I always love it when you hear a song and then you remember that it was a song you’d heard before (and loved) but totally forgot about it and because of that you didn’t research it to find out what it was called and who sang it. This is what happened to me a couple of days ago with “Sweet Surrender“.

I wasn’t even searching for this song because I’d forgotten that it actually existed and that I loved it. As I was lying down on my bed relaxing, my iTunes was playing 90s songs in shuffle mode and one of the songs that came on was “Love Is All Around” by Wet Wet Wet. I knew that this was, by far, the band’s most famous song. But at the same time, I realised that it was the only song that I actually knew from the band.

So this set me off on a journey of discovering Wet Wet Wet’s music from their long career and I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had a number of hits (mainly in the UK) during the 80s and 90s. But the song that most grabbed my attention and stuck in my mind was “Sweet Surrender.”

Because I’d heard it before (and recall loving it), I instantly connected to its rhythm. And when I actually found out what the lyrics were about, it made me love the song even more.

The song deals with the moment that you fall in love with someone at first sight. The feeling that you get when you look at them and feel love overpower you is what the singer refers to as the “sweet surrender.” That moment feels like you’re surrendering yourself to them because you have been so consumed by love in that one moment.

Rhythmically, my favourite part of the song is the part just after the chorus where the lyrics begin with “I don’t know, I don’t care”, not just because it sounds good but because it’s the part that triggered my memory that I’d heard this song before.

I really hope that you also appreciate this song for what it is. I think it’s a song that has been largely forgotten by many compilations of 80s love songs. I’m also guilty of forgetting this song myself. Enjoy!

This is a song Australian and British audiences will fondly remember and it will evoke memories of ‘that wedding’ in 1987. Of course, it was a fictional wedding which took place on the Australian TV soap opera Neighbours but it captured the hearts and minds of people in both countries. In the UK alone, an estimated 20 million people tuned in to watch the episode where Scott and Charlene got married. The song “Suddenly” was chosen as the wedding theme and playing during the ceremony on the show.

The song was recorded by Australian singer Angry Anderson who, until 1987, had been the frontman and lead singer of one of Sydney’s leading rock bands, Rose Tattoo. “Suddenly” was a song that the group had recorded as part of the group’s final album before their disbanding in 1987. Kylie Minogue, who played Charlene in Neighbours, chose this song to play over at her fictional wedding ceremony. And as a result, the song was released as a single and reached number 1 in Australia and number 3 on the UK charts.

The song itself is a very good and memorable power ballad. It has a catchy and emotive chorus which is emphasised by Anderson’s strong rock voice. Singing a ballad was something that Angry Anderson had never done and it was seen to be a risk as it could have alienated his traditional rock audience. However, I think he pulls it off and there’s no wonder that this song is still his biggest hit.

I’ve chosen to feature this song today, not just because it is a wonderful power ballad, but because I want to show it to my American readers. I believe that Suddenly would have charted on the Billboard charts if it had had the same exposure back in the 1980s. I hope you all enjoy this timeless classic.

I am currently going crazy over this song. Yes, you’ve guessed it! I’ve been blown away by another hidden gem. And funnily enough, it’s another song from the musical Chess. For some reason, I thought that “I Knew Him So Well” was the only big hit to come from that musical. Sadly, I was wrong and I had no idea until today.

As I was researching number 1 hits from the 80s on the Australian music charts, I came across the song “One Night In Bangkok” by Murray Head. The title of the song rang a bell but the singer did not. So I got access to the song and it’s absolutely AMAZING!

Stunning in fact. Very 80s and very European. Which is no surprise given that it was composed by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus who formed the male half and were the masterminds behind ABBA. The synthesisers are literally everywhere in this song and it’s more of a dance than a pop song. And even in 2010, this dance song would still fit in quite well.

There is really nothing that I don’t like about this song. It gets my body moving so easily, it’s extremely catchy and makes me want to go over to Bangkok and see if what the song says about it is indeed true.

If I could criticise this song in any way, it would be that it is way too short. Ok, it’s just over 4 minutes long which is standard, however, you get into the song so much that time flies and before you know it, it’s over and you want to keep on dancing to it. As a result, I hope that some great DJ out there makes an extended remix of this song (at least 8 minutes long) to play at nightclubs over the world. I can guarantee you, it will be a hit again, if it’s done right.

There’s nothing I can say about this song apart from going ahead and listening to it. Show it to your family and friends because this is seriously a song that has been forgotten about. In hindsight, it would have been nice to see Benny and Bjorn make an entire album with songs like this one. But then again, Modern Talking wouldn’t have been able to compete (just kidding!).

Enjoy One Night In Bangkok!

Unless you’re a massive James Bond fan, then you have probably haven’t heard of this song. Licence To Kill is theme song of the Bond film of the same name, which was released in 1989. Up until recently, this was one of the Bond films I hadn’t seen and given that I’d heard bad reviews of the film, I didn’t expect much. Surprisingly, the movie was quite good and one of the things I liked about it was this theme song by Gladys Knight.

Now I’m obsessed with it a bit. It’s just so good on so many levels. It’s very catchy and not easily forgettable. If you haven’t heard it, please listen it by clicking on the video at the bottom.

Naturally, this got me interested in Gladys Knight and whose career I hadn’t really explored. I find it incredible that despite my knowledge and interest in Motown, that she hadn’t crossed by radar up until now. The career she’s had is quite amazing.

For a large part of her career, she was the main singer of RnB/soul vocal group Gladys Knight & The Pips. Over 3 decades, the group had a number of hits which included 21 songs which charted in the Top 20 of either the US or UK chart. One of their biggest hits was “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” which they released before Marvin Gaye’s more famous version. It became a hit on its own, but it was toppled by Gaye’s version and has since become his signature song. The longevity and greatness of this group was recognised when they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

The group disbanded in 1989, and in that same year, Gladys Knight was chosen to record the theme song of the newest James Bond movie of the same name starring Timothy Dalton. It reached number 6 on the UK chart but it didn’t chart in the US (which was because the movie was not a box-office success in the US).

There have been so many great Bond theme songs over the years, but this one, is up there with the very best. To feel and sense the raw power and beauty of this song, put the volume up and enjoy the song Licence To Kill.

The other day I came across this song as I was listening to an old CD compilation of duets titled “Duets.” It’s a great feeling to find awesome songs which you had either forgotten or never had investigated further in terms of the name of the song and the artists. I Know Him So Well was the final song on this compilation and from the first note, I was hooked and could not get the song out of my head for the rest of the day.

Upon further investigation, I found out that this song was part of a concept album and the subsequent musical Chess. I’m not a fan of musical at all but for some reason I was immediately able to picture this song as part of a musical. In order to understand how it all fits into a musical, the song is sung by 2 women, one of which is the estranged wife of a Russian chess champion while the other is his mistress. With this knowledge, you can probably understand why the song is titled I Know Him So Well.

I wasn’t too surprised to also discover that the composers of the song (and the entire concept album) were in fact Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, better known as the musicians of the mega Swedish pop group ABBA. The song certainly does have an ABBA-esque sound and at the moments during the song you can hear touches of Agnetha and Anni-Frida. In hindsight, I think this song would have sounded better and would have been a bigger hit if the ABBA girls had sung.

That’s not saying that Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson don’t do a good job, because they do. But it’s so ABBA-esque that you might as well get the whole to reunite and sing it as if it was old times.

The song was a worldwide hit, and spent 4 weeks at the top of the UK charts and continues to be the highest-selling song in the UK by a duo.

If you were looking for a song where an estranged (and cheated) wife and the mistress get together and plan revenge on the man, then you cannot go further than I Know Him So Well. Enjoy this classic 80s ballad.

This is one of those songs that many people can relate with. You have just separated from your partner and you are finding it hard to get over your previous relationship. In fact, you are disappointed that the relationship has ended and think that everyone that has happened is just some bad dream. You long for the day that your partner will be back in your arms.

This is what Who’s Holding Donna Now is about. It was DeBarge’s second biggest hit overall in the 1980s and part of their most successful album Rhythm Of The Night.

In this song, the lead singer sings about a girl he once was with called Donna. For some reason, she decided to leave the relationship, much to his surprise and disappointment, and now cannot help but think about which guy is now holding Donna.

I only discovered this group and this song recently, and I have to say that Who’s Holding Donna Now remains one of the most unknown great ballads from the 80s. Or maybe it was just me who took so long to discover it. I personally have never found it on greatest 80s ballads compilation. I would love to know if you have.

The other thing which I find surprising is a lack of a music video. The only video I have been able to find is one where DeBarge is performing the song. Or maybe there was a music video but it has yet to be upload to one of the popular video sharing websites out there.

This is certainly one of those songs for which I would personally love to create a music video. I have created it in my mind and all I need now is some equipment and some funds to create it. Who’s knows when or if it will happen? Watch this space.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy Who’s Holding Donna Now, another classic song from the 80s.

Waiting For A Star To Fall is one of those 80s songs which I had heard on various occasions but actually never bothered to figure out the singers nor the name of the song. The other day, while I was having lunch, I heard the song being played during some movie (I don’t know the name of the movie) and so I decided to investigate and actually work out the name of the song and band.

After some quick research, I found my answer. Thank God for Google! What could we do without it these days?

The song was composed by a duo called Boy Meets Girl, who were in fact a married couple and had penned two number 1 hits for Whitney Houston, “How Will I Know” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me).” Nevertheless, up until 1988 they had not had any commercial success with their own songs.

This changed with the release of Waiting For A Star To Fall, which peaked at number 5 on the US charts and subsequently became their biggest and most well-known hit by a long way. They were quite lucky that they got to record and release that song because they had originally offered it to Whitney Houston but was rejected because it apparently was too “pop sounding.” In addition, Belinda Carlisle was said to have recorded the song but disliked it and her recording was never officially released.

Lyrically, the song is a gem. It deals with someone having a huge crush on someone but believes that it is almost impossible to capture their heart for whatever reason. I have felt this way on countless occasions as have a lot of people out there. As humans, we tend to think that we are not deserving of someone so special, however, at the end of the day, everyone is deserving of love, no matter who they are or what they have done.

Rhythmically, the song is very catchy and great to dance to. If you are yet to hear this song, I suggest that you do by watching the original Boy Meets Girl recording from 1988 below.

Just in case you’re wondering that this song has been played on the radio in recent years, you are actually right. In fact, 3 remixes have been released in the last 4 years. The most famous one (and best one in my opinion) is the Sunset Strippers one which was released in 2005 and reached number 3 on the UK charts. You can watch the video below.

I am indifferent when it comes to both versions. For me, the original recording is great to listen to when relaxing or chilling while the remixed ones are great to dance to at parties. It depends on the situation for me. All in all, I really hope you like the classic 80s song Waiting For A Star To Fall.

Last weekend, I decided to create a compilation of the Best 80s Dance Songs. There are a number of reasons why I chose to do it. The major reason was a burning desire to create the best ever compilation of the best dance songs from the 1980s available on the web. Unfortunately, many of the compilations I’ve found are not great in my opinion and they omit some great songs and include ones which do not deserve to be included.

Of course, at the end of the day, it comes down to opinion, but I believe that my song choices are popular with most people. That’s the feedback I’ve received over a number of years from different people from different walks of life. I hope that this compilation lives up to that.

The minor reason for coming up with this compilation was that I realized that I had a bit of free time on the weekend. So I decided to take advantage of that to do something I’d wanted to do for a long time. In total, it took me 4 hours to create this compilation, much longer than coming up with a list of the best love songs of all time.

The way I went about choosing the Best 80s Dance Songs was simply writing down all the 80s songs I really love to dance to. The only rule that I had for this list was to only choose one song from each artist or band. I did this in order to be fair to the great variety of musicians from this period.

So in total I came up with a list of 28 songs. I didn’t know the number of songs I would end up with but that’s the number I ended up with. I then went ahead to make the compilation by grabbing snippets of each song and putting them together. The end result is the video I’ve created below.

I admit that the length of the video is fairly long, however, it’s well worth your time if you love dancing to the tunes of the 80s. You may even discover some songs that you haven’t heard.

I hope you thoroughly enjoy the compilation and I encourage you to share your opinions by commenting below. Who knows, I may even remake the video to include some songs I forgot to include.

If there ever was a more difficult task, it would be coming up with a list of the Top 10 80s Songs. We all know that the 80s was a wonderful period of music. It was creative, inventive, fun and sometimes (some say often) weird. Nevertheless, there are many out there today that long to be back in the 80s dancing to one of Madonna’s early tunes or being blown away by the King of Pop Michael Jackson at his peak.

I have to admit that I was born in the 1980s so I never actually experienced the 80s like many people did. However, even I feel that I born a bit too late because today’s music just doesn’t hold up to the same standards reached in the 80s, without mentioning the 60s or 70s. I feel attached to these songs even though I wasn’t around when they first came about. I can only imagine how attached you may be if you lived through these periods.

Without further ado, here’s my list of the Top 10 80s Songs in no particular order. Enjoy!

1. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson

What hasn’t been said about this song? Considered one of the most influential songs in history of pop music, Billie Jean was an immediate commercial and critical hit when it was released in early 1983. It also cemented Jackson’s position as a pop icon the world over. Everything about this song is just perfect. The opening drum beats are the most recognizable drum sequence to start any song. You immediately know that Billie Jean is starting when you hear those drums. The intro gets you in the mood to dance and then you get taken for a mesmerizing ride throughout. I could not say enough about this song.

2. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper

Another iconic song released in the 80s, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is now considered one of the best feminist anthems ever made. It’s also a great karaoke song for the ladies. In fact, this song is so much fun that sometimes I wished I was a girl to sing this song myself. It never ceases to start up a party and is the song that made Cyndi Lauper an 80s icon, a tag which she has never been able to shrug off.

3. True – Spandau Ballet

Picture this. It’s the end of the great night of partying and you’ve had a great with your partner. Soon enough, the lights are dimmed and the crystal balls starts spinning. You and your partner are in an embrace and looking at each other’s eyes. Then True starts playing. This is the scenario that I believe to the perfect for this song. It’s such a relaxing love song that I never get sick of listening to it. In fact, it gets better each time. Clearly deserves to be in my Top 10 80s Songs list.

4. Take On Me – A-ha

Probably the most famous synthpop song of the 80s, Take On Me has an extremely memorable rhythm and a creative music video to match. Incredibly, the song flopped twice before getting released a third time and becoming a worldwide success. I guess persistence is the key to musical success especially if you really believe in the song. Certainly deserves to be in this Top 10 80s Songs list.

5. Africa – Toto

Toto’s most recognizable song Africa was a number one hit in the US in 1982. The reason why this song is in this list is because I never get tired of singing it at karaoke. For me, it’s all about the chorus which can be sung for so much expression and passion! The most ironic part of this song is that the songwriter had never been to Africa when he wrote it. I haven’t either, but it doesn’t matter when the song sounds this good!

6. Dancing In The Dark – Bruce Springsteen

Despite it being Bruce Springsteen’s most successful song in terms of commercial success, it was also very different to the rock music that Bruce had been most known for. For one thing, it used a synthesizer which was something that his songs had never used. However, at the same time, it made the song more appealing to the mainstream audience at the time which is probably why it was so successful. You might be surprised to find that this made the Top 10 80s Songs list. For me, this is one song that always gets me up and makes me dance like crazy. It’s very catchy and easy to follow. The video is not too bad either (especially if you’re a girl). It’s one of the forgotten great songs from the 80s.

7. Careless Whisper – George Michael

Who doesn’t love the saxophone riff in this song? I’m still haven’t found anyone who has answered positively to that question. It’s certainly the highlight of this song. In terms of creativity and mastery, I think this song is George Michael’s magnum opus. This is the one masterpiece that he’s most known for and the song his fans always want him to sing at concerts. The song was released in 1984 and reached number one in 25 countries and in the process put him on the path to a successful solo career that would span 25 years.

8. Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now – Starship

For a long time, I didn’t associate this song with any film, unlike those who grew listening to it in the 80s. However, I soon found out about its association with the film Mannequin (which wasn’t too bad) through the music video. While the song is about 2 lovers wanting to live together forever without the restrictions placed by society, I tend to think this song as a motivational song in the sense that it encourages you to believe that nothing can stop you from achieving all your dreams. And when the song goes “we can build this thing together”, it means that with the help of other people, you can achieve anything. That’s my interpretation of the song and why I placed the song in this Top 10 80s Songs list.

9. 1999 – Prince

For me, this is probably the ultimate party anthem. I fondly remember the celebrations that took as the year 1999 ended and the new millennium began and this song allows me to associate it with such a monumental event. I was surprised to find out that it was originally released in 1982 (as I said I was born in the 80s) because I thought it was much more “modern” than that. I think it just demonstrates the creative genius in Prince. This is one song that cannot be missing from the playlist at New Year’s celebrations every year.

10. Everybody Wants To Rule The World – Tears For Fears

A catchy and memorable rhythm mixed with deep meaningful lyrics, ingredients of commercial success? In the case of Tears For Fears, it means international fame and fortune. The amazing thing is that Everybody Wants To Rule The World also didn’t get recorded because the song’s composer thought it was “lightweight” and wouldn’t add anything to the album they were recording. It’s amazing what happens when you just try. We are all grateful that it got recorded because it truly deserves its place in my Top 10 80s Songs list.

Phew! That was quite extensive. I need to take a break. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the list I’ve compiled and I’m keen to hear your opinions.

I can bet your bottom dollar that if I wrote this list again in a couple of months, that most of the songs will get replaced. But hey, it doesn’t matter. It’s all a matter of opinion and what you feel at the time. There is no such thing as an objective Top 10 80s Songs list.

Greatest Love Of All is one of the most inspirational songs ever written enhanced by the flawless performance of one of the greatest voices in music, Whitney Houston. While there is little doubt Houston’s voice is a key factor behind the strong delivery of the song, it is the lyrics that makes the song tremendously inspiring and empowering.

The 80s were a decade of great unforgettable ballads, however, I tend to think that Greatest Love Of All is overlooked as one of that decade’s greatest ballads for 2 reasons. Firstly, it is not your typical love song where a girl sings about a guy or a guy sings about a girl. It is a love song, but the love it focuses on is love for oneself rather than a significant other. Secondly, it was one of seven consecutive number one hits for Whitney Houston and as a result, it was overshadowed by her other hits, most notably I Have Nothing and I Wanna Dance With Somebody.

The main reason why I simply admire this song because it reflects my own life and the path I have chosen to take. About 18 months ago, I was going through a period of disorientation and doubt where I felt that my life had little or no sense of direction. Most importantly, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life.

Fast forward a couple of months later and I had a new lease of life and empowered to make the most incredible life possible. It was also during this period that I realized that if I didn’t love myself first, then how could I expect anyone else to love me. When I started to love myself more and started to follow my own path in life, my life completely changed. I have been able to meet some amazing people and embark on wonderful projects such as this music blog.

Beautiful Lyrics

I heard this song for the first time in months yesterday, and much like Bette Midler’s song The Rose, I felt an instant connection to its message because it seemed to be about my life in the last 18 months. I hope to dissect the lyrics of this song so that you can see the true beauty of this song.

“Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be”

Unfortunately, as we grow up and become adults, we are told to “stop dreaming” and to get serious about life. As a result, we start to believe that it’s okay to give up on our dreams and as a consequence we end up unsatisfied. As children, we knew no barriers and no limits and we believed that anything was impossible. It’s a tragedy that this is destroyed as we grow up. Kids should be constantly encourage to keep dreaming and to never stop dreaming, because it is the dreamers that make things happen. This is what Greatest Love Of All is explaining here.

“And so I learned to depend on me”

The message here is that we are ultimately in charge of our own destiny. No one can determine that for us. We cannot depend on others to take us on a certain path. We must choose the path for ourselves. Quite often, people blame others for their situation when by taking responsibility for what’s happening, you can start looking for opportunities and solutions rather exaggerating the problem.

“I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone’s shadows, if I fail, if I succeed, at least I’ll live as I believe”

This line is an accurate reflection of why I chose to follow a different path 18 months ago. There is no more fulfilling way to live than by living according to your beliefs. I think it is one of the keys to true and eternal happiness. Whitney Houston puts a lot of emphasis on the second part of the line, making it even more powerful.

“Learning to love yourself, it is the Greatest Love Of All”

By far, the truest line in the whole song. This is the central message of the song and it is the most empowering message you can have. My life changed when I started to love myself. Loving yourself creates a powerful virtuous cycle. When you love yourself, you start taking care of yourself more, you smile and carry a contagious aura. Other people feel your positive energy and get attracted to you and started sharing their love too. This leads to greater love and pleasure in your life which in turn makes you love yourself more. The cycle continues from there.

You can look up the entire lyrics from the song on the web.

Incredible Voice

Apart from I Will Always Love You, I think that Whitney Houston delivers her most powerful and memorable vocal performance in this song. When she was having her greatest success in the latter part of the 80s and the early 90s, there was no one who could compare to her voice. Along with Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross, she is recognized as one of the most talented singers ever. It was a shame that her career took a turn for the worst in the mid-90s, however it seems that she is currently on the comeback trail.

Whatever happens to her career, Greatest Love Of All will remain one of her greatest songs and one of the most inspirational songs to listen to.