Back to the Eighties: Crash

Original video located here. Accessed 7th January 2023

Song title: Crash

Artist: Primitives

Year: 1988

Why I like this song:

This song is further evidence to my hypotheses that the music of the late eighties was already providing signposts to what was going to happen in the following decade. In fact, if you played this to someone who hadn't heard it before they would think that it was a nineties song. But no: It's a still an eighties song.

It would be easy to consign this song to the bin of One Hit Wonders but what a song! It's pop perfection with a brief run time, snappy guitars and a singalong chorus. Lightening in a Bottle? One would think so

And to think I would never have heard of it if I didn't purchase Lego Rock Band XD

Back to the Eighties: Better Be Home Soon

Original video located here. Accessed 6th January 2023

Song title: Better Be Home Soon

Artist: Crowded House

Year: 1988

Why I like this song:

Previously, I mentioned being, at the time, completely oblivious to the superstar status of Michael Jackson. Because, in my young mind, these guys seemed to be biggest pop-stars I could think of. Their music was everywhere, everyone seemed to know them and the songs were truly unforgettable.

And years later, and no matter how many times I've heard this, this song still has magic. It is also a testament to Neil Finn's pop smarts, being able to latch onto something that speaks to many people. Granted the cynic in me would maintain that everyone would gravitate to the line "I know that I'm right / For the first time in my life" but whatever: This song still rules.

Back to the Eighties: Back on the Chain Gang

Original video located here. Accessed 5th January 2023

Song title: Back on the Chain Gang

Artist: Pretenders

Year: 1984

Why I like this song:

It may be synonymous as a 'song to do work to' (and I have certainly utilised it as such) but at the same time it's another song that seems impervious to age.

Back to the Eighties: Before Too Long

Original video located here. Accessed 4th January 2023

Song title: Before Too Long

Artist: Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls

Year: 1986

Why I like this song:

Another case of a song that never gets old no matter how many times I've played it (and believe you me I have tried).

For my non-Australian readers, the US has Bob Dylan, Canada has Neil Young but we in Australia have this guy: A prolific song writer of considerable distinction who has pumped out many a memorable song.

And for me, this song is indeed a well crafted one, with standouts being the immediacy of the opening, the guitar solo, the piano throughout and the striking line: "Every Dog will have it's day / Any dog can win"

Also, watching this video I can't help but think: a) Wow Paul looks young there and b) Wow Paul has hair

Back to the Eighties: Here Comes Your Man

Original video located here. Accessed 3rd January 2023

Song title: Here Comes Your Man

Artist: Pixies

Year: 1989

Why I like this song:

It may not be the best representation of the Pixies' music. It may be quite uncharacteristic of them to go pop. It may not be liked by the band themselves. But what this song does, it does well. And it proves the notion that once you have snappy bassline you can get away with anything

Back to the Eighties: Holiday in Cambodia

Original video located here. Accessed 2nd January 2023

Song title: Holiday in Cambodia

Artist: Dead Kennedys

Year: 1980

Why I like this song:

Will punk music ever die? As long as there are angry teenagers, probably not.

Like any teenager, I was into punk. I got into via the nineties wave (ie Green Day and the Offspring) so it was inevitable that i would eventually reach the foundation stones of the genre (ie Sex Pistols, Clash, Ramones). And in amongst that clutch lay this band: One that took the punk template and upped both the sarcasm and intensity. And in that sense, how could i refuse?

Truly this is fascinating with it's corrupted brand of surf rock guitar, doom-laden bass line and the gleefully demented vocals. In fact, nothing quite matches it over four decades later.

Back to the Eighties: Could You be the One

Original video located here. Accessed 1st January 2023

Song title: Could You be the One

Artist: Husker Du

Year: 1987

Why I like this song:

Behold: A band that walked so the Pixies (and subsequently Nirvana) could run

In recent years I've shown an interest in the work of Bob Mould so it is with no surprise that I would eventually come to the band he was a part of in the eighties.

So where do I start with this one? Like many other songs on this list it sounds out of step with the cliche sound of the eighties. It has more energy packed in those two and half minutes that other bands can only dream of. It is a pop song par excellence. It has aged better than a lot of other songs that came out the same year. It's frigging brilliant