A Christmas Story (Re-post)

This is a re-post of a post originally appearing on December 17, 2011.

One of my recently acquired Christmas obsessions is the fun and enjoyable 1983 movie A Christmas Story. Based upon writer Jean Shepherd's semi-fictionalized account of a young boy, Ralphie, experiencing the Christmas holidays in 1940s Indiana with his parents, his younger brother, and his neighborhood friends. I love movies that convey a time period with great detail, and A Christmas Story clearly fits into this category. 

This movie contains one of the funniest scenes ever, where one of the young protagonist's friends gets his tongue stuck to metal pole in the cold of winter. The main story line, however, also full of funny moments, concerns Ralphie's ongoing quest to obtain a BB gun for Christmas, despite the objections ("you'll shoot your eye out, kid") of various adult figures, including his mother, his teacher, and a store Santa Claus.   

But I think the main reason I find this movie so enjoyable is that its a rather realistic, yet fun, holiday movie that doesn't take itself too seriously. It involves a rather average family doing their best to enjoy the holidays amidst
dealing with everyday life. Ultimately, this movie is about having a Merry Christmas with what you have, and with those you have around you.

An '80s Valentine: "Sea of Love"

The Honeydrippers were a band put together by former Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant, who scored a major hit in 1984 with their version of '50s classic "Sea of Love." A suitable retro-'80s valentine.

The Story Behind Suzanne Vega's "Luka"

Here's the story behind one of the 80's most relevant songs, "Luka" by folksinger Suzanne Vega. Some very poignant comments.


Here's the song, Suzanne Vega's "Luka." Vega, along artists like Tracy Chapman, the Washington Squares, Michelle Shocked, and The Indigo Girls, formed the late '80s folk music revival.

Hall & Oates' "Jingle Bell Rock"

A very '80s Happy Holidays to all.

'80s Holiday Cheer

Here's some '80s holiday music memories.


Band Aid, "Do They Know Its Christmas":A multi-musician effort to raise funds for African famine relief made up of some of the most well-known '80s musical acts.
(Note: I initially mistakenly placed above a video for a subsequent version of "Do They Know Its Christmas" which was not the original '80s version.  I have corrected this, and now the original 1984 version of this song is posted above.)

The Pointer Sisters, "Santa Claus is Coming To Town"

Wham, "Last Christmas":One of the most "stylistically 80's" Christmas songs

Eurythmics' "Winter Wonderland"

Billy Squire, "Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You"

John Cougar Mellencamp, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"

U2: "Happy Xmas" (And Some Thoughts)

Here's U2 in 1988 performing John Lennon's 1971 classic "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)."  Its indeed the holiday season again, and a time for joy as well as introspection. I love looking back nostalgically at the past, especially a hopeful moments. As typically nostalgic as this may sound, it does seem to me that things were more genuinely joyful and hopeful in times past. Of course, there was obviously still pain and sadness then too (after all, there were wars, and crises, and problems, and crime back then too). But it honestly seems to me as if those moments when joy and hope were present seemed more real and full back then. There was a greater space for things like genuine happiness, without irony.  Today, there seems to be a harshness in the air, and happiness just a little more circumscribed.


Here's a song I enjoyed listening to back in the '80s, Pat Benatar's "We Belong." Its not  a Christmas song, but one that maybe invokes a spirit that is applicable year round, including the holiday season. I guess I'm taking this time to ask that we think about whats going on, and what we can do. Maybe we can reach out to one another.  Maybe we can reach into our faiths and beliefs.  Maybe we can listen to one another better. Maybe we can all give thought to how to make the world less bitter, and more hopeful.

To all my readers:

Merry Christmas!!!

Happy Hannukkah!!!

Happy Holidays!!!

The Monkees: "Unwrap You At Christmas"

Here's a new Christmas song from '60s pop group/TV stars the Monkees.  This song makes me smile for a number of reasons. First, it good to see that the Monkees are still at it all these years (albeit, sadly without Davy Jones, who passed on a few years ago). Second, its a Christmas song, which is always good. And, lastly its so upbeat and cheerful.  

Grateful Dead : "Touch Of Grey" (1987)

The Grateful Dead were a legendary band originating in the Haight-Asbury section of San Francisco during the Summer of Love in 1967. The band developed a devoted cult following throughout the years, as they carried on the hippie ideals of the '60s into the '70s, '80s, and '90s. In 1987, the broke into the mainstream with their album, In The Dark.  From that album, their song "Touch of Grey."

Psychedelic Furs

The Psychedelic Furs had their roots in the post-punk British music scene in 1977.  They evolved into a quintessentially arty '80s band, with a style that consisted of ethereal new wave with dark moody tones and occasional hard rock touches. They are perhaps most popularly known as the band which produced the song which later became the theme to John Hughes' Pretty In Pink, and for their top 40 "Heartbreak Beat." Above, one of their more well known songs, "Heaven."

As one who has attended many Furs concerts over the years, I can attest to the dreamy, moody atmosphere that the band is able to create in concert. Their ability to conjure up this ethereal style has remained throughout the years. Above, their live performance of "Sleep Comes Down."

Depeche Mode :"Just Can't Get Enough"

Depeche Mode is a classic '80s synth group that has maintained their very '80s new wave style throughout the years, and has developed a strong cult following.  Here is their 1981 song "Just Can't Get Enough."

Aretha Franklin (1942-2018)

Aretha Franklin, Queen of Soul, a classic artist still going strong in the '80s.  Here, her classic 1985 hit, "Freeway of Love." 

John Mellencamp - "Hand To Hold On To"

John "Cougar" Mellencamp recently won the Woody Guthrie Prize for his work highlighting the common man, including in such songs as "Pink Houses" and through his work organizing Farm Aid. I was a big fan of Mellencamp growing up, and I've continued to have a high regard for his work over the years. His work spoke to me, such as in this song: "A Hand To Hold On To."

Phil Collins: "In The Air Tonight"

An '80s classic by Phil Collins: the spooky, stirring "In the Air Tonight"

Billy Ocean - "Loverboy"

Here's a fantastic example from the era of music videos, Billy Ocean's very sci-fi video for "Loverboy." The '80s were the MTV era (when MTV really was "Music Television"), but it was also the era of E.T. and Steven Spielberg and many sci-fi/fantasy movies. This video clearly draws inspiration from them. Good fun '80s stuff!

Simple Minds - "Don't You (Forget About Me)"

Here's an absolute '80s classic: Simple Minds' "Dont You (Forget About Me)," which was featured in the seminal 1985 John Hughes movie The Breakfast Club.  The song always seemed to me to have a somewhat anthemic quality to it, and a sentiment symbolic of '80s teens who took many of those teen movies to heart. I was one of them.  The video also reminds you of how fresh, lively and even cutting edge the art of music video was at the time.

Holiday Songroll 2017

Its become almost a tradition on this blog that every December, I do a post with a bunch of Christmas songs. Its that time of year again, and what a better song to start with than the truly beautiful '80s Christmas song from the Pretenders, "2000 Miles."

Here's one from the late '70s from former Beatle Paul McCartney, and his band Wings, who are having a "Wonderful Christmas Time."

Heres another incredible voice from the '80s, that of Annie Lennox.  Here, she's with her early '80s synth duo Eurythmics, with their rendition of "Winter Wonderland."

U2 rocks Christmas in a very '80s style, with "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"

Another '80s rocker, John Mellencamp, does his version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."

And, lastly on this post, the truly memorable Christmas song with a message, Band Aid's "Do They Know Its Christmas," from 1984.

To all my readers:

Merry Christmas
Happy Hannukah
Happy Holidays
Feliz Navidad

A Thanksgiving Message: "Let It Be"

In 1987, a group of British and American musicians created a single to collect proceeds for charities set up in the aftermath of the Zeebrugge Disaster, the sinking of a British ferry loaded with people in which many died. 

The group sang the classic 1970 Beatles song, "Let It Be." The musicians gathered included Paul McCartney, Boy George, Mark Knopfler (of Dire Straits), George Michael, Kim Wilde, Nik Kershaw, Edwin Starr, Kate Bush, Gary Moore, Bananarama, Bonnie Tyler, The Alarm, and many others.

I post this song on for this Thanksgiving 2017, and dedicate it to the healing of our society and the people in it. In the United States, where I live, and also perhaps throughout the world, we are undergoing a season of discord and conflict. We seem to have a hard time, presently, listening to one another and seeing each other beyond the sharp political and social divisions which now exist. Here's to healing, and, as the holiday season begins, to faith in a better and brighter future.

Let It Be.

Animotion - Obsession

Very '80s song and video. The very fun throwaway hit from Animotion, "Obsession." I'm not exactly sure of everything going on in this video. 

Devo "That's Good"

Here's another Devo song, "That's Good" from their synth-heavy 1982 album Oh No, Its Devo!  This video caused a bit of controversy at MTV. Check it out and see if you can guess why.  "Oh no" indeed!!

Devo "Whip It"

On the very cusp on the '80s, the seminal new wave band Devo released this groundbreaking and zany song and video. This was prelude of much more colorful '80s culture to come, and a sign that individualistic new wave culture was penetrating into the mainstream. "Whip It" became a hit for Devo in 1980.