I read on one of my favorite blogs, Isorski's Musings, that The Cars are in the recording studio after a 23 year break. Hmmm. I don't know how I feel about that since my favorite "Car" was Benjamin Orr so it won't be the same without him.
Can The Cars be labeled rock and roll? Its a subjective topic placing music in specific genres. But I have to say, even though rock and roll was invaded by New Wave, Pop, Arena Rock, Hair Metal and DISCO in the 80's - there sure was a lot of fun music to dance and party to!
It may taint my image as a die hard 70's rock chick to admit this, but in the 80's I also loved listening to:
Blondie
Culture Club
Depeche Mode
Diana Ross
Duran Duran
Elvis Costello
Erasure
Eurythmics
Hall & Oates
Human League
Janet Jackson
Madonna
Michael Jackson
Paula Abdul
Paul Simon
Phil Collins
Pixies
Prince
R.E.M
Roxy Music
Simple Minds
Simply Red
Spandau Ballet
Talking Heads
The Bangles
The Cure
The Fixx
The Stray Cats
Thompson Twins
What about you? Guilty pleasures of the 80's
12 comments:
Barb - I wouldn't feel guilty at all. I know many would say that true rock died in the 80s and that may be so, but there was much to savour, especially at the beginning of the decade when the talent unleashed by the punk revolution of the 70s was gathering steam - Blondie, Talking Heads, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Elvis Costello, The Cure and many more. In retrospect a small golden age which built on a slightly different template.
oh Barbara... I remember watching the Cars' videos back in the eighties.. they were such fun.. "Hello Again" and "You might think"..
Now I'm listening.. ;)
I think the definition of "rock-n-roll" has evolved with the music of the decades. But I do think there was a clear line between "ROCK" and "EVERYTHING ELSE" in the 80's. Rock makes me think of Van Halen.
I love your list...here are a few more that I enjoyed in the 80's:
A-ha, Bananarama, Cheap Trick, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Howard Jones, INXS, Prince, Scritti Politti, and Tears for Fears.
I think any music that gets your juices flowing is good for you. It doesnt have to fall under a specific category to make you feel good.
I think the Cars were Rock and Roll to begin with and then moved more into the Pop/Rock genre later. I agree too that without Benjamin Orr they are not the same band.
*gasp*
Don't use "guilty pleasure" and "80s" in the same sentence. There is nothing to feel guilty about. The '80s ruled. They still rule. :)
Please don't say it as a guilty pleasure lol. I may not be there at the height of the 80s but I'm familiar with the sound and I always knew that the Cars are rock-and-rollers.
i've heard blondie, depeche mode, duran duran, elvis costello, hall & oates, eurhythmics, talking heads.
i listen to michael jackson, paul simon, phil collins, r.e.m, the cure, cheap trick.
i think the sound of the 80s are pretty diverse, some rocking, some in between. but somehow i always thought about it as the dance/pop/disco era. but that's just me. but what do i know? that's just the way i've always thought about. :D
haha.
peace.
Thanks, Martin - I'm not too guilty :)
Maxi, they had some fun videos!
Erin, yeah, Van Halen. My sis and I were in the front row once back in the DLR gymnastic jumping days.
Dan, I agree! So many types of music get my juices flowing. Can't imagine life without it.
Beck, oops....I am SO sorry for even slightly implying that the 80's were anything less than phenomenal :)
Everything from the 80s should be eradicated from every corner of the universe, to includes the clothes, which seem to be in fashion -- again! (MAD HATTER exits, stage right, from the angry mob chasing after him.)
But slightly more serious, I like one or two albums from the Talking Heads; other than that, your list is a delight to my wife and a harbinger of something apocalyptic to me. To me, the 80s signified not only a bad trend in the way music was created, produced, marketed and sold, but it also killed some of my favorite bands: Pink Floyd, Clash, etc. The Smiths were great for a very tiny period. Van Halen died a slow Sammy death. Blues hacks like SRV got much more attention for being brazenly non-poppy that he's been given legendary status nowadays.
I see 80s music as a reaction to the dark and gloom of the 70s. 80s music is very danceable, it's much more positive and catchy, but ultimately, it's some of the most terrible music ever created. Is it for me? Not at all, but I can see why people like it. I just dont' see why they want those clothes back.
I think a lot of the 'new wave' bands got a bad rap because of how they looked. Bands like The Cars, Blondie, The Talking Heads etc actually played real instruments (unlike many 90s bands) and if you didn't know what they looked like, could stand right there next to other bands of the era like, say, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers or Cheap Trick as great rock and roll bands.
Along those lines my guilty pleasure was probably Missing Persons!
While I don't necessarily feel guilty for these-- from that era I thoroughly enjoy:
Crowded House
Def Leppard
Escape Club
INXS
Level 42
Men At Work
Mr. Mister
Split Enz (although they initially showed up at the tail end of the seventies)
The Outfield
Tears for Fears
Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Simple Minds, Tears for fears, The Cure.
I don't feel guilty at all, I love the 80s. Hello from an italian reader. :)
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