Top 10 1980's Pop Bands > Reviews (13)

Now, when I think of the 80's, it doesn't seem that far away to me, having been a child at the time (and not being so far removed today - mentally at least), but then I remember, they started twenty-two years ago, and I get a little frightened, especially when I realise that I still rememeber the words to most of the songs I used to sing whilst prancing round the schoolyard in a starstruck haze :)

Anyway, here are the bands that *I* consider to be the top 10 bands of the Eighties....

CULTURE CLUB

Is it a boy? Is it a girl? I hadn't a clue when I first saw the video for 'Do You Really Want to Hurt Me', but crikey, what a voice! Boy George and his band of merry men carved a swathe through most of the 80's with their infectious pop tunes, fused with soulful bluesy vocals and melodies, and I was hooked...I followed the progress of the band for a few years, but by about the third album, they began to peter out, so it was time for a change ;)

PSEUDO ECHO

Now, not many people will have heard of this band, but if you mention that they covered Lipps Inc's 'Funkytown' a few more people would remember. This four-piece band from deepest darkest Australia provided much of the music in the soundtrack to my life, classic hits such as 'Listening', 'Living in a Dream' and many others, that bring back wrinkle-less memories of school

DURAN DURAN

Now, if you'd told me that a band from Birmingham England, named after a character in a 60's Jane Fonda movie would have made such an impact on the world as a whole, I may not have believed you, but that is exactly what they did, with their swirly hair, those dashing threads, playboy attitudes and superbly crafted pop...Who could forget as Simon le Bon capsized his lovely boat and fair near drowned himself and made the lovely Yasmin a widow? Goodness...

WHAM!

Oh dear...I'm a little worried about this one, because I remember being totally hooked as soon as I heard Wham! Rap. Many album and single purchases followed, Careless Whisper, Wake me up..., A Different Corner, Young Guns, blah, blah, blah I could go on, but I won't, needless to say, George and bad-driver sidekick Andrew Ridgely managed to take the world to the edge of heaven, and then dropped us off....incidentally, ever noticed that once an 'artiste' becomes friends with 'Sir' Elton John, said artiste seems to aqcuire a much higher opinion of themselves and then promptly disappears up their own butthole?

BROS

When Will I be Famous, trilled the twins from Lewisham and the one from Scotland? When indeed! After a meteoric rise to fame, with hit after hit after hit, the Bros boys lost a member, most of their money, and rather a large portion of charm and talent, and disappeared down the pop dumper, I loved them though, I even bleached my hair, bought myself a red jacket, and sported Grolsch bottle tops on my Doc Marten shoes (shame I was so overweight, it kinda spoiled the effect), not to worry, I'm over it now ;)

DEPECHE MODE

Now, what a band eh? moving lyrics, lilting melodies, a strange perspective on this thing we call life...

I remember being haunted and entertained in equal measure. I was heartbroken after Vince Clarke left as I believed at the time they could not survive the loss of such a talented songwriter, but they persevered, and wrote some of the most beautiful music and lyrics that I ever remember.

YAZOO

Hmmm, ex-Depeche Mode member teams up with Essex songstress Alison Moyet? Fantastique! Goodbye 70's indeed, bouncy, fun, then maudlin and severely depressing, yet uplifting as a whole, who can forget the beautiful 'Only You', 'Don't Go' and a whole host of other aural delights. It's a shame that they only lasted for the duration of two albums though...and then Vince moved on again, via The Assembly, to...

ERASURE

Wow! When I first heard the music of Vince Clarke, this time teamed with the mellifluous tones and haunting lyricism of Andy Bell, I was transfixed. I've been a fan of these two for 16 years now, and up to a point, the hits just came on coming, 'Sometimes', 'A Little Respect', 'Drama', 'Blue Savannah', but wait, there's more :) Lately though, I've been disappointed by the later albums, I'm afraid to say, it looks like they've finally run oot of creative steam...oh well...

INXS

Before achieving world wide status with 'Kick' This Australian band had already achieved mega stardom in their home country with their acoustic driven angst rock, soundtrack to a million Oz teenagers lives apparently, they had already released 6 or 7 albums before going worldwide.

FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD

Relax.....Frankie says so....nuff said ;)

Well, there you go.....thanks for the memories ;)