"I hear Brenda's got a baby But, Brenda's barely got a brain A damn shame The girl can hardly spell her name (That's not our problem, that's up ta Brenda's family) Well let me show ya how it affects the whole community Now Brenda never really knew her moms and her dad was a junky Went in debt to his arms, it's sad Cause I bet Brenda doesn't even know Just cause your in the ghetto doesn't mean ya can't grow But oh, that's a thought, my own revelation Do whatever it takes ta resist the temptation" I gotta tell ya, when Tupac Shakur first arrived on the scene back in the early 90's I wasn't really a fan. I mean, it was obvious that 2Pac was a masterful rapper and he clearly had an agenda and a message to deliver, but I just wasn't ready to "hear" him. I knew about the east coast west coast rap rivalry because I think even if you lived under a rock in West Virginia, it had still reached you. Names like 2Pac, Puffy and Biggie just weren't in heavy rotation for me. I recently went back and started listening to Pac and Biggie's catalogs of music and discovered that I'm a fan, especially of the former. "Brenda's Got A Baby" was 2Pac's debut single and it introduced him to the world as a young man that not only understood the issues of teenagers but he had issues with those problems. He didn't understand why more men weren't taking responsibility for their actions. In the 90's I was probably too young and oblivious to really get the fire and intelligence that motivated 2Pac, but I see it now. Check out the video for "Brenda's Got A Baby" below!
Back in the mid-eighties if you were living in Pennsylvania then you were very familiar with a group called The Hooters. They were from Philly and had a string of hits that landed on Billboard's hot 100. "And We Danced" and "All You Zombies" were probably the most popular but my favorite was "Johnny B". How popular were The Hooters? They actually opened the Philly portion of a huge ditty called Live Aid, one of the most star-studded benefit concerts of all time.
Fast-forward more than 30 years and The Hooters are still around and on occasion, they do pop up to play a gig together. Check out "Johnny B" below.
You told me you loved me So I don't understand Why promises are snapped in two And words are made to bend
The Thompson Twins are one of the best known groups to come out of the UK during the early 80's synth-pop movement. They had a number of hits in the states with 1982's "Lies" being one of their first. It his number one on Billboard's dance chart and landed in the top 50 on Billboard's Hot 100. It's one of those songs with an unforgettable hook so you know it almost from the minute it starts.
The only thing that could be better than just the Thompson Twins is featuring their performance from Solid Gold from early 1983. A classic synth track combined with the Solid Gold dancers is just about as 80's as it gets, don't you think?
Lived 9 to 5 and he worked his fingers to the bone
Just barely out of school, he
came from the edge of town
Fought like a switchblade so no one could take him down, oh no
He had no money, no, no good at home
He walked the streets a soldier and he fought the world alone
And now it's 18 and life, you got it
18 and life, you know
Your crime is time and it's 18 and life to go"
Sebastian Bach. He was a bit of an obsession of mine back in 1989. I remember the very first time that I heard "Youth Gone Wild" by Skid Row was on Headbanger's Ball after work one night. It was a MOMENT. The song just clicked in my brain and Skid Row was instantly placed in my top three fav hairbands (behind Whitesnake & Ratt). I bought the tape and had a bit of a battle over it with my mom. She was super religious and would toss out any music that looked or sounded questionable, so Skid Row was a goner. I probably bought the cassette four times before the band released their second single, "18 And Life".
That is the song that most people remember and it was THE song that caused them to charge up Billboard's hot 100 charts into the top five. By the time all of my friends caught on to them, I had already invested six months (and probably $50) in them. "18 And Life" is the cautionary tale of a teen named Ricky who is serving life for murder. Thirty years later, it remains a worst-case scenario, cautionary tale. It was also the highest charting song for Skid Row. Check out Sebastian & the rest of the band below!
"Thank you for coming home I'm sorry that the chairs are all worn I left them here I could have sworn These are my salad days Slowly being eaten away Just another play for today Oh but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you Nothing left to make me feel small Luck has left me standing so tall Gold Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know You're indestructible Always believe in, because you are Gold"
I love those songs that serve as an instant vehicle to take me back in time. Spandau Ballet's "Gold" is most certainly one of those. Every time I hear it (which is actually pretty often) I'm instantly reliving 1983 all over again. To say that this song got a lot of air play would be a real understatement, especially since even now, more than 30 years later it's still in heavy rotation on some stations. "Gold" is the kind of song that you just kind of know all of the words to, even if you don't like it. I remember it always being on in the car and so nearly every time I hear those opening notes, then at least for a second I'm back in my dad's old Buick driving to god knows where.
"True" was actually Spandau Ballet's biggest hit in the U.S. and while they aren't often seen here they do often still perform in the UK. You guys remember this song, right? I'm betting that you start singing along (even if it's just in your head) almost immediately!
"Somehow the wires uncrossed, the tables were turned Never knew I had such a lesson to learn I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do I tidied up my point of view I got a new attitude I'm in control, my worries are few 'Cause I've got love like I never knew Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh I got a new attitude"
The 80's reintroduced us to a few women (Tina Turner) that had previous success in a group (Chaka Khan) but found their own way to a solo career. Patti LaBelle is one of them, but it took her awhile. Seven years after the demise of LaBelle, she finally returned to the charts with a little dance ditty called "New Attitude". It did well on Billboard's charts and even better on dancefloors across the globe.
The cool thing is that now, more than thirty years later, "New Attitude" is often the soundtrack to anything intended to empower woman. It has become an anthem of sorts for ladies everywhere. For now, though, let's throw it back to its' original, feel-good video.
"You should've been gone Knowing how I made you feel And I should've been gone After all your words of steel Oh I must've been a dreamer And I must've been someone else And we should've been over
Oh Sherrie, our love Holds on, holds on Oh Sherrie, our love Holds on, holds on."
When I think of Steve Perry's first solo album, Street Talk, I'm instantly transported back to the summer of 1984. I was heading into 8th grade and my days were spent laying in the sun with my best friend at her grandmother's house, boom box blaring. We were obsessed with Q-102, a new radio station and listened non-stop. They gave away albums every single hour and we were on a mission to win. Steve Perry's album was one of the coveted prizes and at the time "Oh Sherrie" was played on the radio every 3 hours and MTV had the video in heavy rotation as well. Such a great ballad, one that to this day I'll stop and listen to whenever it pops up on the radio.
Do you guys remember Karyn White? She first garnered major radio play in the summer of 1988 with "The Way You Love Me" and that song kicked off a string of hits for the rising star. In an era when JodyWatley, Taylor Dayne and Paula Abdul were taking over the charts, White found herself easily in the mix. Her self titled album produced a string of hits including my favorite, "Secret Rendezvous". It peaked at number 6 on Billboard's Hot 100 and burned up dance floors and car radios alike. Check out the video below!
Do you remember Jane Child? She was one of the earliest shooting stars of the 90's that seemed to have a long career ahead of her. Child's look caught attention because no other woman on the top 40 charts was rocking a shaved head, braids and a nose ring. Her first single, "Don't Wanna Fall In Love" was a total bop. It was on in the car, it was on in the grocery store, it was on in your doctor's office. It followed you everywhere and that wasn't a bad thing. We were coming off of hair bands and New Jack Swing had its' finger on just about everything else so Child was really a breath of fresh air.
Unfortunately, she's considered a one-hit wonder by most, but Child does have three albums out there so if you still love this song, then check the rest of her archive. You remember this one, right?
I've always dreamed this was the way that it could be Just like a fantasy, your hear along with me So now it seems we've slipped into reality And it's plain to see this is our destiny Feelings I try to hold seem to take control I lie awake, my body shakes with just one thought of you
So freestyle Friday kind of came and went this week, but we still need a dose of the actual music right? Here's a dose of Latin Freestyle via Sweet Sensation. "Take It While It's Hot" is the title track off of the ladies debut album from 1988. It put them on the map back then and it'll still get you up off of the couch right now, so enjoy!
DailyBOOM & Boom Radio is about to light up the summer of 2019.
If you are an unsigned artist or an unsigned band that knows how to rock out then we are looking for YOU to join our battle of the unsigned bands.
What is Boom Radio's Battle of the Unsigned Bands?
A tiered competition that will pit competitors against each other. Votes via social media will help to decide who moves on in each round of the competition.
Who is eligible to compete in Boom Radio's Battle of the Unsigned Bands?
Anyone that can rock out. We don't care if you're metal, hard rock, classic rock, alt rock, indie rock, prog rock... you get the idea.
Why is Boom Radio hosting a Battle of the Unsigned Bands?
Because your response to our requesting music from unsigned artists has been so great. We think you guys are pretty awesome & would like to help you gain some more exposure. Plus we wanted to give our listeners a fun way to get involved while supporting new music.
Also, why not? We want to help heat up your summer!
REGISTRATION FOR BOOM RADIO'S BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Space will be limited so if you are ready to rock then here's what you need to do-
You must include:
1. Short band/artist bio with all members listed
2. Band Photo
3. 2 (Two) songs that best represent your work on either an MP3 or Wav file
4. A registration fee of $10 will be collected. No, we don't really need your cash but this is the best way to make sure that entrants are as serious about this Battle as we at Boom Radio are!
5. Let your followers & fans know that you've entered and start rallying your troops because you're going to need them. Always use #BoomRadio & #BoomRadioBattle in posts on Twitter.
Send the first three of those things to
Cate@dailyboom.net and then you'll be directed on #4.
REGISTRATION CLOSES on MAY 20th
PRIZES
Well, of course, we are going to have lots of stuff for you. Details will be announced soon, but on the line will be an exclusive interview with a music outlet that reaches millions of people each month, plus a bunch of other special goodies.
It's really rare for me to love just about every single song on an album. I really do cherry pick most of the time and so when something is good all the way through, I remember it. I'm currently working on something that requires quite a bit of research on the mid-80's so I ordered a bunch of old magazines off of eBay to take me back in time. The best way to get into the right mindset seems to be a combination of forgetting what I think I already know and reading what was actually written way back then. Yesterday I was flipping through a copy of Rolling Stone from 1987 and came upon a piece on Def Leppard.
Now, flash forward 30 years and we already know that their Hysteria album is considered to be one of the best rock albums in history. It went 12x platinum and spawned 7 singles over the course of about 18 months. To this day, "Pour Some Sugar On Me" remains a rock party anthem that nearly everyone seems to know the lyrics to. Ironically, the album's producer, Mutt Lange set out to help the guys create the rock equivalent of Michael Jackson'sThriller, meaning that nearly every track on it could be released as a successful single. Mission accomplished.
But back in 1987 when Hysteria was first released, Def Leppard had no clue of what was really to come. Instead, all that the guys knew for sure is that it took them three years to complete the album and that no one deserved the amount of bad luck that they had to persevere through in order to complete the record. It was during this time that drummer Rick Allen lost his left arm after a car accident and had to learn how to play all over again, using his left foot and pedals. That crisis was the clincher and from it the title Hysteria was born. The media was all over the group at the time of Allen's accident and it was the one word that seemed to sum up their lives.
I still love nearly every song on this album and at least half of them have a specific memory attached. While Hysteria is not my favorite track, it is a great one, especially knowing a bit of the backstory.
"You play tricks on my mind, you're everywhere, but you're so hard to find You're not warm, you're sentimental You're so extreme, you can be so temperamental"
I know that these guys were a bit older when they had a string of hits that began in the late 70's but being ten years past retirement age seems unreal. I remember when "Urgent" first came out in the summer of 1981. It was catchy and really the perfect single off of their 4 album to lead with. At the time, Foreigner was a pretty well-established rock group but this album helped them to crossover onto the pop charts where they would spend years making their presence known. "Urgent" was something different though. It was one of those songs that everyone loved after 30 seconds in and I suspect that it probably still has that effect to this day on those not familiar with Foreigner's extensive catalog. Back in 1981, I had a little transistor radio that I carried around with me and it was an era where we all really did listen to the radio for hours just waiting for your favorite DJ to play your favorite songs. "Urgent" was certainly one of those songs for me. Check out the video below. It was made when MTV was still brand spanking new and every artist out there was trying to figure out how to perform a song that could be shown every few hours on a loop if they were really lucky.
If you're a rock fan then Joel Hoekstra is a man who needs precious little introduction. He spent several years onstage in the Broadway production of Rock of Ages and used that experience to launch a career that has him now playing beside some of his childhood favorites. Hoekstra believes that greatness comes from playing as often as he can and working with bands like Foreigner, Night Ranger and of course, Whitesnake (to name only a few) has helped to shape him into the major rock fixture that he is.
This year finds Hoekstra not only bouncing between gigs but finding a way to make it look pretty effortless. Whitesnake is just days away from launching their Flesh & Blood World Tour and I was able to steal a few minutes of the versatile virtuoso's time this past week.
Cate Meighan: Whitesnake rehearsals have officially started now haven't they?
Joel Hoekstra: Yes, we are pretty much spot on in the middle of rehearsals. We're working on new songs in particular and trying new things live. We've been trying different arrangements and just figuring out how to construct the show. That was our day yesterday, basically figuring out the running order and things like that, it's really been a great time for us.
CM: How does it feel to finally have the "Flesh & Blood" album release right around the corner, especially after it was delayed for a while?
JH: Oh it's great, I mean we're all excited to finally have it out (laughing). It's really fantastic to have it finally meet the rest of the world especially since we've known the songs for a while now, it's exciting. I understand the reasoning for the timeline and why it has taken a while though so I wasn't really frustrated with the delay. Plus I've been really, really busy so that has helped keep my mind off of it and now it's just exciting for all of us.
CM: So tell me, how will this Whitesnake tour be different from the last one?
JH: These are going to be longer shows because we're headlining and so it'll be mainly our audience. Last summer was really a test to make sure that David (Coverdale) was good with his knees and so we went out and just played a 60-minute set. It was a test to make sure that he could get through a few months out there on the road. This is going to be a much fuller schedule and you've only seen just the beginning of the show announcements. By the time all is said and done, we'll have done a lot to support the new album as well as the classic stuff. It's really exciting to be able to get out there to play some headlining shows with some deeper cuts of music and the hits too, of course.
David is just indestructible man (laughing), he's going to rock until there is just no rock left. He inspires us all and he does it because he loves it. He is just in love with the process and in love with everything about it. It just makes him happy and so it's good to be a part of that situation with him.
Photo: Cate Meighan
CM: That's not your only work situation though. You just wrapped up more dates with Cher, this time on an arena tour. How was that experience?
JH: The arena shows are just huge and I was really blown away because some of the shows were over 20,000 people. That was a bit of a surprise because the Vegas residencies are smaller. They were in like a 5,000 seat theater and so to be able to get out in front of 20,000 people is pretty amazing. I saw the size of some of the venues but you can always curtain off a venue to make it smaller and so I don't think that I ever would have foreseen 20,000 people actually in an audience. The whole band was so excited about it and I look at anything that happens with that Cher gig as just a positive blessing It was so out of left field to get it, so anything that comes my way because of it is really cool. I've also been able to come and go with it, you know she has let me do other things and then return when I can. That has just been so amazing of her and I'll be back with her May 20 - 30th for a quick Canadian arena tour and then another Vegas residency in August.
CM: It really is amazing how you find ways to make the dots connect so that you can juggle multiple gigs.
JH: It's almost a mandatory thing now unless you're part of a band that broke a long time ago and actually wrote the material, so then you've sold millions of albums. If you didn't do that (laughing) then you do what I'm doing these days, which is to play multiple gigs. Some fans really don't like that but some understand that this is the current landscape for musicians to make a living. It gets lost on people that not everyone is just rolling in dough, but most of us are just like everyone else. If someone told you that you could only work a third out of your year and only make a third of the money you'd say no way (laughing). As much as you're living your dream and pursuing your passion with music it still is the way that musicians pay their bills and earn a living. Having more on your plate helps you to do that and I also see it as getting paid to get even better at playing. That's the big thing, not only can you pay the bills but you're also improving and pushing yourself one level further at what you love.
Photo: Jay Marz
CM: I spoke with Michael Sweet recently and he was so excited to have you working on a few songs that will be on his new solo release "Ten" that drops later this year. How was that experience for you?
JH: I'm excited about that too. He just wanted to kind of make what sounds like an old school 80's metal record to me. He gave me guidelines like, 'Write a song that's a mash-up of these ideas', and so I sent him three songs. He liked all three but since he is spreading the album evenly with all of the guests, we're doing two of them. They sound really great and Michael is awesome, such a good dude. He works quickly and we're both on the same page so eventually, we're going to have to do a full album, especially after listening to these songs. We've been talking about it and wanting to do it for so long that eventually, we're going to have to figure out the business side of it.
CM: The fans are all wondering about another solo project. Is there anything in the works?
JH: I'm working on a follow up to my Joel Hoekstra's 13 "Dying to Live" record that came out in 2015. It's fully written and the drums and bass are done. I have no release date or info regarding a timeline for it yet (laughing) but it's coming. It really is coming.
Photo: Cate Meighan
Check out everything that Joel has coming up by visiting his official site. Check out Whitesnake's official site for tour dates, merch & more! Their new release "Flesh & Blood" is out on May 10th and you can also catch them at the M3 Rock Festival May 3-5th in Columbia, MD!
And past your door, but you don't live there anymore
It's years since you've been there
Now you've disappeared somewhere, like outer space
You've found some better place
And I miss you, like the deserts miss the rain
"Missing". the dance song from 1994 by Everything But The Girl technically classifies as a one-hit-wonder for most people, in spite of the group being around for more than 30 years. This is one of those songs that remains pretty timeless for multiple reasons. First off the sound isn't the least bit dated or obvious and then there are those lyrics, ones that surely resonate with anyone who has ever had a significant other for even an hour.
We all know what it's life after a breakup when all of those familiar haunts no longer have any meaning. Who hasn't done the random drive by just to see, well, what are we actually looking for in those moments? A familiar face? Proof that everything is different now? Closure?
"I put my hand on your stocking, I was movin' nice and slow Let my fingers do the walking, and there ain't far to go Don't tell me "I don't wanna be a girl like that" Do you wanna see a grown man cry? You don't wanna be a girl like that Baby this could be the first time (this could be the first time)"
My mom was always super touchy about music when I was growing up. Her strict religious beliefs made her seem to go out of the way to find something wrong with just about everything. I mean, everything. By the time 1984 rolled around I had a small boombox but taking it away was her favorite type of punishment for me. One step out of line and I'd lose it. Thankfully, I knew where she hid it and so whenever she left the house my ear would be planted to a speaker.
Needless to say, I really did go out of my way to hide certain artists or songs from her. Madonna with all of her crosses and sex pedaling was a certain no-no. Songs with questionable lyrics were another red flag for me because I knew mom would be listening. When John Parr first dropped "Naughty Naughty" I absolutely loved it. Loved the music but I also knew that the lyrics (for 1984) were way too raunchy for my mom to hear.
No joke. Listen to them.
Now, 30+ years later I'll tell you for a fact that "Naughty Naughty" is one of the songs best heard as loud as you can crank it. I think the ballsy lyrics and the driving rhythm matches pretty perfectly, don't you? Check it out below!
Patrick's Deep Dives airs each Saturday 11am-1pm EST on Boom Radio. It features deep cuts, lost hits, & everything that falls in between. Listen at DailyBOOM.net.
Boom Radio is your old school music authority & streams 24/7 with genre-based programs each evening.
In case you didn't already realize it by all of the other coverage, we really love rock festivals here at DailyBOOM because they give us a chance to grab a few minutes with legendary artists that have influenced and inspired us, one way or another. Legendary original Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler easily rests near the top of that list. He has years of sobriety under his belt and has tamed some inner demons by tapping into his own artistic creativity. In a quick chat with Steven this weekend we learned that love and gratitude are now giving him the biggest high of his life. Check it out below.
Steven on what he has been up to lately:
"I've been fabulous. I've just been playing and playing, plus I've been working on my art and it's all very fulfilling. I'll tell you, I've got such a great band. I've got Tanya O'Callaghan who plays bass, AJ (Alistair James) playing guitar, Michael Thomas on other guitar and then my rock brother who I just love, Ari Kamin from Argentina who sings like a demon angel. Since I'm doing GNR songs, he sings like Axl (Rose) did in his twenties. We're doing songs off of Adler's Appetite and then we're doing some GNR songs that they don't do live like "Say Goodbye to You" and we do "You Could Be Mine" the way that it was done back in 1989."
Steven on his love for music:
"I started playing drums when I was about thirteen. We used to hang out at night clubs even then (laughing). We would go for whenever the bands were soundchecking in the afternoon and they would take a stick and just hit the drums and it made a sound that was so beautiful to me. I could feel it in my heart and soul and I knew I had to be a part of this somehow. That love and need to be a part of it never ever goes away."
Steven on his sobriety:
"I've been sober since 2008 and I wish that I had gotten it (sober) a lot sooner because life is just so great. It was a complete change for me and I'm happy that I've got this second chance at life. The alcohol is a massive depressant and such a downer. I kept drinking because I was sad and it took me years to understand that I was sad because I kept drinking. When I drank the mood swings were like a roller coaster. My mood is pretty even now and I like it, I'm even Steven (laughing). Back in the day, I was just doing what my idols and the people that I looked up to were doing. Everyone partied and back then there wasn't the internet or Behind the Music stuff so you only heard the good things and they glorified it and made it seem fun. I didn't really understand that there was a bad side to it until it took over my life."
Photo: Steven Adler's Official Facebook
Steven on his artwork:
"I have my art collection, which is a series of prints of me playing each song off of Appetite for Destruction in the dark with a red light and a laser stick. I never really understood art until I got involved with this company and now I get it. There is so much passion and love, anger, and evil in everything and people get that. There is so much interest and I'm actually becoming an art connoisseur (laughing), who knew? I really love it. These prints are affordable and they come from the album Appetite, that I love so much.
It was so great playing with those guys (Guns N' Roses). I really love Slash and Axl (Rose) so it was a great experience. I miss Izzy (Stradlin) too. He has a talent for living and he knows how to live his life the right way that's for sure."
Steven on playing at M3 Rockfest:
"I can't believe I'm doing a show with Whitesnake! I'm going to find out this weekend if David Coverdale is my real father or not (laughing). I'm gonna grab a piece of his hair for a DNA test (still laughing and joking). He is just looking and sounding as great as ever and their bass player Michael Devin is one of my favorite people in the whole world. This whole weekend is just so amazing because I get to hang out with my friends that I've known for thirty or forty years. That's just so cool plus I love the fans so much and you already know how I love to rock so it's a great weekend."
Photo: Steven Adler's Official Facebook
Check out Steven Adler's site to view and purchase his creative art pieces. Also follow him on Facebook and Instagram for the latest tour info, band updates, and more!
Cause love cuts a million ways Shakes the devil when he misbehaves I ain't nobody's fool Come on shake it up Whatever I do Rock the cradle of love
Can you believe that Billy Idol is 61? Sixty-one?! How does that even seem possible when, in my mind, Idol will always be shirtless, in leather pants, bleached hair and of course, doing a lip curl? Then again, when I think of my own actual age... I guess the math does kind of work.
Idol is one of those artists that really helped to revolutionize the music industry during MTV's infantile stages. His videos were sharp, his songs were catchy and he was the kind of bad boy that wasn't trying to be one. Idol was just living his life and we were all happy to watch. Normally I'd be linking "Rebel Yell" or "White Wedding" for a throwback but "Cradle of Love" really seems like the best way to go.
Technically, the video didn't come out until May of 1990 but it the song was recorded in 1989 so I'm going to use that loophole. The video was unforgettable for several reasons. It was loaded with sexual innuendos when a teenage "Devin" from down the hall needed to use her uptight businessman neighbors stereo. Of course, she stripped her way through the apartment while demolishing everything in her path, that was kind of predictable.
But "Cradle of Love" was filmed differently because Idol was recovering from a motorcycle accident that nearly cost him both legs. He is seen only from the waist up performing in pictures hanging on the walls. What's really ironic is that this video won so many awards and was considered a turning point in the evolution of MTV, yet it also was kind of the beginning of the end of Idol's hot streak. He was no longer needed dancing around, being the center of attention in his own videos, bringing his decade-long run on MTV to a pretty abrupt end.
Cate's Classic Rock Mixtape airs live versions of your old favorites each Thursday at 9pm EST on Boom Radio found exclusively at DailyBOOM.net.
Boom Radio is your old school music authority & streams 24/7 with genre-based programs each evening.
"Girl I can't understand it, why you want to hurt me After all of the things I've done for you I buy you champagne, roses and put diamonds on your fingers But still you hang out all night, what am I to do
My girl wants to party all the time, party all the time, party all the time My girl wants to party all the time, party all the time, she parties all the time Whoooohooohoohoo (party all the time) She likes to party all the time (party all the time) Whoooohooohoohoo (party all the time) She likes to party all the time (party all the time)"
December of 1985 was a pretty cheesy month for music. Lots of sappy songs hit Billboard's Hot 100 and then there were some tracks that were a bit weird. Eddie Murphy's"Party All the Time" was one of those strange ones. It hit number 2 on the charts and was pretty darn catchy. While Murphy wasn't exactly known for his singing ability this song came at a point in time when he could really do no wrong.
Murphy was coming off of four successful years on Saturday Night Live and he had just struck box office gold with Beverly Hills Cop so if he wanted to make a song then no one was going to say no. Murphy teamed up with the legendary Rick James and the rest was easy. At the time James was also riding a nice wave of success, both with his own album and with his girl group, The Mary Jane Girls.
Murphy's name was going to sell records and putting James in the mix ensured that "Party All the Time" would be worth the airplay that it eventually received.
"Only when I'm dancing can I feel this free At night I lock the doors, where no one else can see I'm tired of dancing here all by myself Tonight I wanna dance with someone else"
I thought we would kick this morning off with a great classic Madonna song. "Into the Groove" was by many considered to be her first real, bonafide hit. The track was featured on the Desperately Seeking Susan soundtrack and probably one of the best parts of the entire film. The summer of 1985 was all about Madonna and we were all heading to the theater's to catch her performance beside Rosanna Arquette. Not too long ago I happened to get my hands on a copy of the Rolling Stone issue that was devoted to Desperately Seeking Susan and everything else that Madonna had going on back then.
So much nostalgia in that one photo right there, isn't there?
"Into the Groove" became a dance anthem for an entire decade and it certainly transcended the film that featured it. The video also inspired a generation's fashion sense. Even at 14, black lace, crop tops and kitten heels were part of my wardrobe. Check out the video below. How long has it been since you've seen Desperately Seeking Susan?
No money man can win my love It's sweetness that I'm thinking of. We always hang in a Buffalo Stance We do the dive every time we dance I'll give you love baby not romance I'll make a move nothing left to chance So don't you get fresh with me
Neneh Cherry first hit on MTV at a time when other ladies like Queen Latifah and Monie Love were blowing up. Girl groups like JJ Fad and Salt N' Pepa had already proved that women were good for a lot more than just syrupy ballads and viewers really seemed to dig this new wave of ladies. Cherry was born in the states but raised in Sweden beside an incredibly musical family. That probably explains why her talent has spanned singing, rapping and even spoken word. She's an artist that has been far more motivated by creativity than the all mighty dollar since first appearing in 1988.
"Buffalo Stance" was the first single by Cherry to find itself in heavy rotation on MTV. It was written about the group of friends that she ran with back in the day and a former boyfriend, Che' is heavily referenced. In the end she dumped him because she thought that he was too materialistic. One interesting nugget is that the spoken word portion of this song is actually ripped from a love letter that Che' wrote to Cherry before their split!
Check out "Buffalo Stance" below. Do you remember it?
