And we could feel the motion of a thousand dream Doctor, doctor, can't you see, I'm burning, burning?
Oh, doctor, doctor, is this love I'm feeling?
I often say that 1984 was one of the best musical years of my life. Seriously, think about what was happening. Within the span of just a few months, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince, Cyndi Lauper and countless others were pouring out of boom boxes and car radios while completely changing what pop music, and the people making it, looked like.
The music was bigger. The fashion was louder. The hair was, well… the hair was something else. And right in the middle of all that glorious ’80s chaos were the Thompson Twins.
The Thompson Twins had already established themselves as one of the more interesting new wave acts of the era, but 1984 was really their moment. Their fourth album, Into the Gap, gave us several hits and turned the group, led by Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie, into bona fide MTV-era stars.
And while there were plenty of songs to choose from, my favorite has always been “Doctor! Doctor!. Those giant synthesizers. That unmistakable new wave pulse. The slightly dramatic vocals. It sounded futuristic without ever losing that wonderfully strange charm that made so much ’80s music special.
"You met your match when you met me I know that you will disagree, it's crazy But opposites attract, you'll see And I won't let you get away so easy
The love you save may be your own Can't fight this feeling, aren't you tired of being alone You won't admit it, but you know it's true It's not a secret how I feel when I stand next to you"
In August of 1987, Madonna crashed and burned onscreen in a little movie called Who's That Girl. And yet, somehow, the movie's soundtrack managed to come out of the whole mess smelling like a rose.
The movie was originally supposed to be called Slammer, and I can still remember the buildup all summer long. There was a certain inevitability to it: Madonna was everywhere, so naturally we were all going to see her new movie. Casting Madonna, however, wasn't quite enough to save Who's That Girl from becoming a critical and box-office disappointment.
But that soundtrack? Now we're talking.
The title track, Who's That Girl, arrived first and promptly went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was catchy, bright, and completely unavoidable that summer. Then came Causing a Commotion.
I remember that song almost feeling like it appeared out of nowhere. One minute you weren't thinking about it, and the next minute it was lodged permanently in your head. That beat, that attitude, that unmistakable Madonna energy—it was exactly the kind of song that made you want to own the soundtrack even if you had absolutely no intention of defending the movie. Because let's be honest: every soundtrack has that one song. The song that makes you think, Well, I guess I have to buy this now.
For me, Causing a Commotion was that song. It went all the way to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the dance chart, becoming one of those quintessential late-'80s Madonna floor-fillers that still sounds ridiculously good decades later. And then there's the backstory.
The song was written during the final, increasingly turbulent period of Madonna's marriage to Sean Penn. Their relationship was already a regular fixture in the entertainment press, with stories about Penn's violent outbursts, battles with paparazzi and the general chaos surrounding the couple.
Remember, there was no internet to immediately fact-check everything we read. We had MTV, Rolling Stone, People, Entertainment Tonight and whatever magazine happened to be sitting at the supermarket checkout. So much of what we knew about celebrities came filtered through those sources.
And from that perspective, Madonna and Sean Penn's marriage seemed every bit as complicated and combustible as the title of this song suggested. Causing a Commotion may have been attached to a movie that didn't exactly set the world on fire, but the song had a life of its own.
For many of us, life just seems a whole lot better when we're surrounded by sun, sand, and of course a great big ocean. Salt life is a real thing, and it has been featured in music videos almost since the very start of MTV. Some of the most memorable visuals by music artists have featured the ocean as a backdrop. Since it's the unofficial start of summer, I thought it would be fun to revisit some old MTV favorites. Each of these videos has a beach theme and really stands out in my memory (hopefully yours too). So here we go and in NO particular order...
Belinda Carlisle- "Circle In The Sand"
Sundown all around
Walking thru the summer's end
Waves crash baby, don't look back
I won't walk away again
Oh, baby, anywhere you go,
We are bound together
I begin, baby, where you end
Some things are forever!
This was released in May of 1988 with Carlisle singing as various layered beach scenes flashed behind her. This song came at a time when the former Go Go's frontwoman could do no wrong musically. She had a string of solo hits, including "Heaven Is A Place On Earth" and "Mad About You" that all charted well.
The Fat Boys- "Wipe Out"
For three years straight we toured the nation
When we get through we needed a vacation
We wanted to party and get a little rest
So we packed our things and headed out west
We got our surfboards took the beach ball out
Jumped in a limousine ready to "Wipeout"
The Fat Boys were a hip-hop trio from Brooklyn that first emerged in the early 80's. Their 1987 cover of "Wipe Out" was one of the biggest songs of the summer and this video was in heavy rotation on MTV.
Huey Lewis And The News- "Stuck With You"
Yes, it's true, (yes it's true) I am happy to be stuck with you
Yes, it's true, (yes it's true) I'm so happy to be stuck with you Cause I can see, (I can see) that you're happy to be stuck with me (yes it's true) I'm so happy to be stuck with you
I'm happy to be stuck with you
Happy to be stuck with you.
What guy wouldn't want to be stuck on a deserted island with Keely Shaye Smith circa 1986? Huey Lewis was probably thrilled to get to play in the sun and sand with the then-model for hours while filming "Stuck With You". The song itself spent 3 weeks at number one on Billboard's Hot 100 and the video was one of the biggest of the year. The desert island in this is actually about ten miles from Paradise Island in Nassau.
Duran Duran- "Rio"
Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand
Just like that river twisting through a dusty land
And when she shines she really shows you all she can Oh Rio, Rio dance across the Rio Grande
While Duran Duran was picking up momentum in the early 80's their second studio album, Rio didn't really click here in the states- until their flashy video for the title song. "Rio" eventually became a visual example of all of the excesses that the decade became synonymous for. This features the band is slick suits speeding through the Caribbean on a yacht surrounded by beautiful women. Once the video was picked up by MTV then people realized what a great song this really was.
Bon Jovi- "In And Out Of Love"
Young and wired
Set to explode in the heat you won't tire Cause baby was born with the beat
Do you guys even remember this video from 1985? I had actually forgotten it but it has to be included here because it features the original Jersey boys playing on the boardwalk and in the sands of Seaside Heights!
David Lee Roth- "California Girls"
Well, East coast girls are hip,
I really dig those styles they wear; And the Southern girls with the way they talk, They knock me out when I'm down there, The mid-west farmers daughters Real-ly make you feel alright, And the northern girls with the way they kiss They keep their boyfriends warm at night.
Not long after leaving Van Halen in 1984 David Lee Roth returned to the airwaves with 1985's Crazy From The Heat. All four songs on the EP were covers of already established hits from the past. "California Girls" was kind of a no-brainer and the video loaded with chicks in bikinis became a summer staple.
Expose`- "Seasons Change"
Seasons change feelings change
It's been so long since I found you
Yet it seems like yesterday
Seasons change people change I'll sacrifice tomorrow Just to have you here today
In 1987 Expose` took their Miami freestyle sound and delivered it to the masses, with great success. Hits like "Come Go With Me" and "Let Me Be The One" landed in Billboard's top ten and solidified their run as a great dance band but that wasn't all that they were capable of. Their ballad "Seasons Change" earned the girl group their first number-one single and just as the song was a bit of a departure, so was the video. Instead of being a flashy, fun live performance, "Seasons Change" was set in a beach house. The girls are seen packing up their summer house while singing and eventually a run on the beach is of course in order.
Chris Isaak- "Wicked Game"
What a wicked game you played to make me feel this way
what a wicked thing to do to let me dream of you what a wicked thing to say you never felt this way what a wicked thing to do to make me dream of you
Take a sultry, haunting song, a topless Helena Christensen in Isaak's arms, and film it in black and white. The result? Perfection, the kind that even 27 years after its' original release still makes you stop to watch.
Wreckx-N-Effect- "Rump Shaker"
All I wanna do is zoom-a-zoom-zoom-zoom
And a poom-poom - Just shake ya rump! The year was 1992 and Teddy Riley's production and guest vocals made "Rump Shaker" a club classic for Wreckz-N-Effect. The visual of a hot chick walking in the sand playing the saxophone is probably still cemented in the minds of many men out there.
Madonna- "Cherish"
Cherish the thought
Of always having you here by my side (Oh baby I) cherish the joy You keep bringing it into my life (I'm always singing it) Cherish the strength You got the power to make me feel good (And baby I) perish the thought Of ever leaving I never would
This was the third single off of Madonna's 1989 Like A Prayer release. After two controversial songs in a row, it was nice to see Madonna take on something as simple as love. Watching her play in the surf in "Cherish" was a nice reminder that while the diva was certainly issues-oriented, she still had a fun side.
Don Henley- "Boys Of Summer"
I can see you,
Your brown skin shining in the sun.
You got that top pulled down,
And that radio on, baby.
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong,
After the boys of summer have gone
Can you believe that this song is 32 years old? Well, it is and I think that "Boys Of Summer" might be one of the most timeless videos around. The black and white imagery flashes through the different stages of a man's life, from boyhood to middle age adulthood and you can feel the major flashback unfolding in front of your eyes. This is undoubtedly one of Henley's best songs, don't you think?
There is just a sampling of some of the best beach videos in old-school pop culture history. What are your favorites?
"Don't put your head on my shoulder Sink me in a river of tears This could be the best place yet But you must overcome your fears In time we could've been so much more But time is precious I know In time we could've been so much more The time has nothing to show because Time won't give me time And time makes lovers feel Like they've got something real But you and me we know We got nothing but time"
When Culture Club's "Time (Clock Of The Heart)" was first released back in 1982 it was basically a stand-alone single that just so happened to really take off. It eventually hit number two on Billboard's Hot 100 and that paved the way for the London new wave group to break through in the U.S. Culture Club went to have numerous hits such as "Miss Me Blind" and "Karma Chameleon" but I think that "Time" might be the one that has held up the best. As for the group itself, Culture Club does still perform with lead singer Boy George and they are spending this summer touring the states.
Valerie Day and John Smith, the masterminds behind the music of Nu Shooz, are always looking for creative ways to involve their fans in whatever they're doing and that certainly includes an active presence on social media. The band was first formed way back in 1979 and they were playing live gigs for years before that big breakthrough finally came. Back then Nu Shooz found it self working several nights a week onstage as part of Portland's pre-synth raging music scene. While the synth sound eventually was the catalyst that brought the bands' music to the masses (and earned them a Grammy nomination in 1987 for Best New Artist), their love for organic music and using real instruments runs deep. 1986's Poolside may be considered the most successful album for the Shooz, but their journey certainly has encompassed decades.
(Photo: Phil Isley)
While on paper it may seem that Valerie and John dropped off the radar for years, just the opposite is actually true. Valerie has performed with the Oregon Symphony Pops, several celebrated jazz artists and she has co-created a show called Brain Chemistry for Lovers beside Darrell Grant. John has been equally busy and his musical genius has kept him working in the commercial industry for more than twenty years. The 80's are one of the hottest genres out there right now and last Christmas Target decided to use "I Can't Wait" as part of their holiday advertising campaign. Admit it, you were singing along every time the commercial came on, weren't you?
The only thing bigger than the 80's right now are the tours circling the country that feature large roster's of some of the biggest names in old school music and so when the Freestyle Explosion show came knocking, Day and Smith were thrilled to jump on board. "It's amazing how strong the love for music from way back then still is. Social media also helps to keep us connected with our audience on a regular basis. It's neat to see fans from the 80's at our shows and they're now bringing their kids with them. We actually have different generations of fans waiting for autographs at meet and greets- that's a little surreal! We were told about a fun little tour (Freestyle Explosion) that would reunite Nu Shooz with a whole roster of other performers from the 80's and it's something that we've really enjoyed doing." explained Day in a recent interview with The Daily Boom.
(Photo: Mike Hipple)
Ironically enough, according to Smith, reconnecting with the diehard 80's fan base is what helped to breathe life into their latest album. "It was doing that tour that actually made us want to consider coming back with another Nu Shooz album. The love for that era of music is pretty amazing and the rush for us is still the same as it was back then. We decided that it was time to take ourselves maybe a little less seriously. We're definitely more confident both as artists and as people. Plus we have a really great band to play with. We have alumni band members now that have played our style for years. The cohesive mix makes for many “Life is good” moments. It was fun to have radio hits but nothing beats playing live."
"After making ourselves miserable musically we decided to make a record aimed at having fun and it has really worked for us. At one point John and I went to dinner with our good friends, Marv and Rindy Ross (of Quarterflash) and we were all feeling similarly about where we were at musically at that point in time. They were coming off the release of a more serious record (as were we) and Marv mentioned wanting to create an album that was just fun to play live. That idea really clicked with us and it felt like exactly what we needed to do as well." explains Day while contemplating why making this record has really worked for them.
(BagTown Cover Art: Malcolm Smith
The key to the magic that has unfolded really seems to be the fact that they have absolutely enjoyed the process. According to Smith, "BagTown is the funnest (yes, 'funnest' and 'funner' became the descriptive words for BagTown) album that we have made, maybe ever. With every record, the process of creation is different. Sometimes it's lyrics first, other times the music is written first. We made a city of bag people and started drawing on them and all of a sudden these bags were partying. The songs from BagTown actually came from creating this city and bringing it to life in our minds. Of course music for us is a two-way relationship and so the audience ends up being an equal partner in the whole experience."
Connect with Nu Shooz below so that you're kept up-to-date on everything that they're doing!
We are flashing back to some of the best of the best content here at DailyBOOM.
ICYMI-
Jody Watley is just about as iconic as they come and she's also loaded with peace, love, and positivity. She'll be the first to tell you that "it's in the music" so you need to check out this recent interview about her brand new project- SRL- Shalamar Reloaded.)
When I say the name Jody Watley
a number of things may rush to the forefront of your mind. Grammy winner. Fashion icon. Soul Train and Shalamar. Eighties
dance diva and of course, those hoop earrings. Even now, if you
happen to catch her onstage during an energetic Freestyle
Explosion set she's all sass and class. Seeing Watley perform
live this past summer left me feeling like I had been handed a gift,
that it was a real privilege to see her do her thing onstage.
Offstage Watley exudes peaceful, Zen-like energy that you feel even
before you see that she has entered the room. It was an honor to be
able to grab a few minutes of her time this past week to discuss her
excitement over Shalamar Reloaded, her love for her kids, and
the need for people to lift each other up rather than bullying from
behind a computer screen.
Cate Meighan: You've raised some
eyebrows lately by finally addressing the rumors and internet trolls
that have chased after you for a long time. Why did you choose to
speak up now?
Jody Watley: Sometimes after you
choose to stay publicly silent for a while there comes a need to
speak. I needed to say what I needed to say because the lack of
fact-checking has led to lies being spread on the internet, radio, and television. I could only be thrown under the bus so much before I
had to address it. I decided to deal with it in a way that
establishes the fact that I have absolutely nothing to be angry about
because I've enjoyed a very successful career on multiple platforms.
I also wanted to try and disarm the notion that I'm some angry black
woman while looking at our society's need to stereotype strong
women as something negative.
C.M.: Your piece was clearly
written by a strong and well-educated woman.
J.W.: Thank you. My mom actually
called after reading that piece, to tell me that she thought that it
was well-spoken. I've always been a writer by nature and an avid
journaler. It was written at a point in time when our first lady was
taking some heat and some members of our women's Olympic gymnastic
team were under heavy scrutiny and comedian Leslie Jones had been
hacked and publicly shamed. I really hope that people will think
about the damage that a lie or negative perception can lead to,
especially when the target isn't given an opportunity to respond from
the very start.
That's one of the reasons why I
included screen captures of real hostility from real people that
have attacked me from behind their computer screens. It makes it a
little more real when you read the person's actual words rather than
just having them reiterated to you. A lot of it comes from other women
that are for whatever reason, disappointed in themselves and want to
bring others down with them. Women do this to each other instead of
spreading support and joy. It's a conversation that needs to be had.
C.M.: Tell me about your latest
endeavor, Shalamar Reloaded (SRL).
(Shalamar Reloaded Official Photo: Rosero McCoy, Jody Watley, Nate Allen Smith)
J. W.: Well, once I finally got
the trademark it finally put an end to all kinds of false
advertising. I knew that I wanted to take something familiar but put
a new spin on it so there you have Shalamar Reloaded. I wanted to
invest in new music videos and make a strong statement with whatever
we put out. I've known Rosero McCoy since 1998 and working
with him has always brought a lot of joy to my life. Nate Allen
Smith beat out hundreds of other talented guys. He is our
heart-throb (laughing). He is also just so humble and talented that
it makes him a perfect fit for Shalamar Reloaded. It's really a
collaboration when it comes to writing the songs. I feel like it's a
gift from the universe to have a group experience that is this
enjoyable. We really want to be together, we weren't just thrown
together by other people and told to make it work.
C.M.: SRL has a
new video coming out soon, right?
J.W.: Yes, “The Mood” will
be released on Monday, Sept. 26th. It was filmed in Hawaii
and was a lot of fun to make. We'll be teasing it a little earlier
than that. “The Mood" will be featured on our upcoming full-length album, Bridges.
C.M.: Aside from your work with
SRL, you've also popped up on the Freestyle Explosion tour now and
then with a bunch of other 80's divas such asExpose` and Lisa Lisa
(of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam). I caught the Philadelphia show and you
absolutely brought the house down.
(Freestyle Explosion- Philadelphia 8-2016)
J.W.: (Laughing) Thank you!
People often seem to be surprised by my performance on that tour. I
just bring in some dancers and try to create a contemporary moment
with some of my old music. I try to serve up fashion, fun, and fierce performance. I do remember that show and we really did have a
lot of fun. That whole experience is pretty amazing because this
group of artists with decades of success really does get along. We
enjoy doing these shows together because it's such a positive freestyle vibe. The audiences really get into it and that makes it a
lot of fun.
C.M.: You're always juggling a few different projects at once it seems. Is there a real plan
behind-the-scenes or do you just kind of go with it?
J.W.: Both (laughing). There is
always a framework to what I'd like to accomplish but then I do just
go with things as they come along. SRL is my priority right now and
finishing our album. But then Jody Watley as a solo artist is always
going to be around because as Nate and Rosero say, I'm “the engine
that makes it all go”.
C.M.: You've had so many huge,
career-defining moments that anyone can find out about if they take a
glance at Wiki. I've learned that the quieter, in-between moments
often mean more after everything is said and done. Has that been the
case for you?
(Classic family portrait: Jody with children Arie and Lauren)
J.W.: Yeah, you're right. Being
able to take breaks over the years so that I could raise my son and
daughter has just meant the world to me. Playing dolls and
superheroes, going to the park, and making Santa cookies- those things
have kept me grounded. My daughter is the first college graduate in
our family and my son is in college now as well, studying business and finance. To send two people out into
the universe to achieve their own dreams has been my bigger purpose.
It's such a challenge to work with kids but I didn't miss the most
important thing, being there along the way for them. Being popular
with my kids has mattered most of all. I'm a real mom and now I'm
getting to have fun with SRL!
C.M.: Tell me something that you
really want your fans to know.
J.W.: I'm a hell of a cook
(laughing)! Well, I am but... As long as we're alive it's never too
late to go down new paths and try different things. Our world is
so youth-obsessed, stop comparing yourself to others and find your
joy. Forget your age, feel good and enjoy your journey. Stay excited
about what's next because it's a gift to be here! Love and let
yourself be loved.
DailyBOOM is flashing back to some of our favorites from previous years, plus some interviews that are oldies but goodies! Enjoy this flashback! ICYMI...
Chances are when I say Bananarama, a particular bit of music instantly runs through your mind before a visual forms.. It might be from "Cruel Summer" or the heavy synth of "Venus", but you've got something already stuck in your head, don't you? It's the mark of a legendary artist really when their work is so easily recalled. The ladies of Bananarama are exactly that- legendary. Iconic. If you could jump back in time to the early 80's you would find Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward, and Siobhan Fahey kicking down preconceived ideas of what a girl group "should" look like. They were trailblazers that helped to lead the way for other female artists, not because they were trying to, but because they were simply being true to themselves and their own unique creativity.
Their approach was probably one of the main keys to success. Sara, Keren, and Siobhan have always at root, just been three friends doing something that they believed in. That belief has translated into 4 U.S. top tens, 32 top forty UK hits, ten albums and over thirty million records sold. Did you catch that? Thirty MILLION records sold. It's no wonder that when Bananarama announced last spring that they would be reuniting for a real tour, the response was insanely positive.
Siobhan left the group in 1988 and had never actually experienced the live audience love of Bananarama's fan base, until recently. The Original Line Up Tour crisscrossed the UK late last year leaving the ladies vacillating between moments of healing tears and pure joy. The experience was so phenomenal that they are now bringing their tour stateside to the U.S. and Canada beginning in late February. Those quirky young girls have aged gracefully but don't let their obvious class completely fool you, there's still a bit of mischief and a whole lot of fun going on behind the scenes.
I was lucky enough to steal a few minutes of Keren's time earlier today and she was quite happy to reflect on Bananarama's past while being incredibly grateful for their current success.
Cate Meighan: Where are you now?
Keren Woodward: I'm at my home in Cornwall. I got back from London yesterday actually. I don't live there anymore, I prefer a quiet life in the country. I've got a little time off before the tour and we'll be starting rehearsals when we get to the states. It shouldn't be too difficult since we've just done 23 shows in the UK. We should hopefully still remember most of it (laughing).
CM: I've watched a lot of video clips from those shows and the emotion on stage between the three of seemed to range from teary-eyed to pure joy. Was it everything that you had hoped this reunion would be?
KW: It really was quite an experience and it really was quite emotional. We wanted to do something different and special. We phoned Siobhan up, thinking she just wouldn't want to do it because it was a huge amount of work for her, and then she surprised us. She hadn't been doing the songs in the same way that Sara and I have, so for her to take it on required a huge amount of rehearsals, and sort of just relearning stuff. It was very emotional from the first time that we were sitting together listening to the songs that we wanted to do on tour, we all got quite teary eyed. It has been an absolutely amazing experience, with such an overwhelming response. The emotion in the crowd and all of that emotion on stage was actually quite unexpected and incredible. It's the whole reason why we decided to bring the show to the states and to do a couple of other things as well. It's just been so fabulous. A really wonderful experience.
CM: Bananarama fans are really one of a kind. Not only do they love you ladies, but they also seem to have an instantaneous, genuine love for each other.
KW: Aren't they? It seems like a bit of a family. We've met so many of the fans and they have so many different stories of why Bananarama has meant so much to them. It's really, really heartwarming. When we were in our heyday back in the 80's we were going around doing TV and interviews, but maybe not getting to meet the fans as much. The loyalty and the stories that they tell us now are just really so wonderful. I did feel slightly bad that we had so many fans come from the U.S. to see us and then we announced that we were going there anyway. So now they get to see us twice and they don't seem to be too bothered by that, to be honest (laughing).
CM: It's beautiful to see the love and positive energy that they share with you.
KW: It really is and it's quite surprising in some ways. We never could have expected it. Sara and I have done a lot of shows but it's really quite different when you're playing a festival as opposed to your own show. I know we've got enough songs that people know to keep us going but it's a different atmosphere when you're playing in a theater. Especially when everyone knows every word, of every song, start to finish, including album tracks and B sides. It's quite extraordinary.
CM: Let's be honest, you're not twenty-five anymore. How daunting is it to tour now?
KW; I've toured with Sara before and we have maybe done ten shows in a row. This one did seem pretty daunting when we first took off but I think the excitement kept us afloat. I mean we perform full out. I know my friends that came to see us said they were exhausted just watching. The reaction from the audience helped and I don't really remember feeling as though I couldn't keep going. Not at all. I was a bit tired in between shows I'm sure, but performing was never a problem. It's good to know I suppose (laughing). It's not like I'm really a gym bunny and I tend not to do much more than walking the dogs, so I must be fitter than I thought. It's a good thing (laughing).
CM: Have there been some kitchen discos along the way?
KW: (Laughing) To be honest, we had enough disco at our shows in the evening. No time for kitchen discos when we were on tour. They worked us so hard that when we had a day off all we wanted to do was relax (laughing). I did have plenty of discos over Christmas though, in my own kitchen with family, friends, and Sara. She and her daughter came and spent Christmas with me. We did have a sing-a-long in our dressing room before each show though. We would put music on and sing songs while getting ready just to help us get in the mood.
CM: So we know the UK tour was a smash. What should we expect from your U.S. dates?
KW: It's quite energetic and we're adding in our own memories. Plus there are visual memories on the screen behind us, which someone commented is really brave, to perform in front of a younger version of yourself (laughing). I suppose they're right. I know there were people (at our UK shows) that weren't massive fans but sort of came for the hell of it, just to have a laugh because they knew a few of the old songs. Well, they got there and realized that they actually knew most of the songs and had a ball. I'm hoping it'll be the same in the states. There are hits, surprises, and more. Some of the older tracks we've given a real party treatment to and it all sounds really great with the band. Our band is incredible and it just changes the dynamic. Keep in mind that much of the stuff that we did in the 80's didn't have live musicians. It was all done on computers at that time. Sara and I have performed with a band for so long that we can't bear to do it without one. I know people still go out without one and do a track show but I just can't, it wouldn't be right for me.
CM: Does Bananarama have any other solid plans in the near future once this tour wraps up?
This current tour is all about our celebrating our time as a trio. We have some big festivals that we'll be doing and after that, I don't really know. The whole point of doing it was to welcome back Siobhan and to do these songs with her. Every time that Sara and I saw her, either in London or at her home in LA, we would be dancing around and singing. It was hard to imagine that we had never done these shows with her and she absolutely embraced it, which is amazing. The beauty of Bananarama is that we've never really made monster plans. In the 80's everything was always so laid out and your calendar was full before you even started the year. Now we're doing what we want to do and going with what makes sense in the moment. Right now this show makes sense and we're having a ball.
CM: What would you like to say to those fans that have supported you through the decades?
KW: I've met so many of them! So many women along the way have told me that they considered me a role model growing up. I feel it's important to set an example at this age, to remind people that if they put their minds to something they can still do it and hey, you might surprise yourself! I think it can actually be quite difficult for women of our age to be seen or heard. You might feel written off because of other people's attitudes but ultimately that comes back to you. You're not too old to do things or change things that are making you unhappy. Hopefully, people can look at us and think- if they can do it then I can do it too. We girls need to stick together and buoy each other. That's how it should always be!
Check out a review of Bananarama's reunion in NYC in February of 2018 right here!
You told me goodnight's not enough for you I'm sorry, baby I didn't mean to turn you on No, I didn't mean to turn you on You read me wrong I wasn't trying to lead you on Not like you think I didn't mean to turn you on"
I think when most people think of Robert Palmer they almost immediately picture his "Addicted to Love" video, with him looking suave as several cloned women pretend to play instruments behind him. It's a visual that, even 30+ years after the release of his Riptide album, is still etched into pop culture's history. It's classic, timeless, and back then everyone absolutely loved Palmer. While I really liked "Addicted to Love", my favorite song off of the album is actually the single that followed it.
"I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" hit the charts in early 1986 and I loved it immediately. Instead of girls with slicked-back hair, this video featured women that looked like they were runway-ready and the song itself has always felt a bit tongue-in-cheek, especially with Palmer singing it. It fit his image back then and the extended dance mix can still crush a lot of other 12" tracks out there.
Ironically, Palmer wasn't the only one to record "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On". Cherrelle did it first and Mariah Carey had a version decades later, but it's Palmer's that is the best known of all.
You make me, make me, make me, make me hungry for you
Everything you do is simply dreamy
Everything you do is quite delicious
So why can't I be you?"
I'll admit it, I'm not exactly a fan of The Cure. I cherry pick, carefully. For whatever reason I've always, always loved "Why Can't I Be You" and it's all about the video. Maybe it's because Robert Smith is slightly more animated than usual or because his lip liner is MIA. Maybe it's the costumes or the fact that the video features some of the most awesomely bad choreography ever. I don't know but when you put these things together it ends up looking like this (below), and I happen to love, this.
You have to believe we are magic Nothing can stand in our way You have to believe we are magic Don't let your aim ever stray And if all your hopes survive Destiny will arrive I'll bring all your dreams alive
It has been a really long time since I've watched Xanadu. I was almost ten when it was first released in theaters back in 1980 and at the time I was kind of obsessed with Olivia Newton John. I loved Grease, had several of her albums and even begged my mom to buy an issue of TV Guide because she was on the cover. While Xanadu, with its pretty far out magical concept wasn't exactly a hit in theaters, the soundtrack was golden.
If Olivia wasn't singing on a track then it was meticulously handled by ELO and the result was fantastic. So many good songs came out of this film that it made a whole new generation take a look at Xanadu, this time on Broadway. While it was once a little embarrassing to admit that you loved Xanadu, it is now considered a cult classic. I know I was thrilled to find a pretty clean copy of the soundtrack while hunting for albums at a recent record fair. Check out the full album below. Pretty cool, isn't it?
"You met your match when you met me I know that you will disagree it's crazy But opposites attract you'll see And I won't let you get away so easy
The love you save may be your own Can't fight this feeling, aren't you tired of being alone You won't admit it but you know it's true It's not a secret how I feel when I stand next to you"
In August of 1987, Madonna crashed and burned onscreen in a little gem called "Who's That Girl". The film originally was supposed to be titled Slammer and I can remember there was a lot of build up all summer long because well, it was Madonna. Casting her wasn't enough to save the movie but the soundtrack? Well, that handed us a few classic dance songs that still sound pretty great.
"Who's That Girl" was the first single, dropped in advance of the movie and went to number one on Billboard's Hot 100. It was followed by one of my very favorite Madonna dance floor classics, "Causing a Commotion". I remember the song just kind of appearing out of nowhere and it was super catchy. Every soundtrack is ultimately bought because of that one song that makes you have to have it and this was that song. It topped the dance charts and went to number two on Billboard's Hot 100.
The song itself was written towards the end of Madonna's marriage to Sean Penn, a union plagued by his violent outbursts and clashes with the paparazzi. Based on what MTV and magazine articles said (no internet yet, remember?) their relationship seemed chaotic and complicated, kind of like this song. Check it out!
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?
And like an answer from above you came into my life
And showed me one thing for sure
With love nothing is certain
You got to go for it when you feel it
Everybody, everybody needs somebody to love
And I choose you, baby, so let's
Make that move right now, baby
You only go out once in a lifetime
Make that move right now, baby"
There are a handful of dance songs that instantly put me in a good mood and Shalamar's "Make That Move" is one of them. I used to go to my grandmother's ever Saturday morning and while there I'd end up watching Soul Train. I'm not sure if I actually remember Jody Watley as a Soul Train dancer but even as a kid I knew that's where she cut her teeth on a national level, so I've always affiliated Shalamar with the classic dance show.
"Make That Move" has every element of disco in it that made me obsessed with the music in the first place and this performance is as fantastic now as it first was way back in 1981. Enjoy!
Seeing Footloose in the movie theater for the very first time was a huge deal. It's one of the very first movies that I remember seeing with just friends (no adults) and back in 1984, we were all a little bit of obsessed with it. It still has one of the strongest soundtracks in music history, I think. Just about every song was worthy of being released as a single. My favorite is Kenny Loggin's "I'm Free".
Yeah I know, I'm supposed to think that the title track is IT, but I just don't. I think "I'm Free" is a better vocal and I've always loved the music. I had the soundtrack album because it was inherited from my dad almost immediately after it was released. For me, the soundtrack came before the movie did and "I'm Free" just; left me with such a great feeling. The kind of feeling that every Monday should contain, so here it is. Enjoy!
I have to admit, Culture Club always kind of gets a little lost in my pile of 80's classics and I'm never really sure why. I've always been a Boy George fan and some of this groups' songs really are timeless. Then there are those that carry a personal time-stamp, like "Miss Me Blind". This takes me back to a Friday night in 1984 when it was pouring and we had just left a pizza parlor connected to our local mall. We stepped outside into the rain and a few thunderbolts later and my parents and I were taking cover inside of The Jean King- a store that was exactly like its' name implied.
As the rain poured down on the roof above, I was surrounded by racks of Jordache, Calvin Klein and Gloria Vanderbilt jeans. It was denim heaven. I'm pretty sure if I walked into that store today I'd be amazed by how small it actually was but on this particular night, it was divine. In my mind any good store also has great music playing and "Miss Me Blind" was always my favorite Culture Club song so obviously, the fact that it was on here only makes the memory sweeter. Check out the video below!
I often will say that 1984 was musically one of the best years of my life. In a matter of months Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince, Cyndi Lauper and countless others were blaring from boom boxes while revolutionizing the fashion of an era. The group Thompson Twins can also quite easily be included in the mix of great music.
Into The Gap was the group's fourth album (led by Tom Bailey and Alannah Curie) and it cranked out a few hits that landed on Billboards charts, including my favorite, "Doctor! Doctor!" The heavy synth song did incredibly well on both the Hot 100 and Billboard's dance charts. The video itself was made at a time when technical tricks were more important than any kind of story line. Clouds, pastel lighting and ice skaters all are heavily featured in between the Thompson Twins performing their song. Check it out for yourself below. Do you still love this new wave style?
"Goddess on the mountain top Burning like a silver flame The summit of beauty and love And Venus was her name She's got it Yeah, baby, she's got it I'm your Venus, I'm your fire At your desire."
Back in the spring of 1986, Bananarama found their way to the top of the U.S. Billboard charts with their remake of The Shocking Blue's "Venus". It was a song that they believed would lend itself to dance floors but it took a bit of convincing to find a production team that agreed. Thankfully they did and their instincts were dead on because "Venus" still to this day has a way of setting any dance floor on fire.
The video for this is just so much fun. Sure, Bananarama has always loved to play dress up but my favorite moments of "Venus" is when they are all just dancing and having a blast. Check it out below!
