Inspired by @silentobjectorx blog I thought I'd post some of my favourites tracks from the 80's. I grew up during the 80's ending the decade as a teenager. I had an older brother who's music tastes influenced me as well as a music mad mother, who's tastes mostly irritated me, but occasionally left a positive mark.
I start with a track that I mentioned in @silentobjectorx blog. I remember my brother playing Songs From The Big Chair a lot, with Mothers talk being my favourite. This is the first of probably a few tracks follow a the cold war theme at the time.
Next up is Babooshka by Kate Bush. Like a lot of young boys in the 80's I had crush on Kate. I joke that the first time I saw this video was my first ever sexual experience. I love her voice and the story that is told through the song.
Union of the Snake by Duran Duran was the first single I ever bought. As a kid in school you have to pick a band, like supporting a sports team, for me it was Duran Duran (again influenced by my brother)
The fear of nuclear war hung heavy on a lot of children growing up in the 80's. Two Tribes by Frankie Goes to Hollywood really encapsulates the feeling at the time. It's probably my favourite song from the 80's, helped by the iconic music video and use of naration from from the British Protect and Survive public information films about how to survive a nuclear war. My brother used to play the 7" and 12" remixes all the time, with remixes really being in vogue at the time.
One of my mother's positive musical influences was Fleetwood Mac, the album Tango in the Night being one of the first CDs I can remember listening to and it was played a lot. It's hard to pick one track from the album, but here's Seven Wonders .
Nothing says 1980's like Robert Palmer, but Robert Palmer plus Andy Taylor and John Taylor from Duran Duran and brilliant drummer Tony Thompson? Who together formed The Power Station and this track Some Like it Hot.
I couldn't do an 80's playlist without It's My Life by Talk Talk. Mark Hollis had such a great voice.
Another brotherly influence was The The and the album Infected. This track Sweet Bird Of Truth always stuck with me, as did the music video. A song about the wests growing military involvement in the Middle East and the clash between fundamentalist Christianity and Islam. A song ahead of it's time.
I've been doing this for hours and could go on for hours more. If I was to associate one voice with the 80's it would be that of David Sylvian, lead singer of the band Japan. My brother was a huge fan ( and has since had a book about the band published) and I heard his voice constantly. It is this track, Forbidden Colours by Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto, from the film Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence that I choose. Beautiful lyrics that I certainly didn't understand the meaning of at the time.
I'll end with a song by my biggest crush of the 80's Olivia Newton-John. Taken from the film Xanadu ( a guilty pleasure) a dreadful film with some great music. Magic
Thanks again to @silentobjectorx for the inspiration. I'll tag @samihain just because.
