Blog Archives
FlinterFile: Falco- Vienna Calling
Between the hits Rock Me Amadeus and Jeanny, Falco had another hit in 1986. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Mick Jagger- Ruthless People
In 1986 the movie Ruthless People was released. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Smithereens- Strangers When We Meet
The Smithereens made their debut in 1986. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Het Goede Doel- Alles Geprobeerd
In 1986, the Dutch band Het Goede Doel had a hit with the song Alles Geprobeerd. It was only number 25, but has become a classic song in the Dutch culture. The text is about someone who needs a break in his relationship.
Enjoy
Het Goede Doel- Alles Geprobeerd
I have not dared to say goodbye
Because saying goodbye is painful
I didn’t mean to really leave you
But wanted to be on my own
To think, research, refuel
And to discover if I still love you
FlinterFile: Carmel- Sally
In 1986, the band Carmel had a minor hit with the song Sally. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Beastie Boys- (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)
In 1986, the Beastie Boys became superstars. However, it never was their intention: this whole song was a joke… Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Falco- Rock Me Amadeus
In 1986, Falco had his first international hit. Although he had success in Germany and Austria, the rest of the world didn’t know him yet. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: The Smiths- Bigmouth Strikes Again
In 1986, the Smiths had a new album, The Queen Is Dead. Johnny Marr, the guitarist, wanted it to be the first single of the album, as it was their answer to the song Jumpin’ Jack Flash by Rolling Stones. It marked a new sound they had, which caused some problems when they were recording the song. Morrissey, the singer, also sung the high-pitched part in the background. When he had to record his own parts, he kept on laughing, because he heard himself on such a high pitch. Eventually, they put the normal part in during the recording, and later replaced it with the high-pitched version. The lyrics describe the media, and how they can make people mad. In the UK chart, it was a number 26 hit. Enjoy
The Smiths- Bigmouth Strikes Again
FlinterFile: Eddie Money- Take Me Home Tonight
In 1986, Eddie Money reworked a classic. It all started with Be My Baby from the Ronettes. Michael Leeson and Peter Vale (also the writers of Would I Lie To You?) took the song, left the line ‘be my little baby’ in there and changed the rest to the story of a man who wants a girl to take him home. It ment the return of Ronnie Spector, who disappeared after a last chart entry in 1971, on a record of George Harrison. It made a number 4 hit in the US. Enjoy
Eddie Money- Take Me Home Tonight
FlinterFile: Farley “Jackmaster” Funk- Love Can’t Turn Around
In 1986, house music entered the music scene. Farley “Jackmaster” Funk started with DJing in Chicago in 1981. He was DJ in The Warehouse, where house was found. Farley shared an apartment with Steve Hurley, who made a cover of I Can’t Turn Around, a song by Isaac Hayes. Farley made his own version of this song, and released it in 1986, making the first house song a hit: number 10 in the UK. The song by Steve Hurley later became a number 1 hit in the US dance chart. Enjoy
Farley “Jackmaster” Funk- Love Can’t Turn Around
Song of the day: John Cougar Mellencamp- R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
In 1986, John Cougar Mellencamp released his album Scarecrow. This album, which is quite grim, was first not the right album to include this song on it. As John was putting it as a bonus track on the cassettes and CD’s, his manager said: why not make it a track on the album, since it has such an energy? The song has some references to sixties songs, something his band has known: they had to learn hundreds of songs from the sixties, before playing on the album. In the US it was number 2, in the UK number 67. Enjoy
John Cougar Mellencamp- R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
Song of the day: Everything But The Girl- Come On Home
In 1986, Everything But The Girl scored its first (minor) success, before having a big hit with Missing. The duo started with another group. Tracey Thorn sang in the Marine Girls, and Ben Watt came along to take a picture for the cover of the record. He never left Tracey, started Everything But The Girl and even married her! The name ‘Everything But The Girl’ was inspired by a slogan of a furniture store. The song Come On Home came from their fourth album and peaked at 44 in the UK and 27 in Ireland. Enjoy
Everything But The Girl- Come On Home
Song of the day: Michael McDonald- Sweet Freedom
In 1986, Michael McDonald (Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers) scored one of his solo hits. The first one had been a duet with Patti Labelle, and this one was made for the movie Running Scared. It was written not written by Michael McDonald himself, as most songs were, but by Rod Temperton, who had previously written for Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones. The song hit number 7 in the UK and number 12 in the US. Enjoy
Michael McDonald- Sweet Freedom
Song of the day: Gwen Guthrie- Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent
In 1986, Gwen Guthrie released her biggest hit. In the US it was a number 1 hit in both the R&B chart and the Dance Club Play Chart, in the UK it was number 5. The phrase ‘Ain’t nothing going on but the rent’ was also used a lot in the eighties by women. However, the song is not completely written by Gwen Guthrie, since she borrows some sentences. ‘Nothing from nothing leaves nothing’ was taken from Billy Preston, the melody from the sentence “You got to have a J-O-B if you want to be-with-me” is quite similar to Doctor Love by First Choice and the title is almost the same as a sentence from a James Brown song. However, it is a great disco song! Enjoy
Gwen Guthrie- Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent
Song of the day: Paul Hardcastle- Don’t Waste My Time
In 1986, Paul Hardcastle brought a new dance hit to the charts. A year earlier, he had had his biggest success with the song 19, but now he asked Carol Kenyon (famous for the lead vocals in Temptation by Heaven 17) to sing the lyrics for his newest song. Together they scored a number 8 hit in the UK. Enjoy
Paul Hardcastle- Don’t Waste My Time
Song of the day: Spandau Ballet- Through The Barricades
In 1986, Spandau Ballet released Through The Barricades. The title track and single of the album became a hit, charting in the UK at number 6. The song describes an almost impossible love story between a Catholic and a Protestant in Ireland, where it was written. The ending however is not clear, since it could refer to suicide or just the end of the relation (in the lines “Hearts go to their graves”). Enjoy
Spandau Ballet- Through The Barricades
Song of the day: Robert Cray- Right Next Door (Because Of Me)
In 1986, Robert Cray released his album Strong Persuader (which comes from this song). Strong persuader became the nickname of Robert Cray, too. The album would even get a Grammy award and sell double platina, and would be the breakthrough of Robert Cray to the big public. This was one of the singles, and one of the best songs by Robert Cray. Enjoy
Robert Cray- Right Next Door
Song of the day: Europe- Rock The Night
This song was written in 1984, by Joey Tempest, the singer of Europe. The band already performed the song during the concert tour of Wings of Tomorrow, the song itself was released on the album The Final Countdown in 1986. The year before it was already featured on the soundtrack of On the Loose. The song made it to number 12 in the UK and number 30 in the US. Enjoy
Europe- Rock The Night
Song of the day: Leonard Cohen- Take This Waltz
Though most people know Leonard Cohen from the song Hallelujah, he made more songs. Personally I think cover versions of Hallelujah are better, but my personal favourite of Leonard Cohen is a song from 1986. He recorded it for a tribute album, and later re-recorded it with the vocals of Jennifer Warnes for his album. It was a translation (though loose) of a poem by one of the favourite poets of Leonard Cohen. The song would chart at number one in Spain. Enjoy
Leonard Cohen- Take This Waltz
Song of the day: Chris Isaak- Blue Hotel
In 1986, Chris Isaak published his second album, Chris Isaak. There is not a lot of information on the song, but it’s a magic song: it really gives the feeling that you are alone, probably in that blue hotel… enjoy
Chris Isaak- Blue Hotel
Song of the day: Cyndi Lauper- True Colors
This is an eighties song from the album “True Colors”, and it’s the only original song on the album that Cyndi Lauper did not help writing. Writing was done by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly. They were responsible for the last number one hit for Cyndi Lauper in the US. The song was about the mother of Billy Steinberg, but it also became a popular in the gay scene. Later it was covered by Phil Collins, though that is a bad cover. I just think the original is a beautiful song and therefore enjoy
Cyndi Lauper- True Colors
Song of the day: Desireless- Voyage Voyage
A French song today, released in December (!) 1986. The song went to number one in Germany and Spain, but stayed on number 2 in France. A bit strange, since French song mostly do not have worldwide success… In 2008 the song again appears in the charts, now in the version of Kate Ryan. For today, we enjoy the original from the eighties. Enjoy
Desireless- Voyage, Voyage
Song of the day: Owen Paul- My Favourite Waste Of Time
This song has been around since 1982, but we have to thank Owen Paul, otherwise we wouldn’t have known it. Starting off as a B-Side, the song did not have a lot of chances to become a hit. The song was then recorded as A-Side by Bette Midler, but the success stayed out. And then Owen Paul came around. In 1986 the song came in the hit charts and went up, to a third place in the UK! And now it’s Song of the Day, so enjoy
Owen Paul- My Favourite Waste Of Time
Song of the day: Timex Social Club- Rumors
Yes, this group was a one-hit wonder! Finally found a real one. They made one album, had one big hit and then it stopped… Maybe the Rumors catched up with them and made them break up. Fact is, that in the eighties, this was a real hit. It has some influences from the R&B and funk, but I wouldn’t call it a record in one of these sectors. What it is, I don’t know. A good record! Enjoy
Timex Social Club- Rumors
Song of the day: Survivor- Burning Heart
And suddenly we were in 1986. And of course Survivor had another, bigger hit, made for one of the Rocky movies. However, I’ve had it with that song. The Eye Of The Tiger is getting a bit boring (maybe heard it too much). And when I’m getting bored by a song of an artist, I’m always happy if they had a smaller hit, which is even better! This is the case with Survivor. The Eye of the Tiger is nice, but this hit is better! Enjoy
Survivor- Burning Heart
Song of the day: MC Miker G & DJ Sven- Holiday Rap
Do you remember… this record? It was a big hit in the 1980s, 1986 to be precise. A remix of Madonna’s Holiday, with some lyrics by Cliff Richard, and the rest was made by them, I believe.
It was remixed by no one less than… Ben Liebrand! And there is something else nice about this song: Deejay Sven is now DJ Sven, part of the team of Somertijd, the radio show I listen to in the afternoon, and on Saturday night he has a programme with a lot of dance classics, and who makes mixes for that programme? Yes, Ben Liebrand!
Well, it was a big hit back then, and it’s nice to listen to now, so the song of the day is: The Holiday Rap! (The clip was broadcasted on the BBC, but it reached the top 10 in a lot of countries)
Song of the day: Janet Jackson- What Have You Done For Me Lately?
You might now think: Who’s that woman and what is she doing on this blog?
Well, let me introduce to you: Janet Jackson, the sister of Michael. And this is, for the people who have not recognized it, the front of her greatest hits album Design Of A Decade: 1986-1996.
Some people think this title is not the right title for this album, since it mainly features songs in the period 1986-1990, but that all does not matter.
Those people probably don’t listen to the album but only discuss about what’s on there.
I listen to the album and hear great songs, and of course, my personal favourite is song of the day.
It’s a song which I think is very nice to hear, it’s What Have You Done For Me Lately?
Song of the day: John Farnham- You’re The Voice
Hi there,
Today a great song. But of course, all songs published here are great.
Okay. The song of today is made in 1986, and it’s about the thing with which you speak.
And it’s a compliment to you.
I know, difficult description today.
I’m talking about John Farnham with You’re The Voice.
I hope you find this song good, as well!!
Song of the day: Lionel Richie- Dancing On The Ceiling
Hello there,
Today we will be dancing, but not in the discotheque… in house, yes.
Not on the floor, but on the ceiling…
The song of the day is made in 1986, and the man who made the record is already busy since 1968.
You already know that I’m talking about Lionel Richie with Dancing On The Ceiling.
Tomorrow there is a new song, dancing somewhere else…
The FlinterFiles 