A Valentine From The 1980s

Clockwise: Alison Moyet; New Order; Sade, and Sigue Sigue Sputnik.

So kick off your St. Valentine's Day with a bit of spicy love, I decided to go back into the vaults and haul out some great songs from the 1980s with the word 'love' in the title. Now, there were many, and some I have even used before, so I thought I'd go for a different mix this time out. I will begin with the gorgeous voice of a women first known as the voice of a New Wave group before she flew on her own to be a Pop Princess. I am of course speaking about Alison Moyet, who partnered with Vince Clarke as Yazoo, or Yaz in the United States. After the success of the band with the album 'Upstairs at Eric's', which spawned several solo hits, Clarke and Moyet parted ways, and soon Alison was making solo albums. In 1984, Alison Moyet had a hit with "Love Resurrection", off her stunning solo debut,  'Alf'.

After the break up of the wildly popular Joy Division, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris, were looking to continue to make music together. In 1980 they, along with Gillian Gilbert, formed the brilliant band New Order, who made some great music in the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1986, New Order had a massive hit with the song "Bizarre Love Triangle", a song that played everywhere, from the radio to the clubs. This is "Bizarre Love Triangle".

That same year, another British band was coming out with intriguing music, only they both looked and sounded so very different. While there are many theories as to why the band was named Sigue Sigue Sputnik, it was hard not to notice them, with the futuristic look and sound. The six-person group was made up by Tony James, Neal X, Martin Degville, Yana YaYa, Ray Mayhew, and Chris Kavanagh. In 1986, Sigue Sigue Sputnik released the amazing single "Love Missile F1-11".

Just a few years before, another new face and creative force was about to take the world by storm. The the release of her first album, 'Diamond Life', Sade strated with a string of hit songs that showcased her gorgeous looks and amazing voice. But it was in 1988 that she produced one of my favorite songs, "Love Is Stronger Than Pride". It was off her third album, 'Stronger Than Pride'.

Will you be my valentine?