10 Things You Might Not Know About Olivia Newton-John
We need very little prompting to write about Olivia Newton-John. Her place at the top (tied with Debbie Harry and Joan Jett) of the Like Totally 80s list of Most Awesome Ladies of the 80s is secure. My hopeless devotion to all things Olivia started in 1978 with the release of Grease. I received the double LP soundtrack for my 6th birthday. That was it; I was hooked. All homemade dance routines and subsequent hairstyles in my life...
The Dark Side of 80s Music
The 80s saw a dark, modern edge come into pop music. Some of it was intense and brooding, some of it was stalker-ish, and some of it was downright threatening. The tunes were danceable enough, but now that we look back on the lyrics of some of them, it sounds like a few of these writers needed to sit in a romantic time-out chair for a little while. For some of the artists of the 80s, relationships were less about tender feelings and...
Choose Your Leppard
By Will Stroock Generation X is usually viewed as a monolith but there are major differences. If you were born in 1968, like my older sister, or 1973, like me, the cultural feel of your formative years is very different. This difference can be illustrated by the heavy metal band, Def Leppard. In many ways, Gen X can be divided into two groups with one simple question: which was your Def Leppard Album, Pyromania or Hysteria? Both were...
Influential 80s New Wave Bands
The New Wave music genre gave us many amazing bands. One of the most interesting aspects of New Wave was the fact that it was so open-ended in terms of style. This meant that a wide range of groups were able to contribute to the genre thanks to it lacking a certain musical homogeneity. The most important aspects of New Wave weren’t a strict adherence to specific songwriting rules but rather an attitude and spirit that combined aspects...
Artist Highlight: Music’s a-ha Moment
I love a-ha. I love their sophisticated, uber-catchy pop songs. I love their iconic “Take on Me” video and lead singer Morten Harket’s bold & unforgettable falsetto. And I love, love that their farewell world-tour is called “Ending On a High Note.” These guys have a sense of humor to rival their musical chops. Mention a-ha to a thirty-something in the US, and the likely response will be a slow smile of recognition. Their fame...
Top 5 Mega-Music Babes of the 80s
By Ryan Zimmerman Ryan here. Back again with this week’s top 5: Top 5 Mega-Music Babes of the 80s. Now, I know Madonna, Janet, etc. were all truly overflowing with babe-itude. But, as usual, I’ve tried to stick with those that peaked or had their most successful runs in the 80s. You disagree with their 80s stardom status? Well, this is my column, and I’m picking who I want. So enjoy! 5. Stacey Q “Stacey Who?,” you might...
80s Rap Music
It has often been said that Jazz music is one of the few truly American art forms, born and bred in the USA. This held true until the 1980s gave birth to one of the most compelling new forms of music that few people seemed to realize was destined to take over popular culture and work its way into the fabric of everyday life. Rap music and hip hop created and codified a new language that rose up from the streets first as a cipher for...
New Order – Music & Videos
New Order is the England-born rock band known for its dreamy and highly danceable electronic sounds. Founded in 1980, the band was formed after Ian Curtis’s suicide when they were all part of the band Joy Division. Twenty-eight years later, New Order’s music is still as fresh and interesting as it ever was. On November 11, 2008, Rhino Records is re-issuing a decade of New Order at their finest – the five albums released in the 80s...
Best 80s Song Poll – Results Are In with MJ on Top
We polled readers about their favorite 80s songs, and the results are in. Thriller takes the top spot as the standout choice. MJ was way out ahead of the cultural curve with this one, bringing zombies mainstream two decades earlier than any one else. Thriller 32% Jack & Diane 21% Tainted Love 15% 867-5309/Jenny 15% Sunglasses at Night 6% Relax 4% Safety Dance 4% Home Sweet Home 2% Isn’t it fitting that on this 25th...
Madonna Music Videos in the 80s
There is no question that of all of the artists who dominated the 80’s MTV era, Madonna was able to offer fans the most consistent, impressive and controversial music videos. Avid MJ fans might disagree, but we can all certainly agree that she was a pioneer in the field. MTV went on air in 1981. Madonna’s debut album came just two years later in 1983. Madonna’s style and music and the music video medium offered by MTV were a match...
Valley Girl, by Frank Zappa
The song “Valley Girl” was released in May 1982 on the album, Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch, with music and lyrics by Frank Zappa and performed by his then 14-year old daughter, Moon Unit. Here are the video and lyrics to this wonderful song that perfectly captures the early 80s in the San Fernando Valley and the culture of Sherman Oaks Mall (featured prominently in the opening scenes of the movie Valley...
List of 80s Hair Bands
If you’re looking for a list of 80s hair bands, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a list of the 80s hair bands that rocked the decade like no one else could. Grab your black concert t-shirt, your too-tight jeans (also black), throw in a bandana for good measure and get ready to rock. Bon Jovi Britny Fox Cinderella Motley Crue Def Leppard Poison Quiet Riot Van Halen Dokken Twisted Sister Skid Row Great White KISS Whitesnake...
80s Famous People: The Totally Rad Rockers
The music of the 80s spawned much of what’s popular today, especially in terms of electronica, alt. pop, and synth bliss. While grunge may have inspired alternative rock as we know it today, 80s pop, new wave, and punk gave birth to a whole new generation of music that’s done nothing but age well over time. But after 20 years, which famous people of the 80s music scene are still with us? Madonna After evolving from a...
