If you've been reading Daily Boom for any length of time then you've probably pretty easily caught on to my love of freestyle music. Those same songs that had me on my feet as a teen now almost instantly put me in a better mood. That tells me that whatever power freestyle once had, still remains at least for me. The Cover Girls have undergone line up changes over the years and regardless of who hits the stage, I still adore them.
When "MyHeart Skips a Beat" first was released in 1989 it really looked like this group was ready to skyrocket towards serious mainstream success. Instead, lead singer Angel Clivilles left in the middle of their tour to pursue a solo career, leaving the group in a bit of chaos. Evelyn Escalera stepped in as lead singer and she continues that role to this day. "My Heart Skips a Beat" has always been one of my favorites by The Cover Girls and the video mix of the song really is a classic example of what great freestyle sounds like.
"The wild boys are calling On their way back from the fire In august moon's surrender to A dust cloud on the rise Wild boys fallen far from glory Reckless and so hungered On the razors edge you trail Because there's murder by the roadside In a sore afraid new world
They tried to break us, Looks like they'll try again
Wild boys never lose it Wild boys never chose this way Wild boys never close your eyes Wild boys always shine."
Duran Duran'sArena wasn't just one of the most popular albums from 1984, but it became an event of epic proportions in my teenage life. I can still remember Q102, my very favorite radio station back in the day, deciding to play the entire album as a "live concert event" at 9pm on a Wednesday night. My dad was not necessarily a fan of the band but he and I spent the hour in his music room. I'm not sure exactly what he was working on but he gave me his big comfy chair and his DJ headphones so that I could have my own private listening party.
It was during this hour that Q102 premiered Duran Duran's newest single, "Wild Boys". It quickly became not just my favorite, but everyone else's because it spent a month on Billboard's Hot 100 sitting at number two. The video was intended to be something that felt other worldly and each of the band members found themselves in some sort of peril. Check out the full length version below.
Who doesn't love a good playlist? I know that you all do because I get a lot of email about the ones that are featured on Daily Boom. I'm working this afternoon and stumbled onto this playlist. I'm enjoying revisiting the soundtrack of 1984 and I think that you will too!
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?
She's so fly, she'll drive you right out of your mind
Steal your heart when you're blind
Beware she's schemin', she'll make you think you're dreamin'
You'll fall in love and you'll be screamin' dreamin'
One of my favorite groups from the New Jack Swing era is Bell Biv DeVoe, If you remember, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe decided to branch off from their success as members of New Edition and BBD was born. Their debut album Poison made a pretty big splash back in 1990 and had a few singles that landed in the top ten on Billboard's Hot 100. The first track, also titled "Poison" was a huge hit thanks to MTV showing heavy rotation favor on the video. Check it out below. I'm pretty sure that you'll remember this one!
"You pretend you're high Pretend you're bored Pretend you're anything Just to be adored And what you need Is what you get
Don't believe in fear Don't believe in faith Don't believe in anything That you can't break
stupid girl stupid girl All you had you wasted."
Being an unapologetic vinyl junkie I was eventually going to get my hands on Garbage's 20th Anniversary remastered double album set. It took me awhile but my copy finally arrived this weekend and I have to say, it's most definitely worth every penny. The album art, lyrics sheets and detailing alone really does up the quality and really, who doesn't love colored vinyl?
I'll admit, it has been a minute since I've listened to Shirley Manson and the guys and I really don't know why. Their tracks really do stand the test of time and are pretty ageless. I love music that you can't easily put a date on and that is Garbage to a tee. It might be a new song (new music, please???!!) or it could be a decade or two old, it's hard to tell.
This collection offers up all of Garbage's top songs like "Stupid Girl", "Only Happy When It Rains", "Queer" and more. Here's one of my favorites below!
I'm not sure if time is flying by or moving incredibly slow but I do know that 33 years ago this week The Breakfast Club rolled into theaters and we all spent two hours in detention with them, by choice. Check out the full movie soundtrack below!
I was in the car driving yesterday when Ashford & Simpson's "Solid" came on the radio and boy did it take me back. I first remember seeing the video for this song from 1984 while at my grandmother's. It was back when NYC's WPIX would show videos on Saturday afternoon's and aside from loving Billy Idol and the Footloose soundtrack, they also favored R&B acts. The video features the couple ducking out of a rainstorm in what looks like Central Park. They end up singing to each other and random strangers join in. Yeah, I know. It's a bit hokey but what isn't is the relationship and career that Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson shared.
While "Solid" was their highest charting hit this duo recorded and released a lot of music plus they also had a hand in writing and producing for acts like Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. And can we talk about the heat factor? They first got together in 1964 and stayed together until Ashford's death in 2011. Every photo out there tells the story of an extremely connected and devoted couple. That makes their lyrics in songs like "Solid" a whole lot more genuine. Check out the video below. I'm pretty sure Ashford and Simpson equal modern day relationship goals!
"Shout Shout Let it all out These are the things I can do without Come on I'm talking to you Come on."
Is "Shout" by Tears For Fears one of the most recognizable songs of the 80's? The band seemed to think that it was one of the simplest songs to record but the mix of synthesizer with a nifty guitar solo made a lasting impression. The song enjoyed three weeks at the top of Billboard's charts in August of 1985 and it also found itself in the top ten in at least 25 different countries.
The song itself was released at a time of unrest because many were still reeling from the fallout of The Cold War. "Shout" was intended to be a rallying cry that encouraged people to educate themselves and then speak up and out. I was 14 at the time and all that I knew was that the song sounded different from everything else on the radio and I loved it.
Technically, "Ring My Bell" actually was released in the summer of 1979 but I'm going to sneak it in here any way. It sold millions of copies and made sure that Anita Ward would be forever remembered as one of disco's biggest stars. It may be one of the most suggestive songs to come out of the decade but believe it or not it was actually written for a young teen to sing. Yep, "Ring My Bell" was originally supposed to be about a teen girl getting a phone call! Once it was given to Ward the lyrics were tweaked to really sex it up.
"Ring My Bell" stands out because I was totally a disco kid and it was a 45 that I HAD to have. Like, I was 8-years-old and I walked into the record store with my dad and plunked down my own money to buy it. I can still see dad telling my mom about my selection and her freaking out. Dad just laughed and reminded her that I had absolutely no idea what the song was really about and that I bought it for the music. True story but to this day every time that I hear "Ring My Bell" I still can see dad standing there justifying me buying it.
On this week way back in 1992 En Vogue dropped a little ditty in our laps that spent the rest of the year pretty much dominating Billboard's charts and radio airwaves. Funky Divas came out of the gate with the well-produced "Never Gonna Get It" and it offered up the kind of video that even now, 25 years later, I can easily visualize. Slick, sharp, great vocals and stunning videos. En Vogue was everything that a girl group aspires to be. I could ramble on forever but instead, I'll just hand you the music. Check out Funky Divas below!
"Too dangerous to keep Too feeble to let go And you want to bite the hand Shoulda stopped this long ago
Go now, you've been set free Another month or so you'll be gorging on me With your lovely smile I see you slither away with your skin and your tail Your flickering tongue and your rattling scales Like a real reptile."
The Church is an Australian band that formed way back in 1980. Original members Marty Willson-Piper, Peter Koppes, Richard Ploog, and Steve Kilbey on vocals finally broke through on the American charts eight years later with their album Starfish. "Reptile" did pretty well on Billboard's modern rock chart and it's a song that I've always loved. The Church is technically an alternative group but their music is considered psychedelic and dream pop. Dreamy is really the only way that I can describe the guitar work. It just sucks you in and then the rapid fire chorus just totally delivers.
I love when a song makes such an impact on you that even decades later you remember exactly where you were the first time that you heard it. "Reptile" is one of those for me. Check out the live performance video below!
"The passion's so complete It's never ending As long as I receive This message you're sending Body to body, soul to soul Always feel you near So say the words I long to hear Tell it to my heart Tell me I'm the only one Is this really love or just a game Tell it to my heart I can feel my body rock Every time you call my name."
If freestyle and dance music was your thing back in 1988 then you had to have worn out a TaylorDayne tape or two. She first hit the charts in late 1987 with "Tell It To My Heart" and she followed that with three more top ten singles off of her debut album. If you were in a club, you heard Taylor, if you were in the car Taylor was on the radio. If you flipped on MTV, there she was. She was a pop staple everywhere and her big hair, red lips and bomber jackets left a lasting visual impact. Check out her very first video below. Do you still kind of love it?
"We are strong No one can tell us we're wrong Searching our hearts for so long Both of us knowing Love is a battlefield
You're begging me to go Then making me stay Why do you hurt me so bad It would help me to know Do I stand in your way Or am I the best thing you've had
Believe me Believe me I can't tell you why But I'm trapped by your love And I'm chained to your side."
Pat Benatar is a female rock legend by probably just about anyone's standards, but believe it or not my favorite song by her features that nifty drum beat. Of course I'm talking about "Love Is A Battlefield" (which is still fantastic to this day if you're lucky enough to hear it live). The 1983 hit is one of Benatar's best charting songs and it also earned her a fourth Grammy. The video also helped to put her into MTV's record books because it is the first one ever aired that featured a real storyline, with speaking parts.
Now the video is really well down but watching Benatar dance has always seemed a bit odd to me. But the song itself is really pretty fantastic. A great rock song with a beat that makes it hard to stay still and lyrically, well, we have all been there. Love is hard. Check out the classic video below!
What can I say or do You won't come back, we're through I've realized too late That, baby, your love has turned away In my dreams--it's still the same Your love is strong, it still remains In my dreams--you're still by me Just the way it used to be
I think that one of the most underrated hard rock bands of the 80's is Dokken. While Guns N' Roses, Skid Row and Motley Crue were steamrolling their way to worldwide music domination Dokken was always there too. In their 37 years of performing they have sold over 10 million records and have had several singles chart well, including "In My Dreams".
"Girl you are to me, all that a woman should be And I dedicate my life to you always The love like yours is grand It must have been sent from up above And I know you'll stay this way, for always
And we both know, that our love will grow And forever it will be you and me Ooh your life is sun Chasing all the rain away."
Atlantic Starr had a female singer before they hired Barbara Weathers and singers have followed her, but none enjoyed similar success. Hers is the voice most closely associated with the group and it's her voice that you hear on songs like "Secret Lovers" and "If Your Heart Isn't In It". By the time the group's 1987 release rolled around great things were a foregone conclusion and the ballad "Always" totally delivered.
I was in tenth grade and it was the song for every couple that I knew, especially the ones that only made it three months. Let's face it, in high school a few months seemed like proof that it would last forever, didn't it? I suspect "Always" still finds its way onto plenty of wedding playlists to this day.
"Baby how could you be hangin' out on a diamond queen Ain't you missin' me poor little me When you knew all the time that you could have been With your home girl lovin' and a Kissin' on sweet little me
Don't you know if you want to be a man you Gotta work real hard If you want to make me feel like I'm your number one then Nothin' in the world should make us part 'Cause we can make it work if you Take it with the hurt from the heart."
Long before Pebbles was accused to stealing money from the girl group that she created, TLC, she could be found burning up the charts herself. In 1990 she released her second album, Always, which was completely produced by Babyface and then-husband L.A. Reid. The result was some literal New Jack Swing magic. "Giving You the Benefit" was the lead single off of the album and it landed in the top ten on Billboard's Hot 100.
Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of my fellow Irishmen out there! In honor of today let's flash back in time to 1995, when Michael Flatley's Riverdance was the hottest ticket around!
I stumbled onto something pretty cool last night. An acoustic set performed by Guns N' Roses in October of 1987, about 3 months after the release of their now-classic album, Appetite for Destruction. Rather than performing the huge hits off of their debut album they used this opportunity to test out some new material, including a little song called "Patience". Check out the video below!
"Like a moth to a flame Burned by the fire My love is blind Can't you see my desire That's the way love goes Like a moth to a flame Burned by the fire That's the way love goes My love is blind Can't you see my desire?"
1993 was a great year for music. Nirvana, Pearl Jam and other grunge acts had brought back the old garage band style of rock and roll that was missing during the years of the almighty hair bands and R&B slow jams had really become a thing. There truly was something for everyone and if your musical taste hopped across different genres then you had a lot of great music to choose from. In May Janet Jackson released Janet. her best selling album to date.
After years of preaching sexual abstinence and supporting various social injustices, Janet decided to give us something a whole lot more personal. The album, from one end to the other is rooted in embracing sexual freedom, a topic that Janet was able to take on after finally finding comfort in her own skin.
The album contained six singles, starting with "That's The Way Love Goes" a smooth groove with a slick video. In fact, the way that all of the singles were packaged really went a long way in adding to the success of Janet. She brought along her friends, back up dancers and then-husband, Rene Elizondo Jr. for the video ride. Check out Janet in its entirety below and also check out the videos from this great album. I think my very favorite is still "If", how about you, what's yours?
"I've got a picture of your house And you're standing by the door. It's black and white and faded, And it's looking pretty worn. See the factory that I worked Silhouetted in the back. The memories are gray but man they're really coming back."
If you were a teen girl back in 1989 then there's a pretty good chance that you were at least mildly obsessed with one of the guys from Warrant. Their first single "Down Boys" made us all pay attention and by the time their power ballad, "Heaven" dropped, well we were all smitten. I was a senior and high school and while my friends were ogling Jani Lane I was paying close attention to Warrant's drummer, Steven Sweet. In a sea of hair bands this one seemed to have a lot more talent than the majority of those around them.
"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.
I love when I'm reminded of a song that I've completely forgotten about. Regina's "Baby Love" was one of those. I was watching Totally 80's on Classic MTV the other day when this track came on and I instantly remembered it. "Baby Love" made me think of summer and when I looked it up my memory was right. It was a super popular track in the summer of 1986. One of those songs that was on the radio every couple of hours and you knew all of the lyrics to it even if you didn't like it.
This song peaked at number 10 on Billboard's Hot 100 and paved the way for Regina to have a string of hits on the dance charts in the mid-80's.
Somehow, this soundtrack returned to the top of the Billboard charts on this week back in 1988!
One of the things that I remember best from the summer of 1987 was the release of Dirty Dancing. Somehow, in spite of the internet not being around to generate tons of buzz, the advance promotion for this film was crazy. By the time August 16th rolled around everyone and their posse of friend's was dying to buy a ticket to what would become one of the most iconic film's of the decade. Check out the memorable closing scene below and then scroll through the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. So many great songs came from this movie!
It's really rare for me to love just about every single song on any 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 back story.
"There`s a real fine line Between love and hate And I`m not the type To just sit and wait I`ve made up my mind I can`t wait for you anymore"
Ya know that one song that you remember so well years (okay decades) later that no one else can recall? Bardeux's "When We Kiss' fits that bill for me. I have never mentioned it to another soul that has any idea what I'm talking about and if I play it for them, they still don't remember it. Bardeux was actually a dance duo from OC, Stacy "Acacia" Smith and Lisa "Jaz" Teaney (at least on this song), who released their first album, Bold As Love in 1988.
While Bardeux is often described as a one-hit-wonder, they actually had a few singles that charted on Billboard's Hot 100 and they did really well on the dance charts during their short time together. I've always loved "When We Kiss' because it's almost more of a spoken word song than anything else and that really made it stand out back in 1988. Check it out below. Do you guys remember Bardeux?
It's not that I don't love you, oh no It's just that I, I've got to have room to move That's all I need, that's all I ask for Room to breathe, room to move
That's all I need, that's all I ask for Give it to me, room to move Everybody needs, room to move
You guys remember Animotion, right? They had that hit song called "Obsession" that will now probably be stuck in your head for the rest of the day simply because I mentioned it. Well, back in 1989 they also had another hit, "Room To Move" which featured Cynthia Rhodes (ex-wife of Richard Marx) and Paul Engemann on lead vocals. It was featured in the 1988 science-fiction comedy film, My Stepmother Is an Alien and reached number 9 on Billboard's Hot 100.
Believe it or not the lineup on "Room To Move" is almost entirely different from the group that first broke through back in 1984. The original band, led by Astrid Plane and Bill Wadhams, has reunited
in recent years and continues to perform. The lineup that featured Rhodes and Engemann was short lived but they did produce a great song so check it out below!
Now that we're together at last We shouldn't think about our problems in the past 'Cause true love takes a miracle to find I guess that I've been blessed 'cause I've got you by my side And I'll be your lover, your lover And I'll be your best friend, oh I'll be your friend I'll be there when you're needing me, when you need me I'll be your everything, your everything
He was Superstar He was popular He was so exalted Because he had flair He was a virtuose Was a rock idol And everyone shouted: Come on and rock me Amadeus
Back in 1985 Falco became the very first German artist to score a number one hit in the U.S., thanks to the popularity of "Rock Me Amadeus". He was already incredibly popular is Germany, Austria and all of the U.K. but it took this song to make him a household name state side. He never managed to repeat that initial success with any of his follow up albums. In 1998 Falco was reportedly working on a comeback when the sport utility vehicle that he was driving collided with a bus in the Dominican Republic. Falco died of his injuries and an autopsy later showed that he had a mix of alcohol and cocaine in his system at the time of the accident.
Check out Falco's fun tribute to legendary composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart below!
She wasn't looking for a cuddle in the back seat He wasn't looking for a five minute thrill She wasn't thinking of tomorrow or of next week This vacancy he meant to permanently fill I need an everlasting love I need a friend and a lover divine An everlasting precious love Wait for it, wait for it, give it some time.
Howard Jones is an interesting 80's icon. Despite having 15 songs to hit the top 40 from 1983-1992, he was hardly a media darling. Jones is to this day widely considered to be one of the most defining figures from the syth pop era but back then he was a bit of a misfit. There were always guys that looked cooler and acts that were splashier and in the end Jones actually admitted that it was just fine with him. He never necessarily was taking aim at fitting in anyway.
Instead of being known for his look, it's his music that has lasted for decades. Catchy songs like "What Is Love" and "No One Is To Blame" still get plenty of blame. I happen to still love "Everlasting Love"- a nifty little tune about a guy looking for a whole lot more than just a quick fling. Check out the video below!
Did you know that Bananarama is still out there performing? Well (still adorable) Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin, two-thirds of the original group are and this clip was from their Australian tour just a few months ago. A nifty little tidbit about these two, they actually met at age four and have been best friends for life. Oh and Keren has been married to WHAM!'sAndrew Ridgeley for the last 25 years!
You must understand Though the touch of your hand Makes my pulse react That it's only the thrill Of boy meeting girl Opposites attract
This week is pretty much the start of spring in my house and if you live on the East coast like I do then you were probably more than happy to see the sun shining for real. I was in the car doing the school drop off thing when I heard Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It" and boy did it take me back. As my soon-to-be high school freshman got out of the car to get on her bus it clicked that I was exactly her age when this song was popular.
In fact, way back in 1984 Tina topped Billboard's charts and boy was she in great company. The rest of the top ten was rounded out by the likes of Prince, Huey Lewis & the News, John Waite and Corey Hart. Back in 1984 we used to do the math to figure out when our favorite videos would be on. Admit it, you did it too. New videos were at the top of every hour and they repeated every four hours. If you watched in the morning before school then you likely knew that they same exact videos would be on the next day, just 12 minutes later because the schedule barely changed at all.
Do you remember the summer of Tina strutting in those fishnets with her bitty jean jacket and pretty epic wig? Of course you do because it was the year of the Jackson'sVictory tour which we all fantasized about going to see. My friends and I all took turns leaving for the Jersey Shore and mailing each other post cards from Wildwood, as if we'd not actually see each other again in a matter of days. Then there were those white clunky shell necklaces and bracelets. I think I wore three at a time because they were so cool and seemed to somehow prove that I had a life outside of Smalltown, USA. Ghostbusterswas an absolute phenomenon and Beverly Hills Copwas a huge deal. Oh and my hair reeked ofSalon Selectives. The smell is like a mash up of strawberry, cherry and god knows what else and if you're REALLY lucky you can find it to this day!
My dad was thrilled the year that Tina reinvented herself and came back. He had been a DJ for years and had an in-home studio that I would kill for now and he knew what a power house she actually was. While my local DJ's focused on how great she sounded after mentioning her great legs on the 45 of "What's Love Got to Do With It", dad always had a way of making me connect with the stripped down music, lyrics and the voice presenting it all to me. I'm also pretty sure that he appreciated Tina's fishnets too.
31 years ago, as Tina walked those legs right to the top of Billboard's Hot 100, where she stayed for three weeks, I was walking my little legs into 8th grade classes just like my daughter now. It makes me wonder, when she is my age and looks back on the summer before 8th grade, what will stand out in her mind?
