The Dream Academy is a unique '80s group whose work has included elements of psychedelia, melodic pop, classical music, and ethereal chanting. The combined effect is quite magical.
The group's most well-known song was the extremely popular 1985 hit "Life In A Northern Town." The song was intended in part as a tribute to '70s musician Nick Drake, and contained melancholy references to '60s memories, mentioning specifically JFK and the Beatles. Its quite a haunting, sentimental record. The song and the album from which it came were co-produced by David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, with whom the band often collaborated.
In 1986, the band also did a dreamy version of the Smiths' "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want." This was the song that played in the background during the museum scenes in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Here's one more from Dream Academy: the follow up single to "Northern Town," called "The Love Parade." (Acknowledgement and thanks to The Dream Academy for the videos.)
I'm feeling like being rebellious and getting into trouble. The problem is that I'm in my 40s, so maybe being bad isn't such a good idea. So, how about the next best thing: listening to some '80s rebellious heavy metal and watching some videos about misbehaving.
First, lets rebel against parental authority at home. The best song for that is Twisted Sister's 1984 classic metal anthem, "We're Not Gonna Take It." (Acknowledgement and thanks to RHINO.)
Now, lets rebel at school. The song for that has got to be Motley Crue's "Smokin in the Boy's Room" from 1985. (Acknowledgement and thanks to Louder Noise.)
I wish all of my readers in the United States a great Independence Day. In honor of July 4, I am re-posting a post which originally appeared May 21, 2016. Its a post commemorating an event which brought Americans together, back when doing so seemed much more common than it does today. Hands Across America brought together Americans of very different politics, lifestyles, and viewpoints to call attention to the needs of the homeless. The event consisted of creating a human chain across the United States made up of people from all walks of life. I post this today in commemoration of my country, the United States of America, and also to remind us that we can come together again as we once did in the past.
Hands Across America (May 25, 1986)
On May 25, 1986, a truly unique event occurred which I think has some lessons for us today. In an effort to draw attention to the plight of the homeless, over 6 million people joined hands in a chain that crossed the United States from coast to coast. The effort was called Hands Across America.
The event drew support from across the political spectrum, and included participation from many political, artistic and religious figures. These included Yoko Ono, Oprah Winfrey, Robin Williams, Michael J. Fox, Michael Jackson, Dionne Warwick, Liza Minelli, Kenny Rogers, John Cardinal O'Connor, and the Reverend Robert Schuller, all of whom joined the human chain at some point along its lengthy route.
In Washington, D.C., the event included President Ronald Reagan at the White House, and House Speaker Tip O'Neill at the U.S. Capitol.
I think this wonderful event, which went on to raise $34 million for homeless charities, is an example for today. Now that there is such division and mistrust in the U.S., we need a reminder that it doesn't always have to be like this. As we approach the aniversary of Hands Across America, we could do well to look back and see that we came come together with hopefullness and idealism to do good, and to see the best in one another.
hands across america hands across the land i love united we fall united we stand hands across america mother and father daughter and son learn to live as one i can not stop thinking again and again how the heart of a stranger beats the same as a friend learn to love each other see these people over there? they are my brother and sister when they laugh i laugh when they cry i cry when they need i’ll be there by their side we are the river of hope that runs through the valley of fear and there is a lady whose smile shines upon us saying all is welcome here. learn to love each other see the man over there? he’s my brother when he laughs i laugh when he cries i cry when he needs me i’ll be right there, right by his side the kiss never felt so sincere full of countless dreams this earth, it never smelt so sweet cradles a song in it’s great heartbeat learn to love each other see the man over there? he’s my brother when he laughs i laugh when he cries i cry when he needs me
Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science from Mad Hatter on Vimeo. Here's one of the more creative videos from MTV's golden age, Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me With Science." The quirky song was often on the radio during 1982-83, and the video is very memorable for its mad scientist storyline. One of the interesting aspects of the music video was its inclusion of Dr. Magnus Pyke, a real life, well known but eccentric scientist. As described in the Wikipedia article on the song:
In the music video, Dolby commits himself to a Home for Deranged Scientists. Various mad scientist types operate fanciful inventions on the grounds of the home and act insane with normal scientific items. Throughout the course of the video Magnus Pyke(as the Home Doctor) tries to diagnose what he is suffering from, all the while being seduced by Miss Sakamoto, a secretary in the home.
In Mad World: An Oral History of New Wave Artists and the Songs that Defined Them (See here), Dolby describes the experience of working with Pyke on the video:
"I asked him to say, 'She blinded me with science!' But he did it like a question, not a statement: 'She blinded me with science?' I was like, 'It's really more of a statement, Dr. Pyke," and he was like, "Yes, but it would be a bit surprising if a girl blinded me with science." . . . He didn't exactly get in the spirit of it. The last time I saw him alive, he'd just come back from a lecture tour of the U.S., and I asked him how it went. He said, 'Badly Dolby.' I asked why, and he said, 'Every time I walked down the street, someone would come up behind me and shout, 'SCIENCE!' It frightened me out of my skin. Your MTV video is better known than my body of academic work.'"
In commemoration of Father's Day, I offer a song that I think is very appropriate: Dan Fogelberg's 1981 tribute to his own father, "The Leader of the Band." This song provides some tender and thoughtful lyrics which describe my own feelings toward my father, now as he finds himself in the later years of his life.
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band
My father was a teacher who taught High School history with great concern and care for the subject he was teaching. He had many ups and downs through his life, including having to leave the nation of his birth due to oppressive political conditions, to start life anew in the United States. He is now enjoying a well deserved retirement. I am blessed to still have him with me, and to be able to still express my love and appreciation to him.
In continuing celebration of the 35th anniversary of the classic 1982 movie E.T., the Extra Terrestrial, here are a bunch of E.T.-themed '80s era commercials. As you can see, E.T. was just about everywhere in the '80s.
June 11, 2017 was the 35th anniversary of the release of the classic Steven Spielberg movie, E.T., in the United States. This post is in commemoration of that great film, and the era in which it was released. Back in 1982, Neil Diamond released a song written by himself, Carole Bayer Sager, and Burt Bacharach, which was inspired by E.T.. Here is that song, "Heartlight," whose lyrics refer to scenes from the movie. (Thanks and acknowledgments to weintzer for this Youtube video.)
Here, below, is a post about my being taken to see the movie with my parents, originally posted in 2011.
Seeing E.T. For The First Time
October 21, 2011
I remember when my parents took me to see E.T., '80s sci-fi classic from Steven Spielberg. The movie came out in June 1982, so this must have been mid to late late '82. I was a somewhat nerdy, awkward 12 years old loner, often in living in my own odd dreamy world. The fact that I was also an only child added to my solitary nature, I suppose. But I was quite close to my parents, although sometimes I even felt misunderstood by them as well, and this would occasionally lead to conflict in my teen years. But this memory was one of being close to them, and I treasure it now as I sit here writing about it. We went to see the film at a small, one theater cinema in the downtown of our small home town. It was an old theater that had been there seemingly forever, and was still there in the '80s. It was in the very midst of the fan mania that developed over the film, and there was a long line that stretched around the entire front of the small theater and around the side to the parking lot out back. We took our place in line, and when we got inside the theater was packed to capacity, with every seat filled. At that age, I was not yet used to going to see movies at the theater, so the whole thing was quite new to me. I remember we got some popcorn and Coke, and took our seats in the crowded theater. I also remember that in the midst of the movie, someone spilled a drink a row behind us. But I remember the experience fondly.
I remember the pleasure I got in seeing this beautiful film. There was a tangible warmth about it, there were so many different details that seemed to shine through about the film. I remember the funny scene where E.T. inspires the young protagonist, Eliot, to come to the rescue of the frogs which were to be used during his school's science class, and he proceeds to cause havoc by freeing all of them in the midst of class. I also remember that my mother cried when E.T. briefly appeared to die, and I remember the joy that came when he miraculously revived and was alive.
It felt like I was part of some wonderful phenomenon that all of America was participating in, and maybe beyond our borders to the world. I somehow felt like I identified with the young protagonist Eliot, played by actor Henry Thomas. But then, didn't we all identify with young Eliot at that young age, befriending this wondrous being from another world.
