26 May 1984 Post-disco, R n' B-originating, Prince-influenced synth-pop: that's what it is. As for why it is, I'm less certain. 'Automatic' feels less a song than a keyboard setting; the lyrics even lean gleefully into the whole circuitry-systems conceit. Ruth Pointer's contralto is an interesting lead vocal choice, and in truth the only item … Continue reading The Pointer Sisters – ‘Automatic’ →

12 May 1984 I have a lot of time for Duran Duran, and I think most '80s kids and pop fans do too. At their best they made brilliant singles like 'Planet Earth', 'Girls On Film', 'Hungry Like The Wolf', 'Notorious', and 'A View To A Kill': over the top and fairly daft, for sure, … Continue reading Duran Duran – ‘The Reflex’ →

28 April 1984 I've not seen the movie Against All Odds, but I assume from the title song that it's about a woman who finally has enough of her man's middle-aged, passive-aggressive, cry-baby sulking, and leaves him to his Ford Mondeo and his Top Gear DVDs and his Phil Collins CDs. Later cover versions will … Continue reading Phil Collins – ‘Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)’ →

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’ →

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’ →

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’ →

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’ →

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’ →

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’ →