Kevin's Watch

Maybe it's because the 80's were my formative years from a musical point of view but for me it's the decade that really stands out for me.

Some things that either stood out or I just like:

- U2 formed
- Madonna created herself
- Dexy's Midnight Runners put together one of the best songs ever
- David Byrne and Brian Eno collaborated and produced an amazing song - Jezebel Spirit - designed to be listened to very very loudly
- Remember the Pet Shop Boys and Wham? (not my favs)
- Duran Duran made music videos into movies (almost)
- Michael Jackson hit the scene
- Matt Johnson and his band "The The" made some excellent music
- Shriekback - listen to the song Faded Flowers (and dozens more - This Big Hush etc etc) and be lost to a world of really good music
- The Sisters of Mercy - Deep, dark, and Gothic in a sense - "And the devil in a black dress watches over...."


Sadly - many of these have faded into the background - and there's many more that I'm not listing. I suppose what's sad is that the newer generation won't be listening to any of it. We need a Top 100 - NON Mainstream list.

I must admit that I have has a great weakness for Duran Duran since I saw them in concert back when I was in high school (guess that ages me, doesn't it ). Their lead singer was such a hottie!
And they played good catchy tunes, too!

Vain, there is a series of five CD's called Living in Oblivion that features a lot of the more obscure bands/hits from the 80's that you might really like. When I took 'em to work, everyone wanted copies!

duchess of malfi wrote:I must admit that I have has a great weakness for Duran Duran since I saw them in concert back when I was in high school (guess that ages me, doesn't it ). Their lead singer was such a hottie!

He made you hungry like the wolf?

Michael Jackson's Billie Jean when I hear it, always reminds me of the spring-break I spent in Daytona Beach. So I guess that dates me as well.

The Police also comes to mind for me as an '80's group although they started in the late 70's

DirecTv, although I don't think this helps you , has music channels available. I spend most of the time, when listening there, on the '70's and '80s channels.

I've always been disappointed I was born too late to be a punk ('77)

I was born in '67 and caught the raggedy ends of punkdom. It was fun but couldn't beat the sun-starved and emaciated - hollowed eyes - leather and winkle picker days I used to be quite a sight

Believe me when I say I wasn't exactly the kind of guy I'd like my daughter to bring home one day

My best friends were born in '65. Now please understand that I was born in '91, but due to a lot of research on the web, i'm smarter than the average 12 year old. btw, in the '80's, i was a hamster named Spot, so i wasn't into the nightlife very much.

*smiles happily from her spell gaurded room*

Some people like the 80s like they like a little bauble that brings back nostalgic memories, whilst others detest the decade. For me, there were a handful of great songs and good bands, but I just personally don't enjoy the 80s. They used too much synthesizers . . . drum sound was transformed . . . I believe music lost a little bit of its authenticity during that period. There just seemed to be less "soul". Of course, I might not blame the 80s for that. I mean, they were still recovering from the greatest Holocaust known to man: disco.

I think pop was better in the 80s than it is now...

Agreed there. In fact, I seriously think today's pop is worse than even disco.

Punk. 'nuff said.

Yeah, but there was punk during the 70s--and arguably better than 80s punk. In fact, I believe that punk was most influential at or around 1977. Even some mainstream bands (Floyd, for example) felt they needed to change their style to fit the punk wave.

(Please ignore. Can't find delete option.)

Lord Foul wrote:I believe music lost a little bit of its authenticity during that period. There just seemed to be less "soul".

You're a hard man, Lord Foul I wouldn't go so far as to say that. The 80s gave us great energy in music. I don't know what you mean by "soul", but there is great passion in 80s music.

Okay, then, lemme rephrase it: how about I didn't like the energy? Heh . . .

Like I said to begin with, there were some great bands and songs that came out of the 80s. I'm not lazily sweeping a whole decade under the rug without a second thought; it's just a simple matter of personal taste.

Fair enough.

I guess I'm kind of partial to 80s music. Some of my favorite bands were in their prime--Psychedelic Furs, The Cure, U2, Depeche Mode (don't laugh!). Some of my other faves who were around for awhile, finally received some long overdue popular recognition--Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, Springsteen. Other bands, that aren't quite so memorable, probably put out too much synth-pop music, but even those songs outshine most of the cookie-cutter dance/pop out there today.

..

Tulizar wrote:I guess I'm kind of partial to 80s music. Some of my favorite bands were in their prime--Psychedelic Furs, The Cure, U2, Depeche Mode (don't laugh!).

I love Depeche Mode, too. Why would anyone laugh?