Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Roller Skating...

I've been wearing a new pair of boots lately and they feel bulky and heavy...much like roller skates did when I was a kid. Wow, it's been forever since I've roller skated. I think I'd like to try it again next time I have extra money laying around.

I really liked skating around the hardwood floor of our local roller rink at night. It was really fun living just a block from the place. I remember going every chance I could. I went for various reasons...the feel of the wind blowing past me as I moved (not so) effortlessly around the floor; meeting new people (specifically girls); and finally (obviously the most compelling), the lights and the music.

It was great to be out getting exercise while listening to all of my favorites. I liked when the DJ would put on a slow song and turn the lights down low and announce that it was a "couples skate." I couldn't skate during those, but I did get to hear the music and see the lights.  They did have all boys skates and all girls skates.

Every night, I watched people do the Limbo ("Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack go under Limbo stick!")  I also remember watching other cool skate tricks like "the whip" when people would join hands and try to throw the farthest person to the outside of the rink.  "Shoot the duck" (where you skate while sitting on your back skate with your other foot stretched in front of you), and also backwards skating.  None of these did I do, (because I was too chicken) but it was really fun to watch.

I even remember the stage at the back of the roller rink (which was never used, but could have been.) Wow, what a cool memory. Sure my hands and knees were sore after every night of it, but, hey, it was worth it!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Top 5 Songs...

I thought it would be interesting to find a list of the top songs through the years that define the decade we remember so well. So, according to Billboard Records, here they are...the top 5 songs for each year of the 80s. I hope it brings back good memories for you, as it did for me while compiling it.

From 1980:
Blondie - Call Me
Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall
Olivia Newton-John - Magic
Michael Jackson - Rock With You
Captain & Tennille - Do That To Me One More Time

From 1981:
Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes
Diana Ross/Lionel Richie - Endless Love
Kenny Rogers - Lady
John Lennon - (Just Like) Starting Over
Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl

From 1982:
Olivia Newton-John - Physical
Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Love Rock N' Roll
Paul McCartney/Stevie Wonder - Ebony And Ivory
J. Geils Band - Centerfold

From 1983:
Police - Every Breath You Take
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Irene Cara - Flashdance...What A Feeling
Men At Work - Down Under
Michael Jackson - Beat It

From 1984:
Prince & The Revolution - When Doves Cry
Tina Turner - What's Love Got To Do With It
Paul McCartney/Michael Jackson - Say Say Say
Kenny Loggins - Footloose
Phil Collins - Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)

From 1985:
Wham!/George Michael - Careless Whisper
Madonna - Like A Virgin
Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is
Chaka Khan - I Feel For You

From 1986:
Dionne Warwick & Friends - That's What Friends Are For
Lionel Richie - Say You, Say Me
Klymaxx - I Miss You
Patti LaBelle/Michael McDonald - On My Own
Mr. Mister - Broken Wings

From 1987:
Bangles - Walk Like An Egyptian
Heart - Alone
Gregory Abbott - Shake You Down
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now

From 1988:
George Michael - Faith
INXS - Need You Tonight
George Harrison - Got My Mind Set On You
Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine

From 1989:
Chicago - Look Away
Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
Poison - Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Paula Abdul - Straight Up
Janet Jackson - Miss You Much

Friday, October 31, 2008

Music From Movies...

The other day I found myself thinking of all the songs from movie soundtracks that I could think of. It was a fun little game I played for a good few minutes while driving to or from work. So, "Sherman, set the wayback machine to the awesome 80's..." and we'll revisit some of those songs from soundtracks in the past.

Footloose: I owned the soundtrack to this one, so I'm a little biased. It was also filmed in Utah County where I grew up and spent pretty much all of the 20th century. But this soundtrack featured Deneice Williams singing Let's Hear it For the Boy, Kenny Loggins sang the title track, Shalimar pressented Dancing in the Sheets and Mike and Ann Wilson sang Almost Paradise.

Top Gun: This movie produced a few different songs, like Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins and Take My Breath Away by Berlin.

Mannequin: Nothin's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship.

Breakfast Club: Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds.

Vision Quest: I can't say I remember this movie much at all, but I do remember Crazy For You by Madonna extremely well (as it conjures memories of the Heber Creeper and 6th grade!)

Back to the Future: One of my very favorite movies featuring Huey Lewis and the News singing The Power of Love.

Ghostbusters: Ray Parker, Jr. gave us the theme song. A nice little Halloween treat.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

School Dances...

I remember my first school dance like it was yesterday. I was in 6th grade at Springville Middle School. I walked into the corner of the school gymnasium to find all the girls were on one side against the wall, and all the boys were on the opposite side, also against the wall. As awkward as it was, the music was cool!

See, my sister was 18 at the time, so she always had cool music playing in her room. So, I knew a lot of the songs they were playing already. But they sounded a LOT better when played at a school dance. They were always so loud. We couldn't help but have those memories engrained in our memories forever.

I especially remember You're the Inspiration by Chicago and Crazy for You by Madonna. We knew how to slow dance...and these were the songs I could dance to with Marianne Harris...my first big crush. So, crank up the volume and listen to these ballads from school dances.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

One Hit Wonders...

It seemed that there were a lot of singles that were released that weren't ever followed up with a charting single in the 80's. (I wouldn't say that this is limited to the 80's, but the hits were just so cool and memorable.) These artists became affectionately termed "One Hit Wonders." Here are just a few examples: (Watch the videos at your own risk.)

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Kasey Kasem...

The voice that brought the highlights of 80's music to my home was Kasey Kasem doing the American Top 40 radio countdown ("Billboard ranks them, and we count them down..." AT40 "can be heard every week around the world on great radio stations like...KCPX Power 99 in Salt Lake City, Utah...") What a distinguishable voice too! I think he became one of my role models and inspired my interest in broadcasting.

I remember when he would do the top 100 songs of the year on New Year's Eve. My mom and I would listen to (and write down) every song (title and artist). Yes, my Mom is responsible for "My Obsession" with music, because I was "Raised on Radio." She would be the person in my "Request and Dedication" if I were to do one. In the meantime, I'll "Keep my feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars."

Big Hair in Music...

Hairstyles in the 80's were definately memorable. If you need a refresher, think of Cyndi Lauper, Boy George of Culture Club, or Brett Michaels of Poison to name just a few. Even Michael Jackson had a wild style (before it got burned filming a Pepsi commercial!) To really get a good idea, check out these music videos from the 80's:

Hot Pink...

Remember when hot pink was cool?  I know I do.  It was everywhere!  "That was a time some time ago..." when clothes were cool, TV shows and movies were fun and memorable, and the music was wonderful!  Maybe because we were young, maybe because it was fun, or maybe because those were the days to remember.

I miss them for sure, so I thought I'd create a blog to reminisce about them!  Where better for the memories of the decade of decadence than a blog aptly named...Flashbacks!