tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48671985471006477862024-03-20T05:06:39.008-07:00All Eighties, All The TimeI love the 80s, the music, the movies even (gulp) the fashion! This blog is going to celebrate everything eighties. Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-35621380566744857042015-06-12T02:27:00.000-07:002015-06-12T02:27:17.239-07:0080s Acronyms<h2>80s Language</h2>
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During the 80s people loved to throw acronyms around. It can make the eighties language a little confusing for the uninitiated! If you grew up in the 80s, however it can be fun to look back and remember what they were.
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If I've missed out any that you used to use, please let me know towards the end of the page.
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<h2>Yuppies</h2>
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Yuppies was probably the most used acronym during the 80s and I was always under the impression that it stood for Young Upwardly mobile Professional, however it appears that the meaning could change depending on where you lived! In the States it apparently stood for Young Urban Professional.
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Basically, if you were young and doing well for yourself in the city then you were a yuppie. Where the term Yuppie originated is quite a controversial area, some claim that there were mentions of yuppies during the 60s, although it's generally part of 80s pop culture.
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Yuppies were the first generation to use mobile phones, although the phones they had then were more like bricks!
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<h2>The Yuppie Handbook</h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yuppie-Handbook-State-Art-Professionals/dp/B000GLDLIQ?tag=lousblogs-20" style="float:left;color:inherit;display:inline-block;text-decoration:none;text-align:center;margin:1.5%;vertical-align:top;width:150px" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="The Yuppie Handbook: The State-of-the-Art Manual for Young Urban Professionals"><span style="-moz-box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:150px;height:150px;margin-bottom:3px;overflow:hidden;border:solid 1px #888888;border-radius:3px" class="prthmb"><img height="299" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41SPwevDRYL.jpg" width="200" style="max-width:none;border:0;height:100%;width:auto"></span><span style="display:block;color:#000000;font-size:12px;line-height:1.1;font-family:arial;margin:3px 0" class="prnme">The Yuppie Handbook: The State-of-the-Art Manual for Young Urban Professionals</span><img src="http://easyproductdisplays.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/29.png" style="height:auto;max-width:100%" class="prbtn"></a><p>Published in 1984 The Yuppie Handbook is quite fun to read now. The 80s animal kingdom of Western corporations in all of it's glory and how to succeed in it.</p><p style="clear:both;font-size:0;"> </p>
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Yuppie-dom has spawned many other alternative acronyms for people including:-
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Poupies - Porsche Owning Urban Professionals
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Guppies - Greenpeace Yuppies (this is the 80s version, these days it is used to mean Gay Urban Professionals)
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Buppies - I must admit I had never heard this acronym used during the 80s, but I'm assured it was and it means Black Urban Professionals.
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Swell - Single Woman Earning Lots of Loot ie Miss Yuppie
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<h2>Are You Single?</h2>
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Acronyms were also used to denote your family situation:-
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Sinkies - Single Income No Kids
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Dinkies - Dual Income No Kids
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Yummies - Young Urban Mothers
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<h2>Bobos</h2>
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Bobos were often seen in the city where the young professionals worked hard and played even harder.
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Bobo - Burnt out but Opulent.
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was first heard of in the 1980s and before it was given a medical term people referred to it as Yuppie Flu. Some people thought it was sheer laziness and others thought it was merely burnout.
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<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/the_bobo_mug-168295355256315295?rf=238559900758216397&tc=all80s" style="float:left;color:inherit;display:inline-block;text-decoration:none;text-align:center;margin:1.5%;vertical-align:top;width:250px" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="The Bobo Mug"><span style="-moz-box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:250px;height:250px;margin-bottom:3px;overflow:hidden;border:solid 1px #888888;border-radius:3px" class="prthmb"><img height="512" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/the_bobo_mug-r617ffd6e624543b19ea6228f51c72b88_x7jgp_8byvr_512.jpg" width="512" style="max-width:none;border:0;height:auto;width:100%"></span><span style="display:block;color:#000000;font-size:12px;line-height:1.1;font-family:arial;margin:3px 0" class="prnme">The Bobo Mug</span><img src="http://easyproductdisplays.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/BuyNowatZazzle-e1418272353677.png" style="height:auto;max-width:100%" class="prbtn"></a><p style="clear:both;font-size:0;"> </p>
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<h2>What about the Oldies?</h2>
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Yes, the 80s even had acronyms for their elders. These were the older generation that would put the "We're Off Spending Our Children's Inheritance" bumper stickers on their brand new cars!
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Woopie - Well Off Older People
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Jollies - Jet Setting Oldsters with Lots of Loot
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<h2>Have I Missed Any Acronyms?</h2>
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Please list any here that I have missed, I havent' included WASP or JAP because I thought they were being used before the 80s, feel free to correct me below.Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-46715685143285386072015-06-01T16:28:00.000-07:002015-06-01T16:30:37.750-07:00Best Selling Albums of the 80s<h2>
80s Hit Albums</h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62nmEF6FoRZz3PloT4jGhw0AXC9dxt7TqBCFFVeSD_pNCurag2hFQfub8GUAnlZxlh02x5psFdVNHiAJq6R2r-NrHvTJkSKAqbuhUpERJHV2UR90Amrfz_fB7-yhW_xpWzd8Pfiid5NEC/s1600/albums+of+the+80s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Great 80s albums" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62nmEF6FoRZz3PloT4jGhw0AXC9dxt7TqBCFFVeSD_pNCurag2hFQfub8GUAnlZxlh02x5psFdVNHiAJq6R2r-NrHvTJkSKAqbuhUpERJHV2UR90Amrfz_fB7-yhW_xpWzd8Pfiid5NEC/s320/albums+of+the+80s.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my 80s Albums</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I absolutely love 80s music and have enjoyed taking a trip down memory lane as I compile this page for you that features the top 10 best selling albums of the 80s in the UK.
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I actually own a few of these albums and a couple of them have remained on my must buy list - Phil Collins, No Jacket Required was an album I kept meaning to buy and still don't have although I do play his greatest hits regularly.
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The only album that really surprised me was Kylie as I hadn't realized just how many albums she had sold during the 80s - I remember when she first hit the charts and a couple of my friends and I were sure she'd be a one hit wonder!!
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Anyway take your time and enjoy your nostalgic trip to the decade where music was music and we all rocked!
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zwC7wSFlMELBHonNIOKcbVBiPTMyQNl5YdJdryV_CLjM72ToUeEJRIms_anZ3FAxUJWf4ALoJO_pQoDsRmENhpWI1neyrLgJMOd41LjO3YpghghLicg8hkTC7H9iea2kxopU8aeUJ9Ey/s1600/best+selling+albums+of+the+80s1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zwC7wSFlMELBHonNIOKcbVBiPTMyQNl5YdJdryV_CLjM72ToUeEJRIms_anZ3FAxUJWf4ALoJO_pQoDsRmENhpWI1neyrLgJMOd41LjO3YpghghLicg8hkTC7H9iea2kxopU8aeUJ9Ey/s400/best+selling+albums+of+the+80s1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h2>
Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits</h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brothers-Arms-DIRE-STRAITS/dp/B00004Y6NP?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Brothers in Arms"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41FRDVE5HHL.jpg" height="300" style="border: 0; height: auto; margin: 0.16611295681063123% 0; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="301" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.1; margin: 3px 0;">Brothers in Arms</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://easyproductdisplays.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/29.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
The number one best selling album of the eighties in the UK was Dire Straits and their classic - Brothers in Arms. This album is a must have album for any eighties music lover featuring the fantastic hits such as Money for Nothing and Walk of Life among others.<br />
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Brothers in Arms was the fifth album for Dire Straits and was actually the first album to sell one million copies in the CD format and to also outsell it's LP version......in other words we could blame this album for the demise of vinyl!!!<br />
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<h3>
Brothers in Arms</h3>
<b>Track Listing</b>
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<ol>
<li>So Far Away (Album Version) 5:12</li>
<li>Money For Nothing (Album Version) 8:26</li>
<li>Walk Of Life (Album Version) 4:12</li>
<li>Your Latest Trick (Album Version) 6:33</li>
<li>Why Worry (Album Version) 8:31</li>
<li>Ride Across The River (Album Version) 6:57</li>
<li>The Man's Too Strong (Album Version) 4:40</li>
<li>One World (Album Version) 3:40</li>
<li>Brothers In Arms (Album Version)</li>
</ol>
Not only was Brothers in Arms the best selling album of the 80s as of April 2008 it was 5th on the list of best-selling albums of all time in the UK.
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<h2>
Bad - Michael Jackson</h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Michael-Jackson/dp/B00005QGAX?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Bad"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51i6U1TFYzL.jpg" height="500" style="border: 0; height: auto; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.1; margin: 3px 0;">Bad</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://easyproductdisplays.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/29.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
Michael Jackson was the 80s King of Pop so it is hardly surprising that he should hold the number 2 and number 3 spot in the best selling albums of the 80s. I was actually surprised that Bad beat Thriller to the number 2 spot as I would've thought that Thriller was HIS album of the 80s.<br />
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The majority of the tracks on Michael Jackson's Bad album were actually written by Michael himself. The songs have also aged well with Alien Ant Farm introducing the single Smooth Criminal to a new generation.<br />
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Quincy Jones, who produced the album, said that they wanted a tough album and I think that they managed it.<br />
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<h3>
Bad</h3>
<b>Track Listing</b>
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<ol>
<li>Bad
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<li>The Way You Make Me Feel</li>
<li>Speed Demon</li>
<li>Liberian Girl</li>
<li>Just Good Friends - Michael Jackson, Britten, Terry</li>
<li>Another Part of Me</li>
<li>Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson, Garrett, Siedah</li>
<li>I Just Can't Stop Loving You</li>
<li>Dirty Diana</li>
<li>Smooth Criminal</li>
<li>Leave Me Alone</li>
<li>Streetwalker</li>
<li>Todo Mi Amor Eres Tu (I Just Can't Stop Loving You) - Michael Jackson, Blades, Ruben</li>
<li>Fly Away</li>
</ol>
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<h2>
Thriller - Michael Jackson</h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thriller-Anniversary-Edition-Michael-Jackson/dp/B000WS4QJG?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Thriller, 25th Anniversary Edition"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Up-eRyl6L.jpg" height="445" style="border: 0; height: auto; margin: 5.5% 0; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.1; margin: 3px 0;">Thriller, 25th Anniversary Edition</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://easyproductdisplays.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/29.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
To me Thriller is a must have album of the 80s, whatever you think of Michael Jackson these days in the 80s he ruled! Thriller was an amazing album and really catered to the MTV crowd who doesn't remember the Thriller video?<br />
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Most people who lived through the 80s would know all of the singles from this album. Not only was Thriller the 3rd best selling album of the 80s in the UK it also swept away with 8 Grammys.<br />
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This 25th anniversary edition of Thriller contains bonus tracks that weren't on the original album - I've included this version because I think if you're missing this album from your collection then the extra tracks really do showcase how timeless MJ's music really is.<br />
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<h3>
Thriller 25th Anniversary Edition</h3>
<b>Track Listing</b>
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<ol>
<li>Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'</li>
<li>Baby Be Mine</li>
<li>The Girl Is Mine (with Paul McCartney)</li>
<li>Thriller</li>
<li>Beat It</li>
<li>Billie Jean</li>
<li>Human Nature</li>
<li>P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)</li>
<li>The Lady In My Life</li>
<li>Vincent Price (bonus track)</li>
<li>The Girl Is Mine 2008 with will.i.am ( Previously Unreleased Track For 25th Anniversary Edition )</li>
<li>P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008 with Michael Jackson and will.i.am ( Previously Unreleased Track For 25th Anniversary Edition )</li>
<li>Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008 with Michael Jackson, Akon and will.i.am( Previously Unreleased Track For 25th Anniversary Edition )</li>
<li>Beat It 2008 with Fergie( Previously Unreleased Track For 25th Anniversary Edition )</li>
<li>Billie Jean 2008 with Kanye West ( Previously Unreleased Track For 25th Anniversary Edition )</li>
<li>For All Time (unreleased track from original Thriller sessions) ( Previously Unreleased Track For 25th Anniversary Edition )</li>
</ol>
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<h2>
Greatest Hits - Queen</h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Queen-Greatest-Hits/dp/B000024A70?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Queen - Greatest Hits"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511BA5RvDhL.jpg" height="494" style="border: 0; height: auto; margin: 0.6% 0; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.1; margin: 3px 0;">Queen - Greatest Hits</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://easyproductdisplays.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/29.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
Queen were a British rock group that was formed in 1970, in 1981 they released their first compilation album which was called Greatest Hits. As well as being the fourth best selling album of the 80s in the UK it is also the best selling album of all time in the UK.<br />
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This absolutely classic album that any rock fan should embrace includes the hits Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are The Champions, Another One Bites the Dust and Killer Queen.<br />
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<h3>
Queen - Greatest Hits Vol 1/UK Version</h3>
<b>Track Listing</b>
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<ol>
<li>Bohemian Rhapsody</li>
<li>Another One Bites The Dust</li>
<li>Killer Queen</li>
<li>Fat Bottomed Girls</li>
<li>Bicycle Race</li>
<li>You're My Best Friend</li>
<li>Play The Game</li>
<li>Flash</li>
<li>Seven Seas Of Rhye</li>
<li>We Will Rock You</li>
<li>We Are The Champions</li>
<li>Don't Stop Me Now</li>
<li>Save Me</li>
<li>Crazy Little Thing Called Love</li>
<li>Somebody To Love</li>
<li>Now I'm Here</li>
<li>Good Old-Fashoned Lover Boy</li>
</ol>
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<h2>
Kylie - Kylie Minogue</h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kylie-KYLIE-MINOGUE/dp/B00004S8X5?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Kylie"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511fYEIPCgL.jpg" height="500" style="border: 0; height: auto; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.1; margin: 3px 0;">Kylie</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://easyproductdisplays.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/29.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
Kylie Minogue came to prominence in the UK with her role as Charlene on the Australian soap opera Neighbours. Kylie and co-star Jason Donovan both decided to try their luck in the UK and pursued singing careers.<br />
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Kylie joined the Stock. Aitken & Waterman stables and produced hit singles such as I Should Be So Lucky and Loco-Motion both of which are on this, her debut album. The album, self-titled Kylie recieved mixed reviews as it was very cutesy and was a classic case of people buying it because they loved Kylie Minogue as opposed to enjoying the music.<br />
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I find it hard to believe that this was the fifth biggest selling album of the 80s in the UK.......I blame one of my friend's brothers for this as he was a Kylie fanatic!<br />
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<h3>
Kylie</h3>
<b>Track Listing</b>
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<ol>
<li> I Should Be So Lucky</li>
<li>Loco-Motion</li>
<li>Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi</li>
<li>It's No Secret</li>
<li>Got to Be Certain</li>
<li>Turn It into Love</li>
<li>I Miss You</li>
<li>I'll Still Be Loving You</li>
<li>Look My Way</li>
<li>Love at First Sight</li>
</ol>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrG9EdkUhhN-1FIgSa958crSBDF7nOll_OovkFcAngGLXbugbXLo4bVwTsYw2srXJ2wCZBoA6dYzFBJkfoPZn-mxKYFBXRp5sMV1LqbiDE6RI0RzGVksd1Ddlas9MumVQZHP-WQjADI50/s1600/best+selling+albums+of+the+80s2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrG9EdkUhhN-1FIgSa958crSBDF7nOll_OovkFcAngGLXbugbXLo4bVwTsYw2srXJ2wCZBoA6dYzFBJkfoPZn-mxKYFBXRp5sMV1LqbiDE6RI0RzGVksd1Ddlas9MumVQZHP-WQjADI50/s400/best+selling+albums+of+the+80s2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h2>
Whitney - Whitney Houston</h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whitney-Houston/dp/B000002VEB?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Whitney"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-GPa3r%2BQL.jpg" height="499" style="border: 0; height: auto; margin: 0.1% 0; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.1; margin: 3px 0;">Whitney</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://easyproductdisplays.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/29.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
It is hardly surprising that Whitney Houston should take out the 6th best selling album of the 80s as her debut album - Whitney became the biggest selling debut album of all time for a solo artist.<br />
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Her fantastic voice helped her to make a hugely successful cross over from Gospel to pop and even today people the world over attempt to sing Saving All My Love For You on the reality hit show Idol.<br />
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I had both of Whitney's first two albums - Whitney & Whitney Houston and I have to say my favorite was the second one, but this first one sold more during the 80s in the UK.<br />
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<h3>
Whitney</h3>
<b>Track Listing</b>
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<ol>
<li>I Wanna Dance With Somebody 4:53</li>
<li>Just The Lonely Talking Again 5:34</li>
<li>Love Will Save The Day 5:23</li>
<li>Didn't We Almost Have It All 5:08</li>
<li>So Emotional 4:38</li>
<li>Where You Are 4:10</li>
<li>Love Is A Contact Sport 4:20</li>
<li>You're Still My Man 4:16</li>
<li>For The Love Of You 5:34</li>
<li>Where Do Broken Hearts Go 4:39</li>
<li>I Know Him So Well 4:31</li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Tango in the Night - Fleetwood Mac</h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tango-Night-FLEETWOOD-MAC/dp/B000002L9Y?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Tango in the Night"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51rq6MP4dYL.jpg" height="491" style="border: 0; height: auto; margin: 0.8999999999999999% 0; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.1; margin: 3px 0;">Tango in the Night</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://easyproductdisplays.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/29.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
Fleetwood Mac was formed way back in 1967 and had experienced varied levels of success from the late 60s through until the 80s. During the late 70s and into the 80s Fleetwood Mac gave their sound a more popsy feel and added Stevie Nicks as another vocalist.<br />
<br />
Tango in the Night became Fleetwood Macs biggest selling album in the UK even outselling Rumours (which I personally think was their best album).<br />
<br />
After the Tango in the Night album the most successful line-up of Fleetwood Mac namely Lindsay Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood broke up.<br />
<br />
The album released the fantastic singles Little Lies and Seven Wonders among others.<br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: 0;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Tango in the Night</h3>
<b>Track Listing</b>
<br />
<ol>
<li>"Big Love" (Buckingham) – 3:37</li>
<li>"Seven Wonders" (Sandy Stewart, Nicks) – 3:38</li>
<li>"Everywhere" (C. McVie) – 3:41</li>
"Caroline" (Buckingham) – 3:50</ol>
<br />
<li>"Tango in the Night" (Buckingham) – 3:56</li>
<li>"Mystified" (C. McVie, Buckingham) – 3:06</li>
<li>"Little Lies" (C. McVie, Eddy Quintela) – 3:38</li>
<li>"Family Man" (Buckingham, Richard Dashut) – 4:01</li>
<li>"Welcome to the Room... Sara" (Nicks) – 3:37</li>
<li>"Isn't It Midnight" (C. McVie, Quintela, Buckingham) – 4:06</li>
<li>"When I See You Again" (Nicks) – 3:47</li>
<li>"You and I (Part 2)" (Buckingham, C. McVie) – 2:40</li>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
No Jacket Requred - Phil Collins</h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-Jacket-Required-Phil-Collins/dp/B000002IHQ?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="No Jacket Required"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/311W5Z4NAYL.jpg" height="300" style="border: 0; height: auto; margin: 0.16611295681063123% 0; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="301" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.1; margin: 3px 0;">No Jacket Required</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://easyproductdisplays.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/29.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
Before Phil Collins released a solo single he was best known as lead singer and drummer for the British rock band Genesis. A fantastic drummer and a good singer Phil Collins was a mainstay in the UK charts throughout the 80s with hits such as Sussudio and One More Night.<br />
<br />
No Jacket Required became the 8th best selling album of the 80s in the UK and went straight to the number one album spot in both the US and UK when it was released. The album received the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1985, but where did the name come from?<br />
<br />
No Jacket Required came from an incident when Phil Collins was refused admittance to a restaurant because the jacket he was wearing wasn't deemed 'proper' enough. This story was one that Phil Collins told regularly when he was on talk shows.<br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: 0;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
No Jacket Required</h3>
<b>Track Listing</b>
<br />
<ol>
<li>"Sussudio" - 4:23</li>
<li>"Only You Know and I Know" (Lyrics: Collins/ Music: Daryl Stuermer) - 4:21</li>
<li>"Long Long Way to Go" - 4:22</li>
<li>"I Don't Wanna Know" (Lyrics: Collins/ Music: Stuermer) - 4:14</li>
<li>"One More Night" - 4:48</li>
<li>"Don't Lose My Number" - 4:48</li>
<li>"Who Said I Would?" - 4:01</li>
<li>"Doesn't Anybody Stay Together Anymore?" (Lyrics: Collins/ Music: Stuermer) - 4:18</li>
<li>"Inside Out" -5:15</li>
<li>"Take Me Home" - 5:52</li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
True Blue - Madonna</h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/True-Blue-Madonna/dp/B000002L9S?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="True Blue"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Zxyeh5d1L.jpg" height="494" style="border: 0; height: auto; margin: 0.6% 0; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.1; margin: 3px 0;">True Blue</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://easyproductdisplays.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/29.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
Madonna owned the 80s and this album, her third, recieved critical acclaim and let her own the crown of Queen of Pop. True Blue allowed Madonna to show off her strong voice as it had the ballad Live to Tell which was a change from the pop hits that she had previously released.<br />
<br />
One of my all time favorite Madonna songs is Papa Don't Preach and that was also off of her True Blue album.<br />
<br />
Check out more about the 80s pop queen on our <a href="http://all-eighties.blogspot.com.au/2010/05/madonna-madonna-madonna.html">Madonna in the 80s post</a>.<br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: 0;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
True Blue</h3>
<b>Track Listing</b>
<br />
<ol>
<li>Papa Don't Preach 5:45</li>
<li>Open Your Heart 4:13</li>
<li>White Heat 4:36</li>
<li>Live To Tell 5:53</li>
<li>Where's The Party 4:20</li>
<li>True Blue 4:18</li>
<li>La Isla Bonita 4:02</li>
<li>Jimmy Jimmy 3:56</li>
<li>Love Makes The World Go Round 4:31</li>
<li>True Blue (The Color Mix) 6:40 Album Only</li>
<li>11. La Isla Bonita (Extended Remix) 5:26</li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
The Joshua Tree - U2</h2>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Joshua-Tree-U2/dp/B000001FS3?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="The Joshua Tree"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XxxkzJTcL.jpg" height="471" style="border: 0; height: auto; margin: 2.9000000000000004% 0; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.1; margin: 3px 0;">The Joshua Tree</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://easyproductdisplays.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/29.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
The rockers from Ireland known as U2 was formed in the late 70s and by the mid 80s had become one of the top international acts. The Joshua Tree was U2's fifth album and catapaulted them to a whole new level, if an album ever defined a group than this is the album that defined U2.<br />
<br />
Hit singles such as Where the Streets Have No Name, With or Without You and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For are just as relevant today as they were in 1987 when they were released. This album took U2 to a whole new level and made them one of Ireland's biggest exports.<br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: 0;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
The Joshua Tree</h3>
<b>Track Listing</b>
<br />
<ol>
<li> "Where the Streets Have No Name"</li>
<li>"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"</li>
<li>"With or Without You"</li>
<li>"Bullet the Blue Sky"</li>
<li>"Running to Stand Still"</li>
<li>"Red Hill Mining Town"</li>
<li>"In God's Country"</li>
<li>"Trip Through Your Wires"</li>
<li>"One Tree Hill"</li>
<li>"Exit"</li>
<li>"Mothers of the Disappeared"</li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
I Hope You've Enjoyed This Trip Down Memory Lane</h2>
I've had great fun on this trip, but one of my favorite 80s album is missing from this chart - what about yours?Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-48069402568162894272015-04-26T16:43:00.000-07:002015-04-26T16:43:16.752-07:00Diamond by Spandau Ballet<h3>
Spandau Ballet's Second Album - Diamond</h3>
<br />
<br />
Have you heard <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000008L0D/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000008L0D&linkCode=as2&tag=lousblogs-20&linkId=3AXX7TS5342YQLDZ" rel="nofollow">Spandau Ballet's second album - Diamond</a>? I must admit that I loved the album back in the 80s when it was released, but the general public didn't really buy into it and it was not seen as a success. Trevor Horn was called in to produce their fourth single off of the album - Instinction - and he has received credit for turning Spandau's career around again following the flaying results from their singles Paint Me Down and She Loved Like Diamond.
<br />
<br />
I think this album was about trying not to get stuck in a particular pigeon hole of music - you can hear that Spandau Ballet are still experimenting with their sound and expanding beyond their club beat feel that they had in their first album - let's look at Diamond in more detail...
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Diamond Album Tracks - Spandau Ballet</h3>
<br />
<br />
Spandau Ballet's second album, Diamond, had eight tracks on it and they were the following -
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Chant No. 1 (I don't need this pressure on)</li>
<li>Instinction</li>
<li>Paint Me Down</li>
<li>Coffee Club</li>
<li>She Loved Like Diamond</li>
<li>Pharoah</li>
<li>Innocence and Science</li>
<li>Missionary</li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Chant No 1</h3>
<h2>
Spandau Ballet's First Single From Diamond</h2>
<br />
Chant No 1 was the first single off of Spandau Ballet's second album - Diamond and shows a funkier side of the band. Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet's songwriter) said that Chant No 1 was, in part, a homage to the soul clubs that the band used to enjoy going to when they were younger.
<br />
<br />
Unfortunately the funky 'white' soul sound of the album wasn't what the general public were looking for at the time and the album sales reflected this.
<br />
<br />
The album Diamond showcased a lot of experimental sounds, but it also helped to showcase the band, in particular Tony Hadley and Steve Norman.
<br />
<br />
Tony Hadley's voice was maturing and Chant No 1 has soulful undertones which were perfect to showcase Tony Hadley's voice. Chant No 1 was also great at showing how versatile a musician percusionist Steve Norman was. On the single Steve plays the Bongo drums as well as the Saxophone (little did he realize then that he would one day be remembered as the Sax player from Spandau Ballet).
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Instinction</h3>
<h2>
Spandau Ballet's Fourth Single from Diamond</h2>
<br />
Although Spandau Ballet's first single off of this Diamond album was a hit the next two were disappointing and it seemed like the general public weren't enamored with the album either. The record company decided it was time to make changes so they called in music producer Trevor Horn and got him to work on Instinction with the band.
<br />
<br />
In the words of Martin Kemp (bass guitarist) -
<br />
<blockquote>
<i>We gave 'Instinction' to producer Trevor Horn who really turned it on its head. It became a monster.</i></blockquote>
<br />
Spandau Ballet were back from the uncharted waters of their previous two singles and were once again on the UK singles chart.
<br />
<br />
Instinction was the first of 11 consecutive top twenty hits for the 80s New Romantic group.
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Paint Me Down</h3>
<h2>
Spandau Ballet's 2nd Single from the Diamond Album</h2>
<br />
Spandau Ballet released the single Paint Me Down off of their experimental second album Diamond. The biggest attention the single got was from the picture that accompanied it and the video. Unfortunately I can't find this image in creative commons so I can't legally show it to you, but the five guys were all standing looking mournful in just gold swimming briefs. It looks rather tame these days, but during the 80s it was considered pretty hot.
<br />
<br />
The fans definately gave it the thumbs up for lust appeal, but the BBC censors did not approve banning it from being played on their networks.
<br />
<br />
The banning of their video on the BBC gave the Spandau Ballet boys some infamy initially, but the poor record sales did not make the record company very happy. Paint Me Down ended Spandau Ballet's run of Top Twenty hits stalling at number 30.
<br />
<blockquote>
<i>Paint Me Down pretty much sums up the excitement we were experiencing at the time while Chant No.1 was a ground-breaking record and is still played in clubs today.</i>
<br />
<b>Tony Hadley</b></blockquote>
<br />
<h3>
Coffee Club</h3>
<h2>
Album Track from Diamond</h2>
<br />
You can get glimpses of other singles to come, but the whole song seems to be a mish-mash of different sounds and was very experimental - quite unlike anything else available on vinyl at the time. Some people have commented on reviews that it has an African beat and I can hear that near the beginning, but then it just builds on it's brass, although there is chanting later on which could be what they are alluding to.
<br />
<br />
Unfortunately I do think that this song has aged now, it is definitely not one of their timeless pieces, but it certainly deserves more acknowledgement that this was a band that didn't want to stick to a formula and were unafraid of experimenting. Spandau Ballet had started their journey as a cult band and this song really seems to envelop that feeling.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
--------------------
<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Spandau-Ballet/dp/B000008L0D?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Diamond by Spandau Ballet"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 3px #0a0a0a; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51f61aLStCL.jpg" height="500" style="border: 0; height: auto; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font: 12px/1.1 arial; margin: 3px 0;">Diamond by Spandau Ballet</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://www.easy-product-displays.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/25.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
<b>Spandau Ballet - Diamond Album</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Did You Know?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The album cover for Diamond was taken in London's famous Billingsgate fish market - it's true!<br />
<br />
The market building has since been converted into offices, but in 1982 Spandau Ballet's album cover was shot there.<br />
<br />
<b>More on Spandau Ballet's Diamond album</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Spandau Ballet's second album Diamond was released on May 25, 1982 by Chrysalis Records.<br />
<br />
Four singles were released from this album - Chant No. 1, Paint Me Down, She Loved Like Diamond & Instinction.<br />
<br />
The Mail on Sunday (British newspaper) summed up this album with these words -<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Kicking off the album is the classic sound of Spandau 'Chant No. 1(Don't Need This Pressure On), possibly the band's finest hour, a brilliant fusion of white funk and R&B encapsulating Soho in 1981.</i><br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: 0;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
--------------------
</div>
<br />
<h3>
She Loved Like Diamond</h3>
<h2>
Third Single from the Diamond Album</h2>
<br />
Listening to She Loved Like Diamond you can get a sense of what was to come with Spandau Ballet's next album. Tony Hadley's voice is getting stronger in this commercially disappointing single off of their second album, Diamond.
<br />
<br />
Even listening to the single by itself without watching the video it is a very haunting song and although I haven't analysed what the lyrics mean I do find myself getting swept away by it and feeling quite sad at the end of the song.
<br />
<br />
I guess if I was looking for one word to sum up this song it would be - soulful.
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Pharoah</h3>
<h2>
Album Track from Diamond</h2>
<br />
Pharoah was never one of my favorite tracks off of this album back in the 80s when I loved it (the album), but when I listened to it recently the opening notes on the piano made me think of some of the early 90s murder mystery shows when they're building up the suspense and you just know something's going to happen!
<br />
<br />
After a few notes with just the piano the drums then come in ahead of the rest of the instruments and when all of the musical instruments are playing you hear the eastern influence of the track - in fact I almost expect to see a snake charmer - definitely more Indian than Egyptian despite the name of the song!
<br />
<br />
The first words that Tony sings by himself are "When the lights die down" and as his voice comes onto the track his tone is almost embracing of the snake charmer music that's in the background of large parts of the track.
<br />
<br />
Combine it with echo chant vocals from the others and like many of the tracks on this album it smacks of experimentation.
<br />
<br />
Then the track changes tack again and the 'heaven is weeping' vocal aspect of the song is reminiscent of some of their later singles like I'll Fly With You, as Tony imparts the same type of emotion with his voice.
<br />
<br />
As I said before definitely not my favorite album track but it does show that the band was not afraid of trying new directions with their music which was what the New Romantic movement was all about at the start.
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Innocence and Science</h3>
<h2>
Spandau Ballet - Diamond Album</h2>
<br />
The Eastern influence continues with this album track, I love the way they incorporated the sound of water into the music.
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Missionary</h3>
<h2>
Album Track from Spandau Ballet's Diamond Album</h2>
<br />
The beats used in this track are great and seem to give an almost African feel to the song.
<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<i>Underrated Peak of [Spandau] Ballet's Work</i></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
According to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2Z1AV67N8K23K/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview">N. Bongiorno "proteanbounceback"</a>, a reviewer on Amazon. He also says The UK New Romantics were a unique and innovative force on the music scene-incorporating cosmopolitan Mod sensibillities, Motown/Funk bassline/horns & female backup vocals, and globe-trotting world-music influences.
<br />
<br />
He continues with - "Diamond" marks a great second step for the band, the melding of metronomic synth-pop minimilism and Sinataresque-vocals heard on "Journeys" is further expanded with full-sounding snappy horns, offbeat rhythms and forays into long ritualistic eastern-influenced opus' ala the 'Innocence/Missionary" diptych.
<br />
<br />
Really I couldn't come up with words that sound anywhere near as good as his except to say - I loved the album whatever the 'critics' said about it.Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-31739870941606129262015-03-06T22:34:00.001-08:002015-03-06T22:34:42.000-08:00Adam & the Ants<h2>
Who are Adam and the Ants?</h2>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_ebvKsE9IjdmB8OG6-u4UcwBmDQtgFwGznsgsv-Mqoez4oY11-aRSdV8vz4WLXF5lOVIm53xjn-sZ70Tz9Jj9_2l_F6LOmfFEiTFIlEfABi1BfobZlnjSIc9xiBsI7y6nuk0ocQtdURO/s1600/adam+and+the+ants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Adam & the Ants" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_ebvKsE9IjdmB8OG6-u4UcwBmDQtgFwGznsgsv-Mqoez4oY11-aRSdV8vz4WLXF5lOVIm53xjn-sZ70Tz9Jj9_2l_F6LOmfFEiTFIlEfABi1BfobZlnjSIc9xiBsI7y6nuk0ocQtdURO/s320/adam+and+the+ants.jpg" title="Adam & the Ants" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Adam_and_the_Ants_1981.jpg">From Wikipedia and used in accordance with fair use policy</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Adam and the Ants and their flamboyant frontman Adam Ant were a huge influence in the early 80s and are often thought of as a New Romantic group.<br />
<br />
It comes as a surprise to many, then, that Adam Ant started off as a punk, in fact the Sex Pistols played the support act for his former band, Bazooka Joe.
<br />
<br />
This web-page will take you through Adam and the Ants short, yet theatrical musical career.<br />
<br />
Through the line-up changes, Malcolm McClaren's influence and achieving number one status right through until the demise and Adam's solo career.
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Adam and the Ants - The Early Days</h2>
<br />
<br />
Adam and the Ants front person was vocalist Adam Ant. Born Stuart Goddard Adam Ant was the bass player for Bazooka Joe when the Sex Pistols played their first concert in 1975. The Sex Pistols were actually the back up group for Bazooka Joe. Just after this concert Adam quit Bazooka Joe in order to form his own group.
<br />
<br />
He started a group called the B-Sides who were a wash out before he joined forces with Lester Square (guitar), Andy Warren (bass) & Paul Flanagan (drums) and Adam and the Ants were born. It was the beginning of 1977, by May the Ants had their first gig and also their first change of line up with Lester Square leaving before they performed.
<br />
<br />
Lester was to go on and form The Monochrome Set. The Ants' new guitarist was Mark Ryan, he too was replaced later that year and in October Johnny Bivouac became the latest Ants' guitarist.
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Adam and the Ants - Radio 1 Recordings - John Peel Show</h2>
<br />
<br />
Adam and the Ants made their radio debut on Radio 1's John Peel show at the beginning of 1978. They also toured around the UK with punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees(see the above photo of Adam & Siouxsie on the road). They got their first record deal in 1978 when they signed with Decca (the label notorious for turning down the Beatles).
<br />
<br />
Their first single was "Young Parisians" and was a flop, after this the band were dropped by Decca and went through more line-up changes before settling on Adam Ant (vocals, guitar), Matthew Ashman (guitar), Andy Warren (bass guitar) & Dave Barbarossa (drums).
<br />
<br />
You can actually still get Adam and the Ants <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002B6O98/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0002B6O98&linkCode=as2&tag=lousblogs-20&linkId=DD24B52PCZIP25XV">Complete Radio 1 Recordings</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=lousblogs-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0002B6O98" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> on CD from Amazon.
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Dirk Wears White Sox</h2>
<h3>
Adam and the Ants First Album</h3>
<br />
<br />
In late 1979 Adam and the Ants released their first album (under the label Do It Records) called "Dirk Wears White Sox". The album gained a cult following and actually reached number 14 in the album charts, but Adam wasn't happy.
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-size: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dirk-Wears-White-ADAM-ANTS/dp/B000IAZ8O0?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; margin: 1.5%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Dirk Wears White Sox"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AZ2r6ANFL.jpg" height="438" style="border: 0; height: auto; margin: 6.2% 0; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font: 12px/1.1 arial; margin: 3px 0;">Dirk Wears White Sox</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://www.easy-product-displays.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/25.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Malcolm McLaren's Influence</h2>
<br />
<br />
Adam Ant decided to reach out to Malcolm McLaren who had managed the Sex Pistols and see if he could get them more commercial success.
<br />
<br />
At this time the line-up comprised of Adam Ant (vocals, guitar), Matthew Ashman (guitar), Leigh Gorman (bass guitar) & Dave Barbarossa (drums). Malcolm McLaren convinced the band members (except Adam) to leave Adam and the Ants and form <a href="http://all-eighties.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/bow-wow-wow.html">Bow Wow Wow</a>. So much for helping them reach the level of stardom that Adam had been after.
<br />
<br />
He did however make some suggestions regarding the image and it is claimed that he is responsible for them wearing pirate inspired costumes for their next album.
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Kings of the Wild Frontier - Adam and the Ants 2nd Album</h2>
<br />
<br />
Another new line-up ensued, this time however it would become even more successful. The line up was Adam Ant (vocals), Marco Pirroni (guitar), Kevin Mooney (bass), Terry Lee Miall (drums) & Chris Hughes (drums).
<br />
<br />
The band signed another record deal this time with a major label CBS Records who already had big acts such as ELO and Pink Floyd on their books. Their album Kings of the Wild Frontier became a number one hit in the UK and the Ants were on their way.
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kings-Wild-Frontier-ADAM-ANTS/dp/B0012GMZ86?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Kings of the Wild Frontier"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FViJ8taUL.jpg" height="500" style="border: 0; height: auto; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font: 12px/1.1 arial; margin: 3px 0;">Kings of the Wild Frontier</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://www.easy-product-displays.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/25.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
With this album they embraced the beginnings of the New Romantic movement that was emerging in the UK with their flouncy pirate-inspired costumes, while still showing their punk roots with a kind of "glam punk" look. Adam sported a white stripe across his nose and this was soon being copied by boys across suburbia.<br />
<br />
I can vividly remember going Christmas shopping with my brother who would've been about 11 and he came downstairs sporting "the stripe," I was mortified!!!<br />
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<br />
<br />
<h2>
Prince Charming</h2>
<h3>
Adam and the Ants - Album Number 3</h3>
<br />
<br />
Adam and the Ants released their next album in November 1981. Hits off of this album included "Stand and Deliver" and "Prince Charming" and continued to cement their chart success, with both of these going to the number one spot.
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Charming-ADAM-THE-ANTS/dp/B000IAZ8NG?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Prince Charming"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51fJEF18RrL.jpg" height="438" style="border: 0; height: auto; margin: 6.2% 0; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font: 12px/1.1 arial; margin: 3px 0;">Prince Charming</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://www.easy-product-displays.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/25.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
The videos off of this album showed the band camping it up with Adam playing his version of Dick Turpin (Britain's infamous Highwayman) for the song "Stand and Deliver." The start of MTV came at the right time for the band as they hammed up for the screen which was what helped to get them noticed in the US.<br />
<br />
They finally had the commercial success that Adam had craved when he had turned to Malcolm McLaren in 1980.<br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: 0;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Adam and the Ants - All Over Now</h2>
<br />
<br />
In early 1982 Adam and the Ants were nominated for a Grammy for the category of best new artist, however by March they had disbanded. Adam decided to pursue a solo career and released "Goody Two Shoes" on his first solo album, although the single was credited to Adam and the Ants.
Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-9359480043453056862015-03-01T16:14:00.001-08:002015-03-01T16:14:48.873-08:00Band Aid, 1984<h2>
Band Aid</h2>
<br />
<br />
The story of Band Aid is legendary, a sick musician (Bob Geldof) watching television in bed gets moved into action when watching a documentary about the famine in Ethiopia. He gets together with a fello muso (Midge Ure), they write a song (Do They Know It's Christmas) and coerce their fellow musician mates (Band Aid) to record a single to raise money for charity.
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Band Aid: The Beginnings</h2>
<br />
<br />
The musician in question was Bob Geldof who at that stage was best known as the lead singer of the Boomtown Rats. The Boomtown Rats had hits such as Rat Trap and I Don't Like Mondays.
<br />
<br />
Bob Geldof was later to come up with the idea of Live Aid and would eventually become knighted for his charitable efforts.
<br />
<br />
In his autobiography (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012KCS70/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0012KCS70&linkCode=as2&tag=lousblogs-20&linkId=F5FZCED3PG7CAJGJ">Is That It?</a>) he is quite frank about not being a saint even though he is referred to as Saint Bob since his charitable efforts in Africa.
<br />
<br />
On October 24th 1984 Michael Buerk started his report on the Ethiopian famine for the BBC's 6 o'clock news. It was this report that touched Bob Geldof as he was watching and gave him a new purpose and direction for his life.
<br />
<br />
Michael Buerk's report started with the words, "Dawn, and as the sun breaks through the piercing chill of night on the plain outside of Korem it lights up a biblical famine, now, in the Twentieth Century."
<br />
<br />
It was the plight of the Ethiopian children in particular that moved Bob into action.
<br />
<br />
Michael Buerk has won every major award in journalism while working for the BBC and in his autobiography - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0099461374/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0099461374&linkCode=as2&tag=lousblogs-20&linkId=65ECON6C3SL7XVOG">The Road Taken</a> - he outlines not only the famine in Ethiopia but also the Falklands War, Lockerbie and the Flixborough chemical plant fire.
<br />
<br />
His fellow musician was Midge Ure. At the time of Band Aid Midge was best known as lead singer for Ultravox who had hits such as Vienna.
<br />
<br />
Together Bob and Midge wrote a song Do They Know It's Christmas?. Bob Geldof wrote the lyrics and Midge Ure wrote the music. Next it was time to get their fellow musician's on board.
<br />
<br />
Bob wanted to insure that he had famous, "hot" acts of that time to make sure that the single would sell. He contacted people and nearly everyone said yes straight away.
<br />
<br />
In one interview Bob Geldof told people that he asked Simon Le Bon (lead singer of Duran Duran) and as he was wavering he mentioned that Tony Hadley (lead singer of Spandau Ballet) had already said yes. Spandau Ballet and Duran Duran were the battling "super bands" of the time in the UK. Of course, Duran Duran became suddenly committed as well. Bob was certainly sneaky!
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Band Aid: The Name</h2>
<br />
<br />
The name Band Aid was chosen as a pun as well as the fact that the musicians were working together as a band in order to aid others. The pun was the well known brand of adhesive bandage, indicating that they were trying to put the bandage on the problem.
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Band Aid: The Song</h2>
<br />
<br />
The song has been re-recorded by top British and Irish performers four times, but I am only talking about the original 1984 version.
<br />
<br />
School children curse the stars of the early 80s as they are now 'forced' to perform the song at Christmas performance! Do They Know It's Christmas has really become a Christmas Classic.
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-size: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/They-Know-Christmas-Feed-World/dp/B001976ZW0?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; margin: 1.5%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Do They Know It's Christmas? / Feed the World"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61mViIqgWCL.jpg" height="492" style="border: 0; height: auto; margin: 0.8% 0; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font: 12px/1.1 arial; margin: 3px 0;">Do They Know It's Christmas? / Feed the World</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://www.easy-product-displays.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/25.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Bob Geldof approached Trevor Horn (former Buggles and big time 80s record producer) to produce the song. Trevor Horn was unavailable and so Midge Ure ended up producing the single - Do They Know It's Christmas?
<br />
<br />
Trevor Horn did however give them the use of his recording studio SARM West free of charge for 24 hours. Trevor Horn also produced the B side of the single which featured messages from various top artists, some who were at the recording and some who couldn't make it.
<br />
<br />
The date that Bob was given the recording studio for was 25th November 1984.
<br />
<br />
The stars turned up on foot, in limos and in beaten up cars. The whole thing was recorded and used to promote the single. Some bands and artists were overseas and flew back specifically to record "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
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<br />
<h2>
Band Aid - The Result</h2>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bjQzJAKxTrE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bjQzJAKxTrE?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Band Aid: The Tax Battle</h2>
<br />
<br />
The day after recording the studio Geldof appeared on Mike Read's morning show on Radio 1. I listened to this show every morning and can remember him promoting the single and making a pledge that every penny would go to the cause.
<br />
<br />
The Conservative Thatcher Government were not happy with this comment and refused to waive the VAT on the record. Bob Geldof and Margaret Thatcher (the British PM) were in a stand off.
<br />
<br />
Judging the public opinion correctly the government decided to back down, a win for democracy.
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<br />
<h2>
Launch Date</h2>
<br />
<br />
The single was released on 3rd December in time for the Christmas sales boom. It entered the charts at the top spot and stayed there for five weeks. Everywhere you turned the song could be heard playing.
<br />
<br />
It became the biggest selling single of all time and was only usurped by Elton John's tribute to Princess Diana - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JJ4PT4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000JJ4PT4&linkCode=as2&tag=lousblogs-20&linkId=MOCQPINQE74CQKKP">Candle in the Wind</a> in 1997.
<br />
<br />
<h2>
The Band Aid Story in Video</h2>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yN0Txal2akk/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yN0Txal2akk?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HXjUMEDhcj8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HXjUMEDhcj8?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<br />
<h2>
Do They Know It's Christmas?</h2>
<br />
<h3>
Written by Bob Geldof & Midge Ure</h3>
<br />
<br />
It's Christmas time<br />
There's no need to be afraid<br />
At Christmas time<br />
We let in light and we banish shade<br />
And in our world of plenty<br />
We can spread a smile of joy<br />
Throw your arms around the world<br />
At Christmas time<br />
But say a prayer<br />
Pray for the other ones<br />
At Christmas time it's hard<br />
But when you're having fun<br />
There's a world outside your window<br />
And it's a world of dread and fear<br />
Where the only water flowing<br />
Is the bitter sting of tears<br />
And the Christmas bells that ring<br />
There are the clanging chimes of doom<br />
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you<br />
Feed the world<br />
Let them know it's Christmas time<br />
Feed the world<br />
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?<br />
And there won't be snow in Africa<br />
This Christmas time<br />
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life<br />
Where nothing ever grows<br />
No rain nor rivers flow<br />
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?<br />
Feed the world<br />
Let them know it's Christmas time<br />
Feed the world<br />
Let them know it's Christmas time again<br />
(Here's to you) raise a glass for everyone<br />
(Here's to them) underneath that burning sun<br />
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?<br />
Feed the world<br />
Let them know it's Christmas time
(repeat & fade)
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<br />
<h2>
Band Aid: The Musicians</h2>
<br />
<br />
The original band aid participants in sleeve order were:
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<br />
Phil Collins (Genesis)<br />
Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats)<br />
Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)<br />
Chris Williams (Iron Static Overdrive)<br />
Chris Cross (Ultravox)<br />
John Taylor (Duran Duran)<br />
Paul Young<br />
Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)<br />
Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17)<br />
Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)<br />
Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats)<br />
Marilyn<br />
Keren Woodward (Bananarama)<br />
Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)<br />
Jody Watley (Shalamar)<br />
Bono (U2)<br />
Pinky and Perky (singing porcine puppets)<br />
Adam Clayton (U2)<br />
Paul Weller (The Style Council, and previously The Jam)<br />
James "J.T." Taylor (Kool & The Gang)<br />
George Michael (Wham!)<br />
Midge Ure (Ultravox)<br />
Martyn Ware (Heaven 17)<br />
John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)<br />
Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)<br />
Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)<br />
Sarah Dallin (Bananarama)<br />
Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)<br />
Sting (The Police)<br />
Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats)<br />
Francis Rossi (Status Quo)<br />
Robert 'Kool' Bell (Kool & The Gang)<br />
Dennis Thomas (Kool & The Gang)<br />
Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)<br />
Jon Moss (Culture Club, former member of Adam and the Ants)<br />
Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)<br />
Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)<br />
Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats)<br />
David Bowie (who contributed via a recording that was mailed to Geldof and then dubbed onto the single)<br />
Boy George (Culture Club)<br />
Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)<br />
Paul McCartney (who contributed via a recording that was mailed to Geldof and then dubbed onto the single)<br />
Stuart Adamson (Big Country)<br />
Bruce Watson (Big Country)<br />
Tony Butler (Big Country)<br />
Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)
<br />
<br />
<h2>
Band Aid: The Next Step</h2>
<br />
<br />
The Next Step for Bob and Midge was to be Live Aid. Band Aid would be re-released (with different artists performing) in 1989,2004 and 2014.
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Live-Aid-4-Disc-Set/dp/B0002Z9HT8?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: left; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Live Aid (4 Disc Set)"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41U4gLwOWQL.jpg" height="500" style="border: 0; height: 100%; max-width: none; width: auto;" width="367" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font: 12px/1.1 arial; margin: 3px 0;">Live Aid (4 Disc Set)</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://www.easy-product-displays.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/25.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
The American's would also do their own version of Band Aid called We Are The World and raise awareness of Ethiopia's plight<br />
.<br />
Band Aid raised everyone's awareness of what was happening to ordinary people in Africa and provided ordinary people everywhere else to help by merely purchasing a record (which they would probably have done anyway!).<br />
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<br />
<blockquote>
<b>Band Aid was the day that Music united against poverty.</b></blockquote>
Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-76564349991698039372015-02-20T23:55:00.000-08:002015-02-20T23:55:44.056-08:00Soft Cell<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bwjFc5MuGpOz27b3fS0pjwsD3myQ2Bfs5d-ZAX_NdqsQZ7SKqT_r3n9DcMmHPZUl6-SJNVZbPPJBq5Cv5ZMgYTYtei6RWaapxOtr7JDj2y_YcdazpldQk_FQPM5syfLuolPKBpHnYz9T/s1600/soft+cell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Soft Cell" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_bwjFc5MuGpOz27b3fS0pjwsD3myQ2Bfs5d-ZAX_NdqsQZ7SKqT_r3n9DcMmHPZUl6-SJNVZbPPJBq5Cv5ZMgYTYtei6RWaapxOtr7JDj2y_YcdazpldQk_FQPM5syfLuolPKBpHnYz9T/s1600/soft+cell.jpg" title="Soft Cell" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Soft-Cell/e/B000AQ14Q8/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=lousblogs-20&linkId=PJSPXBA27PU43SOK" rel="nofollow">Soft Cell</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>
David Ball and Marc Almond are Soft Cell!</h2>
<br />
Many years ago I went to school with David Ball, for two years we sat in the same classroom..........okay, okay it was a different David Ball and NOT one half of the duo known as Soft Cell, but it would've made for a great story!
<br />
<br />
Soft Cell were formed in 1980 and became internationally known for their cult hit single Tainted Love which went to number one around the world in 1981.
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<br />
Soft Cell consisted of Marc Almond on vocals and David Ball on synthesizers. The group were at the forefront of synthpop along with groups such as Human League, although Soft Cell preferred to show a darker side. Their inspiration was taken from soul music (as were a lot of other early 80s bands such as Spandau Ballet). In fact Tainted Love was a remake of a 60s northern soul song, but we're getting ahead of ourselves.
<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
Soft Cell - The Beginning</h2>
<br />
Let's go back to 1980s Leeds. Marc Almond and David Ball were both art students and got together to write music for theatrical productions. It was actually a self-financed EP called Mutant Moments that kickstarted their chart career. Funded by a loan of £2,000 from David Ball's mother (a very wise investment) the boys, under the name Soft Cell had 2000 vinyl copies pressed. Copies of this EP are now highly prized collector items.
<br />
<br />
The EP brought Soft Cell to the attention of the head of Some Bizzare Records who had bands such as Depeche Mode and The The signed to them. He then enlisted Daniel Miller (founder of Mute Records) to produce their first singles - 'A Man Can Get Lost' and 'Memorabilia'.
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<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
Memorabilia</h2>
<br />
Memorabilia became a cult club hit, although Soft Cell were still unknowns.
<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
Tainted Love</h2>
<br />
The next single was 'Tainted Love' and this was to turn the unknowns into International chart toppers. 'Tainted Love' was a reworking of a classic 1964 Northern Soul song sung by Gloria Jones. Tainted Love would make Soft Cell a one hit wonder in many countries around the world.
<br />
<br />
What many people do not know is that they nearly recorded a different song, but more on that later.....
<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
Soft Cell - The Look</h2>
<br />
Soft Cell drew on their theatrical and visual arts background when they produced their videos as well as on their live performances. The birth of MTV and their natural theatrical side helped to complete the package so to speak.
<br />
<br />
Marc Almond with his androgynous look was a flamboyant vocalist whilst David Ball appeared to me the more introverted member of the duo. The andogynous look was very 'right' for the time as the Blitz kids such as Marilyn and Boy George were also gaining fame.
<br />
<br />
Guyliner was a definate with Marc Almond!
<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
Bedsitter</h2>
<br />
This was one of my favorites, I used to play it up loud and sing along dreaming of living in a bedsitter by myself instead of being a school age teen living at home! - I didn’t really get what the song was saying at the time!
<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye</h2>
<br />
This is a great, great song, another one that I used to play along with Bedsitter and, of course, Tainted Love.
<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
The Night</h2>
<br />
When the boys were recording Tainted Love they had to chose between Tainted Love and The Night..........obviously they chose Tainted Love, but after they reunited in 2003? They decided that they should, finally release The Night.
<br />
<br />
They definitely made the right choise as The Night doesn’t have the pull factor that Tainted Love had it’s something about the ‘boom boom’ factor in Tainted Love that gets you bopping in the chair or up onto the dance floor and singing along. My hubby doesn’t like Soft Cell (but I forgive him), but if it comes onto the radio when he’s driving he can’t help but bang the wheel when the ‘boom boom’ part comes on.
<br />
<br />
If you just buy one synth-pop album in your life, make it this one. The Very Best of Soft Cell is the closest CD I can get which is like the vinyl record I played over and over (Soft Cell- The Singles, released in 1986).
<br />
<div style="font-size: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Very-Best-Soft-Cell/dp/B0000658PZ?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; margin: 1.5%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="The Very Best of Soft Cell"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51eZlp5Du2L.jpg" height="444" style="border: 0; height: auto; margin: 5.6000000000000005% 0; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font: 12px/1.1 arial; margin: 3px 0;">The Very Best of Soft Cell</span><span class="prbtn" style="background: #ff9900; border-radius: 9px; color: white; display: inline-block; font: 12px arial; padding: 3px 10px;">Check Price</span></a></div>
<br />
Did you enjoy Soft Cell's dramatic synth-pop style of music, the very dark and theatrical side? Or were you more of a happy 'Walking on Sunshine" style fan?Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-29850234208404207322015-02-18T16:11:00.000-08:002015-02-18T16:11:43.776-08:00Wham!<h2>
Wham!, the Story of a Band</h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8kmaNt20kZ-lGDB8SjVsnqUjtYwegH13Dj_51yCOlwSuNlcxBwIprXrqHa4TbCKfEqrMW55vB3vignhYlc6PT8CWQf9qenNEYJzxcHhIMeL_OCHwJ4slmAM-BVYUeaEWepsldnxEbiO5/s1600/wham!%2Bposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Wham!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8kmaNt20kZ-lGDB8SjVsnqUjtYwegH13Dj_51yCOlwSuNlcxBwIprXrqHa4TbCKfEqrMW55vB3vignhYlc6PT8CWQf9qenNEYJzxcHhIMeL_OCHwJ4slmAM-BVYUeaEWepsldnxEbiO5/s1600/wham!%2Bposter.jpg" height="320" title="Wham!" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00S9MRGHG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00S9MRGHG&linkCode=as2&tag=louscoc-20&linkId=DYVNHX2N4TKR7FU5" rel="nofollow">1984 Wham! music poster</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Wham! was a fantastic group made up of a couple of <b>Young Guns</b> by the name of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley who wanted to <b>make it big</b>. These <b>bad boys</b> got together to record <b>Wham Rap</b>, the first of their many singles. While staying at <b>Club Tropicana</b> Andrew urged George to <b>Wake Me Up Before You Go Go</b>. <b>Careless Whispers</b> of <b>Freedom</b> caused problems with their <b>Last Christmas</b> and before you know it George is saying <b>I'm Your Man</b> to a solo career. Andrew decides that <b>Everything She Wants</b> will make him happy too and settles down into married life. Fans were devastated by the break-up and have been <b>On The Edge of Heaven</b> waiting for a reunion ever since.<br />
<h2>
<br /></h2>
<h2>
The Origin of Wham!</h2>
<h4>
The pre-Wham History</h4>
<br />
Born just a day apart George Michael (then Yorgos Panaiotou) and Andrew Ridgeley met when they were at Bushley Meads School, Watford. They first performed together in a band called the Executive which was a rock and roll band.<br />
<br />
The change of name coincided with the signing of a record deal and Wham! had taken their first step towards superstardom!
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<h2>
<br /></h2>
<h2>
Wham!'s Fantastic Days</h2>
<h4>
The First Album</h4>
<br />
Their first album was Fantastic and this spawned the singles Wham Rap!,Young Guns, Bad Boys and Club Tropicana.<br />
<br />
Their first single released was Wham Rap!(Enjoy What You Do) in June 1982, it was a double A side single with a Social Mix and an Anti-Social Mix. The profanities on the Anti-Social Mix saw it becoming banned in the UK and it only reached number 45 in the UK Single Chart.
<br />
<br />
Their second single was Young Guns(Go For It), the Wham boys got lucky with this song as the Top of the Pops program in the UK scheduled them for a performance while their single was still outside of the Top 40. With their good looks and their great performance the single climbed the charts climaxing at number 3.
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Wham/dp/B0012GN102?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Fantastic"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514a6NReqFL.jpg" height="492" style="border: 0; height: auto; margin: 0.8% 0; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font: 12px/1.1 arial; margin: 3px 0;">Fantastic</span><span class="prbtn" style="background: #ff9900; border-radius: 9px; color: white; display: inline-block; font: 12px arial; padding: 3px 10px;">Check Price</span></a><br />
Following on from the success of Young Guns Wham decided to re-release Wham Rap in January 1983. It was a hit!<br />
<br />
Both of Wham!'s singles told stories and the video's told stories which appealed to the audience and contributed to their success. Wham Rap was about a leisurely life with no work or commitments. Young Guns is a story about a guy (played by George) pleading with his friend (Andrew) not to throw his life away on an early marriage.<br />
<br />
Before their next single was released George and Andrew lost one of their original back-up singers D C Lee, they replaced her with Pepsi DeMacque. Pepsi and original back-up singer Shirlie Holliman continued to be in Wham until the group split up when they formed the duo Pepsi and Shirlie.<br />
<br />
Their third song was about a rebellious teenager and his worried parents. The single was Bad Boys and it reached number 2 in the UK charts and even entered the US Hot 100 at number 60.<br />
In July 1983 Wham! released a send-up of the Club 18-30 scene with their single Club Tropicana. This song made it to number 4 in the UK charts. By the end of 1983 Wham posters were adorning bedroom walls all over the UK and were talked about in the same tone as Duran Duran and Culture Club.<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<h2>
<br /></h2>
<h2>
Wham!'s Legal Problems and a Change of Direction</h2>
<h4>
Andrew Steps In</h4>
<br />
It was around this time that Andrew Ridgeley became conscious of legal problems with their recording contract and Wham! decided to take action against Innervision and Mark Dean (the record company's founder). Eventually Innervision admitted that they had shortchanged Wham! with their royalties and ended up dissolving soon afterwards.<br />
<br />
Andrew then decided that Wham! needed a change of image, so out went the denim jeans and leather jackets and in came the more fashionable clothing. The posters also started to show them laughing and smiling instead of the moody, contemplative looks of the "Fantastic" days.
<br />
<h2>
<br /></h2>
<h2>
Wham! Make It Big</h2>
<br />
May 1984 saw Wham! release the first song off of their <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000261P/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00000261P&linkCode=as2&tag=lousblogs-20&linkId=B7GRXJV6C64YU5IR" rel="nofollow">Make It Big album</a> the song was Wake Me Up Before You Go Go. This song saw Wham! get their first number 1 single and not just in the UK, but in the USA, Australia and Ireland as well.<br />
<br />
It also saw George, Andrew, Pepsi and Shirlie in the famous white t-shirts declaring CHOOSE LIFE and GO GO.
<br />
<div style="font-size: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/80sTees-Choose-Life-Wham-Shirt/dp/B00QNXNTGA?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; margin: 1.5%; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Choose Life Wham! Shirt"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IoT5-VDnL.jpg" height="500" style="border: 0; height: 100%; max-width: none; width: auto;" width="450" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font: 12px/1.1 arial; margin: 3px 0;">Choose Life Wham! Shirt</span><span class="prbtn" style="background: #ff9900; border-radius: 9px; color: white; display: inline-block; font: 12px arial; padding: 3px 10px;">Check Price</span></a></div>
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The hit song was apparently inspired by a note from Andrew to George. Staying in a hotel, Andrew left a note to George
<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<b>To George</b>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
Don't forget to wake me up up before you go go.
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote>
Andrew</blockquote>
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The rest is history.
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<br />
Up until now George had been the group's songwriter, but the next song released was co-written by Andrew. The song was Careless Whisper and was a solo release for George (although in the US it was released as Wham featuring George Michael).
<br />
<br />
Careless Whisper was a number 1 hit around the globe as well and rumors of the Band splitting up started to do the rounds
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<br />
October 1984 saw the band release their next single Freedom. They then released their second album Make It Big which reached number 1 in the Album charts.
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<br />
In November George Michael contributed to the Band Aid single, although this usurped their own chance of a Christmas number 1 that year.
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XvwjONLmz6YMVf4ZZ1x5z8FZy2HOASSIX_XikGoZbUY8JB9PEGnjEB8IRsjjmTRpEu_J61yae0JFCyCAjqlxD5PCbVXcO9znSSv8ZTQD18uuAiamb9TA8I9tm3SgeqVS0LYPHndIseT5/s1600/wham!%2Bposter%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Wham!" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XvwjONLmz6YMVf4ZZ1x5z8FZy2HOASSIX_XikGoZbUY8JB9PEGnjEB8IRsjjmTRpEu_J61yae0JFCyCAjqlxD5PCbVXcO9znSSv8ZTQD18uuAiamb9TA8I9tm3SgeqVS0LYPHndIseT5/s1600/wham!%2Bposter%2B2.jpg" height="400" title="Wham!" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MQU200K/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00MQU200K&linkCode=as2&tag=louscoc-20&linkId=5QSMNZKLPWZVYYDQ" rel="nofollow">Wham! at the airport poster</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
In December 1984 Wham! released a double A sided singe with Last Christmas and Everything She Wants. The single reached the number 2 spot behind Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas. It actually made a record for being the highest selling single ever to peak at number 2 in the UK charts. Wham! donated all of their royalties from this single to the Ethiopian famine appeal.
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<br />
In 1985 Wham! went on a world tour including China. It was reported in the UK at the time as being the 1st Western pop group to ever tour the country, but in fact Wham! were beaten into number 2 space by a little known Kiwi band called Spyz (they toured in 1982).
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<br />
Both George and Andrew performed at Live Aid in 1985, but not as Wham!.
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<br />
In November Wham! released the single I'm Your Man, having waited for nearly a year their fans snapped up the single and it went straight to number 1 in the charts. During 1985 the boys had both been busy.
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<br />
Andrew had met Keren Woodward from the girl group Bananarama. George apparently introduced them and they are at the time of writing still together. Andrew also took up rally driving making the news for crashing a car at the end of this year.
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<br />
George had started to lend his voice to other singers this year as well, providing backing vocals for Elton John's Nikita and Wrap Her Up.
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<br />
Last Christmas was re-released again in 1985 and made it's way to number 6 in the charts.
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<h2>
<br /></h2>
<h2>
Edge of Reason - Wham!'s final album</h2>
<br />
In 1986 both Andrew and George decided that they wanted to take their lives in different directions so instead of allowing frustrations to build they decided to end the group and keep their friendship.
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Music-From-Edge-Wham/dp/B00000266C?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: left; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Music From the Edge"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41qd4xIxJPL.jpg" height="500" style="border: 0; height: auto; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font: 12px/1.1 arial; margin: 3px 0;">Music From the Edge</span><span class="prbtn" style="background: #ff9900; border-radius: 9px; color: white; display: inline-block; font: 12px arial; padding: 3px 10px;">Check Price</span></a><br />
<br />
They released a double A sided single with The Edge of Reason and Where Did Your Heart Go along with their final album, also called The Edge of Reason. They also planned a big farewell concert at Wembley Stadium. June 28th 1986 at Wembley Stadium, London the boys said good-bye in a concert aptly named The Final.<br />
<br />
George Michael went on to solo chart topping success, Andrew Ridgeley wasn’t able to find success as a solo artist, but has been lucky in love. Wham’s two back up singers and fellow actors in the videos went on to taste fleeting success as the duo Pepsi and Shirlie.<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<h2>
Wham! Reunion</h2>
There were rumors running amok about a Wham! reunion taking place at Christmas 2007, this did not eventuate. According to Wham! fansites Andrew is the sticking point as he is not ready to perform again. Having said that when he was interviewed in 2007 he refused to rule out a reunion ever occurring which just adds fuel to the fire.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Were you a Wham! fan?</h4>
Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-64928856545679622352015-02-17T14:31:00.000-08:002015-02-17T14:31:39.828-08:00The New Romantics<h2>
New Romantics - An 80s Music Genre</h2>
<br />
The New Romantics were a music genre in the 1980s generally considered to be a sub genre of the New Wave movement. Duran Duran were probably the biggest New Romantic band on an international level.
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<br />
The New Romantic movement began in the UK right at the beginning of the 1980s. Sparked in part by the influence of television and fuelled by the advent of MTV. The New Romantics are synonomous with the 1980s.
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<h2>
Where Did The New Romantics Come From?</h2>
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There are some differing thoughts as to why the New Romantic movement started, but there is a general consensus that the movement began in the UK. The London New Romantic movement began with the Blitz Kids.
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<h2>
The Blitz Kids</h2>
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The Blitz Kids as they became known were a group of younsters that were tired of the punk movement. They were working class, but wanted to look more glamorous.
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They dressed to make a statement (although alot of their clothes were handmade) and wore excessive amounts of make-up.
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Some of them originally met at a London nightclub called Billys, but they soon migrated to The Blitz nightclub where they earnt the name The Blitz Kids.
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Five of the Blitz Kids were Tony Hadley, Gary Kemp, Steve Norman, Martin Kemp and John Keeble who formed the pioneering New Romantic band Spandau Ballet. Both Gary Kemp and John Keeble have said in interviews that they were sick of the way the established music press operated. The Blitz Kids decided to do something about it.
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<br />
The Blitz Kids all knew each other so when they would say "hey we're doing a gig at so and sos" they would all go along to create a buzz. Spandau Ballet decided that they wouldn't invite the Music Press to their concerts, they would invite the National Press. The Blitz Kids all showed up and the invite only gigs proved to be a success which led to Spandau Ballet getting a recording contract.
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<br />
The Blitz Kids included Steve Strange, Boy George, Marilyn, Princess Julia and Rusty Egan as well as the Spandau boys.
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<h2>
New Romanticism Around the UK</h2>
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Clubs emulating The Blitz Club started to pop up in different parts of London as well as outside of London. They included The Regency in Chadwell Heath where two other New Romantic bands got their debut gigs - Depeche Mode and Culture Club.
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<br />
In Sheffield a group called The Human League had been around for a while. Around the beginning of the eighties when the New Romantics started, their sound had evolved. The Human League were now following the New Romantic blueprint.
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<br />
In Birmingham a band called Duran Duran had been formed in 1978. They had been playing to the club scene around their city and signed their record deal in 1980. With their looks they soon acquired the term "the prettiest boys in rock." As with other New Romantic bands the Duran Duran boys were very aware of their image and had their own inate sense of style.
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<br />
The 'fab five' as the press referred to them recorded their first album, the self titled Duran Duran in December 1980. Andy Taylor once commented that the whole band found it hard to concentrate after the assassination of John Lennon at the beginning of December.
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<br />
The album Duran Duran was released in 1981 and reached up to number 3 in the UK album chart. It didn't do very well in the US until it was re-released in 1983.
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<br />
Their first single Planet Earth was incredibly catchy and reached into the UK's Top 20. The second single was Girls on Film and it was the video that accompanied this single that really caused a stir.
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<h2>
New Romantics - What a Name</h2>
<br />
The music press did not know how to classify the Blitz Kid's music, the amalgamation of image and synth pop, catchy dance beat and experimental sounds. In some places the term futuristic as given to them and in others they were merely New Wave.
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<br />
Face Magazine wrote an article about the early New Romantic groups and also included the groups Adam & the Ants and Bow Wow Wow as though they were the same. The article was entitled The Cult With No Name.
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<br />
Musician and producer Richard James Burgess is credited with coining the phrase New Romantics. It is said to have been used because of the historical frilly costumes that were popular in the Blitz Club at the time. Also the use of wigs and make-up by some of the groups.
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<br />
After this any early eighties band that produced main-stream pop with synthesizers who wore make-up or dressed glamorously were classified as New Romantic.
<br />
<h2>
Adam & the Ants V Duran Duran & the Blitz Kids</h2>
<br />
Although they were all classified as New Romantic Adam & the Ants (and the former Ants that made up Bow Wow Wow) had their roots firmly stuck in the Punk movement.
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<br />
Adam Ant's previous group had actually played support for the Sex Pistols and Adam & the Ants played support for Souixsie & the Banshees.
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<br />
Adam & the Ants' album Kings of The Wild Frontier transformed them into the realm of New Romantics. Malcolm McLaren's influence got Adam (a natural showman) to look at his image. The black leather trousers and black t shirts went out and a pirate/highwayman look came in.
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<br />
His look reflected the romantic historical look that the Blitz Kids were wearing at the time. Coupled with this when Spandau Ballet released their first video they were wearing kilts which Adam Ant had already done.
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<br />
The industry had lumped them together and as much as they hated it they would forever be New Romantics together.
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<h2>
Were the New Romantics New?</h2>
<br />
There has been debate about whether the New Romantics were a new musical genre in their own right or whether they were merely a natural progression of the punk era. The fact that it is hard to define the differences between New Romantic, New Wave & Synth Pop does not help the debate.
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<br />
In the punk corner people say that the New Romantics were simply the natural progression that took place as punk became glamorized. They point to bands such as Adam & the Ants to back up their argument.
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<br />
In the New Romantic corner they claim that the movement was born out of a working class background that was highly influenced by television. Being brought up on television as opposed to radio led to bands wanting to be the whole package looks as well as sound.
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<br />
Unlike the punk look, New Romantics wanted to look glamorous and to stand out and shout 'look at me' much as the future rappers would wear their bling, the New Romantics wore their heavy make-up and 'outfits.'Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-27173599793133857202013-05-19T19:02:00.000-07:002013-05-19T19:02:24.839-07:00You Knew You Grew Up In The 80s If<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As a child of the
eighties you remember a time before the internet and mobile phones, dvds and
cds. We've all seen those emails 'you know you're a child of the 80s
when......' On this page I've got another selection for you, please add your
own at the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">You Knew
You Grew Up in the 80s if........<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">You know
all the words to Bon Jovi - Shot Through the Heart.<br />
<br />
You remember when mullets were cool........you even <i>had</i> a
mullet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="" name="module19252672"></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">You owned a banana
clip........maybe you <i>still</i> do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You remember when
Neil Patrick Harris was a doctor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">You
remember ending your sentences with not..........and you still sometimes do!<br /><br />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">You also used to say Bonus!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="" name="module19252692"></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">You remember when Alyssa Milano
was Tony Danza's daughter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">You remember cassette tapes and
you used to record the top 40 off of the radio every week.......some of you
would've made mix tapes or at least received a mix tape off of a member of the
opposite sex. (I still have the only one I was ever given, I no longer have a
cassette recorder though!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">
<br />
Are you still singing Shot Through the Heart??<br />
<br />
If you were also from the UK - you know who the father of Michelle's baby is<br />
<br />
You remember when Michael Jackson looked 'normal' and was just a great
performer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="" name="module19253892"></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">You remember when Madonna first
started out, maybe you even took some of her fashion ideas - lace gloves anyone?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You had a pair of
Jelly Shoes..........I worked in a shoe shop during the summer holidays and we
couldn't keep up with the demand, I think I personally had every color they
made.....even orange!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18pt;">You wore legwarmers as a fashion
statement......."Fame, I'm going to live forever, </span><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/growing-up-in-the-80s" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18pt;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #009900; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">baby</span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #2b5fc6; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; mso-no-proof: yes; padding: 0cm; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><img alt="http://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/lb_icon1.png" border="0" height="13" src="file:///C:\Users\Louanne\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.png" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" width="13" /></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18pt;"> remember
my name....."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 9.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">If you didn't want to wear legwarmers there was always......slouch socks!!!<br />
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">
You had big hair and
you looked F A N T A S T I C !</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="" name="module53175122"></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">You used to say 'What cha talkin'
bout Willis'.....maybe you still do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You know who shot JR.</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">You know the words to the theme song of The Fresh
Prince of Bel Air<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-12805799355097546022013-05-12T17:19:00.000-07:002015-03-06T22:36:28.890-08:00Bow Wow WowBow Wow Wow were formed by former Sex Pistols' manager Malcolm McLaren. The line up consisted of Leigh Gorman, Dave Barbarossa, Matthew Ashman and Annabella Lwin.<br />
<div style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xKnsNyaSLZHR8xiairo5mFMA9NHCh7YaGOFxPaD6GnyxxH6K0OJqeNdf0LPtqinaEU3nt_RYfbyEY1Gdsr4B7j6aL72bvmgraQ1IYslnhFie2iaBenT0dKJfqlv_NL4jL2Z_GVQHJrr5/s1600/bow+wow+wow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xKnsNyaSLZHR8xiairo5mFMA9NHCh7YaGOFxPaD6GnyxxH6K0OJqeNdf0LPtqinaEU3nt_RYfbyEY1Gdsr4B7j6aL72bvmgraQ1IYslnhFie2iaBenT0dKJfqlv_NL4jL2Z_GVQHJrr5/s1600/bow+wow+wow.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"> </span><a href="http://bowwowwow.org/" target="_blank">Press Photo</a></div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/mn/search/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-keywords=bow%20wow%20wow&linkCode=ur2&tag=louscoc-20&url=search-alias%3Daps" target="_blank">Bow Wow Wow</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=louscoc-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> were heavily influenced by tribal beats. Groups such as Red Hot Chilli Peppers and No Doubt cite Bow Wow Wow as a strong influence.<br />
<br />
Scandal also followed Bow Wow Wow as McLaren and Annabella's mother squared off over a naked picture of the underage songstress. The scandal added to the allure of the band and they hit the charts with songs such as Go Wild in the Country and I Want Candy.
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Beginnings</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
Bow Wow Wow owe their start, in part, to Adam Ant. Adam Ant was disappointed with his group <a href="http://all-eighties.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/adam-ants.html">Adam and the Ants</a>' first album. Having met Malcolm McLaren when McLaren was managing the Sex Pistols he asked him for some advice. McLaren gave him some image advice - he is credited with helping to achieve the dandy highwayman look that Adam and the Ants became famous for.<br />
<br />
Malcolm McLaren also decided to lure the Ants away from Adam. He offered the Ants' bass guitarist (Leigh Gorman), drummer (Dave Barbarossa) and guitarist (Matthew Ashman)the chance to start a new group. That group was Bow Wow Wow. All that they needed now was a singer.<br />
<br />
Myant Myant Mye was discovered singing along to the radio in a London dry cleaners. Malcolm McLaren persuaded her to change her name to Annabella Lwin and made her the lead vocalist for the band. Annabella was only 14 years old at the time.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Myant Myant Mye is Burmese for Cool Cool High</i></blockquote>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Music</span></b><br />
<br />
The band's signature was a tribal beat that caused controversy when they were accused of stealing it from Zulu songs and turning the original lyrics into English. In their defense the band agreed that their sound was influenced by the Zulu's, but claim to have fused it with a mixture of West African beats, Brazilian pop and conventional rock and roll.<br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 19.58333396911621px;" />
Groups such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers claim that Bow Wow Wow were a big influence in them. In fact mention is made of the group in two of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' songs. In the song "Suck My Kiss" one of the lines is "swimming in the sound of bow wow wow." The song "Right on Time" includes the line "Holy cow bow wow wow," in homage to the group.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">See Jungle</span></b><br />
<b>Police Called In</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
In 1981 Bow Wow Wow released their first album which was called "See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang, Yeah! City All Over! Go Ape Crazy!"<br />
<br />
The proposed album cover caused controversy, something that Malcolm McClaren was very good at. It showed the now 15 year old Annabella posing naked as the cover. The cover was meant to be a copy of Manet's "The Luncheon on the Grass" painting.<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="float: left; margin-right: 20px; min-width: 200px; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 33%;">
<span style="display: block; margin: auto; width: 180px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002R98/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000002R98&linkCode=as2&tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="-moz-border-radius: 4px; -webkit-border-radius: 4px; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid #999999; display: block; height: 178px; line-height: 173px; overflow: hidden; width: 178px;"><img alt="See Jungle See Jungle" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41BPCZ1ZT8L.jpg" style="max-height: 178px; max-width: 178px; vertical-align: middle;" /></span><span style="display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding: 5px 0;">See Jungle See Jungle</span><span style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://rcm-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/buttons/buy-from-tan.gif" style="max-width: 178px;" /></span></a></span></div>
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</div>
Scotland Yard were called in by Annabella's mother as she tried to bring charges against Malcolm McLaren. "Hello, hello what do we have here then?" Exploitation of a minor for immoral purposes officer.
Luckily for Bow Wow Wow fans an agreement was reached as Annabella's family nearly made her leave the band.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Agreement </span></b><br />
<br />
The agreement that Malcolm McLaren made with Annabella's family included not publishing the album cover. The cover was used, however, on an EP a year later when she was 16.
The controversy certainly didn't hinder the album sales and the track "Go Wild in the Country" was a big hit in the UK.
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/T7VE0lNLMVo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Last of the Mohicans Want Candy </span></b><br />
<br />
Last of the Mohicans was an EP released in 1982, this featured the song that was to also be the name of their next album - I Want Candy.<br />
<br />
I Want Candy became Bow Wow Wow's biggest hit. Last of the Mohicans was also the EP that spawned the infamous cover.
I Want Candy was recorded because the record label did not like the direction that Malcolm McLaren was taking Bow Wow Wow. With Kenny Laguna helping the group out they made the wise move of remaking the Strangegloves song I Want Candy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="float: left; margin-right: 20px; min-width: 200px; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 33%;">
<span style="display: block; margin: auto; width: 180px;"><span style="border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); display: block; height: 178px; line-height: 173px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration: none; width: 178px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005LPWH/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00005LPWH&linkCode=as2&tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="I Want Candy" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41G81M12XJL.jpg" style="max-height: 178px; max-width: 178px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></span><span style="display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding: 5px 0px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005LPWH/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00005LPWH&linkCode=as2&tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">I Want Candy</a></span><span style="text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005LPWH/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00005LPWH&linkCode=as2&tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://rcm-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/buttons/buy-from-tan.gif" style="max-width: 178px;" /></a></span></span><span style="display: block; margin: auto; text-align: center; width: 180px;"><br /></span><span style="display: block; margin: auto; text-align: left; width: 180px;"><br /></span><span style="display: block; margin: auto; text-align: left; width: 180px;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">When the Going Gets Tough </span></b><br />
<br />
After the success of I Want Candy, Bow Wow Wow carried on with another album, When the Going Gets Tough. They were still without Malcolm McLaren and Annabella said in an interview at the time that they were now concentrating more on the music than the image. Unfortunately Bow Wow Wow's fans loved the image and when the songs seemed to be too polished and lacking a certain je ne sais quoi.<br />
<br />
One of the singles on the album was Aphrodisiac, but the fans decided to move on and this single was not a hit.
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="float: left; margin-right: 20px; min-width: 200px; padding: 0 0 10px 0; width: 33%;">
<span style="display: block; margin: auto; width: 180px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002R99/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000002R99&linkCode=as2&tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="-moz-border-radius: 4px; -webkit-border-radius: 4px; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid #999999; display: block; height: 178px; line-height: 173px; overflow: hidden; width: 178px;"><img alt="When the Going Gets Tough" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/412P1C2MWEL._SX300_.jpg" style="max-height: 178px; max-width: 178px; vertical-align: middle;" /></span><span style="display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; padding: 5px 0;">When the Going Gets Tough</span><span style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://rcm-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/buttons/buy-from-tan.gif" style="max-width: 178px;" /></span></a></span></div>
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<div style="clear: both; margin: 0; padding: 0;">
</div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Bow Wow Wow - The End? </span></b><br />
<b>The Bow Wow Wow Break Up</b><br />
<br />
It was during the tour promoting their When The Going Gets Tough in the US that Matthew Ashman broke his hand. The tour had to be cut short, with the band members also suffering from exhaustion it was time to disband.<br />
<br />
<b>How did Matthew Ashman break his hand?</b><br />
<br />
In the words of Annabella Lwin -<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“He was wearing dark shades and couldn't see, so he fell off of the stage!” </blockquote>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">What Happened Next? </span></b><br />
<br />
Bow Wow Wow members do other things
It seems to be a little hazy about how the band split up, according to Annabella Lwin she read that they had split up in the New Musical Express! The record label wanted her to do a solo record and everyone went their own way.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">What Did The Band Members Do Next?
</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Matthew
Ashman</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> became
the frontman of a band called Chiefs of Relief alongside the other former
members of Bow Wow Wow, except Annabella. The others drifted away and after
five years the band had disbanded. Matthew Ashman ended up dying of diabetes
complications in 1995, you can read about his life here - <span style="color: #054679;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Ashman">Matthew Ashman</a></span><br />
<br />
<b>Leigh Gorman</b> initially joined his former bandmates in a new band
called Chiefs of Relief, but left after only a few months, by 1989 Gorman had
turned to record production and even worked with Malcolm McLaren again in the
early1990s. Gorman and Lwin have also reformed Bow Wow Wow together since and
toured. Find out more about Leigh Gorman here - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leigh_Gorman" target="_blank"><span style="color: #054679;">Leigh Gorman</span></a><br />
<br />
<b>David Barbarossa</b> initially joined his former bandmates in forming a
new band called Chiefs of Relief, but left shortly afterwards. Barbarossa also
had some more chart success in the mid 90s when he was in the band Republica.
More about David Barbarossa here - <a href="http://www.enotes.com/topic/David_Barbarossa" target="_blank"><span style="color: #054679;">David Barbarossa</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Bow
Wow Wow's Reformation</span></b><br />
<br />
In 1997
Annabella Lwin and Leigh Gorman reformed Bow Wow Wow and embarked on the
"Barking Mad" reunion tour. Matthew Ashman had died from
complications arising from diabetes so they needed a new guitarist. Dave
Calhoun took over as the guitarist.
<br />
<br />
Dave Barbarossa was also unable to tour with Bow Wow Wow as he had commitments
with his current band - Republica. He did however take time out to work with
Eshan Khadaroo from Blue Man Group. Eshan Khadaroo then performed on the drums
for the whole tour.<br />
<br />
After the 'Barking Mad' tour the band members did their own thing again before
another reunion in 2003. In 2003 Adrian Young from No Doubt joined Bow Wow Wow
as a guest drummer. Dave Barbarosa was again unable to perform as he had
commitments with the band Cicane.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Share
Your Thoughts & Memories of Bow Wow Wow</b></span><br />
<br />
Did
you like Bow Wow Wow? My favorite single was I Want Candy, I know that's a very
cliched favorite of theirs, but what can I say?</div>
Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-89826174802453922512013-04-23T16:49:00.004-07:002013-04-23T16:49:56.269-07:0080s TelevisionDo you remember 80s television - when it didn't run programs from 24 hours instead at a certain time the test pattern was shown like this -<br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/test_pattern_on_tv_on_table_tshirt-235104397786367072?rf=238559900758216397"><img alt="Test Pattern on TV on Table shirt" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/test_pattern_on_tv_on_table_tshirt-p235104397786367072z7u73_325.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/test_pattern_on_tv_on_table_tshirt-235104397786367072?rf=238559900758216397">Test Pattern on TV on Table</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/electricpopspot?rf=238559900758216397">ElectricPopSpot</a><br />
Browse other <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/off+the+air+tshirts?rf=238559900758216397">Off the air T-Shirts</a></div>
More importantly, of course, were the programs. There were so many great programs during the 80s it's hard to know where to start with a favorite - ALF, Different Strokes, LA Law, the A Team, the list goes on.<br />
<br />
One man who was responsible for quite a volume of 80s television was Aaron Spelling and because of him we watched a myriad of programs such as Hart to Hart, Charlies Angels, Hotel and TJ Hooker. Check out all of his contributions to our television set during the glorious decade that was the 80s - <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/aaron-spellings-80s-tv">Aaron Spelling's 80s TV</a>.<br />
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Of course he couldn't get all of the good programs and there's one with a catch phrase that will continue until all of the children of the 80s are gone - get the shirt and tell me the name of the program in the comments -<br />
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<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/thats_what_im_talkin_bout_willis_t_shirt-235977646886009877?view=113390926697750663&rf=238559900758216397&tc=blogs"> <img alt="That's What I'm Talkin' 'Bout Willis T-shirt" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/thats_what_im_talkin_bout_willis_t_shirt-r069963b8085642fb9223e0ec5d34d576_804gs_325.jpg?bg=0xffffff" style="border: 0;" /> </a> <br />
<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/thats_what_im_talkin_bout_willis_t_shirt-235977646886009877?view=113390926697750663&rf=238559900758216397&tc=blogs">That's What I'm Talkin' 'Bout Willis T-shirt</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/brightsparktees?rf=238559900758216397&tc=blogs">BrightSparkTees</a> <br />
View more <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/80%27s+tshirts?rf=238559900758216397&tc=blogs">80's T-Shirts</a> </div>
Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-88686666387474562032012-12-05T19:05:00.000-08:002012-12-05T19:07:21.532-08:0080s Video Game Belt Buckles<span style=font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; line-height: 21px;">I can still remember the first video game we ever had, my dad brought it home and we had to connect it up to our television - what was it? Pong, of course! After Pong we had classic games such as Space Invaders and Pac Man, compare these basic games to the likes of Halo that we have today and you get blown away by the advances in technology. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; line-height: 21px;">If you grew up during the 80s or are a lover of video game history then you'll have a soft spot for some of these retro video games and what better way of showing your love than with a gamer belt buckle? I've found a great selection of them at <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/retro-video-games-belt-buckles">Retro Video Games Belt Buckles</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; line-height: 21px;">I must admit seeing Howard from the Big Bang Theory wearing different 'retro' belt buckles does give me pause about buying one (after all I really don't want to be compared to him!) and then I look at them and my sense of nostalgia takes over :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; line-height: 21px;">These belt buckles really would make awesome gift ideas especially for gamers who are coming up to some big birthdays. Most of these games can now be played for free online so you could include the website address in with the gift so that they can take a step back in time and beat their previously high score. Between you and me I can absolutely blitz Space Invaders.....I just wish I could step back in time for a day just to prove to a certain person that girls can get high scores on that game!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; line-height: 21px;">Here's a couple of the belt buckles in question -</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/m-pr.cfm?merchantID=21835&userID=272258&productID=503353529" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.hotbuckles.com/img/p/5825-3924-large.jpg" /><br />Licensed Pac-Man Game Board Belt Buckle</a>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.399999618530273px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/m-pr.cfm?merchantID=21835&userID=272258&productID=503354754" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.hotbuckles.com/img/p/6829-4731-large.jpg" /><br />Nintendo Controller Belt Buckle</a><br />
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What do you think? I love the Pac Man one myself, but there's also a Space Invaders one on the site at the moment and I much preferred playing Space Invaders to Pac Man!Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-79714636920374789072011-10-30T21:40:00.000-07:002011-10-30T21:40:21.211-07:00Let's Dance - David BowieThere are lots of great albums from the 80s and one that I played constantly was David Bowie's Let's Dance album. So called 'true' David Bowie fans hated this album, but I loved it so much so that when I saw part of a documentary on David Bowie I was glad he was undergoing financial difficulties during the early 80s.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=louscoc-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00001OH7Z" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
David Bowie came out in this doco and said that he wrote Let's Dance in order to make money because basically he was in a financial black hole as he totally trusted the wrong person and just signed whatever this person told him to so that he could get on with using his creativity.<br />
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I don't care if it was commercialism because I loved the album and I can't have been the only person because it sold really well and the singles off of the album also did well. It was Let's Dance that got me interested in looking into David Bowie's earlier work and I have to say I became a huge fan and yet if I hadn't heard his 1983 album I probably wouldn't have looked for other albums of his to listen to.<br />
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With the singles off of the Let's Dance album David Bowie really mastered the blue eyed soul style of music and captured the feelings of the time - it was all about being able to dance to the music and singalong at the same time and you could do that with China Girl, Modern Love and Let's Dance and you could do that really well.<br />
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When any of the singles from this album are played on the radio I can't help but singalong - it's an album that, in my opinion, doesn't date and I am really glad that David Bowie gave us this album. The Laughing Gnome, Ashes to Ashes, The Jean Genie, Changes and Young American are all fantastic songs, but Let's Dance, Modern Love and China Girl just pull me straight back to the 80s when life was easy (for a teen anyway!) with just a couple of beats!<br />
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What do you think about David Bowie's 1983 album - Let's Dance?Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-28243435808017797792011-10-21T18:01:00.000-07:002015-04-20T16:03:50.957-07:0080s Movie Night - Spotlight on Red DawnFor our 80s movie night tonight we're heading back to Colorado in 1984, yes I'm talking about <a href="http://all-eighties.blogspot.com.au/2009/07/its-red-dawn.html">Red Dawn</a>. I loved this movie when it came out and always thought of it as a classic, a couple of years ago I had the house to myself and thought I'm going to rent Red Dawn and as I took it up to the counter the person serving me starting going on about it being a cult hit (he didn't even look like he was alive in 1984!). I enjoyed re-watching it, but a remake?<br />
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Red Dawn, like so many classic 80s movies, is being remade and is expected to be released in 2012 with Chris Hemsworth and Josh Peck taking on Patrick Swayze and Charlie Sheen's characters. I'm not sure if I'm going to even watch this version as some of the remakes of 80s movies have really not turned out very well in my opinion (Fame, anyone?)<br />
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Will modern day audiences actually 'get' the movie? I think part of the allure of Red Dawn was that the cold war was still in existence and many people believed that the scenario could actually happen. I must admit my brother and I decided to try and get to our home from the movie theater via all the back alleys we knew to avoid being seen by anyone - I managed it, my brother was spotted by a noisy old lady a couple of streets over from us! We worked on improving our stealth like abilities throughout the school holidays and it kept us out of trouble so I'm sure from that perspective our family must've liked the movie too!!<br />
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The movie starts with everyone rolling up to school, but the day gets shattered when enemy paratroopers start landing on the school playing fields. The movie provides a lot of action and it's audience was obviously primarily the youth market as it boosted our belief that we could do anything including saving the country.<br />
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I love the little bits of irony throughout the movie, I missed it the first time around, but the second time of watching it I decided that one of my favorite moments was one that caused me to have a little chuckle - a pro-gun supporter had a bumper sticker with the words "they'll get my gun when they pry it from my cold, dead hands" well I don't know if his hands were cold, but they were definitely dead when a Russian took it from him!<br />
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What did you think of the movie that started Charlie Sheen's career (I bet he never envisaged what he would do to his career back then!) - I loved it, but feel free to disagree if you like :)<br />
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Just remember if you're looking to buy an 80s movie check out my <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/lous80smovies-20">80s Movie Store</a> I get a small commission on any movie that you purchase while you get a great deal - that's what I call a win/win.Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-41819074425553218142011-10-18T20:06:00.000-07:002011-10-18T20:06:37.969-07:00Rubik Cube Gift Ideas - Great 80s Style GiftsDid you love the rubiks cube? There's something about that cube that pulls me straight back to the 80s when I could never solve it, but I can tell you the name of a boy that could and he was really fast as well......I won't embarrass him by putting his name here, but his initials were AB.<br />
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Anyway the rubiks cube really did become a symbol of the 80s so if you know someone who's still 'stuck in 1984' then what about checking out some of these rubiks cube inspired gift ideas -<br />
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<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=53432&U=272258&M=9787&urllink=www.perpetualkid.com/rubik-s-cube-pepper-mill.aspx"><img border="0" src="https://edgecastcdn.net/800034/www.perpetualkid.com/productimages/lg2/RUBK-5691-2.jpg" /></a><br />
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Salt and pepper mills based around the rubiks cube are an awesome idea and are bound to get the dinner conversation turned onto the best decade ever!<br />
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There are lots more rubiks cube inspired gifts however -<br />
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<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=53432&U=272258&M=9787&urllink=www.perpetualkid.com/rubiks-cube-mug.aspx"><img border="0" src="http://edgecastcdn.net/800034/www.perpetualkid.com/productimages/lg2/MUGG-1288.jpg" /></a><br />
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A rubiks cube mug is also cool, in fact I would swap my True mug for that one and you know what a Spandau Ballet fan I am! If you're going to have a rubiks mug then you really need the next idea as well.......a rubiks cube coaster!<br />
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<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=53432&U=272258&M=9787&urllink=www.perpetualkid.com/rubiks-cube-coasters.aspx"><img border="0" src="http://edgecastcdn.net/800034/www.perpetualkid.com/productimages/lg2/CSTR-1287.jpg" /></a><br />
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What do you think of these rubiks cube inspired gifts? I think they are all awesome and I'm sure if you left this webpage open for someone else to stumble upon they are bound to realize that any of these gifts would be perfect for my 80s loving readers!<br />
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Of course my hubby would probably find this last rubiks cube gift idea the best one for me -<br />
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<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=53432&U=272258&M=9787&urllink=www.perpetualkid.com/rubik-note-pad.aspx"><img src="http://edgecastcdn.net/800034/www.perpetualkid.com/productimages/lg2/NPAD-1289.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />
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A rubiks cube notepad is just perfect for my house, because if I don't write jobs down they basically don't get done. My hubby's a bit sick of saying did you or have you? While I reply 'oh no I forgot', he now makes sure I always have a notepad and asks me to write down jobs that are really important!!<br />
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So there you have some of the coolest gift ideas for a rubik cube loving 80s girl or guy, let me know your favorite.Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-73303158576827035202011-10-14T17:38:00.000-07:002015-03-06T21:39:18.482-08:0080s Movie Night - Spotlight on A NIghtmare on Elm Street<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nightmare-Elm-Street-John-Saxon/dp/B002R1UTGK?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: left; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EOI-nuAnL.jpg" height="500" style="border: 0; height: 100%; max-width: none; width: auto;" width="352" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font: 12px/1.1 arial; margin: 3px 0;">A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://www.easy-product-displays.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/25.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
With October drawing in and Halloween fast approaching I thought it was time to look at 80s horror movies and what better 80s horror movie was there than A Nightmare on Elm Street? <br/>
<br/>I'm sure some would disagree, but this movie kept me awake far more than any other movie I have ever seen so I'm going to call it <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">the</span> 80s horror movie!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0033B5XCS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0033B5XCS&linkCode=as2&tag=lousblogs-20&linkId=I5PBVIOJRGIDCXT2" rel="nofollow">The Nightmare on Elm Street Collection</a> consists of 7 Nightmare on Elm Street films and a bonus disc and is a great gift idea for any Freddy Krueger fan. It was the first movie in 1984 that kept me awake however, I wasn't as impressed with some of the subsequent movies and I certainly haven't seen all seven of them.<br />
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Wes Craven's idea of teenagers being killed in their dreams was, in my mind, a really cool concept. I thought it was a very original idea, but since the 80s I've learned that he actually read about a little boy who had been having nightmares and one night just died in his sleep ......... maybe Freddy is real??<br />
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Robert Englund did a fantastic job in making Freddy Krueger a character that could still scare the #@@# out of any child of the 80s if we should bump into him over Halloween.<br />
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Of course if you were planning to go to an 80s party <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/freddy-krueger-costumes">dressing up as the 80s boogeyman himself </a>would certainly bring any 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' style dancing to a halt!<br />
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Freddy Krueger and the whole collection of Nightmare on Elm Street movies have gained quite a cult following over the years which is quite amazing considering how much trouble Wes Craven went to to try and get someone to make the movie. You see back when Wes Craven was shopping the script around he was met with a lot of resistance - slasher movies are on their way out - was comment and the other was - who would believe people could be murdered in their sleep. Luckily for us (and the coffee industry) Wes Craven persevered and this cult movie franchise took on a life of it's own.<br />
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I was reading some Nightmare on Elm Street trivia the other day and they claimed that over 500 gallons of fake blood was used during the making of the original film. That's a lot of blood, although when you think of some of the scenes it makes sense.</blockquote>
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The first time I saw Nightmare on Elm Street I went with a friend of mine - I forget what we were supposed to be seeing because we weren't technically old enough to go to the movie, but being young and foolish..........
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I was terrified!
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I'm sure I did sleep, but it felt like weeks before I was sleeping, I'd catch myself nodding off and quickly turn on my bedside light (Turn your light off Lou!) to keep me awake.
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The first thing that scared me was my lovely best friend of the time, Allison. She saw that I was engrossed in the movie and so she carefully put her arm around the back of the seat and just as Freddy emerged (I forget which scene) she stuck her nails into my shoulder - I screamed so loud the whole cinema turned around to frown! And yet we remained friends.....
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The next thing that scared the bejesus out of me was getting outside the cinema to discover it was raining and I'd left my umbrella behind - doesn't sound too scary does it? Well there was an old guy that was the usher at the cinema and hand on heart I have to tell you he could have been Freddy Krueger's twin!
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Anyway my friend refused to go back into the cinema with me (she was too scared as well.......I'm starting to wonder why we remained friends!!!) and I had to walk into a darkened room with Freddy Krueger!!!!! I swear I've never run back down the stairs of the cinema building so quickly in my life.
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Anyway let's talk about the movie, but first here's another interesting nugget of info -
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
An interesting piece of trivia that I only discovered in recent years is that the iconic Freddy sweater wasn't supposed to be red and green, but Wes Craven read an article that said the two most contrasting colors to the human retina were red and green and so decided that those were the colors that the sweater should be. </blockquote>
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<h2>
A Nightmare on Elm Street - The Movie</h2>
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A Nightmare on Elm Street is about Freddy Krueger who was a child murderer, unfortunately he escapes going to prison on a technicality and walks out of court a free man. A group of people in his town decide that they will put an end to his crimes and murdered him by setting him on fire.
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nightmare-On-Elm-Street-Poster/dp/B0016DA0KK?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: right; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Nightmare On Elm Street - Movie Poster"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41j5wc6l7jL.jpg" height="400" style="border: 0; height: 100%; max-width: none; width: auto;" width="271" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font: 12px/1.1 arial; margin: 3px 0;">Nightmare On Elm Street - Movie Poster</span><img class="prbtn" src="http://www.easy-product-displays.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/25.png" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></a><br />
The movie starts years later when somehow Freddy Krueger has found a way to come back for revenge - in dreams. He haunts the dreams of the children of the people who murdered him and manages to kill them while they are sleeping.<br />
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Wes Craven had a lot of problems convincing a studio to make this movie as they purported that no one would believe in a villain killing people in their sleep.....well they were wrong. This movie kept millions of people awake after they watched it.<br />
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<h2>
Where Did the Idea for 'A Nightmare On Elm Street' Come From?</h2>
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Exploring Wes Craven's mind</h3>
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Where on earth did Wes Craven come up with the idea of people being killed in their sleep? From the news! The scary thing is that there have actually been cases where people have died in their sleep for no known reason. In one case a little boy had been having nightmares and didn't want to go to sleep.....when he finally did sleep his family heard him scream, but by the time they had reached his side he was dead. I am so glad that I didn't know about this at the time that I watched the movie - maybe Freddy is real!
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<h2>
A Nightmare on Elm Street</h2>
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The Stars</h3>
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The main characters in the movie are Nancy, her boyfriend Rod, Nancy's best friend Tina and her boyfriend Glen. As Nancy's friends start dying in their sleep Nancy tries desperately to get her parents to believe what's really happening..........................of course they don't which really helps to sell this movie to a younger audience. Teenagers taking on demons by themselves is a classic movie grab.
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<h2>
Original Cast of A Nightmare on Elm Street</h2>
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<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000486/">Nancy - Heather Langenkamp</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0944143/">Tina - Amanda Wyss</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006987/">Rod - Jsu Garcia</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000136/#actor1980">Glen - Johnny Depp</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000387/">Freddy Krueger - Robert Englund</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0768334/">Nancy's father - John Saxon</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0086867/">Nancy's mother - Ronee Blakley</a></li>
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<h2>
Freddy Krueger - A Nightmare on Elm Street's Infamous Villain</h2>
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A Nightmare on Elm Street could not have been successful without Freddy Krueger, he has become a cult movie anti-hero with his own huge following. Every Halloween fancy dress stores sell Freddy Krueger costumes, but where did he come from?
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXo7Pm-Qlig_UJTo0CwMgr4MlG924AsW8nUIH8Gz6sIrLz_Q9VECro_bDTzGJOXU-oAozmEKBEr4kbeXO0_3cGzcYKII3tffSglcCCptJ_3zxvHMUUO0c5T9K2UFKEQoEAUn10uzEWcrVn/s1600/freddy+krueger.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Freddy Krueger" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXo7Pm-Qlig_UJTo0CwMgr4MlG924AsW8nUIH8Gz6sIrLz_Q9VECro_bDTzGJOXU-oAozmEKBEr4kbeXO0_3cGzcYKII3tffSglcCCptJ_3zxvHMUUO0c5T9K2UFKEQoEAUn10uzEWcrVn/s1600/freddy+krueger.JPG" height="240" title="Freddy Krueger" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copyrighted by Louanne Cox, Aug 2014</td></tr>
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Apparently Freddy Krueger was inspired by a grown man Wes Craven saw as a child. Wes Craven describes this person (who he didn't know) as being the source of one of the scariest moments of his life. As an 11 year old Wes was looking out of his apartment window and saw a man (who in later interviews he has described as homeless), the man spots him looking and stares back at him which for some reason scared him. In later interviews he expands more on the story, but I think at that age we do see people who we view as scary for no real reason don't we?
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Freddy Krueger is still considered a scary character which is why you sometimes see him immortalized at 'horror houses' and the like as you can see opposite.
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<h2>
Do you think A Nightmare on Elm Street was the best horror movie of the 80s?</h2>
Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-11225554572245534002011-10-14T17:16:00.000-07:002011-10-14T17:16:11.162-07:00Welcome to 80s Movie NightI must apologize for the fact that I'm not posting very regularly with this blog - I've decided that instead of just writing about anything 80s when I feel like it I should have a blog plan so that I can bring you posts more regularly. Introducing 80s Movie Night - this is where I plan to spotlight types of movies ie John Hughes movies or 80s dance movies or even individual movies.<div><br />
</div><div>There's just something about 80s movies which are cool so what will be the first movie that I spotlight? Well you don't have long to wait, only minutes in fact! While I'm introducing the 80s movie night concept though please feel free to leave the names of any 80s movie that you'd like me to spotlight in the comments section.</div><div><br />
</div><div>If you can't remember them all then feel free to check out <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/lous80smovies-20">Lou's 80s Movies Store</a> and browse through the titles, the memories should come flooding back. Stayed tuned the first 80s movie night spotlight will be coming right up.</div>Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-42689430153027829852011-09-11T20:18:00.000-07:002011-09-11T20:18:00.066-07:0080s Halloween CostumesApparently I'm stuck in the 80s constantly if you listen to my daughter and all because the radio station I choose to listen to in<b> my</b> car plays a lot of 80s music - it's not like I don't offer to pop in a cd........even if they're also mainly 80s songs! Anyway on Halloween you can re-live the 80s in a whole new way - 80s Halloween Costumes!<br />
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The only problem is what 80s costume do you want to wear. There are a selection of different video game costumes including some cool Pac Man Halloween costumes that I've written about on another post - <a href="http://lou16.posterous.com/halloween-costumes-inspired-by-games-angry-bi">PacMan Halloween Costumes</a> which feature Pac Man himself or the individual little ghosts - Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Clyde. Then you can get costumes like these ones which show the actual Pac Man game screen -<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%E2%80%9Dhttp://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=295880&u=272258&m=27020&urllink=www.totallycostumes.com/vat-15590-pac-man-video-game-tank-dress-adult-costume.html%E2%80%9D"><img border="”0”" src="http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-67421776749544_2172_267115603" /><br />
Pac Man Costume</a><br />
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Of course then you've got to think of what other type of 80s costumes you can wear and we get to 80s fashion! There are so many different choices here from leg warmers to shoulder pads and more, here's a couple of 80s costumes for women to choose from -<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%E2%80%9Dhttp://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=295880&u=272258&m=27020&urllink=www.totallycostumes.com/sn-93862-80s-party-girl-adult-costume.html%E2%80%9D"><img border="”0”" src="http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-67421776749544_2174_791441823" /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%E2%80%9Dhttp://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=295880&u=272258&m=27020&urllink=www.totallycostumes.com/sbe-16451-material-girlie-adult-costume.html%E2%80%9D"><img border="”0”" src="http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-67421776749544_2174_804385478" /></a><br />
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Here are a couple of 80s costumes for men to choose from -<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%E2%80%9Dhttp://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=295880&u=272258&m=27020&urllink=www.totallycostumes.com/ha-74864-80s-rocker-adult-costume.html%E2%80%9D"><img border="”0”" src="http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-67421776749544_2171_564865361" /></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%E2%80%9Dhttp://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=295880&u=272258&m=27020&urllink=www.totallycostumes.com/sbe-19829-80s-hip-hop-home-boy-rapper-adult-costume.html%E2%80%9D"><img border="”0”" src="http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-67421776749544_2174_792529703" /></a><br />
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Of course there are lots more ideas for costumes look at programs like Dynasty or Fame the TV series for inspirations as well as what the likes of Cyndi Lauper, Billy Idol, Madonna and Michael Jackson were wearing during the 80s - the costume ideas really are limitless so what do you say - will you rock the 80s this Halloween?<br />
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I think I'd like to and I've just come across a beard set a la ZZ Top so my hubby had better beware or he might be dressed like a 'sharp dressed man' and sporting dd's guitar as we party the night away!<br />
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Of course if you've left it to the last minute there is still a couple of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">easy last minute 80s costumes</span> you can pull off - Bruce Springsteen - a pair of jeans with a Stars and Stripes bandana/kerchief hanging out of the back pocket and a plain t-shrit. Morrissey (as in the lead singer of the Smiths) - a pair of jeans, black shirt and a flower poking out of the back pocket.<br />
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If you've got the time, but no money what about some <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">handmade 80s costume ideas</span>?<br />
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The first one that springs to mind is a rubiks cube. Get a square box from one of your local shops and paint it the different colors of the rubiks cube (white, red, blue, orange, yellow,green) - one color per side (some thin lines of black to show that there are nine different squares on each side really adds to the costume). Cut a hole in the top for your head and you can have it resting on your shoulders which means you'll need arm holes or you have your arms out of the top which means you need something to hold the rubiks cube up. I used a pair of zebra braces (don't ask why I had zebra braces on hand and nobody will get hurt!!).<br />
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I cut the bottom completely out of the box so that I could walk around easily. Wear black leggings and a black turtleneck and you'll look awesome. The only drawback is that you can't sit down!!!<br />
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The other idea for a woman/girl is to wear a pair of jeans (preferably not bootleg) or leggings, a t-shirt and one of hubby's/dad's business shirts with sleeves rolled up and instead of buttoning it up just knot it in the front. The hair has to be big so put in lots of mouse and blow dry it while hanging your head upside down - remembering the 80s I used to hang over the side of my bed to do this!<br />
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If you still have a banana clip then you could wear your hair up in this instead or a side ponytail. If you really can't get any volume in your hair then use gel and go for the slicked back look.<br />
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Let me know your favorite 80s costume idea below.Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-57562109576533215532011-09-04T20:06:00.000-07:002011-09-04T20:06:00.591-07:00Hit Songs From 1986There are so many songs that you think of when reminiscing about the 80s, but I'm often shocked when I read what songs sold the most in any given year. Let me give you an example - the highest selling single in the UK during 1986 was Don't Leave Me This Way by the Communards. Now I love this song, but I would never have guessed that it was the highest selling single, although I'm sure I would've known if you had asked me back then! <br />
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I would've expected songs such as Sledgehammer or You Give Love a Bad Name to be in the top ten for the year - but they're not! Do you want to know what the top ten selling singles of 1986 were? Find out here - <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/1986_music">The Top Ten Songs of 1986</a>. I'm sure that non-UK readers will go who when it comes to number 2 as I doubt they will know who Nick Berry is and that shows the power of UK soaps as it was sold because he starred in Eastenders and the single was promoted on the show!<br />
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The first Comic Relief single was a re-make of an old Cliff Richard song performed by Cliff Richard and the stars of the hit UK comedy, The Young Ones. I wasn't surprised when I saw it's name on the list, although I had forgotten about the song until I saw it. You will never hear Cliff Richard's Living Doll the same after seeing this version which still brings a smile to my face.Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-21524877821710158002011-08-28T20:04:00.000-07:002011-08-28T20:04:52.455-07:0080s Christmas OrnamentsI was looking at some new Christmas ornaments online the other day and I came across this one on Amazon -<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lousblogs-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001BPWNI0&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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Doesn't it look good? Unfortunately I couldn't find any Space Invaders Christmas ornaments but it did get me thinking - wouldn't it be awesome to have a totally 80s themed Christmas tree? Thinking along these lines I discovered some cool 80s Christmas tree ornaments like this one -<br />
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<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/corey_tiger_80s_retro_leopard_print_star_ornament-175796585906876245?rf=238559900758216397"><img alt="Corey Tiger 80s Retro Leopard Print Star Ornament ornament" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/corey_tiger_80s_retro_leopard_print_star_ornament-p175796585906876245vzgcv_325.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/corey_tiger_80s_retro_leopard_print_star_ornament-175796585906876245?rf=238559900758216397">Corey Tiger 80s Retro Leopard Print Star Ornament</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/coreytiger?rf=238559900758216397">COREYTIGER</a><br />
Browse other <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/corey+tiger+ornaments?rf=238559900758216397">Corey tiger Ornaments</a></div><br />
There's actually a whole selection of them to be found at - <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/retro-80s-christmas-ornaments">Retro 80s Christmas Ornaments</a>. So what do you think? Will you be having an awesome 80s style Christmas this year?<br />
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If we're talking Christmas and we're talking 80s then I guess we should pose another question - best Christmas song of 1984 - Band Aid with Do They Know It's Christmas? Vs Wham! with Last Christmas? I love both of these songs so it's a hard choice, but what do you think?Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-15635518042790052012011-08-20T04:10:00.000-07:002011-08-20T04:10:10.046-07:0080s Mugs - A Great Gift IdeaI love to drink either my tea or my coffee from a mug, a cup's just not big enough in my humble opinion. I actually have a True mug that I drink from, a fair dinkum Spandau Ballet licensed True mug. The lettering has faded somewhat, but being a Spandau Ballet of old I love that mug.<br />
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I was thinking I hadn't written a post for this blog in a while whilst drinking from my mug when I thought - I know 80s mugs! Buy yourself an 80s mug to use every day or get one for your best friend, co-worker, family member etc. Take it from me drinking from an 80s mug does put you in a good mood!<br />
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<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/i_love_80s_mug-168532001364109798?rf=238559900758216397"><img alt="I Love 80s mug" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/i_love_80s_mug-p1685320013641097982gq8i_325.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/i_love_80s_mug-168532001364109798?rf=238559900758216397">I Love 80s</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/theshockwave?rf=238559900758216397">theshockwave</a><br />
See more <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/80s+mugs?rf=238559900758216397">80s Mugs</a></div><br />
There's this classic I Love the 80s mug which is pretty cool, but wait there's a lot more to look at.....<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/colorful_cassette_tapes_mug-168250911082926442?rf=238559900758216397"><img alt="Colorful Cassette Tapes mug" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/colorful_cassette_tapes_mug-p1682509110829264422orik_190.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></a><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/tog_gun_wingman_mug-168888186790043482?rf=238559900758216397"><img alt="Tog Gun Wingman mug" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/tog_gun_wingman_mug-p1688881867900434822gt4m_190.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></a></div>These three mugs are all available from Zazzle which is a POD site that has some awesome designs, not just the ones I've featured here.<br />
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You can also find mugs from 80s bands, television series etc like these -<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lousblogs-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B003R0EUJW&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
Can you remember Bros? "When will I, will I be famous?", Talk about a flashback in time. <br />
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I must look and see what Matt Goss is doing these days as I know I occasionally see Luke Goss acting. I'm sure they had a couple of other hits as well, but When Will I Be Famous is the only one I can think of off of the top of my head.<br />
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There are lots of other bands who have mugs that you can buy online so let's have a look at a some of them, Duran Duran the biggest international New Romantic band, Joy Division, one of my hubby's favorite bands until the demise of Ian Curtis and the resulting (and one of my favorites) New Order and of course Bon Jovi (as I type his name I'm singing Shot Through The Heart in my head!) -<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lousblogs-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B003R04NBC&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lousblogs-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B004Z61RHA&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> <iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lousblogs-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B003QZBHCQ&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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Now if for some strange reason 80s music isn't the thing you miss most from the 80s then maybe this mug is more your style -<br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lousblogs-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B005470H52&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align:left;padding-top:5px;width:131px;height:245px;padding-right:10px;"align="left" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>I do love ALF! This 80s mug is definitely a classic, I might even be persuaded to give up my True mug in exchange for it :)<br />
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What 80s inspired mug would you like to (are are already) drink from?Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-53552423373394245182011-08-03T21:53:00.000-07:002015-02-18T15:12:41.051-08:00Through The Barricades - Spandau Ballet<h2>
Through the Barricades Album - Great 80s Music</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6h-oM9kSD3FzHVxaWB9gVQMERQUYBogYGiFfmfQC1-4jj3vqFeCLoRXmvdZLXLzrllVDT25plsBdmC-wTbWRYv26SDVpQzKksw0xsdBBri0p88Zyn4pUz5_3P9TLEpBDt4xLTyjFvzhC/s1600/through+the+barricades+spandau+ballet+80s+music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Through the Barricades - Spandau Ballet" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6h-oM9kSD3FzHVxaWB9gVQMERQUYBogYGiFfmfQC1-4jj3vqFeCLoRXmvdZLXLzrllVDT25plsBdmC-wTbWRYv26SDVpQzKksw0xsdBBri0p88Zyn4pUz5_3P9TLEpBDt4xLTyjFvzhC/s1600/through+the+barricades+spandau+ballet+80s+music.jpg" height="320" title="Through the Barricades by Spandau Ballet" width="320" /></a></div>
Spandau Ballet's album Through the Barricades was their fifth studio album and the first one for the record company CBS. It featured the heartfelt Through the Barricades single along with the two singles Fight for Ourselves and How Many Lies.<br />
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After the release of this album the band toured the UK to promote it little realizing that this would be their last tour for thirty years. I was lucky enough to be able to be at one of these shows and Spandau Ballet really seemed to be at the top of their game - it was a fantastic performance.
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Through-Barricades-Spandau-Ballet/dp/B000007407?tag=lousblogs-20" rel="nofollow" style="color: inherit; display: inline-block; float: left; margin: 1.5%; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; width: 150px;" target="_blank" title="Through the Barricades"><span class="prthmb" style="-moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-box; border-radius: 3px; border: solid 1px #888888; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 150px; margin-bottom: 3px; overflow: hidden; width: 150px;"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512y-XPOU-L.jpg" height="500" style="border: 0; height: auto; max-width: none; width: 100%;" width="500" /></span><span class="prnme" style="color: black; display: block; font: 12px/1.1 arial; margin: 3px 0;">Through the Barricades</span><span class="prbtn" style="background: #ff9900; border-radius: 9px; color: white; display: inline-block; font: 12px arial; padding: 3px 10px;">Check Price</span></a><br />
<b>Track listing:-</b><br />
<ul><br />
<li>Barricades -- Introduction</li>
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<li>Cross the Line</li>
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<li>Man in Chains</li>
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<li>How Many Lies?</li>
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<li>Virgin</li>
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<li>Fight for Ourselves</li>
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<li>Swept</li>
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<li>Snakes and Lovers</li>
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<li>Through the Barricades</li>
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<h2>
Fight For Ourselves</h2>
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1st Single from Through the Barricades</h4>
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The first single released from the album was Fight For Ourselves which reached number 15 in the UK charts.
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Let’s look at some of the background to this album - Gary Kemp wrote the whole Through the Barricades album while the band were living in Ireland for a year. At the time Spandau Ballet were in dispute with their original record company Chrysalis over the way the company had failed to promote them in the US market. When you listen to the lyrics it could be that Gary Kemp is writing about Spandau Ballet's legal woes......
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Then again Gary Kemp was getting quite political around this time and had also teamed up with Billy Bragg (a well known left wing singer) and was supportive of the UK's Miners Strike so he could have just been telling everyone to stand up for what they believed was right.
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Everybody, we've got to fight for ourselves
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Whatever you believe the lyrics to be about one thing is for certain the song was catchy and easy to sing along to.
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<h2>
Through the Barricades - The Single</h2>
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Through the Barricades was the second single to be released off of the album of the same name. It was written while the band were in Ireland and as Gary Kemp (the songwriter and guitar player of Spandau Ballet) said at the time "....(whilst)...we don't think to ourselves as a political band, but we can't ignore what is happening just around the corner.
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Through the Barricades is essentially a Romeo and Juliet story set in Northern Ireland between a boy and a girl, one Protestant and one Catholic. It was a top ten hit in the UK and was also big in Europe (staying at number one for eight weeks in Italy) and the haunting melody has made it a favorite for the band and a large number of fans.
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Through the Barricades showed Gary Kemp's songwriting abilities at their best. It also played to Tony Hadley's vocals beautifully with him giving his best performance to date on the single. The use of the drum and pipe marching music is so reminiscent of Ireland's Parades that it tugs even more at the heartstrings. Through the Barricades was also one of my favorites (can you tell?).
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The line in the song Through the Barricades that goes - "as our hearts go to their graves" has been debated in some areas as to whether it means a suicide pact or an end of a doomed affair. What do you think?
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Personally I think they made a suicide pact if you listen to the line 'the stars reach out and tell us there's only one escape' I can't think that it would be anything other than death.
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<h2>
How Many Lies</h2>
<h4>
The Third Single from Through the Barricades Album</h4>
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How Many Lies was their third and last single off of the album Through the Barricades. Although the band didn't realise it at the time How Many Lies was to become their last Top 40 hit single.
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As I mentioned earlier this song was written when the band was in dispute with their record company while Gary Kemp was also getting very political. When you initially listen to the song you assume it’s between a couple, by knowing the background and where Gary’s head was at you start to wonder if it was a swipe at Chrysalis or even a political statement.
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When you initially hear the song you assume it's between a couple, but knowing where Gary's head was at could it be a swipe at Chrysalis or even a political statement? Enjoy the song and let me know what you think.
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How many lies must we tell?
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How many lies must we see?
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How many times must we say, it's for the best?
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And leave truth as the casualty?
Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-58928530164578693622011-07-17T17:09:00.000-07:002011-07-17T17:09:19.701-07:00Scarface - A Classic 80s Mafia MovieAmong the hoards of Mafia movies released during the 80s was Scarface. This movie was a little different from the likes of Goodfellas and The Godfather in that is was based on the Cuban Mafia instead of the Italian one. With quotes like - 'Say hello to my little friend' it has become an absolute classic.<br />
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Scarface was first released in 1983 and with the excessive bloodshed and violence I wasn't able to watch it until a few years later! Excess and the eighties do go together though and so does Scarface. The biggest thing the movie had going for it from my hubby's point of view was Al Pacino. Let's face it Al Pacino is an amazing actor and he really brought his skills to the table as Tony Montana.<br />
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I was reminded the other day that it's only five months until Christmas so if you know a Scarface fan what about getting them a cool Scarface inspired gift? I have a few ideas for you -<br />
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<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/scarface-belt-buckles">Scarface Belt Buckles</a> - these are really cool and a unique gift idea for a Tony Montana fan.<br />
<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/scarface-t-shirts">Scarface T-Shirts</a> - who doesn't like a tee?<br />
<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/scarfaceposters">Scarface Posters</a> - these are a great idea for the dorm room if you know a younger fan of Scarface or a Man Cave for someone who saw the movie when it was first released!<br />
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Then again you could always get them their own version of the movie if they don't already own it -<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lousblogs-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B0000AMRJC&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
This two disc anniversary Scarface DVD doesn't just contain the movie but also has these extras -<br />
<br />
<ul><li>The Rebirth of Scarface (10 mins)</li>
<li>Acting Scarface (15 mins)</li>
<li>Creating Scarface (30 mins)</li>
<li>Scarface: The TV Version - a look at the two versions (3 mins)</li>
<li>Deleted Scenes (22 mins)</li>
<li>Def Jam presents The Origins of a Gangsta (30 mins)</li>
</ul>Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-65196780547216075842011-06-29T18:28:00.000-07:002011-06-29T18:28:28.875-07:00Wordless Wednesday - The Rubiks Tree of Knowledge!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0m8OOVGG_Pc7uT9-zx8u_E_JpyC3bQUolVlQ53qBIa3cqRxgSQG3TdjpEbMXiOFlR2uYPAe9-huAgqOkD4LedFk1k1qtP8GiDPxus9aUbZpBMoUyehUFd4BSV2Di5D2sZKAkDVuU4n2Q/s1600/P6210028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0m8OOVGG_Pc7uT9-zx8u_E_JpyC3bQUolVlQ53qBIa3cqRxgSQG3TdjpEbMXiOFlR2uYPAe9-huAgqOkD4LedFk1k1qtP8GiDPxus9aUbZpBMoUyehUFd4BSV2Di5D2sZKAkDVuU4n2Q/s320/P6210028.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Add your caption idea for this photo below for some fun on this Wordless Wednesday.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/nevergrowingold/wednesday-1-1-1.jpg"border="0"></a>Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4867198547100647786.post-37509844310817305322011-06-21T19:40:00.000-07:002011-06-21T19:40:45.914-07:00Wordless Wednesday - Rubiks Cube<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UxibREcgDKd7yJ_fxw_BWrHifVhtQVCFwdOWkKyrx0m7dZOklpir-C96q3oP-vtkFVgWoGQg20M8jyZdRq7FmsPv1CsK6GMwVnG2T19OnhqTUMkLdK2_0Ed2eenfzrYc-gre-ruX6OIX/s1600/P6210030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7UxibREcgDKd7yJ_fxw_BWrHifVhtQVCFwdOWkKyrx0m7dZOklpir-C96q3oP-vtkFVgWoGQg20M8jyZdRq7FmsPv1CsK6GMwVnG2T19OnhqTUMkLdK2_0Ed2eenfzrYc-gre-ruX6OIX/s320/P6210030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
If I plant it will the solution grow?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/"><img src="http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee487/nevergrowingold/wednesday-1-1-1.jpg"border="0"></a>Lou16http://www.blogger.com/profile/07951757285411365871noreply@blogger.com3