Lately, I've found the world around me to be a bit of a bummer. Theres a tense mood out in society today of anger and division, and of negativity. Maybe there are good reasons for tenseness, anger and negativity. But it still can't help but make me sad about where we are, and wonder if things couldn't be better. I've been trying to include this mindset in some recent posts, such as that regarding Hands Across America, and the one about Restoring Lady Liberty.
There has been a feeling in me of wanting to reach deep inside of myself for the ideals and dreams I hold dear, and to focus on them moreso than the outside world. Of course, my ideals may differ from others, and listening to each others' words are as important as hearing their voices.
I am reminded of this song by the Alarm, an '80s Welsh group with a strong sense of protest. Here is a song that is very appropriate to the moment, "68 Guns" from 1983. Its a song about holding on to your beliefs and being willing to stand for them.
This is a repost of a post originally appearing in 2012.
In 1985, David Lee Roth did a classic '80s remake of a classic '60s original from the Beach Boys. Roth's "California Girls" featured Beach Boy Carl Wilson and '80s singer Christopher Cross as background vocalists, and appeared in Roth's 1985 EP Crazy From the Heat.
What could be more summery than the sun, the beach, and the classic summer soundtrack of Beach Boys music?
Speaking of the Beach Boys, they has an enormous hit in 1988 with "Kokomo," a song which appeared on the soundtrack of the Tom Cruise movie Cocktail.
As we cruise into our fourth of july weekend, it brought to mind the extraordinary july 4th of 1986. That weekend, from July 3-6, 1986, was dubbed "Liberty Weekend" and was the subject of the grand re-opening of the Statue of Liberty, which had been undergoing extensive repairs and restoration. It was also the Statue's 100th anniversary. The celebrations that followed were so grand that they are one of the most memorable events of the 1980s, and indeed seemed to symbolize the sense of positivity and revival that was present at that time.
During the early '80s it became apparent that the statue had some seriously needed repairs. Plans were prepared for an extensive restoration by a team of American and French engineers (as the statue had itself been a gift from France). Scaffolding was erected in 1984, and for a two year period work progressed on Lady Liberty.
Here's an American Airlines commercial from that era.
Work was finally complete by mid 1986, and on that July 4th weekend, a big celebration was had that included words and appearances by President Reagan and other dignitaries, a star-studded set of performances and appearances by a large number of celebrities, and a re-play of the review of sailing ships which was originally seen during the 1976 bicentennial celebrations (dubbed, in honor of the original such event, Operation Sail 1986). Above is an encapsulation of the event from NBC.
I wish all my readers in the U.S. a happy July 4th weekend!
In past years, I used to post summer songs at around this time. Its been some years since I've done that, but maybe its a good time to bring them back. So, here's a song that at least has Summer in the title . . . and it sure feels "Summery." Bananarama's "Cruel Summer."
'80s Summer music gets you into the spirit of the season, amidst the heat and sun . . . and hopefully some fun.
In honor of Father's Day, I dedicate "The Living Years" by Mike and the Mechanics.
The lyrics are a poignant reminder to enjoy your parents, and all your family, while they are still with us in this life. Don't lose an opportunity to show them appreciation while they are still here. The song involves the relationship between a father and a son, but it applies to other family relationships too.
For Fathers Day. . . and for my own Dad, heres to you.
Every
generation
Blames the one before
And all of their
frustrations
Come beating on your door
I know that
I'm a prisoner
To all my Father held so dear
I know that
I'm a hostage
To all his hopes and fears
I just wish I
could have told him in the living years
Crumpled bits of
paper
Filled with imperfect thought
Stilted
conversations
I'm afraid that's all we've got
You say
you just don't see it
He says it's perfect sense
You just
can't get agreement
In this present tense
We all talk a
different language
Talking in defense
Say it loud,
say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too
late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye
So
we open up a quarrel
Between the present and the past
We
only sacrifice the future
It's the bitterness that lasts
So
don't yield to the fortunes
You sometimes see as fate
It
may have a new perspective
On a different date
And if you
don't give up, and don't give in
You may just be O.K.
Say
it loud, say it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It's
too late when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye
I
wasn't there that morning
When my Father passed away
I
didn't get to tell him
All the things I had to say
I
think I caught his spirit
Later that same year
I'm sure I
heard his echo
In my baby's new born tears
I just wish I
could have told him in the living years
Say it loud, say
it clear
You can listen as well as you hear
It's too late
when we die
To admit we don't see eye to eye
OK, brace yourselves, were gonna venture into high campy '80s with this post.
Back in the '80s, before the Backstreet Boys, before One Direction, before the plethora of boy bands that hit the charts in the late '90s, and even before that late '80s phenomenon known as New Kids On The Block, there was . . . Menudo. Menudo was a Puerto Rican singing group put together in 1977 by their producer Edgardo Diaz, especially made to take Latin America by storm. The members were all teen boys and could only be under a certain age, with members being replaced once the age limit was reached. Success came quickly in the early 1980s, and the group's intense popularity spread accross Latin America, where their arrival often sparked a feverish reaction from the group's primarily teen female fans. The phenomenon was such that it was compared to Beatlemania, and dubbed Menudomania, although it can be said that the latter group's mania had more to do with commercial success than with musical exceptionalism.
Although Menudo's popularity sweeped accross Latin America, it took longer to penetrate the English speaking market, and its success there was more limited. One short lived example of the group's presence in the United States was Menudo On ABC, brief 4-minute segments which appeared on that network's 1983 Saturday morning TV schedule. Above is one such segment, with the group visiting the historic section of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
They subsequently released an English language album, appeared on shows like Silver Spoons, did commercial appearances and even had a song featured on the soundtrack of the movie "Cannonball Run 2." However, 1983-1984 appeared to be the peak of the moment in fame in the U.S.. They never scored a hit on American radio, and soon faded from view as their novelty wore off.
Here's one last clip, if you can stand it . . . their performances are, admittedly, a unique taste. This one is full frontal Menudo here, in all their campy glory. Its from the 1984 MDA telethon, with Tony Orlando introducing the group, and a brief glimpse of Menudomania American style. You've been warned, click if you feel up to it.
