A Flock of Seagulls: "I Ran"

  

Music Video at its most '80s!!  This song was on the radio a lot in 1983, at least in the United States. The hairstyle is famous! And the video: classic '80s at its campy weird best (and yes thats a compliment).  So very new wave. (Also a compliment. . . this was my youth!!) Is that all aluminum foil? Who knew aluminum foil was such a medium for art!    

Erin Moran (1960-2017)

Actress Erin Moran, most well known for playing Joanie Cunningham in the television sitcom Happy Days, and its spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi, has passed away.  

Moran also made appearances in many other shows. She will be fondly remembered by those who grew up in the '70s and '80s.  We'll miss you Joanie. 

J. Geils (1946-2017)

John Warren "J" Geils Jr., aka "J. Geils," the leader of the band of the same name, has passed on. He and his band will be remembered for their fun-loving rock from the '70s and '80s.  Above, check out their signature style on 1982's "Freeze Frame."  

Wall of Voodoo: "Mexican Radio"

I've gotten the urge to delve into some classic '80s music videos, and the music on those videos. After all, it was a cutting edge art form back then, and unleashed loads of quirky fun.

Here's Wall of Voodoo with "Mexican Radio"

Oddball, fun song. Love the lyric: "I wish I was in Tijuana, eating barbequed iguana."

Friday Night Videos

I remember well the opening sequence from Friday Night Videos, a music video program broadcast on NBC round about midnight on Fridays.  The show was often a substitute for MTV, giving access to the then cutting edge medium of music videos to homes without cable. For the teen I was at the time, the flashy graphics were the epitome of '80s cool.

My Freshman College Year (1988-89)

     I've been reminiscing a lot about my first year in college, and everything about it: how I was back then, what was going on around me, and what was happening in the world. 

     I started college in fall of 1988 at a university which was small compared to other universities, but larger than an average community college. It was a state university, but not one of the larger and more well known in the system. But it was close to home, and a convenient place to start college before going off to bigger schools farther from home.  It was a commuter school, with most students living off campus, so I spent a lot of time in my car driving to class and getting around. It gave me plenty of opportunity to listen to the radio.

     This beautiful song from The Church was often on the radio that year, "Under The Milky Way." (1988) I loved listening to this. (Acknowledgment for video to Rogerio Viera.)

     I was a somewhat of a loner at that time, as I still am to some degree. I made friends, and spent time with, a few individual friends who were like myself. I remember one thing we had in common was our love of music, and discussion of various topics. I spent a lot of my free time at the movies that year, including this big hit:  Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), a movie that created a new interest in animation. (Acknowledgment for video to Tue Nguyen.)

     U2's film, Rattle and Hum (1988), was out that year, and I remember seeing the film at the theater. This song from that movie was another radio favorite.  (Acknowledgment for video to MofoU2Slovakia.)

     Here's another song I heard a lot on the radio at that time: Love and Rockets' "So Alive." (1989)(Acknowledgment for video to Albert Alls)

The late '80s was a time of great nostalgia for yet another era: the Sixities. 
One example of this was the movie 1969, which came out in 1989.  It gave a fictional account about young people in that year, experiencing the idealism of that time, and facing the reality of the Vietnam War. In the late '80s, many looked back with fascination at that time.  (Acknowledgment for video to PennyKeating10.)

     1989 was the year of the Tiananmen Square protests in China, and the subsequent crackdown by the government against the protesters who were seeking freedom.  I remember watching the TV news reports of he dramatic events.

     Later that year, Communism fell in Eastern Europe, leading to the end of the Cold War.  It all seems so distant today, but its a historical moment that should never be forgotten. (Acknowledgement for video to the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.)

     I remember seeing this movie that year, a movie about a college debate team debating serious issues that were in the news back then. It featured two of the decades biggest young stars, and, although the plot was so-so, it kind of reminded me of my own situation of being an hopeful young college freshman. It was called Listen to Me (1989).  (Acknowledgement for video to osdatabase.)

Two '80s Movie Posters

Chopping Mall (1986), "Where shopping costs you an arm and a leg." 

Loose Screws (1985), "More fun than you can shake your stick at!"

Okay, they're both pretty tasteless, but ya gotta admit they're clever!