Hey Girl! Move a Litte Closer

hush, hush, eye to eye... you know where I'm going today with that... it's the British band that sounds like some word a baby would make up... it's not GaGaGoogoo, it's Kajagoogoo with "Too Shy"...

Too Shy



Lyrics | Too Shy lyrics

“Too Shy”

Single by Kajagoogoo
from the album White Feathers
B-side "Take Another View"
Released 1983
Format 7" single, 12" single
Recorded 1982
Genre Pop, New Wave
Length 3:45
Label EMI
Writer(s) Nick Beggs
Limahl
Kajagoogoo
Producer Nick Rhodes
Colin Thurston

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #5
UK Peak: #1

Put Me in Coach

The dog days of August are just about upon us and for us baseball fans, that means the race for the division crowns is heating up and here is one of (maybe the) best baseball song of all-time... John Fogerty and "Centerfield"...




Lyrics | Centerfield lyrics

"Centerfield"

by John Fogerty
from the album: "Centerfield"
released: 1985

Is That Your Masterplan?

In honor of the new Rick Springfield cd being released today called "Venus in Overdrive", we're going with another classic Springfield song from the 80's called "Don't Walk Away"... we already blasted through most of his best 80's tune back during our Springfield September, but here is Rick with some of his best theatrics... "Don't Walk Away"...

Rick Springfield - Don't Walk Away
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Don't Walk Away lyrics

"Don't Walk Away"

from the album "Hard to Hold"
released 1984

US Billboard Hot 100 peak: #26

I Went To a Party Last Saturday Night...

you know the rest of the line... tight leather, blond hair, some ice, some skin, some suggestive lyrics... ok, I realize I just described every hard rock act of the 80's, but this one comes from the female persuasion... Lita Ford rocks The Excellent 80s today with "Kiss Me Deadly"...

Lita Ford - Kiss Me Deadly
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Kiss Me Deadly lyrics

"Kiss Me Deadly"

from the album: "Lita"
released: 1988

80's Movie Weekend - I Know It's Crazy, But It's True

Don't you wish you were me?... When you get caught between the moon and New York City... you should check out Dudley Moore in one of his finest acting jobs... from 1981, it's the lovable drunk, "Arthur"...



Arthur

Directed by Steve Gordon
Written by Steve Gordon
Starring Dudley Moore
Liza Minnelli
John Gielgud
Geraldine Fitzgerald
Jill Eikenberry
Stephen Elliott
Ted Ross
Barney Martin
Helen Hanft
Music by Burt Bacharach
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Orion Pictures Corporation
Release date(s) July 17, 1981
Running time 97 min
Language English
Budget $7,000,000
Followed by Arthur 2: On the Rocks

Of course, what would this post be without the famous theme from "Arthur" by Christopher Cross "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)"...




Lyrics | Arthur's Theme lyrics

“Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)”

Single by Christopher Cross
from the album Arthur – The Album
A-side "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)"
Released 1981
Format LP; Cassette
Recorded 1981
Genre Yacht Rock
Length 03:52
Label Warner Bros.
Writer(s) Christopher Cross; Burt Bacharach; Carole Bayer Sager; Peter Allen
Producer Burt Bacharach; Michael Omartian; Andrew Gold; Val Garay

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1

Life is Just a Fantasy

Somewhere, someplace in time, someone actually said - 'wow, that skin tight leopard print outfit you're wearing looks awesome - you have to wear it!'... I think the outfit is the main reason this guy never made it huge as a solo star... today, from the book of one-hit wonders comes the Canadian guitarist, vocalist, keyboardist, and huge fashion risk known as Aldo Nova... "Fantasy"...




Lyrics | Fantasy lyrics

“Fantasy”

Single by Aldo Nova
from the album Aldo Nova
B-side "Under the Gun"
Released 1982
Format 7" single
Genre Rock
Label Portrait

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #23
US Rock Charts: #3

The Perfect Kiss is the Kiss of Death

Today, we are checking in with the alternative rock/dance band formed in England around 1980... the one and only New Order with "Perfect Kiss"...

here's the nearly 10 minute version of this video...




Lyrics | The Perfect Kiss lyrics


“The Perfect Kiss”

Single by New Order
from the album Low-Life
Released May 1985
Format 7", 12"
Recorded ???
Genre Dance
Length 8:46
Label Factory - FAC 123
Producer New Order

It's Just That Easy

Here's a one-hit wonder if you can even call this song a hit... it's the pop/rock band known as Device with their highest chart topper known as "Hanging on a Heart Attack"... does anybody else think the lead singer looks like a cross between Ian Ziering (Steve Sanders on 90210) and a lion?...



Can you ride the rhythm of this human wave?
Caught up in the music and the space you save

Caught up in the magic of it
caught up in the madness.

Sometimes you scare yourself
you're so strong

you're so tough.
Can you feel the fire pumping through your veins?
You try to get up and here it comes again

Right down to the basics of it
right down to the wire.

So if you feel you're hanging on a heart attack

Hold on
come back
oh yeah - it's just that easy -.
So if you feel you're hanging on a heart attack

Hold on
come back
oh yeah - it's just that easy -.

Ring the bell
ring the bell
let the walls come down

Surrender your wings before they liff you off the ground

Surrender for every reason
surrender yourself.

Sometimes you go so far
you're so hot
you can't stop.
Can you make it last
make it rock to the bone?
If you do it faster will the hunger drive you home?
Right down to the basics of it
right down to the wire.
So if you feel you're hanging on a heart attack
. . .

Can you ride the rhythm of this human wave? . . .
So if you feel you're hanging on a heart attack
. . .
So if you feel you're hanging on a heart attack
. . .


"Hanging on a Heart Attack"

from the album: 22B3
released: 1986

US Billboard Peak: #35

You're Just Wasting Time

Anytime you can put a monkey in your video, it's genius! It's one strange library, and another hit back in 1985 for Roland and Curt and the band known as Tears For Fears... "Head Over Heels"...

Tears For Fears - Head Over Heels
Uploaded by manon42

Lyrics | Head Over Heels lyrics

“Head over Heels”

Single by Tears for Fears
from the album Songs from the Big Chair
B-side "When in Love with a Blind Man"
Released June 10, 1985
Format 7", 10", 12"
Recorded 1984
Genre New Wave
Length 4:14
Label Mercury Records
Writer(s) Roland Orzabal
Curt Smith
Producer Chris Hughes

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #3
UK Peak: #12

Happy Birthday to The Excellent 80's

Well, one year ago today, I made my first post here, and I'm happy to say things are still going strong and I'm still having fun digging up music videos, television clips, movie clips and other miscellaneous 80's stuff. If you've been with me a while, then thank you. If you just found this place, then welcome back to the 80's.
Ironically, it's the power of 2008 that has allowed me to do this. So my thanks to youtube, lyricsmode, wikipedia, and all the various 80's band and singer websites that are still going strong today.

I want my MTV!


And since it is a party occasion, I'm going with a couple of my favorite videos of songs that are staples of anyone's party collection... first up, my favorite Billy Idol song... Billy is a zombie killing machine in this video - "Dancin' With Myself"...

Billy Idol - Dancing With Myself
Uploaded by hushhush112. - Explore more music videos.

Lyrics | Dancin' With Myself lyrics


And, next up today, is a band that brought an old school rockabilly sound and an old school look to the 80's... it's Brian Setzer and the Stray Cats with "Rock This Town"...







Lyrics | Rock This Town lyrics

“Rock This Town”

Single by Stray Cats
from the album Stray Cats
B-side "You Can't Hurry Love"
Released 1981
Genre Rockabilly
Label Arista
Writer(s) Brian Setzer
Producer Dave Edmunds

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #9

80s Movie Weekend

A young Tom Cruise, a mean Coach Craig Nelson, and Cruise's girl, Lea Thompson had "All The Right Moves" back in 1983 with this classic small town football movie...

the trailer...



the first five minutes of the movie...



All the Right Moves

Directed by Michael Chapman
Produced by Stephen Deutsch
Gary Morton
Written by Michael Kane
Starring Tom Cruise
Craig T. Nelson
Lea Thompson
Music by David Richard Campbell
Cinematography Jan de Bont
Editing by David Garfield
Distributed by Twentieth Century Fox
Release date(s) October 21, 1983
Running time 91 min
Country United States
Language English

After The Fire

I caught last night's VH1 special and tribute to The Who, and it reminded me that even though The Who was largely broken up during the 80s, lead singer Roger Daltrey did chart a minor solo hit and moderate MTV play despite wearing a shirt that apparently didn't have any buttons... so, in a roundabout way of honoring The Who here in The Excellent 80's, from 1985, here is "After the Fire"...




Lyrics | After The Fire lyrics

"After the Fire"

by Roger Daltrey
from the album: "Under a Raging Moon"
released 1985
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #46

My Thoughts, I Confess, Verge on Dirty

... ah, "Come On Eileen", it's the British band Dexy's Midnight Runners today... this is POST #300 here, and I've got to get me some of these overalls they are wearing in this video...

Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
Uploaded by hushhush112

Lyrics | Come On Eileen lyrics

“Come On Eileen”

Single by Dexys Midnight Runners & The Emerald Express
from the album Too-Rye-Ay
B-side "Dubious"
Released 1982
Genre Pop
Length 4:28
Label Mercury
Writer(s) Kevin Rowland, "Big" Jim Paterson, Billy Adams
Producer Clive Langer, Alan Winstanley

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1
UK Peak: #1

Me Love You Long Time

Extrememly controversial for it's day... this song and video and album in general were all over the news back in late 1989 and early 1990 and had parents and the U.S. Congress all up in arms about the lyrics...

Just a warning, this is the un-edited R-rated lyrics version of the video... 2 Live Crew and like a dog in heat, a freak without warning, my appetite is sex, cause "Me So Horny"...




Lyrics | Me So Horny lyrics

“Me So Horny”

Single by 2 Live Crew
from the album As Nasty As They Wanna Be

US Rap Charts Peak: #1
US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #26

I Don't Want You To Misunderstand Me

OK, today we bring you Peter Cetera as a car mechanic so desperate to get some that he's practically begging this chick to go home with him... I've never thought of Peter as a tough guy and this video just confirms it as she smacks him around mercilessly, but yet our hero doesn't give in... instead in some crazy car stunts, our lovely lady manages to seriously injure a police officer and nearly kill poor Peter... but we get our Hollywood ending, sort of... check it out, Chicago with "Stay the Night"...




Lyrics | Stay The Night lyrics

“Stay the Night”

Single by Chicago
from the album Chicago 17
B-side "Only You"
Released April 1984
Format 7"
Genre Rock
Length 3:49
Label Full Moon/Warner Bros.
Writer(s) Peter Cetera, David Foster
Producer David Foster

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #16

Come On and Bring Your Jukebox Money

I'm going to take a wild guess and say that there were literally thousands of college aged students living in houses all around the country that have at one time or another referred to their pad as the "Love Shack"... this group actually formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976, but reached the height of their popularity with the release of this song - "Love Shack"...




Lyrics | Love Shack lyrics

“Love Shack”

Single by The B-52's
from the album Cosmic Thing
Released 1989
Genre Pop
Length 5:20
Label Warner Brothers
Writer(s) Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland, Cindy Wilson
Producer Don Was
Certification Gold (RIAA)

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #3
UK Peak: #2

80's Television - Saturday Morning Cartoons

Are you kidding me? I don't remember this cartoon at all, but for those of you that do... "Hello, my name is Rubik"...



"Rubik, the Amazing Cube"
September 10, 1983-September 1, 1984
The program, broadcast as part of The Pac-Man/Rubik, the Amazing Cube Hour block on ABC

Proving that the Rubik's Cube is still going strong today, check out this video of the guy who is the new world record holder...


The Mr. T cartoon... I love that he could pick up an alligator by the tail while in the water and swing it over his head...



"Mr. T" premiered in 1983 on NBC.
The Mister T cartoon starred Mr. T as himself, the owner of a gym where a group of gymnasts trained. He would help them with their training but they would also help him solve mysteries and fight crime. Thirty episodes were produced.

I've Got Pac-Man Fever

Fake to the left and move to the right because Pokey's too slow and Blinky's out of sight... I wish there was a good video of these guys doing this song, but I couldn't find one, so you'll just have to settle for the audio track of "Pac-Man Fever" by Buckner & Garcia...




Lyrics | Pac Man Fever lyrics

Pac-Man Fever

Studio album by Buckner & Garcia
Released 1981
Recorded 1981
Genre Rock / Disco
Length 32:53
Label Columbia Records (1982); Buckner & Garcia Productions (1999); K-tel Entertainment (2002 version)
Producer Buckner & Garcia

Weird Al came out with a song called "Pac-Man" and here is someone's video that they made to the Weird Al song...




Lyrics | Pacman lyrics

remember when Pac-Man came out on the Atari 2600? I had this game (and it pretty much sucked compared to the original game)...





All my money's gone so I'll be back tomorrow night...

Before Livin' La Vida Loca

Today, we're taking a look at the Latin pop group sensation that was formed in the late 70's known as Menudo. With one of its' 3,000 different lineups, but featuring perhaps the most well known member, little Ricky Martin (bright pink short sleeve shirt), here is one of it's biggest U.S. hits - "Hold Me"...



Sorry, couldn't track down any lyrics or billboard information for you, so you'll just have to do without today.

Fate Up Against Your Will

We head back over across the Atlantic for today's boring video... seriously, this video was boring back in 1984 and it's not much better today, but I still like the song to this day... it's a band that found their fair share of success in the UK and found some following in the U.S. as well... Here is one of their better known songs stateside, "The Killing Moon" by Echo & The Bunnymen (don't ever confuse them with Bunnyboys)...




Lyrics | The Killing Moon lyrics


“The Killing Moon”

Single by Echo & the Bunnymen
from the album Ocean Rain
B-side "Do It Clean"
Released 20 January 1984
Format 7", 12"
Recorded Crescent Studio in Bath
Genre Post-punk
Length 5:47
Label Korova
Writer(s) Will Sergeant, Ian McCulloch, Les Pattinson, Pete de Freitas
Producer The Bunnymen

UK Peak: #9

Is The Game You're Playing Hard to Get?

This smooth singing woman bust onto the scene as a solo artist big time around the middle of 1987... here is one of the most recognizable songs ever from Jody Watley - "Don't You Want Me"




Jody Watley Lyrics
Don't You Want Me Lyrics

"Don't You Want Me"

by Jody Watley
from the album: Jody Watley

Released: March 31, 1987
Label: MCA
Billboard peak position: 10
Billboard R&B peak position: 1 (3 weeks)
UK chart peak position: 50
Total worldwide sales: 5.0 million
U.S. sales: Platinum [4]
Canada: Gold [5]

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #6

How Ya Like Me Now?

In case you haven't noticed, I was into rap as it started to become more and more popular in the mid to late 80's... I was always interested in the whole LL Cool J - Kool Moe Dee on-going feud that the two waged for years... who won? LL I'd say, but nonetheless, here are my two favorite Kool Moe Dee tracks... from 1987 - "How Ya Like Me Now" and "Wild Wild West"...




Lyrics | How Ya Like Me Now lyrics

The Wild Wild West...

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

Lyrics | Wild Wild West lyrics

"How Ya Like Me Now" and "Wild Wild West"

by Kool Moe Dee
from the album: "How Ya Like Me Now"
released: 1987

Wild Wild West peaks:
US Billboard Hot 100: #62
US R&B: #4

80's Television

Being a sports fan, I (ironically) think about London around this time of year (4th of July) and the biggest tennis championship in the world - Wimbledon. Let's take a flash back to 1980 and the sweet hair dos of Johnny Mac and Bjorn Borg as McEnroe fought off 7 championship points before the champion, Bjorg prevailed...

80's Movie Weekend - Fourth of July Weekend

OK, I have to sadly admit that I've never seen this movie, and yet many consider it to be one of the top patriotic films of the 80's... it has Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, Lea Thompson, C. Thomas Howell, and Jennifer Grey, and I've never seen it! That's it, it's going in my Blockbuster que right now... I hope you had an excellent 4th of July and here are some clips from one of the next movies on my list - "Red Dawn"...

the trailer...



the invasion begins... damn Ruskies! always wanting to shoot unarmed innocent kids!



Red Dawn

Directed by John Milius
Produced by Sidney Beckerman, Buzz Feitshans
Written by John Milius
Kevin Reynolds
Starring Patrick Swayze
Charlie Sheen
Lea Thompson
Harry Dean Stanton
Powers Boothe
Jennifer Grey
C. Thomas Howell
Music by Basil Poledouris
Cinematography Ric Waite
Editing by Thom Noble
Distributed by MGM/UA Entertainment Co.
Release date(s) August 10, 1984
Running time 114 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget 4,200,000 USD

Give Me A Bottle of Anything, And A Glazed Donut - To Go!

Happy Fourth of July to everyone!
Following his remakes of Just A Gigolo and California Girls, Diamond David Lee Roth came back strong after parting ways with Van Halen with my favorite DLR solo song ... a tribute to the beautiful lady on Liberty Island - The Statue of Liberty... featuring Steve Vai on lead guitar... that's right, I'm talking about a "Yankee Rose"...




Lyrics | Yankee Rose lyrics

"Yankee Rose"

by David Lee Roth
from the album: Eat 'Em and Smile
1986

I Want To Be Forever Young

This song enjoyed a modest resurgence a few years back thanks to an instant cult classic movie known as "Napoleon Dynamite"... it's the German band, Alphaville and the video from 1984 - "Forever Young"... by the way, I like your sleeves...




Lyrics | Forever Young lyrics

“Forever Young”

Single by Alphaville
from the album Forever Young
B-side "Welcome to the Sun "
Released September 1984
Format 7" single
12" maxi
Genre Synthpop
Length 3:50
Label WEA
Writer(s) Bernhard Lloyd
Marian Gold
Frank Mertens
Producer Colin Pearson
Wolfgang Loos
Andreas Budde

Chart positions
Chart (1984-1985)[1] Peak position
Austrian Singles Chart 17
French Singles Chart 13
Norwegian Singles Chart 3
Swedish Singles Chart 1
Swiss Singles Chart 3

Maybe I'm Just Too Demanding

I didn't realize that the Purple one turned 50 about three or four weeks ago, and it was time to get the Artist formerly known as and currently known as Prince into The Excellent 80s before it's too late... Prince has been busy trying to get youtube and others to remove his videos citing copyright infringement or some such nonsense... let it go Prince! So while I still can, I wanted to get one of the most influential artists of all-time on here... from one of the greatest albums of all-time, "Purple Rain," here is "When Doves Cry"...




Lyrics | When Doves Cry lyrics

“When Doves Cry”

U.S. 7" single
Single by Prince
from the album Purple Rain
B-side "17 Days"
"1999" (UK 12")
"D.M.S.R." (UK 12")
Released 16 May 1984
Format 7" single
12" single
Recorded Sunset Sound, 1 March 1984
Genre Rock, Funk, Pop
Length 7" edit: 3:47
Album/12": 5:52
Label Warner Bros. Records
Writer(s) Prince
Producer Prince
Certification Platinum - (21 August, 1984)

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1

50 Thou A Year Buys a Lot of Beer

That heading could only mean one thing... a mule carrying a tv on its' back... that's right! It's Timbuk 3 with today's video - a song you either loved or hated, I don't think there was an in-between... everybody now, "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades"...




Lyrics | Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades lyrics

The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades

from the album: Greetings from Timbuk 3
released: 1986
US Peak: #19
UK Peak: #18