The Eighties Online

Michael Jackson’s 1983 hit, ‘Billie Jean’ is the best ever dance record - according to listeners to BBC Radio 2. I don’t want to be controversial here, but I must say that I can’t figure out how the heck Billie Jean won out over Donna Summer’s 1977 disco classic, ‘I Feel Love’, which came in at number 2.

OK, so I Feel Love may be a ‘70s song but, in my view, it really set the trends for the ‘80s by blending a hard core synth track (which had hitherto been the province of techno bands such as Kraftwerk) with crooning disco vocals (which had previously normally been sunk to a funk band or orchestral backing). In fact, ‘I Feel Love’ was not only the greatest disco song ever but was also one of the most influential pop songs. So, while Jackson may have won the vote, I am going to play Donna Summer’s wonderful I Feel love…

BBC Story HERE

Billie Jean Is The Top Dance Record
80s Community Blogs

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Ahh the Thompson Twins - iconic 80’s music band. Who could forget Hold Me Now and Doctor! Doctor!

In preparation for this article, I did a bit of research on the band and found a few facts that I did not know about them.

The band, named after the bumbling detectives from Herge’s TinTin, first formed in 1977. Although this site is 80’s based, the band didn’t get famous until the 80’s.

Tom Bailey was a part of the original lineup. Arriving in London, The ‘twins’ had very little money and lived as squatters. Allanah Currie, who joined the Thompson Twins later was also a squatter and that was how they first met. Joe Leeway joined the twins in 1981 when the first album was recorded. Even though Currie had sang on the their first album (a product of…..participation), she was not classed as a full member of the group.

The group became famous by hitting the UK Singles chart and US billboard 100 in 1983 with their songs Lies and Love on your side.

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Rumoured to be planning Wham! reunion… The 80s Updated 30 Jul 2008
GEORGE MICHAEL
80s Hits

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The Regeneration Tour 2008 begins tonight at the Dodge Theater in Phoenix, Arizona. The 22-date concert series across North America runs through August 31st and will feature ABC, Belinda Carlisle, A Flock of Seagulls, The Human League and Naked Eyes playing their classics. Revenge of the 80s Radio plans to cover the August 22nd appearance at Jones Beach on Long Island.

Mike Score of A Flock of Seagulls recently talked with us; that discussion will be played on the August 8th show. We had already spoken with Martin Fry of ABC and The Human League’s Phil Oakey over the past month. Many of these bands are working on new projects: Among them: Martin Fry’s latest solo album, Traffic, was recently released in the U.K, Score is working on a solo CD and has planned one with his new Seagulls lineup.

Information on tickets and concert dates is available on the Regeneration Tour website. It also has an internet forum available.

We will also keep you up to date on the latest Regeneration Tour news on Revenge of the 80s Radio.

The Regeneration Tour Kicks Off Today
80s Hits

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It was August 1, 1981 when the first all-music video cable TV channel was born.

As the popularity of video programs on some cable and network stations was rising, MTV made history while taking advantage of this trend.

They led off with the 1979 hit “Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Trevor Horn-led Buggles (from the album The Age of Plastic).

Among America’s new celebrities were the VJs: Martha Quinn, Nina Blackwood, JJ Jackson, Mark Goodman and Alan Hunter.

More would come in later years, but these were the originals. MTV was a huge boon for New Wave music.

Bands quickly learned how to make the most of all the publicity they were getting from their well-produced videos that those

mini-movies turned many songs that would go otherwise unplayed by mainstream radio into major hits.

In a past interview Stan Ridgway referred to MTV’s role in Wall of Voodoo’s success as people who saw the videos called radio stations requesting artists like them, Missing Persons, The Little Girls, Berlin and others that they were “forced to play them” (When I was doing all-talk radio, I would always say that the market should decide what’s played instead of a bunch of industry suits and their inadequate “market tests”).

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The new album from Rick Springfield, “Venus in Overdrive”, is available now! With a collection of 100% original songs, this album should prove to be a nice reprise of that 80s feel of songs like Jessie’s Girl and I’ve Done Everything for You.

Springfield’s music is pretty straight forward, but he’s always been a pretty good live performer. the girls love rick too.

What more do you need? A great 80s rock album. Take a listen at I-Tunes and let us know what you think of Rick’s new album.

Rick Springfield Live

Rick Springfield Album Cover Image

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The BBC has an interview with Duran’s John Taylor.

Simon LeBon and John Taylor

John on an ‘average day’ on the road: “We like saunas and steams.”

On partying: “I’m not a big party head. It takes so much energy.”

And on whether Duran Duran has been asked to do Glastonbury: “No.”

And just to get into a Duranie mood, here’s Hungry Like The Wolf…

John Taylor - No Glastonbury Shock, Horror!
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The 80s: a decade where the music was grand.

Everything about the eighties is still very much in my blood, the clothes, the hair, the music, the cars, everything.

If you’re a pop music freak, or a lover of 80’s culture, then you should find something to your liking here.

Though much of the music was inspired by punk rock, only a fraction of it sounded much like that aggressive, revolutionary format.

College rock is a blanket term used to refer to early alternative music of the ’80s that found its radio home on college stations with an eclectic, independent philosophy.

With their unique blend of soul, pop, rock and folk, Hall & Oates made accessible, melodic music that has stood the test of time far better than most of their hitmaker contemporaries.

Anyone silly enough to suggest that the ’80s boasted largely fleeting and forgettable music need only turn to British rocker and master musician Elvis Costello, one of rock history?s most enduring and versatile talents.

Today’s bestselling music
1.		Album: Nostradamus Artist: Judas Priest product details | product reviews | browse the store

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