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Post by thehitparade on Mar 23, 2014 2:12:14 GMT 1
Yeah, I agree with you about the intention with the crosses, but obviously that was a controversial thing to be even referring to in a pop video. Perhaps it's even more shocking in retrospect when we think of what Madonna became.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 25, 2014 20:26:49 GMT 1
30 Pixies - Debaser (1989)
This Frank Black penned alternative rock proto-grunge song was produced by Gil Norton was recorded in Boston in November 1988, and appeared as the stand out track from their 1989 Doolittle album. It finished 3rd in John Peel's listeners Festive 50 of 1989; and belatedly became a UK #23 hit in 1997 for the April 2014 Indie Cindy album makers. The lyrics are based on a 1929 surrealist film by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí called Un Chien Andalou.
Got me a movie I want you to know Slicing up eyeballs I want you to know Girlie so groovy I want you to know Don't know about you But I am un chien andalusia
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 25, 2014 20:39:44 GMT 1
29 Yazoo - Only You (1982)
This synth-pop ballad was written by Vince Clarke. The duo's debut single peaked at UK #2 thanks to Alison Moyet's yearning vocals, getting stuck behind the 1982 ESC winning song from Germany, and also peaked at Ireland #5, Australia #7, was a minor hit in Europe, and USA #67. However the novelty cover version by the Flying Picketts was the 1983 Xmas #1 single, but that was nowhere near as good IMHO. But to many it reminds them of The Office as its played on the Christmas special as Tim and Dawn finally got together!
All I needed was the love you gave All I needed for another day And all I ever knew Only you
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 25, 2014 20:51:17 GMT 1
28 Madness - One Better Day (1984)
The second single from their 1984 album Keep Moving, was as ever produced by Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley; and was written by Suggs and Mark Bedford. This song was about two homeless people. Arlington House is a big ol' building on Arlington Road (where the video was filmed) in Camden, London (where Madness lived) was used as a homeless shelter in the 1980's. The woman in the video is Suggs' wife Betty Bright. Peaking at UK #17 it ended the band's run of 16 consecutive singles. And much like Slade's How Does It Feel a decade earlier which did a similar thing chart wise, it is regarded by many (including myself) as their best ever single.
Further down, a photo booth, a million plastic bags And an old woman filling out a million baggage tags But when she gets thrown out, three bags at a time She spies the old chap in the road to share her bags with She has bags of time
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 25, 2014 21:44:16 GMT 1
27 The Police - Every Breath You Take (1983)
The lead single from the trio's 5th & final studio album Synchronicity, went top 10 everywhere, topping the charts in the USA (where it was the year's top seller), UK, Canada, Ireland & South Africa. Written by Sting as a stalker's bitter love song, it featured a memorable black & white video directed by Godley & Crème.
O can't you see You belong to me How my poor heart aches With every step you take
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vastar iner
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Post by vastar iner on Mar 25, 2014 21:51:33 GMT 1
28 Madness - One Better Day (1984) And much like Slade's How Does It Feel a decade earlier which did a similar thing chart wise, it is regarded by many (including myself) as their best ever single. I'm another one of them. Quite simply sublime. As indeed was "Only You"; one synth, one voice, one four minutes of magic.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 25, 2014 21:59:40 GMT 1
26 Neneh Cherry - Manchild (1989)
Co-written by the Swedish female singer/songwriter/rapper with Cherry's husband Cameron McVey (whom a decade later was responsible for the Sugababes), and Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja; and co-produced by Bomb The Bass' Tim Simenon, this tale narrated by an ex-girlfriend to her former boyfriend warning him he should not have hidden his feelings by being overly macho, tough and unfeeling was a UK #5 hit, but was a bigger success elsewhere peaking at #2 Germany; #3 the Netherlands; #4 New Zealand, Sweden; etc. Its distinctive video was directed by fashion photographer Jean-Baptiste (The Boys Of Summer, Slave To Love, Justify My Love ..) Mondino.
Once bitten twice shy, why don't you bite me again Just take it in the right and go tell your friend Are you ready for the words I turn the microphone on A figure of speech to reach you at the back and so on
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 25, 2014 22:22:08 GMT 1
25 The Jam - The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had To Swallow) (1982)
The somewhat aptly titled (as it got stuck at UK#2 behind the theme from Rocky III one week, and then the following week got overtaken at the death by the even worse Musical Youth Pass The Dutchie) penultimate single by the trio fronted by Paul Weller. He replaced power chords for "power strings" after he read an interview by producing legend Trevor Horn, who claimed he was incapable of coming up with a commercial melodramatic pop song in the vein of ABC's Lexicon Of Love album. As this track with its deliberate tongue in cheek OTT "Barbara Cartland inspired" lyrics he delivers a straightforward, romantic tale from the point of view of a man standing in the church watching the woman he loves marry another. So proving Paul Weller was capable of far more than being an 80s socio/political Mod Revivalist. The female vocals are by Jenny McKeown, then of The Belle Stars.
In your white lace and your wedding bells You look the picture of contented new wealth But from the on-looking fool who believed your lies I wish this grave would open up and swallow me alive
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Post by thehitparade on Mar 25, 2014 22:24:00 GMT 1
I do think 'One Better Day' is an excellent song but I can't honestly say it's better than 'Embarassment', 'Tomorrow's Just Another Day', 'Our House' or a couple of the others. That's just how brilliant the catalogue is.
I was just telling somebody today about how I went to Museum Of The Moving Image on a school trip (it's not longer there) and there was a screen looping the scene from Un Chien Andalou which was pretty scary for me.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 25, 2014 22:35:21 GMT 1
24 Blondie - Rapture (1981)
Taken from from the New York New Wave band's 5th studio album titled Autoamerican (produced by Mike Chapman) using a combination of new wave, disco, R&B, pop, and hip hop with the rap section forming an extended coda. It became the first rap track to top the USA singles charts; made UK #5; and went Top 5 in Canada, Australia, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand; and was a hugely successful international single. Its video featured numerous New York underground fashionistas such as dancer/choreographer William Barnes, film-maker Fab Five Freddy, and graffiti artists Lee Quinones and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
And you hip-hop, and you don't stop Just blast off, sure shot 'Cause the man from Mars stopped eatin' cars and eatin' bars And now he only eats guitars, get up!
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 25, 2014 22:43:21 GMT 1
23 The Go-Go's - Head Over Heels (1984)
The USA #11; Canada #35; Australia #60 hit was released as the first single from the girl band's third album (& last for 17 years), Talk Show produced by Martin "Dare" Rushent. Written by the band's Charlotte Caffey and Kathy Valentine. Go-Gos' rhythm guitarist Jane Weidlin has cited "Head over Heels" as her favourite Go-Gos' song, describing it as " just a classic. Like a little pop truffle of chocolate that's just completely delicious." I have to agree with her this mix of Pete Townsend guitar riffs; Jerry Lee Lewis piano; MacCa Revolver era/proto-Kim Deal bass; military drum beat; and 80s synthpop Prince like handclaps combined with Belinda Carlisle's vocals and the rest of the band's 1960s girl-group harmonies.
Head over heels No time to think Looks like the whole world’s Out of sync
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 25, 2014 22:53:34 GMT 1
22 Pet Shop Boys - Left To My Own Devices (1988)
Produced by Trevor Horn, Stephen Lipson and the duo, this was taken from their Introspective album and peaked at UK #4, USA #84, and went Top 10 in Germany, Ireland, Spain & Poland. It became the first track that Pet Shop Boys recorded with an orchestra, arranged by Richard Niles. Neil's lyrics are semi-autographical about deciding what he wanted to do with his life.
I was faced with a choice at a difficult age Would I write a book? Or should I take to the stage? But in the back of my head I heard distant feet Che Guevara and Debussy to a disco beat
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vastar iner
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Post by vastar iner on Mar 25, 2014 23:02:38 GMT 1
"Head Over Heels", from the Talk Show album. One of the greatest albums ever made - the group was so riven by in-fighting and drug abuse (a sound engineer I know who now lives in the States says that of all the acts with which he's worked, The Go-Go's were the wildest of all) that the creative tension was ripping them apart, but left behind a beautiful corpse. Album tracks like "Mercenary" and "You Thought" expose this at its most raw. They also feature the delayed chorus that HOH portrays. Note that a lot of prominence is given to group members in the video; the album cover gave them all equal space, nobody wanted anyone else to get any more attention.
Forgot how influential Tim Simenon was in the late eighties. Neneh Cherry's first couple of hits were startling. From defiance to pity.
"The Bitterest Pill" is my favourite Jam single, and Ms McKeown's backing vocals really make it. One of the best backing performances in history. There's an entire film in that song. But I wouldn't diss "Pass The Dutchie". I would diss "Eye Of The Tiger" though.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 25, 2014 23:03:42 GMT 1
21 Tears For Fears - Sowing The Seeds Of Love (1989)
This superb Beatles pastiche was written in June 1987 during the week of the UK General Election in which Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative Party won a third consecutive term in office, and The Beatles Sgt. Peppers' Lonely Hearts Club Band was reissued on CD to much fanfare and back in the UK album charts. The lyrics refer to Thatcher's election win, and also make a reference to musician Paul Weller who had risen to fame in the 1970s as a left-wing political songwriter with his band The Jam before seemingly forsaking these ideals in the 1980s to make less political music with The Style Council. The music video was directed by Jim "Leave Me Alone, The Boy In The Bubble" Blashfield. This became a worldwide hit peaking at UK #5, USA #2, Canada #1, #2 in Italy; #3 in the Netherlands; #4 in New Zealand & Ireland; etc.
Politician granny with your high ideals have you no idea how the majority feels? So with out love and a promised land, we're fools to the rules of a government plan. Kick out the Style! Bring back the Jam!
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vastar iner
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Post by vastar iner on Mar 25, 2014 23:16:11 GMT 1
Love the Debussy line, pretentious but somehow works.
STSOL was a stunner at the time; TFF seemed to have vanished for a while, then they come back with a very different sound, and quite the epic single, it seemed to go in all sorts of directions. And the video was so OTT it went beyond it and came out the other side. Loved the Miro bits.
Although, given that she had led her party to 3 consecutive general election victories, one would think the politician granny knew what the majority feels. When it comes to eighties politics, I am with Mark E Smith, who told a right-on NME embryo "you don't remember Labour, do you, son? They were f***ing s***e."
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 26, 2014 19:22:06 GMT 1
Although, given that she had led her party to 3 consecutive general election victories, one would think the politician granny knew what the majority feels. When it comes to eighties politics, I am with Mark E Smith, who told a right-on NME embryo "you don't remember Labour, do you, son? They were f***ing s***e." Wow, I never had you down as a far left-wing Trotskyist Socialist Workers Party supporter like Mark E. Smith.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 26, 2014 19:30:15 GMT 1
20 Peter Gabriel And Kate Bush - Don't Give Up (1986)
Gabriel originally wrote the song from a reference point of American roots music and he approached country singer Dolly Parton to sing it with him. However, Parton turned it down, so his friend Kate Bush took her place. The verses, sung by Gabriel, describe a man's feelings of isolation and despair due to unemployment; the choruses, sung by Bush, offer words of hope and encouragement. Partially thanks to its powerful video directed by Godley & Crème, it made UK #9, Ireland #4, Australia #5, the Netherlands #5, and went top 40 in most European countries as well as New Zealand, South Africa & Canada. Initislly it was not released in the USA, but became a belated USA #72 hit late in 1987.
Moved on to another town Tried hard to settle down For every job, so many men So many men no-one needs
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 26, 2014 19:47:07 GMT 1
19 David Bowie - Absolute Beginners (1986)
The self-penned theme tune to the (very disappointing) British film of the same name (itself an adaptation of the book Absolute Beginners) which was directed by Julien Temple (who had worked with him in 1984 on the Jazzin' for Blue Jean short film), and also landed the supporting role of Vendice Partners. Co-produced with Alan Winstanley & Clive Langer this nostalgic Madness fused with 1950s-style doo-wop track peaked at UK #2 & USA #53; as well as #1 in Ireland, and went Top 10 across the rest of Europe. The track also reunited him with Hunky Dory's pianist Rick Wakeman, but it could have been even better had Kate Bush accepted Bowie's request to provide female backing vocals on this track (performed by Janet Armstrong, guitarist Kevin Armstrong wife).
If our love song Could fly over mountains Sail over heartaches Just like the films There's no reason To feel all the hard times To lay down the hard lines It's absolutely true
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 26, 2014 19:58:38 GMT 1
18 Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm (1985)
Written by Bruce Woolley, Simon Darlow, Stephen Lipson and Trevor Horn and produced by Horn, it was original written for Frankie Goes To Hollywood, but thankfully was a better fit (as its lyrics can easily be interpreted to refer to African-American slavery) for the Jamaican singer, actress and model. It peaked at UK #12, and went top 10 across most of Europe, as well as #5 in New Zealand. The music video was directed by Jean-Paul Goude, and its video clip features a spoken voice-over from Ian McShane. In 2012, Jones performed the song at Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Concert in which she hula hooped (which she normally uses as a source of pre-gig relaxation) for the entire song link as a way of mocking the truly horrific live vocal performance by talent vacuum Cheryl Cole with Gary Barlow link
Axe to wood, in ancient time, Man machine, power line, Fires burn, heart beats strong, Sing out loud, the chain gang song
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 26, 2014 20:21:04 GMT 1
17 Prince - Alphabet Street (1988)
www.wat.tv/video/prince-alphabet-street-56i3r_507h5_.html
The first single from Prince's 1988 album, Lovesexy was a fun Bo Diddley inspired jam which distills the philosophies of Prince's entire career into 150 seconds: God is love is sex is music. Bring on the better day. It peaked at USA #8 & UK #9; but fared better elsewhere such as topping the charts in New Zealand & Norway (his maiden #1 in both countries); #3 in Ireland & The Netherlands; .... and went Top 20 across the world.
We're going down, down, down, if that's the only way To make this cruel, cruel world hear what we've got to say Put the right letters together and make a better day
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