31 March 1984 Has any other well-known song ever been so fatally undermined by its own promo video as Lionel Richie's 'Hello'? If you've not yet had the pleasure—and it awaits you at the end of these few lines—it features Lionel as a drama teacher who has fallen for a student who is blind. Poor … Continue reading Lionel Richie – ‘Hello’
Category: Uncategorized
Nena – ’99 Red Balloons’
3 March 1984 I think most of us would agree that a nuclear war would be a bad thing. However, I must admit that the threat of ballistic armageddon wasn't a major concern for me in my 1980s Irish childhood. We weren't being taught at school to duck and cover, or build fallout shelters; perhaps … Continue reading Nena – ’99 Red Balloons’
Cyndi Lauper – ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’
18 February 1984 I bet you're as surprised as I am to discover that 'Girls Just Want To Have Fun' was written and originally performed by a man. But yes, 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' was a slightly punkish 1979 track by a Robert Hazard, and the spelling isn't the only difference. Hazard's version is … Continue reading Cyndi Lauper – ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’
Queen – ‘Radio Ga Ga’
11 February 1984 'Radio Ga Ga' got to number one in Ireland, but in the UK it stalled at number two behind Frankie Goes To Hollywood's 'Relax'. A comparison is telling. Frankie and 'Relax' are exciting, funny, subversive, forward-looking, and innovative. Queen have never been any of those things, and their popularity has always bored … Continue reading Queen – ‘Radio Ga Ga’
Shakin’ Stevens and Bonnie Tyler – ‘A Rockin’ Good Way’
4 February 1984 Uh-oh. I don't know this one, and I'm not looking forward to making its acquaintance. As usual, I will listen to it for the first time LIVE as I write this. The pairing of Wales' next-biggest pop stars—Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey evidently being unavailable—promises to be a terrible mis-match of Bonnie's … Continue reading Shakin’ Stevens and Bonnie Tyler – ‘A Rockin’ Good Way’
Paul McCartney – ‘Pipes Of Peace’
21 January 1984 Okay, so 'Ebony And Ivory' didn't work out so well. But here's Paul McCartney with another attempt at his own 'Imagine'-esque signature anthem. What's more, it's about peace, because it's not just John who can write songs about peace, y'know! For added effect, this was released in early December 1983 and the … Continue reading Paul McCartney – ‘Pipes Of Peace’
The Flying Pickets – ‘Only You’
17 December 1983 Congratulations to anyone in early 1983 who predicted that the year's Christmas number one in the UK and Ireland would be an a cappella version of a 1982 synth-pop hit performed by a group of flamboyantly-dressed socialist actors named after their previous participation in industrial strike action. The Yazoo original, kept off … Continue reading The Flying Pickets – ‘Only You’
Paul Young – ‘Love Of The Common People’
3 December 1983 Fans of Irish TV and Irish athletics might recognise this from the 1983 episode of Reeling in the Years as the soundtrack to Eamonn Coghlan, Ireland's star runner of the time, kicking off the final bend to win the World 5000 metres gold in Helsinki. I was a bit too young to … Continue reading Paul Young – ‘Love Of The Common People’
Billy Joel – ‘Uptown Girl’
12 November 1983 Normally I'd sooner listen to roadworks than to a Billy Joel record, but I have time for 'Uptown Girl'. For one thing, back in 1983 its squarely retro sound meant it was one of the rare current-day hits that got played on whatever radio shows my parents would have on in the … Continue reading Billy Joel – ‘Uptown Girl’
Tracey Ullman – ‘They Don’t Know’
29 October 1983 In an ideal world we'd be talking about Kirsty MacColl's number one single 'They Don't Know', both here and every Christmas. However, for a combination of reasons (manufacturing strikes in England, record label tensions, lack of promotion) the 1979 release of her own track didn't even chart in the UK or Ireland. … Continue reading Tracey Ullman – ‘They Don’t Know’
