Errant Eighties

Published on December 18, 2005 By stevendedalus In History

The previous two decades of soft but penetrating rock was dipped in acid in the 80s as the kids abandoned the Beach Boys, Elton John, Carol King, the Osmonds, the Fifth Dimension and the Jackson Five and looked to punk to override the horror of two hundred dead marines. Nevertheless, Springsteen hung in there and the movies created beautiful music.

Gorbachev eradicated the fearful image of Big Brother and became "Man of the Year." Reagan grabbed credit for ending the "evil empire" while ignoring the stiff resistance to communism for the past forty years.

Eight years had passed since Bush accused Reagan of "voodoo economics"; now it was his time to pin-cushion the people as they misread his lips and observed more of the same that would tie a bow in the gleaming plasticity of the Reagan years whose stage had been set in 1980 by the question who shot J.R. of “Dallas” as more paramount than the attempted assassination of our president and the murder of John Lennon.

Comments (Page 2)

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 13, 2006

Kenny Loggins had lots of hits in the 80s, but "wrote the soundtrack"?

The reason I made this statement (and I will defend it...lol!) is because most of Kenny Loggins' hits made it to the soundtracks of definitive 80's movies. Madonna would be a close runner up, but Michael Jackson, despite his musical dominance, didn't make it to the soundtracks as consistently as either of the aforementioned. Possibly because his asking price was too high, but Loggins seemed to appear at least once a year with a hit from a movie soundtrack.

Even though we have different preferences, though, it's still fun to have this discussion.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 13, 2006

Kurt Cobain was big before he died. 'Nevermind' made him and Nirvana HUGE. Hendrix was pretty big before his death too.

Yes, they were big before their deaths, and even huge. But their "rock and roll deaths" made them untouchable.

The best comparisons I can give you would be to look at the Beatles. John Lennon is a rock and roll immortal because of his death. There's no denying that. Paul McCartney, while prolific and an excellent songwriter, has lost much of the luster that he once had. George Harrison did as well. And as for Ringo, well...umm, I won't touch that one. While all four will be forever remembered, none of the remaining three have even REMOTELY the iconic status of Lennon.

(another comparison: I don't see any punkers wearing Johnny Rotten shirts around, but plenty wearing Sid).

We're a morbid lot. Really, we are.

Rightwinger

on Jan 13, 2006

The best comparisons I can give you would be to look at the Beatles. John Lennon is a rock and roll immortal because of his death.

---Gidmac

Well, let's not forget King Elvis. A heart attack after a life of wild indulgence....sounds kinda like Mama Cass, too.

Let's also not forget that McCartney went to be a Wing and be a "Band on the Run" that sang about "Silly Love Songs", but Lennon went on to write deep odes to "Woman" and to "Imagine" a better world. Two very different outlooks.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 14, 2006

Let's also not forget that McCartney went to be a Wing and be a "Band on the Run" that sang about "Silly Love Songs",

You think "Imagine" is deeper than, say "Ebony and Ivory" or McCartney's post 9/11 release "Freedom"? The HELL you say (said positively DRIPPING with sarcasm).

Rightwinger

on Jan 17, 2006

Ebony and Ivory" or McCartney's post 9/11 release "Freedom"?

---Gidmac

Well, okay....but he HAS had 25 years more than Lennon had.
I wonder what Lennon would have sung about 9/11?

Probably something about embracing others differences and cultural whatevers and make love not war and let's all hug and make up and let's try to understand them and why they hate us and we need to give them whatever they need to be happy and at one with the universe and.....well...he HAD those dinky little glasses!

Dr Guy

on Jan 20, 2006

I see that perhaps I am the only one to see the 80s music as just garbage. the 60s had some greats, the 70s a lot, the 90s we got some good stuff going, and then this decade? Nothing so far.

But the 80s? Guess I am too old. of the 6 decades I am cognizant of, the 80s rank lowest. 60s first, 70s second, 90s third, 50s foruth (too bubble gum really), this one 5th, and the 80s?

Sorry, Whip it with Devo is not my cup of tea!

Rightwinger

on Jan 21, 2006

I see that perhaps I am the only one to see the 80s music as just garbage.

---Dr. Guy

Well, here's one position of the Doc's that I gotta say I can't support. Of course, I was in my early-mid teens from 1980-85 (and, as any fan of 80s music can tell you, the 80s were SO over by 1986-87. By then we'd started down the slippery slope toward the 90s), and it's the music I came of age to. Any music that brings back memories of the golden teen years will always be the most welcome to our ears. First love....first job...cruisin'....hangin' out...now, I like all kinds of music; I have very eclectic tastes. I'll listen to Sinatra and Martin, Goodman and Ellington, Lennon and McCartney, Bowie and Stewart...just about anything. Rock, Gospel, classical....But the 80s; those tunes rule, dude!

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 25, 2006

But the 80s? Guess I am too old. of the 6 decades I am cognizant of, the 80s rank lowest. 60s first, 70s second, 90s third, 50s foruth (too bubble gum really), this one 5th, and the 80s?

80's below 90's and 00's? Sorry, I think that's a little HARSH! I guess I have to question what sort of music you like. I mean, if you're into hard rock, sure there was a lot of fluff, but how can you overlook the most significant portion of Ozzy Osbourne's solo career, the coming of age of punk, Ted Nugent...I mean, there was more to the 80's in metal than just Tommy Lee's hair.

90's did get some good stuff going again, but let's not forget how much of grunge was rooted in 30's BLUES music! While it was creative, it was rather derivative at times. And the fifties did nothing more than set the stage for the sixties...it was a cultural "bridge", as it were.

Yes, I'm biased, but I believe I can defend my position here.

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