Frankie Said Relax!!!! # by Márcia Schwarz Perel

OOOOOhhhh the 80’s!!!!!  The decade I love, Sirius Radio XM has a whole channel dedicated to it!!!  My Father basically played 70’s music in the house, those eight tracks tapes that I eventually destroyed by playing with them. I appreciate the 70’s, may it be disco or rock. But the 80’s bring a special energy to me.

Let’s start saying that the music that was made from 1980 to 1990 will never fit into 90’s radio or even the 70’s. The decade I talk about right now had three branches and one thing in common. 

The branches were rock (punk rock too), pop and hair bands. The one thing they had in common besides the era was that they all wore makeup and were extremely concerned with their images!!!!  Duran did, Poison did, Queen did too.  And trust me; they are sexier with makeup than without.

Duran Duran in the 80's

The Cure in the 80's

Rock and punk groups in the eighties were groups that were already around at the end of the seventies, and somehow they managed to sound fresher. Billy Joel had been around for a while and to me he always managed to be current. He transcended decades ahead of him and his fans remained pretty loyal.  REO Speedwagon, Bob Seger, Chicago are perfect examples of transcending bands. Speaking of rock, the artists with the biggest influences were in a majority Americans. Blondie redefined punk bands by having Debra Harry as a front woman. She exuded appeal and quickly became a punk icon. Bruce Springsteen also managed to move along through the eighties with no problem. He is doing so until today just like The Rolling Stones and U2 (which is an Irish band but too big not to include).

Pop, the more British the better!!!  Of course the Americans had Madonna e MJ to represent themselves but who did pop better that the Brits? Can you dislike Culture Club? The androgenic Boy George confused older generations. I have friends that still today think he is a woman. I was a firm believer that he was a Hassidic Jew!!! David Bowie also had that phase (androgenous, not Hassidic) and it is one of the most remembered moments of his career. Wham!, the duo that started my love affair with George Michael, was appointed the earliest inspiration for the boy bands that followed. George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley were not only good looking but they could very well sing and wrote their own material. Eighties pop groups had more to offer that just their musical abilities and their catchy tunes. Fashion was a huge part of it. Hair, makeup, outfits were all coordinated. Azzedine Alaia, Gautier, Dolce & Gabbana dressed and tagged their brand along with the artists. The hair style, accessories and attitudes were copied by youngsters all over the world. Duran Duran, my beloved Duran, caught the hearts of millions of girls by releasing sexual suggested videos and state of the art direction.

Sex Pistols having fun _ 80's

Blondie in the 80's

Hair bands or heavy metal bands were a huge contribution to 80’s music. Obviously Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Who and Kiss were still around and impacting the media with their creations, but a huge wave of eye lined boys with tight leather pants introduced a new kind of sound. The songs were not serious or political, but they drew a massive audience of girls specially. I still cannot take Motley Crew seriously and not even Poison (especially since Bret Michael’s love search reality show), but they knew how to make a statement. Skid Row was a hit among my friends; Sebastian Bach was the hero among the boys in my school. I translated the songs for the kids in school, and they did not make so much sense to me. I still liked them though, no question!!!

The most peculiar thing about the 80’s in relation to music is that most of the bands had a one hit wonder. I will now tell you the ones I liked the most and I am sure that you know them too; I always had an opinion about them. Here some of my favorites:

Dexy’s Midnight Runners: Come on Eileen _ I like the end better, when the rhythm changes and starts getting faster.

Flock of Seagulls: I ran (so far away) _ in the video they did not run, were they zombies? What’s with the mirrors?

Tommy Tutone: 867-5309 Jenny _ not tempted to call at all, have you seen him? I would never give him my number!!!

Soft cell: Tainted Love    Great song, weird video. 

Modern English: I melt with you _ for some reason, and I love this song, it makes me think of a Burger King commercial

Frankie goes to Hollywood: Relax _ DON’T DO IT!!!!!

Devo: Whip it _ What the hell?

 by Márcia Schwarz Perel
 Images NET