80's Throwback: Tina Turner- 'Private Dancer'

"Well the men come in these places

and the men are all the same

You don't look at their faces

and you don't ask their names

You don't think of them as human

You don't think of them at all

You keep your mind on the money

keeping your eyes on the wall

I'm your private dancer

a dancer for money

do what you want me to do

I'm your private dancer

a dancer for money

and any old music will do."

In 1984, I was completely hooked on Tina Turner.

Like a lot of people my age, Private Dancer was my introduction to Tina. At the time, I knew nothing about her incredible journey with Ike Turner or the years she spent fighting to rebuild her career as a solo artist. All I knew was that the second the video for "What's Love Got to Do with It" came on MTV, I couldn't look away.

Back then, my dad had a pretty great system. He'd buy the latest 45s, record them onto one of his mixtapes, and then I'd inherit the singles. I still remember bringing those records home and playing them over and over again. Like just about every radio DJ at the time, my dad couldn't stop talking about Tina's iconic fishnet look on the Private Dancer cover. Me? I just thought she was the coolest woman I'd ever seen.

By the time the album's title track, "Private Dancer," was released as a single, I was already a full-fledged fan. Ironically, I wasn't crazy about the song the first time I heard it. It felt slower than the other hits from the album, and I didn't immediately connect with it. But sometimes the songs that take the longest to grow on us become the ones we treasure most.

Now, all these years later, "Private Dancer" is one of my favorite Tina Turner recordings. I also love the different videos that have been released for it, but this live performance from Wembley Arena has always been my favorite. It captures Tina at the height of her powers, commanding an arena packed with fans who hung on every word.

Watching it today is a reminder of why she became such a legend. The performance is understated, elegant, and completely captivating. It's proof that great songs—and great artists—never really age. They just find new generations of fans to fall in love with them.

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Tina Turner- 'Private Dancer'

"Well the men come in these places

and the men are all the same

You don't look at their faces

and you don't ask their names

You don't think of them as human

You don't think of them at all

You keep your mind on the money

keeping your eyes on the wall

I'm your private dancer

a dancer for money

do what you want me to do

I'm your private dancer

a dancer for money

and any old music will do."

I fell in love with Tina Turner's music back in 1984 when she released Private Dancer. I knew nothing of her career years earlier with Ike and I knew nothing of her struggle to establish herself as a solo artist. I only knew that when the video for "What's Love Got To Do With It" started I was completely sucked in. I remember at that time my dad would buy singles' and add them to a mixtape, then I'd get to keep the 45. At the time my dad, like every other DJ on the radio was mesmerized by Tina's fishnets on the cover. I just thought she reeked of coolness.

By the time the title track, "Private Dancer" was released I was already a fan. At first, I thought that the song was a bit boring but it quickly grew on me. Now many moons later I love it AND all three of the videos that have been released for it. The one below is my very favorite. Shot during a concert at Wembley Arena, it shows just how popular Tina really was in her heyday. It's also a subtle version of a song that's kind of timeless, don't you think?

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Tina Turner- 'What's Love Got To Do With It'

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 summer 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 last day of 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 the 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 Jackson's Victory 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 postcards 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. Ghostbusters was an absolute phenomenon and Beverly Hills Cop was a huge deal. Oh and my hair reeked of Salon 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 powerhouse 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?

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Tina Turner- 'What's Love Got To Do With It'

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 summer 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 last day of 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 the 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 Jackson's Victory 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 postcards 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. Ghostbusters was an absolute phenomenon and Beverly Hills Cop was a huge deal. Oh and my hair reeked of Salon 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 powerhouse 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?

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Tina Turner- 'Private Dancer'

"Well the men come in these places

and the men are all the same

You don't look at their faces

and you don't ask their names

You don't think of them as human

You don't think of them at all

You keep your mind on the money

keeping your eyes on the wall

I'm your private dancer

a dancer for money

do what you want me to do

I'm your private dancer

a dancer for money

and any old music will do."

I fell in love with Tina Turner's music back in 1984 when she released Private Dancer. I knew nothing of her career years earlier with Ike and I knew nothing of her struggle to establish herself as a solo artist. I only knew that when the video for "What's Love Got To Do With It" started I was completely sucked in. I remember at that time my dad would buy singles' and add them to a mixtape, then I'd get to keep the 45. At the time my dad, like every other DJ on the radio was mesmerized by Tina's fishnets on the cover. I just thought she reeked of coolness.

By the time the title track, "Private Dancer" was released I was already a fan. At first, I thought that the song was a bit boring but it quickly grew on me. Now many moons later I love it AND all three of the videos that have been released for it. The one below is my very favorite. Shot during a concert at Wembley Arena, it shows just how popular Tina really was in her heyday. It's also a subtle version of a song that's kind of timeless, don't you think?

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Tina Turner- 'What's Love Got To Do With It'

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 summer 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 last day of 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's Victory 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. Ghostbusters was an absolute phenomenon and Beverly Hills Cop was a huge deal. Oh and my hair reeked of Salon 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?

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Tina Turner- 'What's Love Got To Do With It'

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's Victory 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. Ghostbusters was an absolute phenomenon and Beverly Hills Cop was a huge deal. Oh and my hair reeked of Salon 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?

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Tina Turner- 'Private Dancer'

"Well the men come in these places

and the men are all the same

You don't look at their faces

and you don't ask their names

You don't think of them as human

You don't think of them at all

You keep your mind on the money

keeping your eyes on the wall

I'm your private dancer

a dancer for money

do what you want me to do

I'm your private dancer

a dancer for money

and any old music will do."

I fell in love with Tina Turner's music back in 1984 when she released Private Dancer. I knew nothing of her career years earlier with Ike and I knew nothing of her struggle to establish herself as a solo artist. I only knew that when the video for "What's Love Got To Do With It" started I was completely sucked in. I remember at that time my dad would buy singles' and add them to a mixtape, then I'd get to keep the 45. At the time my dad, like every other DJ on the radio was mesmerized by Tina's fishnets on the cover. I just thought she reeked of coolness.

By the time the title track, "Private Dancer" was released I was already a fan. At first, I thought that the song was a bit boring but it quickly grew on me. Now many moons later I love it AND all three of the videos that have been released for it. The one below is my very favorite. Shot during a concert at Wembley Arena, it shows just how popular Tina really was in her heyday. It's also a subtle version of a song that's kind of timeless, don't you think?

Daily Boom 80's Throwback: Tina Turner- 'What's Love Got To Do With It'

 

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's Victory 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. Ghostbusters was an absolute phenomenon and Beverly Hills Cop was a huge deal. Oh and my hair reeked of Salon 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?

Daily Boom 80's Throwback- Tina Turner "What's Love Got To Do With It"

This past week was pretty much the end of summer in my house and if you live on the East coast like I do then you were probably more than happy to see your kids off to school. It was a great summer but even the greatest ones eventually feel long, unless of course you're still a kid. I was in the car doing the first day of 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 now 8th grader 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, on this week 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's Victory 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. Ghostbusters was an absolute phenomenon and Beverly Hills Cop was a huge deal. Oh and my hair reeked of Salon 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 this week, 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?