Now That's What I Call The 80s!

I often pick up 80s cds and have a look. So many of the compilations I have are pretty similar, but then I'll see one and remember a particular song and buy it just for the one track!!I spotted Now Thats What I Call The 80s cds on Amazon today and I recalled all of the vinyl records we had at home during the 80s, the Now That's What I Call range seemed to release a couple of lps every year - I wonder where all of ours went?

The volume two cd that I've featured here has the song Toy Soldiers by Martika which doesn't appear on any of my other compilations. I loved her first album - the self titled Martika and the two songs that I can remember from it - 'Toy Soldiers' and 'I Feel The Earth Move.' At the time I prefered the song 'I Feel The Earth Move' to 'Toy Soldiers,' but now I'm not sure which one I prefer - what about you?

Other tracks on the cd are also great with Lionel Ritchie Dancing on the Ceiling taking me back to High School and one particular school disco....enough said!

Whitney Houston, The Police, Robert Palmer - the album is fantastic so if you're feeling in the mood for some 80s music this weekend check out the track listings.....and if you're like me listen to them on youtube!!

Spandau Ballet

Well I’m sooooo excited I just received my Spandau Ballet concert tickets in the mail today and I feel like I’m young again! I was still living in the UK the last time they toured and I saw them at their Bornemouth concert, I have to say they were f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c! Not long after that concert I moved down under and discovered that Spandau Ballet weren’t actually as big outside of the UK :(

Anyway I’m so glad they’re playing in my new home town here in Australia and I can’t wait until April because it is going to be Gold! Sorry, I couldn’t resist that pun.

Not only are Spandau Ballet performing, but Tears for Fears are their special guests which is how I convinced my hubby to tag along with me :D I loved their Songs from the Big Chair album so I’m getting very excited to hear them as well.

Am I worried about the guys all looking older? Well yes because that means that I’ve aged….oh hang on I see that when I look in the mirror! Let’s just hope that the music’s still good and the voices are still going strong. I’ve been reading reviews of Spandau Ballet’s other tour shows and apparently Tony Hadley’s voice is even stronger…..don’t know about Tears for Fears though – do you?

Sunglasses At Night

Have you checked out what our celebs are wearing on their faces this summer, in fact the trend has been sneaking back in for a few years now – Wayfarers. Now I know that they were around a long time before the 80s, but I think we really made them look good!!!

So come on and tell me how many pairs of Wayfarers did YOU own?

Next question – how many of you are singing Boys of Summer in your head right now? You know the line I’m talking about…..”you got that hair slicked back and those wayfarers on baby…”

You can check out Wayfarers in all their glory at the appropriately named Wayfarer Sunglasses!

Pac Man

If you are feeling nostalgic for 80s video games you can play Pac Man and Space Invaders for free on your computer now, or get versions for your Playstation or Wiis even for your mobile phone! If you know someone who loves the classics though, what about baking them a cake?

Ideal for 40th birthday parties and the like a Pac Man cake can be quite easy to make and produce so many compliments you’ll be blushing for days! If you don’t know where to start then check out Pac Man Baking.

What better gift to accompany the cake than an 80s gamer tee? There are so many different types to choose from.

CLASSIC GAMER by dgpaulart
Make custom t-shirts on zazzle

If you don’t like this one then check my collection out at 80s gamer tees.

80s - Simply the Best

Why do I always think that the 80s were the best decade I’ve been asked by my daughter. Well hello, you keep remaking films from the 80s, you keep doing cover versions of 80s songs need I go on???

I’ve had a pretty busy year so I’m a little behind with the movie gossip (the problems with being a mum I guess), there was a time when as soon as someone even whispered any movie news I was hip to it, but not anymore.

It appears that a movie I liked from 1980 has been dragged into the noughties. This isn’t exactly a remake instead they are saying that it is ‘based’ on the original. Yes I’m talking about Fame – the movie, the song, the tv series, the legwarmers!

I loved the tv series of Fame and from there I read the book that the movie was based on. I don’t know when I actually saw the movie, but I don’t recall seeing it on the big screen, just on video. The Kids from Fame actually had a couple of hit records in the UK as well, I had a friend who owned both of them and we would go to her house at lunch times (she lived opposite the school) and make up dance routines to them!

Let’s hope that the noughties version of Fame can bring a smile to the faces of a whole new generation.

John Hughes RIP

Wow, John Hughes has died. Aged only 59 he died of a heart attack, at least it was quick by all accounts.

It's hard to think of 80s movies without thinking of John Hughes with films such as The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Sixteen Candles John Hughes owned 80s teen movies. He didn't stop there though, he was still showing what he was made of during the 90s with the hit movie Home Alone to name just one.

What was the best John Hughes movie? It's so hard to say, I love Uncle Buck I think that John Candy played the role so well. Having said that Mr Mom was also fantastic and my hubby loves Ferris Bueller. Why don't you vote for what John Hughes movie was your favorite at The Best John Hughes Movie.

80s Music

I love 80s music, don't you? I can't decide what I prefer more the New Romantic sounds or the Soft Cell techno pop, the darkness of Depeche Mode's Blasphemous Rumours, the pop of Madonna, the dance sounds of both Michael and Janet Jackson, the power ballads, Bruce Springsteen.......I don't know where to start let alone where to finish!

What is 80s Music? is the start of my attempt to bring all of my 80s favorites together, it's a long way from complete, but I'd love your thoughts on it.

Watching all of the celebs bringing back the Wayfarers makes me think of Don Henley - hair slicked back and your wayfarers on (or words to that effect) and then hair slicked back is the girls from Robert Palmer's video.....who started this conversation!

Anyway - what is your favorite 80s song, genre or artist, don't leave me hanging here people!