 at 04:37 PM
Alan, that Debbie Gibson you have linked is "Lost In Your Eyes," not "Foolish Beat."
I'll be in the other room if anyone needs me, trying to forget 4th grade.
Ellen Kim on January 18, 2009 at 12:26 AM
i too loved the first four songs on your list, and also thought breathe was singing "breast-lessness." then i thought it was "breathlessness," which i thought was cheesy considering their band name, so thank you for clearing that up for me. but hands down i loved their song "how can i fall" even more.