Back to the Eighties: Blush

Original video located here. Accessed 15th January 2023

Song title: Blush

Artist: The Hummingbirds

Year: 1989

Why I like this song:

Sometimes you remember the exact time and place when you hear something new. Such is the case here.

It was in 2002 (!). I was listening to weekend Triple J as they were doing a yearly retrospective for Aus Music month, with a song for ever year from 1975 to the then present. And this song stood in for 1989.

At the time I knew of all the other artists on said retrospective but these guys were the lone exception. And upon hearing this song I had one of those moments: "Who's this?! This song's fantastic!".

Given that this is from 1989 I would've been aware of Blush but no: It is only years I find out about it.

But who cares if I was late to the party? This song rocks hard and is, once again, an indication of what was to happen in the decade ahead. The guitars are superb, the male/female vocals are to die for and the singalong aspect is wonderful. It has an immediacy other songs can only dream of and truly a gem among pop songs.

Its just a shame it isn't as fondly remembered as other songs from the era.

Obituary: Word Gets Around

Original video located here. Accessed 21st July 2017

Song title: Word Gets Around

Artist: Hummingbirds

Year: 1989

Why I like this song:

R.I.P. Simon Holmes

Its doubtful that this band will ever get recognition they deserve: at a time when the walls between mainstream and alternative music were beginning to break down, these guys began drawing attention to the Australian alternative scene.
It is therefore unfortunate that they will most likely never be mentioned in the upper echelon of Australian bands. I mean, how can you refuse a pure pop gem such as this? 
So here's to you Simon. Rest assured that your song did reach an audience and will not be forgotten.

Explorations: It's a Shame About Ray

Original video located here. Accessed 17th April 2022

Song title: It's a Shame About Ray

Artist: The Lemonheads

Year: 1992

Why I like this song:

Lately I have been listening to the Lemonheads. 

I do recall these guys being a big deal in the mid-nineties and even that was off the back of the winning single If I Could Talk. But for whatever reason I never investigated further. 
Recently however I have heard the above song for the first time and it did pique my interest. It may sound very much like a early nineties guitar pop band but it wouldn't be that much of a stretch to imagine many bands hearing this and think: 'Hey I can do that too'.

As for this songs parent album, of the same name, one gets the feeling that it defined guitar pop of the early nineties. In fact, it doesn't surprise me that the Lemonheads had close ties with the Australian band the Hummingbirds as they both sound like they were cut from the same cloth.