The most famous song from German-born Klaus Nomi, one of the first celebrities to die from Aids in 1983. "Cold song" is actually "What Power art thou, who from below...", a song in the 3rd act of Purcell's opera: King Arthur.
Friday 28 October 2011
"Cold song" by Klaus Nomi
Klaus Nomi - "Cold song" - 1982
The most famous song from German-born Klaus Nomi, one of the first celebrities to die from Aids in 1983. "Cold song" is actually "What Power art thou, who from below...", a song in the 3rd act of Purcell's opera: King Arthur.
The most famous song from German-born Klaus Nomi, one of the first celebrities to die from Aids in 1983. "Cold song" is actually "What Power art thou, who from below...", a song in the 3rd act of Purcell's opera: King Arthur.
Thursday 27 October 2011
"Down under" by Men at work
Men at work - "Down under" - 1982
There was a time I was dancing on this song, in the middle of a field, a Walkman in the ears.
There was a time I was dancing on this song, in the middle of a field, a Walkman in the ears.
Monday 24 October 2011
"Enolay Gay" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
As I am writing this blog today and listening to all these songs, I just cannot resist and have to publish "Enola Gay".
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - "Enola Gay" - 1980
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - "Enola Gay" - 1980
"Electricity" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Talking about dancing the "rock versaillais", I eventually graduated and I have enjoyed dancing it since then. Occasions are usually rare these days, but at the time, my girlfriend and I were great dance partners. One of our favourites song and one of the speediest was "Electricity" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - "Electricity" - 1980
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - "Electricity" - 1980
"Bad news" by Moon Martin
Moon Martin - "Bad News" - 1981
"Bad news", a song by a former American Rockabilly singer Moon Martin, is far away from the usual singers and bands I liked in the early 80's.
"Bad news" is however a huge song in my personal Pantheon. Probably because of its simple beat and how I learned the ropes of how to dance the "rock versaillais" (Don't ask! :-))on it.
"Bad news", a song by a former American Rockabilly singer Moon Martin, is far away from the usual singers and bands I liked in the early 80's.
"Bad news" is however a huge song in my personal Pantheon. Probably because of its simple beat and how I learned the ropes of how to dance the "rock versaillais" (Don't ask! :-))on it.
"Joan of Arc" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) and their "Enola Gay" song released in 1980 represents a personal cornerstone of the 80's music I cherish. That monumental song still sounds as fresh and relevant as when it was released back then.
Among their many hits in the early 80's, a less well-known song from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark that I also revered is called "Joan of Arc". I remember buying the 45 RPM disk on the strength of the band name and the sleeve cover and being astounded by the new sound and atmosphere they created for this song.
OMD - "Joan of Arc" - 1981
I actually went to see OMD in Dublin when they came to the Olympia theater in May 2007. Great monent in particular Andy McCluskey, the front man who, was so full of youthful energy.
Among their many hits in the early 80's, a less well-known song from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark that I also revered is called "Joan of Arc". I remember buying the 45 RPM disk on the strength of the band name and the sleeve cover and being astounded by the new sound and atmosphere they created for this song.
OMD - "Joan of Arc" - 1981
I actually went to see OMD in Dublin when they came to the Olympia theater in May 2007. Great monent in particular Andy McCluskey, the front man who, was so full of youthful energy.
Friday 21 October 2011
Radio 7
In 1981, when - as a 19th year-old - music played such an important part in defining who you were, I was always looking for the next hit that I would be able to play or mention to friends.
At the time, they were very few sources to keep abreast of what was emerging on the music scene. Prior to 1980, there were only very few music programs on the main national radio stations available in France (Europe 1, RTL and France Inter). That changed on June 2nd, 1980 when France Inter launched a new FM radio - Radio 7 - which just propel us all in a new age of trendy and accessible music. Of particular fond memory, I remember the 2 hours slot that Smith & Wesson had between 5 and 7 every afternoon. I would sit next to the hifi system, a BASF 90 minutes Ferro Super (or when fortunate a Chromdioxid Super one!) in the tape player, the finger waiting for the radio presenter to stop talking before each song he was playing, looking to capture the latest, the next, ... the future hit of the 80s!!
A year later, the socialist party came to power on May 10th, 1981. One of its first positive decisions was to liberalize the radio waves and allow private radio stations. In the process, Radio 7 losts its reason of being and was discontinued in 1987.
At the time, they were very few sources to keep abreast of what was emerging on the music scene. Prior to 1980, there were only very few music programs on the main national radio stations available in France (Europe 1, RTL and France Inter). That changed on June 2nd, 1980 when France Inter launched a new FM radio - Radio 7 - which just propel us all in a new age of trendy and accessible music. Of particular fond memory, I remember the 2 hours slot that Smith & Wesson had between 5 and 7 every afternoon. I would sit next to the hifi system, a BASF 90 minutes Ferro Super (or when fortunate a Chromdioxid Super one!) in the tape player, the finger waiting for the radio presenter to stop talking before each song he was playing, looking to capture the latest, the next, ... the future hit of the 80s!!
A year later, the socialist party came to power on May 10th, 1981. One of its first positive decisions was to liberalize the radio waves and allow private radio stations. In the process, Radio 7 losts its reason of being and was discontinued in 1987.
Tuesday 18 October 2011
"Tainted love" by Soft Cell
Soft Cell's "Tainted love" is hardly a forgotten 80's gem, but is definitively a song I want to add to my Top 10 of all 80's songs.
Soft Cell - "Tainted love" - 1981
A version of this song I am particular fond of is the 9 minutes/Super 45 RPM version of "Tainted love". This extended dance version (one of the first dance version I can recall) was a medley, transitioning to a cover of The Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go" half-way through the song.
I don't like too much the "Tainted love" video, so for a change here is just the music track of the extended dance version:
Soft Cell - "Tainted love" - 1981
A version of this song I am particular fond of is the 9 minutes/Super 45 RPM version of "Tainted love". This extended dance version (one of the first dance version I can recall) was a medley, transitioning to a cover of The Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go" half-way through the song.
I don't like too much the "Tainted love" video, so for a change here is just the music track of the extended dance version:
Monday 17 October 2011
"I'm a camera" by The Buggles
Nobody needs to be introduced to the Buggles of "Video killed the radio star" fame*. But who has heard of "I am a camera", another superb song from The Buggles on their second album "Adventures in modern recording"?
The Buggles - "I am a Camera" - 1981
Interestingly enough, there is another version of this same song which was released in 1980 by Yes, on their 1980's album "Drama. The song originally composed by The Buggles was included in the Yes album under the name "Into the lens" when Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes temporarily joined the band in 1980.
The later Buggles version is much better in my opinion...
* "Video killed the radio star" was released in 1979 and was the first video played on MTV when it was launched on August 1, 1981.
The Buggles - "I am a Camera" - 1981
Interestingly enough, there is another version of this same song which was released in 1980 by Yes, on their 1980's album "Drama. The song originally composed by The Buggles was included in the Yes album under the name "Into the lens" when Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes temporarily joined the band in 1980.
The later Buggles version is much better in my opinion...
* "Video killed the radio star" was released in 1979 and was the first video played on MTV when it was launched on August 1, 1981.
"Loaded Dice" by The Dice
Now that I set the scene for this blog with a few posts, I would like start to bring out of the obscurity some of these 80's songs that I was listening on the radio at the time.
The first one is this song called "Loaded Dice" by a French band named The Dice. I only remember it because I was going some months back through my old collection of 45 RPM records and found this forgotten treasure.
The Dice - "Loaded dice" - 1980
I have subsequently been searching the web for information about The Dice. The information available through Google is sparse, which is a sign of how obscure this band has become.
Still, I found that the band was composed of the following band members:
Side 1:
01. Broken Rules
02. Life Line
03. Hooker
04. It's Your Money I Love
05. Walking On Ice
Side 2:
01. Loaded Dice
02. High Time
03. Terrified
04. Funny People
05. Danger Warning
The Dice - "Loaded dice" - 1980
I have subsequently been searching the web for information about The Dice. The information available through Google is sparse, which is a sign of how obscure this band has become.
Still, I found that the band was composed of the following band members:
- Pascal Stive - keyboards, synthesizers, musical direction
- J.M. Deulin - lead vocalist
- Elaine Rowan - vocalist
- Bruno Lambert - sound engineer
- Marc Miller - Management
Side 1:
01. Broken Rules
02. Life Line
03. Hooker
04. It's Your Money I Love
05. Walking On Ice
Side 2:
01. Loaded Dice
02. High Time
03. Terrified
04. Funny People
05. Danger Warning
The Dice apparently evolved, changed name and became New Dice.
Check for more information on The Dice on this excellent (but in French) site: Forces Paralleles.
Wednesday 12 October 2011
Alors on danse ?
Being French and with French music having such a bad reputation, I feel that it is my duty to remedy somewhat to this deplorable situation by introducing a few selected high moments of the French New Wave scene!
To start with, and not strictly a New Wave or a 80's song for that matter, but I still feel that this song "Manureva" by Alain Chamfort belongs somewhere here...
Alain Chamfort - "Manureva" - 1979
Taxi Girl - "Cherchez le Garçon" - 1980
Lio - "Le Banana Split" - 1980
Les Civils - "La Crise" - 1981
To start with, and not strictly a New Wave or a 80's song for that matter, but I still feel that this song "Manureva" by Alain Chamfort belongs somewhere here...
Alain Chamfort - "Manureva" - 1979
Taxi Girl - "Cherchez le Garçon" - 1980
Lio - "Le Banana Split" - 1980
Les Civils - "La Crise" - 1981
Monday 10 October 2011
"The dammed don't cry" by Visage
Another of my key encounters with the emerging New Wave came about when I heard in 1981 Visage's "Fade to Grey" on the radio.
At the time, and beyond the music itself, art sleeves of the single and album covers were the main avenue listeners had to visualize the artists behind the music. Visage with their impossibly sophisticated looks & clothes broadcasted an image of coolness and elegance that we were all aspiring to, but didn't think we could ever match (and probably never did!).
"The Dammed don't cry" is a less-known song that Visage released in 1982 and which merits to be unearthed again.
At the time, and beyond the music itself, art sleeves of the single and album covers were the main avenue listeners had to visualize the artists behind the music. Visage with their impossibly sophisticated looks & clothes broadcasted an image of coolness and elegance that we were all aspiring to, but didn't think we could ever match (and probably never did!).
"The Dammed don't cry" is a less-known song that Visage released in 1982 and which merits to be unearthed again.
"Radioactivity" by Kraftwerk
My connection with electronic music started in 1975 when Kraftwerk released their "Radioactivity" album. I remember being around 12, back at home for lunch, watching the news. They had a culture segment to close the new program and they showed this video of this new band which was getting higher and higher in the chart. It was Kraftwerk.
Their sound and look were so different from anything you could hear at that time: The disco of Gloria Gaynor, the atmospheric music of Pink Floyd and Genesis, the glam rock sound of Slade. The intro of the "Radioactivity" track with its tap, tap, tap, ... the morse code sound, the binary bip, bip followed by the slush sound of 2 wired sticks on a metal plate ushered me into a New Musical Age that I have been following ever since.
Here is a video (one of the first ones by the way) of the original version of the Radioactivity song. Kraftwerk indeed made an updated version in 1991 following a anti-nuclear theme.
Their sound and look were so different from anything you could hear at that time: The disco of Gloria Gaynor, the atmospheric music of Pink Floyd and Genesis, the glam rock sound of Slade. The intro of the "Radioactivity" track with its tap, tap, tap, ... the morse code sound, the binary bip, bip followed by the slush sound of 2 wired sticks on a metal plate ushered me into a New Musical Age that I have been following ever since.
Here is a video (one of the first ones by the way) of the original version of the Radioactivity song. Kraftwerk indeed made an updated version in 1991 following a anti-nuclear theme.
Saturday 8 October 2011
Some historical background from the BBC...
We might all like New Wave music without having much understanding of its musical and social roots. For all people so inclined to learn more on the subject, the BBC sorted that problem in a fantastic documentary aired in 2009: Synth Britannia.
This documentary is the occasion to hear from the founders of such famous bands as Human League, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), Depeche Mode, ... Sit down, have a look and enjoy!
This documentary is the occasion to hear from the founders of such famous bands as Human League, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), Depeche Mode, ... Sit down, have a look and enjoy!
Monday 3 October 2011
Let's get started!
80's music, in particular the New Wave stuff, has gone through a huge revival over the past 10 years. 80's music is present today both on the radio where it is constantly being played as well as a distinct "sound" and source of inspiration on music emerging today on the waves. Example being a good example.
Having had the chance to live my teenage and early adult years during that period, I am writing this blog as a way to broadcast my love for 80's music as well as an avenue to bring to the forefront particular songs from singers and bands who have since vanished in the background.
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