When I was asked by Kettle to pick five 5 songs that represent the era of the ‘80s I jumped at the chance to do it. I always tell my parents I wa
When I was asked by Kettle to pick five 5 songs that represent the era of the ‘80s I jumped at the chance to do it. I always tell my parents I was born in the wrong era as I seem to know more songs that were created in the ‘80s than they do.
As you can imagine I had a super time going through the old charts reminiscing over songs of the ‘80s.
It took me a long time to pick only five, I had to restrain myself.
So here is what I came up with:
1) The Bangles: Eternal Flame
I much prefer the original in comparison to Atomic Kitten’s version. Recorded in 1989, it reached number one in the UK in February. It spent four weeks there; it was the UK’s third best-selling song that year. Eternal Flame is one of those ballads that you can grab a hair brush and sing along too without looking stupid. I call them the female version of The Beatles, something that Atomic Kitten could never live up too.
2) Guns N Roses: Sweet Child O Mine
Okay admit it who has played this full belt in the car with their family (I make reference to the Step Brothers film) and opened all the windows so that everyone can hear? No, well maybe not, but I have definitely got the hair brush and air guitar and rocked it out in front of the mirror in my room thinking I look like a member of Guns N Roses. It is one of those songs that as soon as it starts you know exactly what it is, it takes you straight back to the rocking era of the ‘80s.
3) A HA: Take On Me
This synthy pop track won six awards and received two nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1986. The track, which was released in 1985, is one of those tracks that is accompanied by an iconic video that everyone remembers (well everyone born in the 80’s). As for me, this is the first time I have seen the video. It is a pencil sketch animation and according to my nerdy computer friends this is called rotoscoping. It was such a loveable song that Pitbull and Christina Aguilera stole of some the song to use in their track Feel This Moment and surprisingly took to number five in the charts.
4) Culture Club: Karma Chameleon
I love this song so much, I am not going to lie I know all the lyrics. It’s a catchy tune that makes you smile when you are having a bad day, so upbeat and colourful (like the era of the ‘80s) you can’t help yourself but dance to it. Just a simple dad dance, the ‘step touch, step touch and click’ move and you are good to go. Though I have heard a recent, more modern version of this song created by Matthew Floyd Jones aka Mannish from Cabaret Roulette: Science (a Must See Show that I reviewed). I rather do like that version also, I think even Culture Club would be proud.
5) Madonna: Like A Virgin
Madonna. Madonna, Madonna, Madonna now she is woman that makes a little go a very long way. I have learnt from Mannish and Frisky that she went and still is going through so many phases, she is like the moon.
With phases like the bouncy disco teen, the pointy breasts, first lady of Argentina and of course Virgin. Though I have no idea what phase that was, it was a great ‘80s pop song that in my eyes defined Madonna in that era of music, and she was so inspirational to women everywhere.
I mean just look at Lady Gaga. See a resemblance?
What’s your favourite ’80s track? Let us know in the comments section below!
Image: Andrew Hurley
