Carver Country

Friday, December 16, 2005

They Wrote Their Own Songs

shyuech's notification that Bananarama have released a new album, has spurred this grasshopper to recall a whole bunch of pop acts that found fame primarily during the 1980s. Artistes -- and this word is used quite deliberately -- most of whom wrote their own songs. Oh, okay, those that relied fully upon formulaic, SAW-type songwriting and production, such as Big Fun and NKOTB, need not apply.
  • ABC
  • A-Ha
  • Blue Mercedes
  • Breathe
  • Bros
  • Brother Beyond
  • Climie Fisher
  • Crowded House
  • Deacon Blue
  • Duran Duran
  • Fine Young Cannibals
  • Go West
  • Hue and Cry
  • Johnny Hates Jazz
  • Level 42
  • Living in a Box
  • Prefab Sprout
  • Spandau Ballet
  • Tears for Fears
  • Wang Chung
  • Waterfront
  • Wet Wet Wet
  • Wham!

Nor have Depeche Mode, Erasure, Human League, OMD, Scritti Politti, to name a few, been forgotten. U2 are in a class of their own. Not too shabby for the Dark Ages of Music.

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posted by BlackRX at 7:18 AM

6 Comments:

  • I do like the Stock, Aitken and Waterman (SAW) production team. I have a lot of the work they have done. I have always thought they write 3-minute pop gems despite the intense hatred of the critics.

    By Blogger Chuang Shyue Chou, at Fri Dec 16, 03:31:00 PM GMT+8  

  • Here I wanted to list the "boy bands" that I know wrote and performed their own material. I admit to a bias toward singer-songwriter types.

    That stated, I, too, own the "Best of SAW" 2-CD set, and remain a staunch Rick Astley fan. He is an interesting case, in that he chose to break free from the SAW family. (His third album, titled "Free".) I also note that Brother Beyond's "The Harder I Try" is one of the songs written by SAW. Several acts emerged from Pete Waterman's record label (PWL) during that time -- Kylie, Jason Donovan, Sonia, Sinitta(?), to name a few. Opus 3 ("It's a Fine Day" and "I Talk to the Wind") was signed onto PWL. Even Donna Summer ("This Time I Know It's for Real") and Cliff Richard (I Just Don't Have the Heart) looked to SAW in order to inject new life into their careers. All testimony to SAW's ability to produce pop gems and their understanding of the market then.

    By Blogger BlackRX, at Fri Dec 16, 03:45:00 PM GMT+8  

  • 80s pop were never the dark ages to me, some say it's fluff, i say it's innocence and pure simple melodic arrangements.

    I love Debbie Gibson! And yes, Rick Astley is cool too...remember Kylie's impossibly catchy "I should be so lucky...lucky lucky lucky"...?

    By Blogger professor, at Fri Dec 16, 08:26:00 PM GMT+8  

  • There is no denying Deborah (she prefers to go by her actual name) Gibson's talent. Tiffany was the other female teenybopper singer who found fame during that time period. I have Kylie's debut CD too. That was a SAW production from beginning to end.

    I was spurred to recall and mention all those 80s "boy bands" because my junior colleagues -- some of whom are up to seven years younger than I am -- described the 1980s as the dark ages of music. VH1's "I Love the 1980s" series seems to portray it as a time when it was all about feelgood, big hair, outlandish makeup, rock anthems, what not. But if that does happen to be also a reflection of the political and social context then? Some people also bash the 70s, and disco. I really feel sorry for the Gibb Brothers. I don't think Cher got as much stick for reinventing herself as a disco diva.

    Appreciate longevity. Deborah Gibson found success on Broadway. Simon Climie is a top notch producer for the likes of Eric Clapton, BB King and Michael McDonald. Rick Astley has released a cover album to decent acclaim. Depeche Mode and Duran Duran are still doing their thing. U2 continues to amaze.

    By Blogger BlackRX, at Fri Dec 16, 11:57:00 PM GMT+8  

  • I loved the 80's. That was a time where it was possible to be famous performing and writing -one- song.

    How cool is that?

    I love U2, but their recent forays have been disappointing. Quit while ahead.

    By Blogger Anthony, at Sun Dec 18, 10:48:00 AM GMT+8  

  • For a one hit wonder, check out A Flock of Seagulls' "I Ran (So Far Away)". Did you play GTA: Vice City?

    There were indeed lots of one hit wonders during the 1980s. This leads me to wonder if the conjunction of MTV, VH1, the World Wide Web, and increased commercial promotion, has created situations whereby more acts are now able to garner more than just one "hit", despite no increase in talent.

    Oh, among the groups I listed in the title post, I think only Blue Mercedes, with "I Want to Be Your Property", can be considered strictly a one hit wonder.

    By Blogger BlackRX, at Mon Dec 19, 01:13:00 PM GMT+8  

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