Posted By William Heise on July 26, 2010

There are several reasons I prefer the 80s over the 70s. Perhaps the most important was that I missed the high point of the 80s electronic music. This was on account of my having lived through the 70s, with its sappy music.

I was paying attention in the 70s. But by the 80s, I dropped out of the music culture entirely and turned myself to books, which I read obsessively. I didn’t even have a television so I didn’t know about the revolution of MTV, and so I didn’t think about it very much.

Every once in a while, a piece of music would capture my attention. Of those that did, here are the most important:

1) Golden Earring’s “Twilight Zone”

I saw this video at my friends’ house only once, but it stuck with me, probably because it was the first video I had ever seen. I remember more bullets slicing through more cards.

2) A Flock Of Seagulls’ “I Ran”

This was the second video I ever saw. It was on a visit to see one of my friends at college.

I was intrigued by this video, probably because I was not aware that that hairstyle had become so popular.

3) Jan Hammer’s “Theme From Miami Vice”

I never actually saw the third video, but I was aware of Jan Hammer from his work with Jeff Beck and in the Mahavishnu Orchestra, which I had been introduced to by Leroy Plock. His work on Miami Vice was an extension of his work in the progressive band, but far more accessible to the general public. I also thought that it was extremely interesting that he was not only playing the keyboards on the keyboards, but also the drums and everything else. That was not possible on the sort of synthesizer that Leroy had in 1981. I still like this song for that reason.

4) Madonna’s “Material Girl”

The first time I saw a video that made me take notice of the video, and not the music, was Madonna’s “Material Girl.” I’m still impressed with the video. Less so with its creator.

5) Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s “Relax”

I really enjoyed this song in the late 80s in spite of not listening to radio. The guy above me played only one album for the entire semester (The Big Chill) when I went back to college, so I would go out walking. As I walked, people were always playing this song:

Perhaps you’re thinking that I should have been warned that people in the 80s were playing terrible music and that I should have known better, but I was but 3 and 20, and O ’tis true, ’tis true.

Categories: What I'm Listening to This Week
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