Lie to Me Music Video by Depeche Mode
‘Lie to Me’, Some Great Reward, 1984 Information about the album on Wikipedia
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)...
Every Day They Read the Books: Allusive Artists of the 80s
As a high school English teacher, I love me some allusions, those literary “shout-outs” to other texts. And as a 1980s devotee, I really appreciate 80s artists that use allusions, since it gives me an excuse to play classic tunes in class and unleash my obsession on a new, unsuspecting generation. With the new school year underway, I thought I would present my list of ten allusive 80s artists, whose works include significant...
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...
The 80s Underage Dance Club
Awesome Beats, Smoke Machines, Lip-synch Contests and Mocktails As I entered my teen years in the mid-80s, I was completely obsessed with the following: Boys Music Dancing Fashion Thinking about it, I guess Prince was onto something with DMSR. There was one place and one place only where each of these obsessions could truly be fulfilled – and that place was Faces Teen Night Club in Tampa, Florida. Faces was located in a strip mall by...
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...
You Mean These 10 Acts Have Number One Songs… and Bruce Springsteen Doesn’t?
By Mark Dursin The gang at Cheers routinely groaned when Cliff Clavin would share one of his “little known facts” (e.g. “It’s a little known fact that the tan became popular during the Bronze Age”). But the pontificating postman was merely preparing his drinking buds for life in the erudite 80s — the decade when Trivial Pursuit debuted, when Alex Trebek first condescended to contestants on Jeopardy,...
Air Supply’s Greatest Hits – The Soundtrack of 80s Love
By Lori Ferraro There’s nothing in the world like a super-sappy love song. Well . . . there is one thing that’s better . . . a super-sappy 80s love song. We had Chicago and “hello” . . . we had Lionel Richie. But if you truly wanted to bawl your eyes out because you were falling in love or falling out of love, this was the cassette tape you were listening to: Air Supply’s Greatest Hits was a soft rock power ballad powerhouse. With...
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...
REPLAY AMERICA – The Ultimate 80s Festival
May 21, 2014 What if you could go to one concert this summer? Just one. I would of course want it to be a band from the 80s that I love . . . . like . . . The Go-Go’s! What if along with that one great 80s band (like The Go-Go’s) you could see FOUR other great bands from the 80s to rock you back to your junior year of high school? Like Martha Davis and The Motels? Patty Smyth of Scandal? How about a little Cutting Crew? And round it...
Interview with Andrew Golub
Andrew (Durandy) Golub has amassed the largest collection of Duran Duran posters in the world, and lucky for us he did. Released just before Christmas, “Beautiful Colors” features this impressive collection and is a must have for any Duran Duran fan. The hardback book is beautifully done and takes the reader on a visual history of the band. His poster collection has been showcased at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and included in an...
Boy George Makes a Comeback
By Mark Dursin It happened before our very eyes: the 1980’s most astounding case of Missing Persons. And when I say “Missing Persons,” I’m not talking about the early ’80s band responsible for the songs “Words” and “Destination Unknown.” I’m talking about another ’80s band, a slightly more successful one. In fact, thirty years ago, this band was quite possibly the hottest act in...
“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...
