This post is for Mike! Mike had commented on my last entry that I hadn't written about Cyndi Lauper, who was an important fixture on the '80s scene. Well, when I was in 5th grade, she released the album "She's So Unusual." The year was 1984 I believe. I absolutely LOVED that album and listened to it over and over. That was about the time when I think I was first allowed to have slumber parties, which were SO much fun. Yup -- just invite a handful of your closest (girl) friends over, have pizza, snacks, put the records on, and dance and sing (or lip sync) into the wee hours. Sleeping bags were there, but not really for sleeping -- more for giggling and storytelling in the dark. Boy, those were some fun times. It was just after we had started band, so all of my closest girlfriends were in band with me. Good times! Needless to say, my "She's So Unusual" LP was full of skips -- you know, from when you're dancing around and the needle skips and scratches across the vinyl.
Ancient Artifact - Corded Telephone
Anyway, this song is so notorious. I read that this video won the very first award for best video by a female artist on the 1984 MTV Video Music awards. I am not surprised. I probably watched the show, too. I remember waiting anxiously every year for it. Seems that around that time, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna were neck and neck competitors. Newsweek thought that Cyndi would eclipse Madonna, who they called the "Trash Heap Queen." Ah, yes, well, Madonna was also queen of re-invention and crafty marketing, so I think she gained more notoriety and sold more records, but Cyndi was always my idol. Her hair was just so amazing with its flaming red color (along with all the other colors throughout time). The video is terrific, too. I think I read somewhere that Cyndi's mother is in all of her videos, and it's true. Her mom always looked so kind and endearing. Captain Lou Albano played her father, and the video is one giant feel-good dance party. In fact, at the end of the video, she brings all of Manhattan into her bedroom for a dance party. I know it isn't all of the city, but it seems like it to her parents. I love the part where the guy comes in with flowers looking for her. He says, "Cyndi? Cyndi?" You can really see him mouth the words. Then, as was the case in the '80s, we see Captain Lou peeking through the keyhole to see what's going on in there. The vision of Cyndi and the boy embracing makes him irate, he opens the door, and everyone falls out. It's pretty funny. But, I really think aside from the guy mouthing "Cyndi," my favorite part is the telephone sequence. Remember telephones with cords? Amazing. I also think this is a perfect video in the midst of all the "binders full of women" satires. Yup, this is one video binder full of women. So, Governor Romney, if you are looking for some female "folks," call Cyndi!
This weekend I spent quite a bit of time watching Blondie videos and listening to interviews with Debbie Harry. I have to say that I was pretty shocked by the number of interviewers and reporters who compared her to Lady Gaga -- and actually had the guts to mention that to her. No offense to anyone, but come on. Blondie and Lady Gaga? I am SURE that Debbie Harry must have had some influence on Lady Gaga, but is it really fair to compare them? I often read about comparisons between Madonna and Lady Gaga -- and that seems more logical to me. I'm still pondering the Blondie/Gaga connection. Okay, both Debby Harry and Gaga were NYC natives, right? They both started out sort of "underground" on the dance circuit, right? Uh, wrong. Blondie as a group seemed to be very anti-establishment and counter-culture, although punk was a "counter culture culture" in and of itself. I actually found some videos of Debbie Harry when she was in her twenties, and she was singing '60s folk kind of stuff. This made me think of Pat Benatar, who went through all kinds of genres with her band, and so did Debbie Harry. So, it's fair enough to compare Debbie Harry and Pat Benatar, I think.
Meanwhile, I guess there's more of a connection between Madonna and Gaga. Madonna started as a dancer and was pretty broke when she moved from Michigan to NYC. Her early hits were very "dancy," and so were Gaga's. Remember "Holiday?" How about "Just Dance?" Okay, so the former was Madonna and the latter Gaga. I think Madonna really paved the way for Gaga. Madonna seemed really intrigued by commercialism and marketing, and I think Gaga does as well. I don't think Debbie Harry cared one iota. Both Madonna and Gaga like the "shock factor," too. When Gaga first came out, I was pretty engaged by the quality of her music and her musicianship. She seemed so incredibly talented for such a young woman. I think it's getting a bit creepy now, and I may have lost touch with her message and direction. Meanwhile, Madonna was always pretty straightforward. She liked to shock people. She loved to throw religious images into the mix just to cause a ruckus. She also really liked to push her sexuality in everyone's face for shock value. Hey, no problem. At least it wasn't creepy. Seems pretty mild in retrospect. So, I thought it would be fun and nostalgic to share one of he big shockers, "Justify My Love." It was written by Lenny Kravitz and basically features an awesomely provocative and "dirty" drum track underscoring Madonna whispering about sexual stuff. It was extremely controversial back in the day (1990, just at the dawn of the new decade). It has sort of R-rated images. Yeah -- but the video is very artsy. Not really creepy at all. Just very Madonna. I think Gaga's last equivalent was "Bad Romance," so I threw that in, too. I absolutely love the hairless cat -- and the message of the tune. So, enjoy these two -- I think they are light years closer than Gaga and Blondie (in fact, that comparison is a non-issue in my mind).
I am in big, big trouble here... Yeah, I know. I had been blogging just about everyday, and then it seemed as though I fell into a black hole. I apologize and agreeably put myself in the doghouse as my parents used to say. Couple of things have happened since my last post -- including a nice, much-needed vacation. In fact, as I was driving home for vacation, I heard "Talk to Me" by Stevie Nicks on the radio. I hadn't heard this song in ages, and I really enjoyed listening to it again. My favorite part is when she sings "you can set your secrets free, baby." Yeah, how cool is that? I can imagine someone holding a bird, maybe a dove, and just letting it go. Or, perhaps opening a window and letting those pesky old secrets out. Set them free, baby! I just think that has to be another one of the absolute coolest lyrics ever in the history of pop/rock music. I listened to the rest of the lyrics, and it's pretty clear what the song is about. I like the angle of having Stevie sing to a man, because he is the one with the secrets for a change. Seems like women are always the secret keepers. Anyway, the song paints the picture of a couple, and they are having an awkward time because of his secrets. Yeah, I think he's probably got another girlfriend that he's hiding, and it sounds like he may be doing this out of spite because he was hurt for some reason.
The video for this tune is also pretty neat. Can't remember seeing it much back in 1985 when it was released, but I guess it was up against a lot of competition. Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, etc... You can see the fashion influence of the time, because Stevie is wearing red lace gloves at one point in the video. I think it's terrific, and I love when she kind of "melts into a puddle." I am thinking she did some of her own choreography, although other parts also seem very typical of the day (like when Stevie is joined by four other dancers in that "V" type figure). And, alas, there is a saxophone solo in this tune. I hadn't noticed it until I watched the video again. No offense, saxes, but it was pretty nice when I was driving along and hadn't noticed that part... However, a good ol' sax solo was also pretty standard for the '80s. Come to find out the tune was written by Chas Sanford, who co-wrote John Waite's "Mising You." Lots of similarities, but I think Stevie really makes this her own. Kudos, Ms. Nicks!
I'm still a bit in shock over the news of Donna Summer's death today. I can say with 100 percent truth and certainty, that she was the first woman I recall hearing on the radio in the late '70s. I was just a little girl, but I was in love with her music. Used to dance around in my room and sing all her songs in front of the mirror. As I got older, I listened to more of her music. I was completely obsessed for a while, actually. There are so many great songs that she sang --through the 70s and 80s...and beyond. I remember hearing her version of "O Holy Night" just this past December when I was shopping, and it was breathtaking. As for her disco tunes, well, they were all amazing. Anyone remember "Thank God It's Friday?" Donna Summer sang, "Last Dance" in that movie. She certainly raised some eyebrows with "Love to Love You Baby," but I give her props for that. This was long before Madonna and Lady Gaga. Donna Summer had a voice that was truly like gold. We will miss you, Donna. Rest in peace and fill the heavens with your glorious voice.
This evening Alice Cooper wasn't on, so I listened to some Pandora radio. Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" came on, and I thought it would be a great song to write about. So, I did some research and found out that the bass line was inspired by the bass line to "Good Times" by Chic. Turns out that the bass player from Queen and the bass player from Chic spent some time together in the studio. There was a bit of controversy in the press, too, because the press claimed that Chic "ripped off" the bass line from Queen, when in actuality Chic's song came first. "Good Times" was released in 1979, and "Another One Bites the Dust" was released in 1980. Nevertheless, both are terrific tunes. I may eventually talk about some Queen songs later on, because they are really, really artful and amazing. Freddie Mercury had a voice like none other.
Clams on the halfshell
...and roller skates
So, back to Chic. Nile Rodgers is one of the most recognizable names in music. He went on to have an extremely fruitful career as a record producer, working with Madonna, Diana Ross, David Bowie, and Duran Duran to name a few. He and bassist Bernard Edwards formed the group Chic back in the 70s. Supposedly, this song is about the happier times of the 1970s and its roller disco days. Turns out that the bass line of "Good Times" was sampled in tons of songs. There is a huge list on songfacts.com--check it out. In the meantime, I can't help but groove to this song no matter what the decade. That is what happens when you pair an awesome bass line with lyrics that exclaim, "Good times! These-are-the-good times! Leave-your-cares-behind! These-are-the-good times!" Woo! Yeah! This song has to make you feel like getting up and dancing, or roller skating, or just bustin' whatever kind of move you want. I still have no idea what "clams on the half shell and roller skates" means...
I haven't had a chance to watch Madonna's Halftime Show in its entirety, but here it is! I will have to comment later. I was so happy that she performed some of her classics, like "Vogue" and "Like a Prayer." Enjoy!
Okay, so everyone is talking about Madonna and her Super Bowl performance tomorrow night in Indianapolis. Lots of speculation, many quick links with supposed play lists for her set, and all kinds of short interviews on the web. Meanwhile, I found a video on her YouTube Channel of the new song that she is performing ("Gimme All Your Luvin'" with Nicki Minaj and MIA). The song is alright. Catchy, upbeat, fun, modern. But, alas, I still like vintage Madonna tunes, better. One of my favorites is "Into the Groove." Anyone remember that one from 1985? It was from the movie "Desperately Seeking Susan," where Madonna starred with Rosanna Arquette. Honestly, I saw the movie when it came out and had a lot of trouble following the storyline, but that is alright. I was just a young girl, and the story was kind of off-beat. Besides, I just saw the movie because Madonna was in it. Essentially, it's about a woman who has amnesia (Rosanna Arquette) and becomes obsessed with the life of Madonna's character (Susan). Yup, that's about it. It's kind of cooky and crazy and takes place in NYC. I just thought the song was so great, and the video had scenes from the movie. Eventually, I realized the song was really much, much better than the movie. Come to think of it, I believe the same can be said of "Dick Tracy." Remember that movie with Madonna and Warren Beatty? Oh, and the romance between Madonna and Warren Beatty? I digress...so, back to the song...
I always liked the tune because it had an excellent beat and very "cool" lyrics -- especially to young 5th graders who wanted to be just like Madonna back in 1985. I was on that list. I loved the way she spoke in the beginning of the song, "And you can dance, for inspiration, come on, come on, I'm waiting..." The rest of the lyrics are very hip indeed, focusing on dancing and love, and putting the woman in charge as Madonna sings, "Get into the groove, boy you've got to prove, your love to me, get up on your feet, yeah step to the beat, boy what will it be..." Back in the day, I don't think any of my 5th grad pals really paid that much attention to the vocals, but we sure did memorize the lines so we could dance and sing to the records...and yes, they were vinyl records. Ah, memories. Now, it seems kind of fun and whimsical to listen to the lyrics. Nothing wrong with cute lyrics about love. I think her song for tomorrow night's Super Bowl performance will be about love, too, but I was so distracted by all the activity in the video and song that I think I missed the lyrics entirely. Oh well. Hope you enjoy this peek from Madonna's past..
I don't think any 80s music blog would be complete without Madonna. In fact, we could probably find entire blogs dedicated to her work. As an artist, she certainly helped define the music of the decade and sold over 300 million records. Amazing. I couldn't begin to name all of her Top 40 hits. but her debut album was definitely my favorite. She came on the scene as basically an unknown singer/dancer and developed into a legend. I remember seeing her on the MTV Video Music Awards after her first album had been out for a while. She basically shocked the world with her performance of "Like a Virgin" for it's concept, lyrics, and performance. She continued to push the envelope and make people just a little bit too uncomfortable throughout her career, especially due to her use of religious symbols. We anxiously awaited her Pepsi commercial and the new song to be released simultaneously ("Like a Prayer"). Much to our dismay, there was a huge controversy, and the commercial was pulled from the air. Oh well. Madonna persevered and had an illustrious career. She kept things new and fresh, constantly changing her image. Pretty crafty, I must say. Some people think she was a marketing pro in that respect, but I do believe she was innovative, creative, bold, and truly an artist. I ran out and bought every new album - from the blue vinyl "True Blue" to the incense-scented "Immaculate Collection."
I believe "Holiday" was the first song released from her self-titled debut album in the United States. I didn't realize there was a video at all, and this one is certainly barebones. However, it does give us a perfect image of Madonna as a brand new artist on the musical landscape in 1983. She had a very unique look - kind of a contemporary, fashionable dancer. There was no one else like her, and her style made people take notice. Her simple colors (lots of black in the beginning), pairings of skirts and leggings, cut-off shirts, and massive amounts of bracelets helped create a very unique image. Didn't take long for her to make an impression on the masses. I remember begging for those black rubber bracelets. Had to have them--tons of them! I wanted some fingerless gloves, too, and managed to find a hankerchief to tie around my hair as a headband. All the girls in my 5th grade class simply loved this song. I remember dancing and dancing to the 45 RPM until it was completely destroyed from "skips" that were made from the needle jumping as we did. Thank goodness for digital technology today!
So, "Holiday" is a simple song that you can still enjoy without the video for sure. Basically, the concept is taking some time for a holiday, a celebration. The beat is catchy and obviously "danceable." I remember the synthesized keyboards but had forgotten about the excellent cowbell part until now. Madonna's voice was also strong, clear, and melodic. I think it has changed and developed immensely over the years, but I prefer her early recordings like this one. Something very refreshing about her early songs - fun, simple, and upbeat. Hope you enjoy "Holiday."
