Perhaps more than ever before, were the 1980s, a time when popular music was used to a more or less to make political statements. In response to Thatcherism in Britain and to a lesser extent Reaganism in the U.S., the production of events such as Live Aid in 1985, were the 80’s over a period of activism. This does not mean that the songs of love, not good in the pop charts of the day. Far from it – there are a number of fantastic love songs of the 80 electives. Here is a mini-review of five of my favorites.
A singer of the time with the Northern Ireland punk stars The Undertones, Fergal Sharkey scored his first solo exhibition met with a good heart. It was the number one singles in the UK for two weeks of 16 November 1985. Famously Maria McKee written – the theme of the 1988 Deacon Blue Real Gone Kid hit, it took a good heart about her relationship with Benmont Tench, keyboardist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Sharkey’s solo hit, you little thief, gives a version of events tench! As a big fan of The Undertones, I just went crazy for this song – it is quite in the sense that later would Undertones singles anyway, so it is to say, the natural successor, Julie Ocean, or Wednesday of the week.
The Style Council Paul Weller was the next major project after The Jam. This song, you’re the best, created in 1984 in the United Kingdom as a double A-side with the groove Big Boss and rose to the level of No. 5 Weller was perhaps the original angry young man of 80’s pop music, so it was a bit of a surprise – a beautiful love song. This is a song that his love, that Weller was tried told, but nothing could move her – “I would shoot to win and commit the sin … I am not with the wealth that will make you happy.
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye was third in the British Soft Cell hit single at number three in 1982. He followed the stunning 1981 hit Tainted Love, Bed Sitter a series of four efforts, including in 1981. Taken from the album Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, say hello, Wave Goodbye is an allusion to the Beatles’ Hello Goodbye. The singer is to remain faithful to their history of failed relationships – because of the inability of his girlfriend to him: “You were a sleep around, found objects …’. It is a perfect piece of delicious British synth pop and I think a better Tainted Love-round effort.
Flying Pickets an a capella version of “Only You” is a cover version of the song that Vince Clarke had written while still with Depeche Mode, but was rejected. Regardless of how Alison Moyet Yazoo as adopted, Clarke the song number two in 1982. Version of the picket line “went even further, making it the top spot for Christmas in 1983, spending five weeks at the top and win his place in history books as the first time a capella number one in the United Kingdom. It is only one manifestation of the sublime art of songwriting. Even if it’s more of a lament for a love song, it’s beautiful nonetheless.
Madness has to be the band from the 80s. Others may have equally valid claims to the title, but for me-and-My-Bruvvers these cats were the case! From 1979 to Prince (Waiting For) The Ghost Train Madness achieved in 1986 a total of 23 Top 40 hits. Of these my favorite is, was and always will be their cover of the song by Labi Siffre It must be Love. From the moment I heard it was me, I have to write the text and send it to the girl on the street – they never received the message, or maybe c I was, I never got the message? “Published in 1981, the song got to number four in Britain and even a number 33 ranking in the American Hot 100 – one of only three singles Madness. But then I was thinking only ours, ours!
