Thompson Twins - King for a day

Year: 1985



I guess that few music connoisseurs hold Thomson Twins in high regards nowadays, but I disagree with them. The band meant a lot to me and I thought that every single band member had a spectacular haircut (the 80's was a hair-centric decade, no doubt about that).
I hope you enjoy this video as much as I do.

Talking Heads - Burning down the house

Year: 1983



Time for something completely different.
At least it was form me when I first heard it in -83. Talking Heads made som cool stuff before and after Burning down the house, but this is the only really essential song for me.

"...three-hun-dred-six-ty-five-de-grees...burning down the house!"

The Primitives - Crash

Year: 1988



Not really the "early" 80's in a strict definition, but well within the boundaries of this glossy decade! The joyful Crash by The Primitives has been covered a few times, but as always I prefer the real McCoy. British pop at its best.

Siouxsie and the Banshees - Cities in dust

Year: 1986



During the 80's I was never especially into the alternative scene, into which I categorize Siouxsie and the Banshees (any objections can be left here). This song however was sticky enough for me to remember. Don't have any specific memories related to it though. 'Nuf said! Watch and listen!

Fad Gadget - Collapsing New People

Year: 1984



I don't expect many of you to remember Collapsing New People by Fad Gadget, but I really could relate to the synthetic aggressive feeling of it. As a matter of fact I still can. And being in a shitty mood today I'll listen to it with the volume turned up loud.

Hall & Oates - I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)

Year: 1981





I was very confused about the guys of Hall & Oates. Who is Hall and who is Oates? It's similar to the Simon & Garfunkel problem. Don't know about them either. The song is in any case worth remembering and also the fact that I for many years thought the band was called "Holy Notes"... Needless to say, I don't own any of their records. Enjoy!

Duran Duran - Girls On Film

Year: 1981

I heard a lot about this video by Duran Duran after it was released. People said that it was, if not pornographic, so at least adult in nature. Well, I knew about pornography (male teenagers collects all porn they can get their hands on and I was no different) and this was nothing of the kind. Much later I learned there were two versions of the video. This one is the more adult which I peronally think is pretty harmless. Nonetheless, the song is classic!

Billy Idol - Flesh for Fantasy

Year: 1983



We all thought that Billy Idol looked cool and dangerous at the time. He had his patented raised rebel lip which nobody copied. The reason might have been that it looked a little silly, don't you think? The guitar intro must have been sampled by someone, for sure!

OMD - Enola Gay

Year: 1980



I can't really decide what it is most heart breaking about this song. Is it the girl that dumped me at the time Orchestral Manouvers in the Dark (OMD) released the song? Is it the sad singing style of Humpreys and McCluskey? Or is it the grim background related to the name "Enola Gay" (the name of the bomber that dropped the first nuclear bomb over Hiroshima)?
I don't know. But what I do know is that I love this song.

Roxy Music - Avalon

Year: 1982




I love the pulsating soprano at the end of Roxy Music's mega hit Avalon. The video features the ever elegant Bryan Ferry as seducer as well as falconeer. I wish I was that talented too! But I guess I have to settle for seducer. The ravishing woman in the video...I wonder who she is.

(edit: According to web sources she is Sophie Ward, British actress)

Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)

Year: 1985



Raise your hand if you have never been tempted to dance when you hear this song... cross your heart and hope to die? No, I didn't think you would. It is almost as irresistable now as it was when it appeared in 1985. Apart from this song Dead or Alive did't make much of an impression on me...well, the hysterical hairdos is kind of impressive. Or scary. And what's with the eye patch on that guy? Because it is a guy, right?

Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy

Year: 1982



There are several versions of this song (the original was made in 1965) but for me this one by Bow Wow Wow is my "original". The act was a successful breed between pop and punk and I just loved everything about it. Needless to say I was in love with the singer, Annabella, which was the case with just about every girl/woman between 14 and 25 I laid my eyes on when I was 16 myself. What can I say...hormones..

Japan - Visions of China

Year: 1981



I tried several times to sing along with David Sylvian whenever I heard Japan's hit Visions of China. It didn't sound that great I am afraid. No matter how much I practiced, I never became Sylvian-like.