Blog Archives
FlinterFile: Depeche Mode- Everything Counts
In 1983, Depeche Mode was a famous name. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Agnetha Faltskog- Can’t Shake Loose
Agnetha Fältskog (from ABBA) released her first solo album in English in 1983. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: U2- New Year’s Day
U2 had their first hit in the US with this song in 1983. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Billy Joel- Goodnight Saigon
Billy Joel wrote a political song in 1983. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Pat Benatar- Love Is A Battlefield
With this song, Pat Benatar prooved that not only love is a battlefield. Making songs is too. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Robin Gibb- Juliet
Robin Gibb was part of the BeeGees, but also released some solo records. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Men Without Hats- Safety Dance
The Men Without Hats released this song in 1983 as the second single from their album Rhythm of Youth. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Kajagoogoo- Too Shy
With this song Kajagoogoo made a successful debut in 1983. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Spandau Ballet- Pleasure
Spandau Ballet released their album True in 1983. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Powerplay- I Am Falling
The band Powerplay was a Dutch band with some success in the eighties. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Booker Newbury III- Love Town
Booker Newberry III started his solo career in 1983. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Prince- Little Red Corvette
In 1983, Prince released the album 1999. Apart from the title track, this also was a big hit from that album. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Dayton- The Sound Of Music
In 1983, Dayton had its biggest hit in the UK. The band was formed in 1980 by a member of Sun and a member of Over Night Low. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: The Rolling Stones- Undercover Of The Night
In 1983, the Rolling Stones released one of their few political songs. Mick Jagger, who wrote the song, was particularly inspired by the book Cities of the red night, which was about government repression. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Michael Sembello- Maniac
In 1983, Dennis Matkosky and Michael Sembello wrote a big hit for the movie Flashdance. The whole song started with Matkosky watching the movie Maniac, which was about a serial killer. The song he wrote was inappropriate for the movie, but thanks to Phil Ramone, who heard the song and wanted it to be used for Flashdance, the lyrics were changed. He produced the song and the movie made it a big hit, number 1 in the US! Enjoy
Michael Sembello- Maniac
FlinterFile: The Motels- Suddenly Last Summer
In 1983, the Motels had one of their few hits. The song was written by Martha Davis, who says the story behind the song is quite complex. She wrote it at 3 A.M., when she woke up with the idea of the song. It has to do with the feeling of melancholy, which comes over someone when they realise they can’t go back in time. For Martha Davis was the moment that she sat in the garden of her first house, and heard the ice cream van for the last time in summer, such a moment. The melody of the ice cream van was the basis for the melody of the song, the text almost wrote itself. It became a number 9 hit in the US, reaching number 1 in the Rock chart. Enjoy
The Motels- Suddenly Last Summer
FlinterFile: Tom Robinson- Listen To The Radio (Atmospherics)
In 1983, Tom Robinson released the song which ment his return to the music scene. He wrote it as an autobiographical song, which tells the story of his success he had in the seventies. However, his band Sector 27 was a disaster, which gave a lot of money problems. Tom Robinson went to Hamburg, and later to East Berlin, escaping the taxman and staying under the radar, learning German. He played with a band, and a few years later came back with this song, written with Peter Gabriel, and it was played a lot on the radio. Eventually it ended on number 39 in the UK chart. Enjoy
Tom Robinson- Listen To The Radio (Atmospherics)
Song of the day: Frank Stallone- Far From Over
In 1983, Saturday Night Fever got a sequel. John Travolta and Sylvester Stallone were the stars in the movie, which, well, flopped. The younger brother of Sylvester Stallone grabbed a guitar (as you can see) and sang one of the songs in the movie, which did become a big hit: number 10 in the US. Enjoy
Frank Stallone- Far From Over
Song of the day: The Romantics- Talking In Your Sleep
In 1983, the Romantics released their single Talking In Your Sleep. The song was the last one left to record, but only an instrumental track. With a bit of work, it was finished in a couple of days, including the video, which was shot in the early morning. In the US, it was their only top 10 hit, charting on number 3. In the UK, it never charted, but a cover by Bucks Fizz charted at number 15… Enjoy
The Romantics- Talking In Your Sleep
Song of the day: The The- Uncertain Smile
In 1983, The The released the album Soul Mining. The band started with an advertisement that Matt Johnson placed in the NME. When Matt Johnson finally had a band, he recorded a song similar to Uncertain Smile, then named Cold Spell Ahead in 1981. One year later, under contract of Epic, they re-recorded the song. It has a saxophone solo in it, which was replaced by a piano solo on the album Soul Mining, as there was a piano in the studio that had to be used. The result was number 68 in the UK. Enjoy
The The- Uncertain Smile
Song of the day: Split Enz- Message To My Girl
In 1983, Split Enz released one of their last hits. Neil Finn wrote the song for his wife, who he had married the year before. After releasing another album, Split Enz really split and Neil Finn formed Crowded House with Tim Finn and Paul Hester. In the clip of this song, Paul Hester already joined the group. The song became a number 6 hit in Australia, and number 28 in their home-country New Zealand. Enjoy
Split Enz- Message To My Girl
Song of the day: Rita Coolidge- All Time High
Another James Bond theme song today, one from the movie Octopussy, released in 1983. The music was written by John Barry (who normally composes the music, though not for For Your Eyes Only) and the lyrics were written by Tim Rice. Before Rita Coolidge was chosen, another singer was on the radar: Mari Wilson. She did not become the singer, since she had not enough potential for the US market, since she was British… Laura Branigan also was an option, but Laura Broccoli wanted Rita Coolidge after playing some records by her. Enjoy
Rita Coolidge- All Time High
Song of the day: KC & The Sunshine Band- Give It Up
Today it’s Saturday! And this means: disco! Or, since it is a song from 1983, it is maybe post-disco. However, you can’t say KC & The Sunshine Band without saying disco, so let’s say it is disco. This song meant the comeback for KC & The Sunshine Band, because they did not have hits for a few years. This song went to number 18 in the US, and in August 1983 it was a real summer hit, since it was number 1!!! You already know what to do: get dancing to
KC & The Sunshine Band- Give It Up
Song of the day: Bow Wow Wow- Do You Wanna Hold Me
Another eighties classic today! It was started by Malcolm McLaren, and the frontperson of the band was Annabella Lwin, who was discovered when she was only 14 years old! She later made some solosongs, but the real success lay in Bow Wow Wow. Let the music speak and enjoy
Bow Wow Wow- Do You Wanna Hold Me?
Song of the day: Tim Finn- Fraction Too Much Friction
Yes, this is an oldfashioned and typical eighties song. And I must say, it makes me very happy if I hear it. Thereby, I can sing it along, word after word. That is not always to the liking of my family, but who cares? It’s a sign that I’m happy, and who would like me to be unhappy? Exactly, nobody! And that’s why I’m putting this song on again, singing out loud and enjoying every moment:
Tim Finn- Fraction Too Much Friction
Song of the day: Belle Stars- Sign Of The Times
I must say that I’ve doubted a long time about putting this record forward as song of the day, but then I thought: Who cares? Tomorrow there’s another song, and if they like it, it’s good that I’ve put forward this song. They were British, and they had just one big hit. It’s happy, so enjoy
The Belle Stars- Sign Of The Times
Song of the day: New Order- Blue Monday
Lately, I’ve been watching a programme, where they told where New Order came from. I must confess: I fell of the couch (almost) when they told what origin they had. Punk, Joy Division to be exact. A PUNK group, who decided to make synthesizer music and dance after the suicide of their frontman Ian Curtis. I wasn’t expecting that, I can tell you that much. But what does it matter? As New Order, they had one big hit which I find very good, and it was a big hit in 1983! Enjoy
New Order- Blue Monday (full 7 minutes!)
Song of the day: Jimmy Cliff- Reggae Night
Let’s put in some sunny reggae to relax a bit! I love this song, since it really brings up the summer in me!
And guess what? Made in 1983, so… eighties music = good music!
I don’t know what I should say about this song, it’s self-explaining!
Listen and enjoy Reggae Night!
And you can still vote for the Summer Song of the Day Top 20!>>>>
Song of the day: Arrow- Hot Hot Hot
Pfff… you want summer, but now it turns to the other side: very hot! Maybe we will reach the 38 decrees C, and with that temperatures I don’t function very good.
However, there is a song which could be the soundtrack of today. In 1983 this song was released, and it was (not surprisingly) a big disco hit!
It was song which popped up last night, and today I saw that the Vengaboys (We Like To Party, We’re Going To Ibiza, etc) have made a cover of the song.
That’s maybe for later, now it’s Arrow’s turn with Hot-Hot-Hot.
And don’t forget to vote for the Summer Song of the Day Top 20! >>>>
Song of the day: Matthew Wilder- Break My Stride
Hi there,
Here’s the new song of the day!
Not a long introduction, just listen to the song, because it’s good!
Year 1983, if you want to know, so eighties= good music.
Matthew Wilder- Break My Stride!
Tomorrow more good music, and vote for the song of the day top 50!
Song of the day: Eurythmics- Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
Hello,
Today the song of the day is made by a band which I can appreciate very much. Their music is very good.
The song is from 1983, and is about the thing dreams are made of…
It are the Eurythmics with Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
What you maybe didn’t know about this song, is that the song was the breakthrough for their success.
Later they made songs like There Must Be An Angel, and of course the 1984 song Sexcrime.
Tomorrow another song!
The FlinterFiles 