The (New) Romantic 80s

So….here we are in the 1980s with an incredible period of popular music mostly associated, but not exclusively coupled with, The New Romantic era. One thing that can’t be denied is that it was an era of high fashion, influenced in no small part by the “Glam Rock” stars such as David Bowie and Mark Bolan, and an era of FANTASTIC dance tunes. To this day, if I go to a party and some of these tracks play I end up with a partially slipped disc. I love it though.

Not all of these bands are New Romantics. Ultravox and Depeche Mode would, I think, be better labelled Synth Pop and Yes are definitely a Prog Rock band, although in the period of their mid 1980s rebirth they certainly flirted with the mainstream rock of FM Radio and AOR.

However, the music is what it is and I hope you agree that some of these tunes are outstanding examples of the popular music of the time.

”Head over Heels” is a song recorded by British band Tears for Fears for their second studio album Songs from the Big Chair (1985). The song features Roland Orzabal on lead vocals, with Curt Smith singing a couple of lines in the background during the second verse. These guys are blessed with truly fantastic voices.

“The Look of Love” is a song by English band ABC, released as a single in 1982. It was the band’s highest charting hit in the UK, peaking at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. It was included on their debut studio album, The Lexicon of Love. Put on your boaters and dance……………….such fun!!!!!

“The Reflex” is the eleventh single by Duran Duran, released worldwide on 16 April 1984. The song was heavily remixed for single release and was the third and last to be taken from their third album Seven and the Ragged Tiger. “The Reflex” became the band’s most successful single. It was their second single to top the UK Singles Chart, after “Is There Something I Should Know? This is definitely one of my favourite songs from this decade and makes me want to dance whenever I hear it, or even think about it.

“Dancing with Tears in My Eyes” is the second single from Lament, Ultravox’s seventh studio album, released in 1984. The single effectively put Ultravox back on the map, peaking at no. 3 in the UK Singles Chart, and reaching the top 10 in several European countries. The song also entered the Australian and Canadian Top 75 but failed to chart in the US. It has a great vocal from Midge Are, the man who with Bob Geldof put together Live Aid.

“People Are People” is Depeche Mode’s 10th UK single, and was recorded at Hansa Mischraum in West Berlin, and released on 12 March 1984. It was their first hit single in the US and the first single from the Some Great Reward album. The video was, in part, filmed aboard HMS Belfast on the river Thames. Funnily enough the song isn’t much liked by most of the band but its success proves that the fans think otherwise. Artists can be very self critical at times.

“Doctor! Doctor!” is a song performed by the British pop group Thompson Twins. It is the second single from the band’s fourth studio album, Into the Gap (1984). It was written by Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie and Joe Leeway, and prominently features a keyboard solo. Following the successful chart performances of the Into the Gap single “Hold Me Now”, “Doctor! Doctor!” was released in the UK on 27 January 1984 as the album’s second single. The single peaked at #3 in the United Kingdom and #11 in the United States in July 1984. The song also peaked at #18 on the US Dance chart in the same year, and the Top 20 in Canada, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Dance on kiddies.

The final selection is ”Owner of a Lonely Heart”, a song by British progressive rock band Yes. It is the first track and single from their eleventh studio album 90125, released in November 1983. Written primarily by guitarist and singer Trevor Rabin, contributions were made to the final version by singer Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, and producer Trevor Horn. The story of the band at this point in their career is very complicated and could be a subject for a future post.

Tears For Fears – Head Over Heels