People say that relentless heat can mess you up in many ways. It can make some people nauseous, dehydrate you, give you a headache, make you drowsy or in some cases, it destroys your ability spell ! I’m not bying itt thoughh. I thunck thets a lode of crips.
Yup, it’s been a pretty hot one this week with temperature records being broken, hydro grids being strained to the limit and people with air conditioning suddenly having friends over unexpectedly. You can actually buy a raw steak and cook it on your dashboard during the drive home.
While some would say this heat wave is a result of global warming, others say it is the coming of the end. I just think it’s a great excuse to hear a great summer retro classic !
Growing up in Canada in the 80s exposed me to many Euro inspired music groups and to be honest back then I wasn’t that in tune with who was who in the music world so every once in a while I’d pick up on a group and think they were some avante garde, new wave group from the U.K. or France. Lime was one of those groups.
Formed in Montreal in the early 80s by the husband and wife team of Denis and Denyse LePage, they took full advantage of the exploding electronic music scene and created a bunch of Euro-disco inspired tracks. The story of Lime does have a few twists in it though (Lime twist…..get it ?….never mind) with some speculating that Denis and Denyse were in fact the same person that recorded both the male and female parts himself and used two attractive people to front the band when touring kinda like Milli Vanelli ended up doing years later. Regardless, they did leave behind some club classics.
Babe, We’re Gonna Love Tonight is one such classic from their second album Lime II released back in 1981. It reached #6 on the U.S. Dance charts in 1982 and the video has all the classic elements of music videos from the early 80s. Cheesy graphics, awkward edits, cheap effects, bad lip syncing, boring dance routines and the list goes on. Not sure if the couple in the video are the actual band or the “attractive” people chosen to front the band on tour. Either way though – this track sounded great in a crowded club and always got the party started back in the day.
As you’ve no doubt already heard, today is the end of the world so if you have any unfinished business to attend to, get moving and get er’ done. One thing’s for sure, it’s not like we didn’t have any warnings about the inevitable coming of the apocalypse. Signs were everywhere.
Still not convinced ? If you were an almighty power and gave your creation free will to take all the beauty you’ve given them to go forth and enhance life on earth and harness the wonders all around you and the best we come up with is this:
Wouldn’t you cash in the chips and move on to something else too? Still not convinced ? How about this:
Granted – he is amusing but holy cow, where the hell do we go from here ?!?! So again, the end is literally around the corner so here’s a list of things to do (or not to do) in lieu of the coming destruction.
1. Don’t pay any debt. (Why bother?) 2. Run with scissors. (What’s the worst that can happen, you’re gonna die anyway) 3. Tell the neighborhood bully he’s an idiot. (Even if he beats the crap out of you it will only hurt for a few hours) 4. Tell your office mates you’re the one secretly passing the silent but deadly ones. (You think they’re going to care at a time like this?) 5. Call you’re cable company and order all the premium channels. (If you’re gonna die, may as well have an awesome selection of viewing options) 6. Use real butter. (Seriously, you’re going to worry about your cholesterol now ?) 7. Order and actually eat a baconator. (After eating one, world’s end won’t come quick enough) 8. Mix your recyclables in with your regular garbage. (No amount of recycling will save us now) 9. Rent a Ferrari and drive the bajeezus out of it. 10. Do something really stupid………. but what ?
In the event that the world doesn’t end, do not attempt anything on the previously mentioned list. They were only suggestions anyway. Yup – it’s over folks. However you choose to spend you’re last day on earth, hope you enjoy doing it and if at all possible – Keep It Retro !
If you happen to have forgotten mother’s day, which is is today, don’t be surprised if the looks your getting from mama look something like this.
And rightly so. After all, regardless of what you think of your mother, remember one thing – she grew a human being inside her body. Let me say that again – she grew a human being (or possibly a few) in her body. For that alone you have to respect her. She sacrificed her body, time and energy and smothered you with unconditional love to make you the person you are today and you couldn’t take the time to drop by a Hallmark store? Mr T pities the fool that doesn’t respect his mom.
I’m still lucky to have my mom in my life and it amazes me that even at her age she seems to have more energy than I do and still manages to keep smiling even with all the aches and pain that come with getting older. What’s the secret ? How does she do it ?
Many have entertained the Supermom theory and that would certainly explain a lot however a more plausible theory on how mom is able to do all that she does and still keep on smiling would be……..
Still, however it is they are able to do what they do and still keep on smiling, more power to them. For most of us, your mom was and possibly still is your rock that was there every time you had a bad day, or made a dumb mistake or just had a case of the blahs. One hug from her or a finely crafted bowl of soup and you felt better – that’s the true magic of motherhood and that’s what we celebrate.
Here’s to all the mothers out there. Hope someone spoils you rotten…….. in a retro way (sorry – had to slip that in)
Today we got a double shot for you with two songs with the same title but vastly different styles yet both are extremely cool tracks and ooze retro with every note. First up is Twilight Zone by Golden Earring which was a hit in 1982 and had pretty heavy rotation on all the video music channels back when they actually played videos…….those were good days. It reached number 1 in the US Billboards Top Tracks and number 10 on the Hot 100.
The second Twilight Zone comes from Two Unlimited and was released ten years later and also got heavy rotation on the video channels. The song is pretty much the opposite side of the spectrum to the Golden Earring version yet was a big hit in many countries and became a workout staple due to the very catchy high energy hook. It made it to number 5 on the U.S. Billboards Hot Club Play charts and only 49 on the Top 100.
So what’s the connection? They are both Dutch groups. Enjoy.
Sadly the Vancouver winter Olympics are over and there’s nothing left to do but count the cash and clean up the mess. I do have to say that the whole event ran pretty smooth with the exception of a few technical glitches, lack of snow and a couple of deaths – other than that, it was mint.
Seriously though it was sad to see a young athlete lose his life though it was while doing something he loved – how many of us will be lucky to die doing something we love? As a tribute to him and all the athletes who competed, here’s a retro classic from 1983 by Spandau Ballet that takes it’s title from the one thing everyone strives for during the Olympics – Gold.
In 1984, a very selfless thing happened in London that profoundly changed how music is used for good. Bob Geldof recruited a bunch of his industry friends and along with Midge Ure wrote a song to be used to raise money for starving people of Africa. The song was recorded under the name Band-Aid and was made up of a collection of the biggest pop talent of that time.
Along with Bob and Midge, some other artists who lent their talents included, Paul Young, Duran Duran, U2, Phil Collins, Paul Weller, Heaven 17, Banarama, Culture Club, Kool and the Gang, Sting, Spandou Ballet, George Michael, Jodie Watley, some dudes from Big Country and a freak called Marilyn ripping off Boy George’s shtick. Even David Bowie left a personal message on the extended remix of the song.
The video, as expected, got massive air play and did raise a lot of money for the cause that led to a multi-country Live-Aid concert and American artists to do their own song under the name U.S.A. for Africa and Canadia artists under the name Northern Lights. It also propelled Bob Geldof as the poster child for famine relief and also led to a Nobel prize and a Knighthood from the Queen (the real one – not the band).
Honestly, Bob deserves nothing but praise for his efforts but as expected, he also became a target. He couldn’t have a meal in a restaurant without some reporter asking him how it felt to eat with so many people starving in the world. What the hell is wrong with people? Bob did more for charity in one day than most people do in a lifetime. Think about that as you go for seconds this Christmas.
Retro Christmas Video Bonus !! (sorry for the Yoko)
Need a break from all the sappy Christmas music that is no doubt following you around everywhere you go these days as you prepare for the magic of Christmas while draining your savings account? Search no further – Max Headroom is back to bring you some retro joy.
Remember him? If your a retro fan then you are aware of the odd phenomenon from the mid 80s that spawned a bit of a craze. With technology becoming a bigger part of our lives and video technology pushing new boundaries, the timing was perfect for the emergence of a fictional artificial intelligence doing his thing on a video screen.
Max Headroom got his start as British TV series but became better known thanks to a video by Art of Noise that featured him performing for “Paranoimia”. That led to a gig as a spokesman (spokesgraphic ? spokesimage ? spokesthingy ?) or talking head for New Coke that helped propel Max into the public conscienceness.
Due to his popularity, Chrysalis released a Christmas song featuring Max singing “Merry Christmas Santa Claus” with his trademark stutter and quirky delivery.
In keeping with the whole Tiger’s Wood theme (I mean Tiger Woods), let’s go back and visit a Canadian tiger from back in the 80s.
Glass Tiger’s breakout hit from 1986, “Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone” featured Bryan Adams doing some backup work many classic hallmarks of cheesy 80’s videos. Big hair – check, pastels and shoulder pads – check, gimmicky sets – check, children pretending to play instruments – check, loose story line featuring other children – check?!?! Not sure what the connection with the kids would be but…. there you go.
The song went number one in Canada (naturally) and number 2 in the U.S. (surprisingly) and also charted pretty good in many other countries as well. The band originally called themselves Tokyo which confused some so they changed their name to Glass Tiger and succeeded in confusing everyone else.
This song is pretty much Elin Woods anthem at the moment.
For an unrelated Tiger experience, click the picture below to play the Tiger Woods Outrun flash game. Hope all those girls were worth it Tiger – somehow, I doubt it.
Being Thursday and oh so close to Friday, I thought I’d treat you all to a double shot of some classic retro Disco that is a little left of the usual Disco standards you normally hear during a Disco radio show or one of those retro nights at a club.
The first is Michael Zager Band’s “Let’s All Chant” from 1978 that reached #1 on the Disco singles chart and also crossed over to the Soul singles chart and made it to #15 and #36 in the Top 100 chart. The classic chant refrain of “ooah ooah” became a popular staple in many clubs during the 90’s and can still be heard today during many a retro set.
The second track is Kano’s “I’m Ready” from 1979. It’s one of those tracks you’ve heard samples of in other tunes but could never quite put your finger on it. The most recognizable track the melody was sampled for was Tag Team’s “Whooomp! (There It Is)” from 1993.
The Kano classic was the brainchild of a couple of Italian producers that helped form the basis of the new Italo-Disco genre from that era that was basically a blending of Disco and Funk. It was also an instant Break-Dance classic that helped paved the way for what is now Hip-Hop. It peaked at #21 on the R&B charts in the U.S. Can you remember roller skating to this one? Enjoy!
