Remember When, vol. 5

Continuing our memory exercise via song therapy (read: '80s playlist on iPod shuffle mode). Rules are simple: listen to a random song, remember where/when i first heard it, and/or thoughts associated with the song. Or lack thereof. Especially if memory fails to serve.

Note: No, I only have blueberries with my vanilla ice cream and I don't have a Blackberry to make notes while listening. This makes the memory exercise more challenging since I'd try to remember what i tried to remember. *lol*

Sexy Eyes (1978)
Dr Hook
What da - ! Another 70s has-been strays into the '80s list. If VST were Yanks, they'd be doing this.

Axel F (1985)
Harold Faltermeyer
Anyone who had the single or cassette tape of the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack back in '85 probably felt a little bit cooler than his peers, especially when he plays this track to everybody who hasn't heard of it yet. My next brush with Faltermeyer was when he produced a personal favorite of mine, Pet Shop Boys' Behavior.

Never Gonna Give You Up (1987)
Rick Astley
Can you imagine Prick, i mean, Rick Astley becoming the next Tom Jones, doing lounge circuit in Vegas? He could have been. Instead he's probably serving tea somewhere in England, and reluctantly breaks into this song when the customers go "Aren't you ..."

Dangerous (1989)
Roxette
The band that everyone loved to hate, but they laughed all the way to the bank. And come to think of it, they paved the way for other Scandinavian acts (Ace of Base, Aqua) who also took your hard-earned money in the next decade. Sucka. Buwahahhahahahaha! Dangerous, indeed.

How Will I Know? (1986)
Whitney Houston
Ms Houston was all the rage in the mid-80s, and was also notoriously spoofed as 'Pwitni Tyson'. See what money and fame can do to you. Instead of being revered in the same breath as her godmother Aretha, all that's left of her now is



and of course, this priceless clip:
http://www.thatvideosite.com/view/1449.html

Just To See Her (1987)
Smokey Robinson
Never knew much of Smokey till 1987. But I knew of Smokey Manaloto. That dickhead. Anyway, this song represented an upturn in his life after cocaine addiction and a divorce. Happens to the best of 'em soul singers.

Overjoyed (1985)
Stevie Wonder
One of my favorite Stevie songs. I used to turn up the volume when I catch it on the radio. Now who's going to play Stevie in his biopic? Jamie Foxx again? Martin Lawrence? Tyrese? Randy Santiago? My money's on Terrence Howard.

St Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) (1985)
David Foster
Burat ... i mean, BratPackers, Reunite! What is a St Elmo's Fire, and why do I have to watch it? Ok, maybe one of these days (click on Netflix, grif ... just click on Netflix). Seriously, does anyone use this as a wake-upper, to get you going and face a brand new day? That's sooo ... 80s. nyhahahaha.

I.G.Y. (1982)
Donald Fagen
I've always wondered what those initials meant. Thanks to the 'Net, I found out that it stood for International Geophysical Year, a period of great scientific advancement and discoveries between 1957 to 1958. But all that optimism got blown away by the Cuban Missile Crisis, the JFK Assassination, Vietnam, the Cold War and the Arms Race, Iranian Hostage Crisis, Challenger Explosion, Palestine vs Israel, Enron, Tsunamis, Volcanic Eruptions, Earthquakes, 9/11, Ashley Simpson ... should I go on, Mr. Fagen?

(I've Had) The Time of My Life (1987)
Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
One of the hits in that sanamagan soundtrack for uncool folks. Any film with Patrick Swayze is either bad or the bomb. There's no middle ground. But its a cool song. Anybody got a problem with that? Huh? Huh?

Note: This song won an Oscar. O ano kah?!

Do They Know Its Christmas (1985)
Band Aid
And this song is weeks late *lol*. I heard they put out a remake. There's also one thing that kept bothering me with this - when Bono sings "thank God its them and not you." Isn't that like reversing the goodwill of the song?

When The Going Gets Tough (1985)
Billy Ocean
With a title like that, you'd think its something you can use as a military recruitment jingle, a soundtrack to a macho/tough guy movie, or at least one of those wrasslin' theme songs. But nooooo. It's just ladies' man Billy Ocean. Darn it.

Cars (1979)
Gary Numan
Actually came out just before the 80s hit, but is clearly more identified with the era. I used to wonder if he was umm, eclectic just like Boy George or Michael Jacko Wacko. Anyway, he's probably still singing this signature tune these days - everyone's attention except the hardcore fans would wander after he's done with that. That being said, he'll make another neat bundle of dough in the latest Pixar movie (duh).



Wikipedia funfact: Gary Numan is 13 days older than Gary Oldman. nyahahaha.

Rumors (1986)
Timex Social Club
The song that spawned the legendary disco. or was that just a ... rumor? hehehe. Juuust slightly more than a one-hit wonder (I guess you forgot Mixed-Up World) than the band which replaced them (Club Nouveau, "Lean On Me").

Wait, I forgot Club Nouveau's "Jealousy". Damn. Let's just put all of them in one album and call it Timex Social Club Nouveau: The Hits.

I'm So Excited (1983)
Pointer Sisters
Grade school program dance number. bwahahaha.

Slave to the Rhythm (1985)
Grace Jones
Barely remember this. But I remember Jones for "A View To A Kill" (guess she rode her popularity to be a Bond girl) and "7 Day Weekend" (from one of my favorite soundtracks, Boomerang)

We Close Our Eyes (1985)
Go West
A dancefloor staple, and also nonsensical. Who cares? We just grooved back then.

The Other Woman (1982)
Ray Parker Jr
The theme song for those who want some on the side. Also doesn't he look familiar? Have you ever seen Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) and Parker together? No? Well, there you go.

We Dont Have To Take Our Clothes Off (1986)
Jermaine Stewart
Fresh off getting booted out by Michael and his brothers for being a potential superstar threat, Jermaine went on to - wait a sec. Its Jermaine Stewart, not Jermaine Jackson. Dammit, these fools look alike. Anyway, i liked the sophistication of this song, when everyone else wanted to party and get the booty. A sly safe sex message, and when i say safe sex, i mean no sex. Not like that randy Ray Parker Jr.

And then comes the irony lesson: he dies in 1997 of liver cancer caused by AIDS (from casual sex?). Fucker.

Will You Still Love Me (1986)
Chicago
Senti regulars Cetera and Chicago never fail to well, evoke senti. And that's all I can say, because i can't go on, if I'm on my own.

Photograph (1983)
Def Leppard
Though I was aware of the Leps before, I actually didn't appreciate them till the late 90s, being stuck in China with a handful of cassette tapes from the local friendly pirate. Yes, Virginia, i said cassette tape. I had Vault, their greatest hits album. This song played a lot while i raced cars in Need For Speed. Playing decadent Western music in the last bastion of Maoist communism. Imagine that.

Rock of Ages (1983)
Def Leppard
It makes no sense but i yowl it just the same

rock on, rock on
you drive me crazi-er
no serenade
no fire brigade
just pyromani-aaaah!

Hooo-haaa! The random probability factor kicks in. Another Lep classic. This should be the soundtrack for the Justice League epic of the same name. The one where they go up against Lex Luthor's Injustice Gang but get sent to the future and battling a world ruled by Darkseid. And they return to their own time with minutes to spare to make everything right again. And everyone dies. At least in that future reality. And who kills Darkseid? The Atom. Yeah baby!!! Now, where was I? Oh, yes, Rock of Ages. Yeah, that should be the soundtrack for that Justice League epic written by Grant Morrison ...

Danger Zone (1986)
Kenny Loggins
Mr. Beth Loggins sure can rally the troops eh? In 1986, two skyjock movies came out. One was Iron Eagle with Jason Gedrick and that badass Lou Gossett, Jr. The other was Top Gun with some punk ass named Thomas Mapother IV. Guess who's living it up and who's drinking in some seedy bar uptown? I think the soundtrack was the edge.

-
and i bid you adieu before i start laughing in my seat.