Month: May 2022

About Month: May 2022

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Star Wars Day!

Posted on by Frizzo

Early Movie Memories

May the Fourth be with you, everyone! It’s Star Wars Day. As a kid growing up, the very first movie I remember going to see was the original Star Wars in the late 1970s (yes, I can remember most of the 70s). Not expected to be much of anything at all, George Lucas’ pet project became an international cultural phenomenon.

80s Star Wars

Of course, the 1980s were then Star Wars mania really started to take off (just another reason why the 80s were great, IMHO) with The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. I collected all the toys and saw all three films multiple times each at my local cinema. Great, great stuff.

The Later Films

While I thought the prequel trilogies were all right and had some very cool things in them, they just weren’t the same as the original three films. Unless you were a fan living at the time that Star Wars began and really started ramping up, it’s difficult to explain. My head canon starts with “Episode IV” and stops with “Episode VI”, although I consider the prequels my “expanded universe”. Let’s not even talk about the “sequels”, please.

The Magic of the Original Star Wars

While this property has lost a lot of magic for me, I still watch the original films from time to time and I still really enjoy them. Yes, they seem a bit hokey now, but that’s part of their charm. The names, places, and themes are still very special to me. So, as this day unfolds, may you have a great time with family and friends making new Star Wars memories! Happy May the 4th and remember, Han shot first and, if you party too hard, beware the Revenge of the 5th!

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Song of the Day (or So) #2

Posted on by Frizzo

So, this morning I woke up with this song in my head. It’s “Wishful Thinking” by China Crisis off their Working with Fire and Steel: Possible Pop Songs Volume 2 album (1983). Dreamy and melancholy, this song didn’t have much impact in the US, although I understand it was a good size hit in the UK and elsewhere. Plus, it features an oboe, so what’s not to love? What song is on your mind today?

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Sounds of West Germany

Posted on by Frizzo

Five Essential Songs of the 80s

For all the youth who read this, there was a time when Germany was divided in to two countries: East Germany, which was part of the Eastern Bloc and West Germany, which was part of NATO. Many of the iconic German bands of the 80s were from West Berlin (the line between the countries ran through the center of the city) or other parts of West Germany. Here are five of my favorite songs by 80s German bands. Enjoy!

Alphaville “Dance With Me”

A band that became known for the international mega-hit “Forever Young”, Alphaville has a very strong early catalog of material from the 80s (and the band is still active today)! This upbeat number is from their sublime second album, Afternoons in Utopia. If you get a chance, give the whole album a listen. It’s a masterpiece! Anyway, here is the track:

Propaganda “Duel”

Claudia Brucken and company came to prominence with this catchy and quirky song about a relationship gone very wrong. Synthesizers, syncopation, and sorrow. What could possibly be better? This one is required listening for fans of 80s music.

Peter Schilling “The Different Story (World of Lust & Crime)”

Best known for his international hit “Major Tom (Coming Home)”, this lesser-known synth pop masterpiece is from the album The Different Story (World of Lust and Crime) from 1988. Great song + strange video = 80s magic!

Swimming With Sharks “Careless Love”

Sisters Annette and Inga Humpe released this glossy, dreamy piece of pop perfection in 1987 under the name Swimming with Sharks. The arrangement is amazing and the sisters’ voices are spot-on for the material. Very hard record to find these days, but very worth tracking down. There are several other good songs on the album, as well.

Nena “99 Luftballons”

No list of 80s music acts would be complete without mentioning Nena from the album Nena. Released in 1983 in both German and English versions, this song was a massive chart hit on both sides of the Atlantic and around the world. Great energy and groove for a song about the end of the world. Just a little ahead of its time?

Shameless Plug

If you like these songs and want to support the artists and this channel, consider purchasing their works via the links below (just click on the album titles). Thanks for stopping by and I’ll see you on the flip side!

Alphaville Afternoons in Utopia

Propaganda Secret Wish

Peter Schilling The Different Story (World of Lust and Crime)

Swimming with Sharks Swimming with Sharks (out of print)

Nena Nena

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Rare Yazoo Song

Posted on by Frizzo

From 1982, here is the song “Get Set” by Yazoo. It’s a fun, catchy, and danceable synth pop ditty that would be right at home on an Erasure album. This archival footage features Alison “Alf” Moyet on vocals and the amazing Vince Clark on keys. Oddly, this was never released as a single nor was it featured on their albums. An essential for anyone who is into 80s music. Enjoy and happy Monday!

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