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?

Duncan Sheik Covers The 80s

I have had a bit of a crush on Duncan Sheik for the better part of 16 years, starting with my fascination with his first hit song, Barely Breathing. I've been a fan since, and have the self-titled debut, as well as Daylight, Whisper House, White Limousine, and the latest, Covers 80's, as a part of my collection. And when I first heard of the latest, I have to admit to rolling my eyes just a bit. After all, Duncan was a singer/songwriter, one whose talents I greatly admire. Why in the name of all that is holy would he be doing an album of compositions of others? And some of the greatest British New Wave bands of the time? Did my questions stop me from buying it? No, not at all. And after the first time I listened, I rolled my eyes alright, at my own ability to think I know better than the artist, cause I really like the album!

On Covers 80's, Sheik definitely puts his own spin, his own mojo on the songs. There is a peace, a calm, that is part of all the arrangements, some sort of Zen Sheik-ness. He handles the covers sweetly, but not gingerly. This isn't a karaoke album, filled with original arrangements with Duncan's vocals laid over them. He deconstructs each song, and tailored them to his own specs, and rejuvenates them. With this 12-song effort, he covers Depeche Mode, the Thompson Twins, New Order, The Cure, Howard Jones, Love And Rockets, Tears For Fears, Japan, Talk Talk, The Smiths, The Blue Nile, and the Psychedelic Furs. This is quite a cross-section of the period, and quite the daunting task. Unless, of course, you are Duncan Sheik.



There are several of his covers that infatuated me, including So Alive, the cover of the Love And Rockets song. It couldn't be more different than the original, which was this sexy, whispered, almost guttural call of the teenager for sex. Sheik's cover taps into his maturity, and is more of a search for something more. Here is the video for So Alive.



Of course, he picked a song by Depeche Mode, who in so many ways define the shifting scene of 80s music, from their early music that was Electro-Pop fun, to the dark and sexy rebellion of the teens. Sheik went for the 1986 release, Stripped, off the Black Celebration album. This is the first track off the album, and the sparse arrangement begins this journey, letting us know that the album will be "Stripped down to the bone." Sheik injects a bit of innocence to the song, and a softness. This is his version of Stripped.



I am a huge fan of the Psychedelic Furs, even before they reached mass audiences with the soundtrack to Pretty In Pink, the John Hughes teen epic. Lead singer Richard Butler had such a distinctive voice, the band had such a strong sound. So when I saw Duncan was planning to cover the 1986 hit The Ghost In You, I didn't know what to expect. Thankfully, he did a wonderfully touching job, once I truly enjoyed.



And can you believe he took on another of the holiest of sacred cows? Yes, I am talking about New Order. Duncan managed to pull up Love Vigilantes, a song off the 1985 album Low-Life. This song wasn't a single off the album, that was The Perfect Kiss. But this is a great song. And Sheik does a great job with it.



This is just a taste for four of the twelve songs on the album. I am also crazy about his cover of Kyoto Song, by The Cure. For more about Duncan Sheik, you can visit his official website here. You can find Covers 80's on iTunes and Amazon.

Worth Another Listen • New Order

Out of a tragedy can come beauty. If you need proof, just check out this 80s sensation. In the 70s, the Joy Division was an art Rock band really making a name for themselves. Ian Curtis, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, and Bernard Sumner were a sensation in the UK, and were about to bring it to the US with their first American tour in 1980. That is when fears and depression and all the other emotions took their toll on vocalist Ian Curtis, who took his own life. Devastated but determined to continue on Sumner, Hook, and Morris added keyboardist Gillian Gilbert and started New Order. The sound was something new, a combination of Electronica, Rock and Post-Punk, sometimes called New Wave.



Now, I have to be honest and say that New Order never really fared that well on the American Pop charts, although they did make inroads on the Dance charts. That said, many of the people I knew in New York were aware of the band, and anxiously awaited each new release. I loved, no, I adored their music. One of the first singles I remember rushing out to buy was the 1983 single, Blue Monday. It was a great introduction to the band, who achieved an inspired industrial sound. It made it to #5 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.



When Shellshock came out in 1986, it was pretty much a revelation for me. I listened to it over and over, often dancing with my arms flailing. "It's never enough, until your heart stops beating..." Of course, it didn't hurt this was on the Pretty In Pink Soundtrack.



I don't know if there is a more iconic song from New Order than Bizarre Love Triangle. Just hearing the first few bars of the song makes the joy well up in my body. Surprisingly, it only made it to #4 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.



The opening bars of True Faith have a bit of a military feel, but then the synthesizer takes over, giving a strong melody. Soon, the song builds more, and just seems to wash over your body and soul. True Faith made it to #3 on the Billboard Dance Club chart.



For more about New Order, check out the website endorsed by the band here. They are still making music, And occasionally play shows together, although rarely all four together. But they also have their own careers going on, as well as personal lives. But none of that effects me when I hit play and listen to this great music again and again.

Monday Morning Pick-Me-Up - New Order

A quick shot of musical caffeine to lift you up on a Monday morning - New Order's Blue Monday.