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!
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?
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!
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!
This is the first in a series of blog posts where I will feature some of my all time favorite 80s songs. I still remember the first time I heard these tracks. Some, I fell in love with immediately. Others took a few listens to get into, but they are all personal favorites of mine. What are some of your favorite 80s songs from Australian artists? Anyway, here are some great songs to check out in no particular order:
1. Icehouse “No Promises”
This is a great song that always takes me away to a dream like state. It is wistful, longing, and hopeful and a fantastic sing along. From their Measure for Measure album (1986).
2. Pseudo Echo “Listening”
Of course, most know this Aussie New Wave band from their cover of “Funkytown” off their second album, Love an Adventure in 1985. “Listening” is an original tune and the first single (1983) for the band off their debut album Autumnal Park, which was released in (1984). The North American and European releases of Love an Adventure also feature this track in a slightly different version.
3. INXS “Don’t Change”
I have never been the biggest INXS fan, but some of their songs are real bangers. That especially holds true for “Don’t Change” from their 1982 album Shabooh Shoobah. Produced by the legendary Mark Opitz. Pure gold!
4. Eurogliders “Another Day in the Big World”
This was one of those “love at first hearing” songs for me. Effervescent and lively, with serious lyrics lurking just below the surface. This is off their album This Island, released in 1984. ALSO produced by the legendary Mark Opitz, but with a very different feel than “Don’t Change”, above. Give it a go!
5. Kids in the Kitchen “Change in Mood”
Released in 1985 from their debut album Shine, this is an infectious and brilliantly arranged track that features soaring vocals by the inimitable Scott Carne. It starts slow, but builds to a frenetic pace very quickly. Truly a standout from the album and a very fun song to sing along to. In fact, I prefer it to the big hit off the album, “Current Stand” (but it’s also a great song). Listening to this song might change your mood… I can sense it!
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!
Every day or so, I wake up in the morning with a song in my head that just won’t go away. Sometimes, it something really great. Other times, it’s just a song. Rarely, it’s some song I’m really not into at all. Just a random mental jukebox of 80s music, if you will (maybe you can relate?). Anyway, today’s song is “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles from their amazing debut album The Plastic Age. What song is in your head today? (And by the by, this was the VERY FIRST video aired on MTV, but you probably already knew that!)
Every music fanatic has to start somewhere… a record, an eight track, or (in my case) a cassette tape. I first became truly aware of my local record shop in 1983 or so. That’s the year I had my grandmother drive me there so I could purchase my first ever album on cassette. That album? Men Without Hats’ Rhythm of Youth (sometimes referred to as Folk of the 80s Part II).
The Safety Dance & Beyond
Having heard their classic synth pop / dance floor anthem “The Safety Dance” on my local FM station, I was transfixed by the sounds and the amazing newness of the sound. So, with the few dollars of allowance I had (and my grandmother’s permission), I snagged up a copy and headed home, where I played it to death. I’m pretty sure my entire family knew all the songs on that album as well as Ivan Doroschuk (the lead singer and main composer for Men Without Hats) did by the time the tape wore out. Marvelous, heady days, indeed!
My Obsession
To be certain, this initial experience sent me into a life-long quest to find all the coolest music I could (IMHO, of course). I would often frequent my local record shop and grab up whatever I heard playing that caught my interest. Sometimes, it was just an album cover that would do it. Other times, the band’s name would sell me on the music. During this time, I collected as many songs as I could, which only made me hungry for more.
Spirit of Radio
Whenever I would hear a great song on the radio, I would seek out everything I could find by the artist. Many of their lesser-known tracks and albums have become my favorites. This led me to seek out lesser-and-lesser known artists, as well, many of whom have become very popular on my personal playlists. The 1980s was a great time for music and I was like a kid in a candy store every time I would discover a new song or artist.
Fuel for the Fire
Once I obtained gainful employment as an adult, I ramped up my collection significantly, moving from cassettes to Compact Discs (CDs) and eventually to mp3s. But nothing comes close to that first cassette. I still listen to those songs to this day and they always take me back to my very happy first encounters with music. Hopefully, this blog will spark a little of that old magic in you, too.
Rhythm of Youth
The Rhythm of Youth wasn’t all Safety Dance (although that song is absolute genius). Many of the other tracks also caught my ear and have become favorites, as well. “I Like”, “Living in China”, “I Got the Message”, and “Ideas for Walls” are great, fun, upbeat songs. I also enjoyed the opening short song “Ban the Game” and “The Great Ones Remember”. If you like the album, which is your favorite deeper cut from the LP? I’d love to know! So that brings us to why we’re here….
Are Friends ‘Electric’?
Welcome, friends, to Frizzo’s Electric Café! It’s my tribute to the 1980s and its influence in music, movies, and pop culture. From old familiar Top 100 songs, to forgotten favorites, one hit wonders, and outright obscurities, you will find a little bit of everything here. Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/AjPau5QYtYs
Shameless Plug!
Treat yourself to some great music and support the site by checking out Men Without Hats’ Rhythm of Youthhere. Full disclaimer: it’s an affiliate link to Amazon.com and there are some others sprinkled throughout the post – I’ve got to keep my collection going somehow! Anyway, it costs you nothing extra and it helps support the site. Thanks for stopping by (and double thanks if you decided to support me!) and we’ll catch you on the flip side!
If this is your first time to Frizzo’s Electric Café, then welcome! We hope you will like what you see and become a frequent visitor here. If you are returning, welcome back! It’s always good to see you!
This is a repository for all things retro from the 1980s to the 1990s and maybe just a little bit beyond. This is because what is deemed “retro” keeps changing with the passage of time. But I digress…
The primary focus here is music: New Wave, Synth Pop, New Romantic, Punk, Post-Punk, Metal, early Rap and Hip Hop, and more modern throwback genres like Chillwave and Synthwave. Hopefully, you will find some tunes you like, rediscover a forgotten favorite, unearth an obscure gem, or just chill and listen to the amazing sounds of years gone by.
At some point in the very near future, an effort will be made to bring in some movies and pop culture treasures from the 1980s and beyond, as well, so stay tuned for that. That should provide a more “complete” and “immersive” experience. Stay tuned.
Once you’ve seen what’s on the menu here, just let us know if we can get you anything!
Just a guy lost in the 80s. Care to come along for a cruise down memory lane?
Alphaville 
