I just read online that the United States is experiencing the highest unemployment rate since late 1983, with 663,000 jobs lost this March alone. Very scary stuff.
And the unemployment rate is not the only thing reminiscent of 1983 (and the early 1980s). If you've watched VH1 recently you know what I mean. (Btw, VH1 is currently hyping "The 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the '80s." I rest my case.)
Maybe there is some strange correlation between the new unemployment figures (and a crap economy) and the surge in new wave music (or what some people I know refer to as "technocrap").
Need some convincing?
Just compare this song by the Ting Tings
and/or Lady Gaga's "Poker Face"
to
the Missing Persons
and/or
Berlin
What's next, remakes of Ghostbusters, Romancing the Stone, Spinal Tap, and Footloose? (Actually, Footloose is being remade, starring Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford in the Kevin Bacon role. And the lads from Spinal Tap recently announced they were going on tour.)
I'm not sure if I want to relive the 1980s, but I can always find the time for a little Thompson Twins.
Lies, lies, lies, yeah. (They're gonna get you.)
AND NOW WE BRING YOU THIS VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: For those of us new-wave-loving fools who grew up in NYC or the NYC area in the early 1980s, there was only one radio station, WLIR, 92.7 on your FM dial, which (sadly) went off the air in December 1987, but was resurrected soon after as WDRE -- until 92.7 was acquired by Univision in 2004. However, I have just learned (okay, I'm a little slow) that WLIR lives, just on 107.1! SQUEEEE.
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7 comments:
I realize that the comment I'm about to make will upset this blog's readership, which is likely overwhelmingly made up of the first gen MTV crowd (of which I clearly am not).
I'm happy to say that I proudly didn't own a TV during those glorious years (and yes that meant going to other people's houses to watch Phil Simms and the champion Jints).
And yes, I did watch a bunch of the VH1 One Hit Wonders piece last night... and per the writers of the song "I'm Turning Japanese" is not about what you think it was about :-)
"Technocrap"?! Names and home addresses, please.
Okay, hang on there!
Berlin’s Metro is one of my favourite songs of ALL TIME!
You’re not ragging on THAT song, are you???
Techno GENIUS is what you meant to say, isn’t it?!
Keep your knickers on, Anonymous. Am absolutely NOT ragging on that song. I LOVED BERLIN. I was trying to make the point that all these "new" artists aren't really peddling anything new. The old "there's nothing new under the sun" thing.
I actually like ALL the songs I featured.
Btw, I have no idea what Kendor means about "Turning Japanese." I thought it was about, um, turning Japanese.
I heart the 80's. Not so much my velour sweater collection though...
Oooo, velour....
J. I've been wathcing the 1 hit wonders this week as well (in fact, enjoying it right now).
I love the techno music and admit, really enjoy Lady Gaga's stuff.
Thanks for a Dee-Liteful post...Groove IS in the Heart (yeah, whatever, 1990 is close enough).
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