Back to the fall of '83. The U.S. had just invaded Grenada, which is so far the only time in my lifetime that I can recall that little island being in the news. While that was going on, this was the popular music of the day:
40 - "Spice of Life," The Manhattan Transfer
39 - "Just Got Lucky," JoBoxers
38 - "Sexy + 17," The Stray Cats
37 - "Why Me," Irene Cara
36 - "Mirror Man," The Human League
35 - "Queen of the Broken Hearts," Loverboy
34 - "Automatic Man," Michael Sembello
33 - "Dr. Heckyll and Mr. Jive," Men at Work
32 - "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye," Dionne Warwick and Luther Vandross
31 - "Tender is the Night," Jackson Browne
We start with some jazz and soul. Vocal group The Manhattan Transfer cracked the Top 40 for the final time with this poppy ode to evening pleasures and "let(ting) the lovin' flow." Okay, but forgettable. And veteran Dionne Warwick teamed up with future fellow legend Luther Vandross for this duet about a couple who just can't quit each other. Not a great song, but those two fantastic voices work well together, and that makes it well worth a listen.
Then we have a couple of British-based groups. JoBoxers were comprised of four former members of a punk band called Subway Sect and an American singer named Dig Wayne. Their only American hit was this bouncy bit of soul-pop about the giddiness of finding love at last. Solid song, but JoBoxers is still a stupid name. And The Human League are back again with this combination of synth-pop and Motownesque soul. The lyrics, about a guy losing touch with reality and becoming more of who he's pretending to be than who he really is, were written about fellow Brit pop star Adam Ant. Interesting to know, but it really has no effect on my impression of the song. It's above-average new wave with a kick.
Next there are a couple of American rock acts. The Stray Cats return from last time with their rockabilly number about teenage kicks. I like this Brian Setzer better than the one that came back on the heels of the swing revival. And Jackson Browne shows up with a midtempo ballad about searching for comfort in the long lonely evenings. He can do much better.
Two artists who had monster hits from the Flashdance soundtrack are here with their follow-up singles. Irene "What a Feeling" Cara had her first non-movie hit with this dance-rocker about being used by a man she was too good for. It has a similar beat to Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl," but honestly, it's not as good a song. And Michael "Maniac" Sembello had his second and last hit about an automaton with an "atomic heart" who "cries electric tears" and was "made to break your heart." Electro-cheese all the way.
This section closes with bands from Canada and Australia. Canucks Loverboy are here with some rock-by-numbers about a lady who toys with men. Much more interesting than the song is the fact that MTV held a contest where the winner would "star" in this video, but the girl who won ended up only appearing in one shot. Bastards. And Men at Work, from the land Down Under, had their last U.S. Top 40 with this bouncy track with a twist on Robert Louis Stevenson's novel about a scientist who drinks a potion that unleashes his darker impulses. This song is silly and throwaway, and that's good enough to take this week's Uneasy Rider.
30 - "Send Her My Love," Journey
29 - "Can't Shake Loose," Agnetha Faltskog
28 - "Foolin'," Def Leppard
27 - "Tell Her About It," Billy Joel
26 - "Church of the Poison Mind," Culture Club
25 - "This Time," Bryan Adams
24 - "Love is a Stranger," Eurythmics
23 - "The Safety Dance," Men Without Hats
22 - "Burning Down the House," Talking Heads
21 - "Crumblin' Down," John Cougar Mellencamp
We'll start with a couple of rock ballads. Journey continue to prove that they were more ubiquitous during this decade than I remember with this number about being too cowardly to check on an old lover one has abandoned. I always knew Steve Perry was a wuss, and this song is appropriately limp. And Def Leppard followed up the two rockers from their blockbuster LP Pyromania by slowing it down a bit. Still a damn fine showing from the Lep. Nice to hear a power ballad that doesn't skimp on the power.
We've got four solo artists in this section. Agnetha Faltskog was one of the "A"s in ABBA, and when they broke up, she naturally went solo. This, her only American hit, is a propulsive dance-rocker about not being able to get over an old lover because "these old shoes keep walking to your door." Maybe it's time for some new kicks, Aggie. Cool song, though, and I'm looking forward to hearing the other "A"'s hit "I Know There's Something Going On" somewhere down the line. Billy Joel is back from our last 1983 excursion with this retro tune encouraging communication. I do remember digging the phony Ed Sullivan video. Bryan Adams had his third American hit with this simple rocker about not giving up on the pursuit of a woman. Not a big fan of Mr. Adams myself. Basically, the only three songs of his that I'd ever consider paying to download would be "Cuts Like a Knife," "Run to You" and "Fits Ya Good." And John Cougar had his first hit after adding tacking his real last name onto his stage moniker with this grinding rocker about the deceptive hangers-on that come with success. I think that's it. Anyway, another strong effort from his early-80s period, which I would say was his artistic peak.
We wind up the first half with four bands that could fit into a box marked "new wave." Boy George and his cohorts continued their run of success this year with this almost gospelly number that I think equates bad relationships with negative religious experience. I'm not sure. But it's catchy and passionately performed, and that's what's important. Eurythmics followed up their introductory smash "Sweet Dreams" with this icy depiction of the dark side of romantic obsession. Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox were an absolutely genius combination. I don't think it's recognized nearly enough how awesome they were. Men Without Hats return with their song about dancing if one wants to and looking at one's hands. Another video that I remember fondly, with the minstrels and the little people. We Canadians are ca-RAAYYY-zeee! And Talking Heads had their only Top Ten with this now-familiar jam whose title was inspired by a chant drummer Chris Frantz heard at a Parliament/Funkadelic concert. The song itself is just a bunch of random phrases sung-shouted by David Byrne to a rubbery funk groove. But somehow, it all adds up to one of the decade's true classics.
Tomorrow: a war zone d'amour, royalty in agony, and ignorance of proper spelling.
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