Today is my 33rd Wedding Anniversary (married Jan. 9, 1988). While I'm currently taking an internet leave for self-improvement, I told my wife that I wanted to log on to SimHQ this morning and post a musical celebration of that era. Request approved (complicated...but necessary).
This post is to celebrate the awesome music (mostly Rock) of the late-1980s ('87-'89). Unfortunately, like all decades of music (each one replacing the previous), the 80's had to come to an end. It's just that the transition from 80's to 90's Rock was so drastic, and Rock would never be the same (or even survive the decade as a cultural force).
...other than not accepting 90's boy bands (not a replacement for 80's hair band power ballads), nor Rap (just my taste).
But I digress...
With the ushering in of a new decade, Grunge/Alternative was necessary. Why? Because it was in our best interest to remove testosterone from Rock so that we didn't think so much about sex. We were dealing with a new deadly sexual virus (Magic J. would be lucky, Freddie M. would not), and the answer for Rock was to collectively lower our T by embracing 4-chord depressing hipster music. So while the second-half of the 80's was dominated by hard-hitting Guns N' Roses, the first-half of the 90's was dominated by...Nirvana (just a generalization). Lol.
The good news is that, for those of us who've been around for half a century, our music collection has nice variety (mine spans 30 years of popular Rock and R&B, from mid-60's to mid-90's).
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So with that I give you a taste of the late-1980's...
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4551744 - 01/11/2104:48 AMRe: Celebrating the music of the late-1980s.
[Re: MarkG]
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,468PanzerMeyer
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I was a teen during the late 80’s and my taste in music was much more mainstream than what it is now. I listened to a lot of freestyle which included artists like Expose, Debby Deb, and Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam. I also listened to Madonna, Genesis and the Bangles. So essentially I listened to Top 40 stuff.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4551782 - 01/11/2101:39 PMRe: Celebrating the music of the late-1980s.
[Re: MarkG]
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4551783 - 01/11/2101:47 PMRe: Celebrating the music of the late-1980s.
[Re: MarkG]
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,468PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
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Miami, FL USA
Originally Posted by MarkG
Beastie Boys - (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) (Official Music Video)...
I distinctly remember watching the MTV "World Premiere Video" broadcast for this in 1986.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4551805 - 01/11/2104:06 PMRe: Celebrating the music of the late-1980s.
[Re: MarkG]
The musical landscape was already changing from Party Rock.
For me the early-90's also rocked with a band local to Atlanta called The Black Crowes, and Metallica's Black album was popular which helped keep power ballads alive...
Metallica: Nothing Else Matters (Official Music Video)
BTW, I stayed neutral during the Grunge Wars (some coworkers took sides), although I preferred Pearl Jam's "Ten" to Nirvana's "Nevermind" for being more straight-up Rock vs. Rock/Punk (those guitar solos in "Even Flow" and "Alive"). But it was all good and I appreciated the variety as I already had enough 80's (including the many 1/2/3-hit wonder hair bands, mostly power ballads) to last a lifetime.
Also, my 90's listing is missing lots of GN'R ("Yesterdays", "Estranged", "November Rain", etc.) because as with Rush, I tried keeping my listing to what I felt was more of a 90's-only sound and I consider GN'R an 80's band (although I did include Metallica so I might add the GN'R later).
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4551852 - 01/11/2107:07 PMRe: Celebrating the music of the late-1980s.
[Re: MarkG]
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4551857 - 01/11/2107:15 PMRe: Celebrating the music of the late-1980s.
[Re: MarkG]
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,468PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
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All you need to do is watch this amazing compilation to realize just how trendy and in-flux popular mainstream music is. Fads come and go and audiences are changing constantly,
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4551864 - 01/11/2107:56 PMRe: Celebrating the music of the late-1980s.
[Re: MarkG]
^ That was good, PM. It confirmed that my collection of Pop (I saw very little Rock) spans from about the mid-60's to mid-90's with a few earlier and later exceptions. My only real complaint is that it's a Pop listing with no MJ.
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I don't recognize the artist and/or song of the following [modern] years:
1992 (heard the song, don't know the artist) 1994 1998 2000 - 2003 2005 (the 2nd 2005, I know 2004 which I guess was miss-labeled 2005). 2006 2007- 2009
EDIT: I think I finally got it right.
Like with hearing my first Oasis song recently (meh), I'm out of touch. My 82 year-old father probably knows who some of these are, he keeps up with pop culture/music more than I do.
EDIT: Found the full listing in the comments...
Here are the songs 1890- Sleeping Beauty Waltz - Tchaikovsky 1891- The Laughing Song - George W. Johnson 1892- Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow-Wow - Dan W. Quinn 1893- Good Morning to All (Happy Birthday) - Patty Hill 1894- I've Been Working On The Railroad - Unknown 1895- King Cotton March - John Philip Sousa 1896- When The Saints Go Marching In - Thomas Cunniffe 1897- Stars and Stripes Forever - John Philip Sousa 1898- The Rosary - Unknown/Robert Cameron Rogers? 1899- Maple Leaf Rag - Scott Joplin 1900- Strike Up The Band (Here comes the sailor) - Unknown 1901- Yale Boola! (March and two step) - Unknown 1902- The Entertainer - Scott Joplin 1903- Any Rags? - Unknown 1904- I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy - George M. Cohen 1905- I Love a Lassie - Harry Lauder 1906- Grand Old Flag - George M. Cohen 1907- Harrigan - George M. Cohen 1908- Take Me Out to the Ball Game - Jack Norworth & Albert Von Tilzer 1909- Swing Low Sweet Chariot - Fisk, Jubilee Singers 1910- America The Beautiful - Katharine Lee Bates 1911- Some of These Days - Sophie Tucker 1912- Frankie and Johnny - Unknown 1913- When Irish Eyes Are Smiling - Chauncy Olcott 1914- St. Louis Blues - Lead Belly 1915- Carry Me Back to Old Virginny - Alma Gluck 1916- I Ain't Got Nobody - Roger Graham, Dave Peyton & Spencer Williams 1917- Livery Stable Blues - The Original Dixieland Jazzband 1918- Tiger Rag - The Original Dixieland Jazzband 1919- Swanee - Al Johnson 1920- Crazy Blues - Mamie Smith 1921- My Man - Fanny Brice 1922- Sally Gooden - Eck Robertson 1923- Down Hearted Blues - Bessie Smith 1924- Rhapsody In Blue - George Gershwin 1925- St. Louis Blues - Bessie Smith 1926- Bye Bye Blackbird - Gene Austin 1927- Star Dust - Hoagy Carmichael and his pals 1928- West End Blues - Louis Armstrong 1929- Wildwood Flower - The Carter Family 1930- Mood Indigo - Duke Ellington 1931- Minnie The Moocher - Cab Calloway and his Orchestra 1932- Take My Hand - Reverend Thomas A. Dorsey 1933- Stormy Weather - Ethel Waters 1934- Tumbling Tumbleweeds - The Sons of the Pioneers 1935- Can the Circle Be Unbroken (Bye and Bye) - The Carter Family 1936- Cross Roads Blues - Robert Johnson 1937- Sing, Sing, Sing - Benny Goodman 1938- God Bless America - Kate Smith 1939- Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday 1940- In The Mood - Glenn Miller & His Orchestra 1941- Frenesi - Artie Shaw 1942- White Christmas - Bing Crosby 1943- Paper Doll - Mills Brothers 1944- Swinging on a Star - Bing Crosby 1945- Sentimental Journey - Les Brown with Doris Day 1946- The Gypsy - The Ink Spots 1947- Heartaches - Ted Weems 1948- Buttons and Bows - Dinah Shore 1949- (Ghost) Riders In the Sky - Vaughn Monroe 1950- Goodnight Irene - Gordon Jenkins & The Weavers 1951- Too Young - Nat King Cole 1952- Blue Tango - Leroy Anderson 1953- Where is Your Heart (Moulin Rouge) - Percy Faith 1954- Little Things Mean a Lot - Kitty Kallen 1955- Cerezo Rosa (Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White) - Perez Prado 1956- Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley 1957- Hound dog - Elvis Presley 1958- Nel Blu Di Blu (Volare) - Domenico Modugno 1959- The Battle of New Orleans - Johnny Horton 1960- Cathy's Clown - The Everly Brothers 1961- I Fall to Pieces - Patsy Cline 1962- Roses Are Red (My Love) - Bobby Vinton 1963- Surfin' USA - The Beach Boys 1964- I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles 1965- I Can't Get No Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones 1966- The Ballad of the Green Berets - Sgt. Barry Sadler 1967- To Sir With Love - Lulu 1968- Hey Jude - The Beatles 1969- Aquarius - Fifth Dimension 1970- Bridge Over Troubled Waters - Simon & Garfunkel 1971- Joy To The World - Three Dog Night 1972- The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack 1973- Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree - Tony Orlando & Dawn 1974- The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand 1975- Love Will Keep Us Together - The Captain and Tanille 1976- Silly Love Songs - Paul McCartney and Wings 1977- Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright) - Rod Stewart 1978- Shadow Dancing - Andy Gibb 1979- My Sharona - The Knack 1980- Call Me - Blondie 1981- Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes 1982- Physical - Olivia Newton 1983- Every Breath You Take - The Police 1984- When Doves Cry - Prince 1985- Careless Whisper - George Michael 1986- That's What Friends Are For - Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Glady Knight 1987- Walk Like An Egyptian - The Bangles 1988 - Faith - George Michael 1989- Look Away - Chicago 1990- Hold On - Wilson Philips 1991- (Everything I do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams 1992- End of the Road - Boyz II Men 1993- I Will Always Love you - Whitney Houston 1994- The Sign - Ace of Base 1995- Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio 1996- Macarena - Los Del Rio 1997- Candle In the Wind - Elton John 1998- Too Close - Next 1999- Believe - Cher 2000- Breathe - Faith Hill 2001- Lady Marmalade - Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kin, Mya & Pink 2002- A Thousand Miles - Vanessa Carlton 2003- Crazy In Love - Beyoncé Knowles feat. Jay-Z 2004- The Reason - Hoobastank 2005- We Belong Together - Mariah Carey 2006- Bad Day - Daniel Powter 2007- Irreplaceable - Beyoncé Knowles 2008- Low - Florida feat. T-Pain 2009- Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas
EDIT: Watching the unknowns on YT, think I've heard 2006 before so scratch that one.
Last edited by MarkG; 01/11/2109:41 PM.
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4551933 - 01/12/2106:28 AMRe: Celebrating the music of the late-1980s.
[Re: MarkG]
I grew up less than 3 miles from LSU and I regret not listening to more college radio at that impressionable age. Still, I'm a fan of the more obscure R.E.M. and U2 of the day.
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I'm still waiting post-virus to see Winger (with Night Ranger). Winger's guitarist gets serious accolades on The Gear Page message board, and that's good enough for me...
EDIT: They better play the 2 or 3 Winger hits (and you know they will)...then they can just jam.
Last edited by MarkG; 01/12/2104:55 PM.
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4552007 - 01/12/2104:59 PMRe: Celebrating the music of the late-1980s.
[Re: MarkG]
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,468PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
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Miami, FL USA
Originally Posted by MarkG
Still, I'm a fan of the more obscure R.E.M. and U2 of the day.
Just to give you an idea of how mainstream I was in the 80's and early 90's with my musical tastes, I had no clue who REM was until their mammoth album "Out of Time" came out in 1991 and I had no clue who U2 was until "The Joshua Tree" came out.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4552026 - 01/12/2107:44 PMRe: Celebrating the music of the late-1980s.
[Re: MarkG]
Yeah, that's pretty mainstream, PM. I'm nowhere near as obscure as David, Red2112 and most others here, though. Still, there's lots of older albums I play through, one of my all-time favorites being R.E.M.'s "Automatic for the People" (1992). It wasn't long ago that I purchased the hits off of "Out of Time" (Amazon MP3) and now I'm wondering why I didn't purchase the album.
Some of my obscure tunes I first heard on used or discarded 8-tracks, usually luck-of-the-draw yard sales. Where I went wrong musically is that I got a girlfriend too early in life (becoming immediately serious). So when I should have been discovering old Styx and Journey (I'm talking Wooden Nickle Styx and pre-Perry straight-out-of-Santana Journey), I was discovering...Bryan Adams' "Heaven", while making parking mix tapes with "The Best of Times" and "Faithfully". Lol.
At least I stumbled upon lots of older stuff like my original comprehensive Rush collection (debut - Moving Pictures [8 tapes]) and most Alan Parsons Project, but no early Genesis or Fleetwood Mac. I've been listening to old Cream/Derek/Clapton again, remembering that I had lots of that on 8-track.
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4552028 - 01/12/2107:51 PMRe: Celebrating the music of the late-1980s.
[Re: MarkG]
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,468PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,468
Miami, FL USA
Originally Posted by MarkG
but no early Genesis .
One of my greatest musical discoveries was the Peter Gabriel era Genesis when I was in my late 30's. One of my close friends had bought the entire box set of all the Genesis albums so he sent me MP3 versions of them. I started listening to them from the beginning and was pleasantly surprised with just how much I liked the music from the Peter Gabriel era.
Going back to my mainstream days, I had no clue who Genesis was until.....you guessed it..."Invisible Touch" came out and several videos from that album were shown ALL THE TIME on MTV.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4552047 - 01/12/2111:36 PMRe: Celebrating the music of the late-1980s.
[Re: MarkG]
Sounds like you hit the jackpot, PM. I really need to stop procrastinating on the early Genesis. I've always liked the song "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway", knowing the rest can be less radio-friendly weird (and that's not a bad thing, I have plenty like this in my collection).
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MTV... How many times did I not get enough sleep from staying up half the night on my future mother-in-law's living room sofa watching MTV?! I was 16 and this was my introduction to remote and cable TV. In some cases I had no idea what a band or artist even looked like until MTV! I'm thankful for today's tech that allows us to go back and reminisce.
Or to see things for the first time, like these hilarious kids (I know it's been posted before but it never gets old to me)...
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4552073 - 01/13/2105:31 AMRe: Celebrating the music of the late-1980s.
[Re: MarkG]
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4552079 - 01/13/2108:02 AMRe: Celebrating the music of the late-1980s.
[Re: MarkG]
It confirmed that my collection of Pop (I saw very little Rock) spans from about the mid-60's to mid-90's with a few earlier and later exceptions. My only real complaint is that it's a Pop listing with no MJ.