1980's Pop Icons

A Little Bit About The Best Music From The Forgotten Decade

Was 80′s Pop Dominated by Dog-Lovers?

Friday, November 11, 2011 | 9:30 pm

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve noticed that a lot of the music produced in the 80′s had some kind of a dog-related theme to it. It seems that there were a lot of musically talented dog-lovers around during that decade and many of them weren’t afraid to combine their canine passions with their music making.

From the tongue in cheek, “Get Down Shep!” from the Barron Knights to a rap star who liked dogs so much he decided to mould his entire public persona around the Doggy theme, dogs featured loud and proud throughout the decade. Indeed, Mr Snoop is still going strong today.

So who were these 80′s Icons that took their animal obsession into the recording studio.

The Barron Knights and a Dog Called Shep

OK, it’s a couple of years too early but 1978 is close enough and my memories of this song are fond enough to justify its inclusion in this round-up.

You see, I’m just about old enough to remember John Noakes and his trusty four-legged friend, Shep, on Blue Peter all those years ago.

That was a magical time for me. Those were the days when Snickers were still called by their real name (Marathon), you were allowed to smoke on hospital wards and David Hassellhoff was still driving around in a talking car and was yet to be introduced to Pamela Anderson.

It brings back fond memories for me of our family Jack Russell because he was always jumping up at folk and we were always telling him to get down.

In the end we had to get him one of those special shock collars for dogs to stop him jumping around so much.

If you saw the episode of the Weakest Link where John cried live on air after the evil quiz mistress, Anne Robinson asked him about his former doggy companion, you’ll realise just how special the relationship between them was.

So, let’s hear it for Shep the dog and his master, John.

Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs

This song was a great favourite of mine growing up in England during the eighties. And not least because of the impact it had on my other Jack Russell who, upon hearing the brass band part, used to sing along as only he could. He was even in tune occasionally!

Spinal Tap, a Dog Collar and a Glove

No mention of 80′s Icons would be complete without mention of the Greatest Rock and Roll Band of all time, Spinal Tap.

The 1982 Rockumentary is a modern classic. Everyone has their favourite clip and the music is actually good too.

But even the great Spinal Tap got caught up in the dog mania during the 80′s, albeit with a risque twist. Their “Smell the Glove” album featured a greased, naked woman on all fours with a dog collar around her neck. Well, OK maybe it wasn’t dogs they had a thing for but I had to include them because the Spinal Tap phenomenon it just too big to ignore.

If you haven’t come across them yet, take a look at the video below.

WARNING: The video contains a lot of the funniest bits from the film so if you think you might want to watch the film, do that first.

AC/DC – Givin the Dog a Bone

OK, I’m coming up with ever more tenuous links to this dog theme just so I can include some of my favourite bands.

Well, it’s my article so I can do what I like. Just enjoy the next song.

I’m not sure what it’s about. Anyone got any ideas?

Right, that’ll do. If I don’t stop now I’m going to get carried away and start inventing doggy connections where none exist just so I can somehow squeeze the rest of my record collection into this article.

Laters…

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(posted in 1980's Music, The 1980's)

Johnny Marr – The Guitarist’s Guitarist

Thursday, October 13, 2011 | 9:52 pm

You may know him as the guitarist from The Cribbs, Electronic, Modest House or The The, but if you ask most people which band Johnny Marr is best known for, I’ll guarantee that 9 out of 10 people will say, “The Smiths“.

The band formed in 1982 when Marr joined forces with Morrissey, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce to give the world some of the best music produced during that decade. Together, the group truly were 1980s Pop Icons and none deserved the title more than Johnny Marr.

Marr’s playing was unique and inspired a generation of guitarists who burst on to the “Manchester Scene” in the following years. Artists like The Stone Roses’ John Squire and Noel Gallagher from Oasis have spoken of Marr’s influence on their guitar playing, something that is particularly evident in Squire’s work.

It was always clear that Johnny Marr saw the guitar slightly differently to others. He had a more thoughtful approach to the way he played, never taking the easy (and some would say dull) route of playing a rhythm guitar piece as a series of chords using mainly barre chords. The punk era had seen way too much mindless strumming and, although Marr acknowledged that the simple approach had its place, he wanted to create a much richer and deeper sound.

Marr would find more interesting ways to play any piece. Rather than simply strumming a standard chord progression to be used as the backing for Morrissey’s vocals, he would carefully select alternative voicings for his chords and, rather than constantly strum, he would intersperse sequences of picking to add depth and variety. The end result was beautiful music that has stood the test of time and seen Marr go down in history as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

In fact, in 2010, Marr was voted fourth best guitarist of the last 30 years behind Red Hot Chilli Peppers guitarist John Frusciante, Slash and Matt Bellamy of Muse.

Johnny’s thoughtful attitude to making music is summed up wonderfully by this quote, which he gave in a recent interview.

“Music…It’s like turning your daydreams into sound.”

Well, his musical daydreams hooked millions of fans during the eighties and the music that he continues to create is as powerful as ever.

I’ve included a video below in which Marr talks about why he chose the guitar as his instrument. His passion for the guitar is obvious. Some people play the guitar to try and get famous but the great musicians play first and foremost because it’s fun and they enjoy it. There’s all the difference in the world between the two schools of thought, and it’s clear which motivation gets the best results.

I leave you with the following quote from the great man:

“In all honesty, my dream guitar is a Rickenbacker 12 string but 20 foot long, 20 foot high, through a 20 foot Fender amp”.

…and that is why Johnny Marr is the guitarist’s guitarist and a true 1980s Pop Icon – no compromise, pure passion and musical genius.

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(posted in 1980's Music)

My Favorite Vegan Recipe That I Love to Cook For My Weight Loss Diet Plan While I listen to The Cure 80´s Albuns

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 | 7:12 pm

I love The Cure´s music as it was my favorite band as a teenager, unfortunately I put on a lot of weight on from those days and now I need to follow a vegan weight loss diet plan to get fit again.

I love to cook, and I enjoyed more while listening to music, last night I cook my favorite vegetarian Hindu recipe for weight loss and it was a pleasure to do it with the songs of the albums “The Head on the Door” and “Seventeen Seconds”, in my opinion the best Cure´s albums and one of the more representative of the English pop rock music from the eighties.

I will write the recipe for you to taste it, it´s great for any weight loss diet plan!

Potato and Spinach Curry-Aloo Palak:

The ingredient you will need are:

 

  1. You have to boil the vegetables and fry the garlic, onion and garlic
  2. You blend the spinach with a blender
  3. Then you put the vegetables with the blended spinach inside a pan, you heat it and you put the spices to taste

It´s great to eat it with rice and if you are not following any weight loss diet plan, you should eat it with a nan or a chapati………….YUMY!!!!!!!

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(posted in Health)

80s Music in Koh Samui

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 | 10:15 am

The paradise island of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand was only ‘discovered’ by backpackers in 1972. After the two intrepid travellers returned to Bangkok they quickly spread the word about the tropical island with golden sand beaches. From that point Koh Samui quickly developed as a tourist destination. First it was the hippies and then as prices increased and hotels started appearing on the island the package tourists and those armed with credit cards started making it down to the holiday island.

I remember very clearly the 1980s. There were so many great bands to listen to in my teenage years. It was real ‘pop’ music in that magical decade. However, for the 20 somethings bands like Madness, Wham, Spandau Ballet and Frankie Goes to Hollywood were considered far too ‘commercial’ and ‘uncool’. You were either a Mod a Punk or a Rockabilly.

It seems thus unlikely that Koh Samui had much of a 80s pop music scene in the actual 1980s. The hippies who first found Chaweng, Lamai and Bophut were no doubt singing along to the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Joe Strummer and Roy Harper.

Such is the transforming power of time that now the cool and ‘with it’ 20 somethings consider 60s music and protest music as old hat. What seems new and exciting is the 1980s music that they missed out on at the time because they weren’t even born!

There are lots of live music venues in Koh Samui. Most of them are located in the main tourist town of Chaweng. The Reggae Bar by Chaweng Lake hosts live bands that regularly play Bob Marley Covers. On Chaweng Beach Road there is Moulin Rouge that has a live cabaret performance that features 70s and 80s favorites such as Madonna and Gloria Gaynor.

In the more sophisticated bars of Bophut’s Fisherman’s Village there are a number of bars that play a great selection of 80s music from the soulful folk tunes of Van Morrison to the classy tunes of Chris Rea.

Finally, every September there is a jazz festival on Koh Samui. Among a great variety of jazz stylings over the 5 days of the music festival there are of course some renditions of the iconic jazz tunes of Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock.

In short, there is plenty of great 80s music to enjoy on Koh Samui. At the time it was just teenager music, now it has reached a much wider audience; an audience that can now appreciate that the 80s was the swan music of pop music.

I leave you with the ultimate beach tune from the 1980s that just oozes class.

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(posted in 1980's Music | tagged , , , , , , , )

Favorite Music From The 80s

Thursday, September 15, 2011 | 9:40 pm

When I was growing up, the big music was Nirvana. I thought they were the greatest thing ever when I was in middle school. I even had one of their tshirts, the one with the smiley face on it. Music was definitely different after Nirvana came along. Even bands like the Chili Peppers, who had been an underground band for a decade, were suddenly popular mainstream bands. The Seattle grunge scene was all the rage and bands like Soundgarden and Pearl Jam got their start.

Now it’s two decades later and to be honest, I rarely listen to those bands any more. Instead have taken a new interest in 80s pop music. I mean, how about the Bangles and the Cars? Those were some good bands. And Blondie too. She once sang, “Once I had a love, and it was a gas. Soon turned out, had a heart of glass.” That’s what Debbie Harry sang in the early 80s.

The other day I was throwing some meat on my portable propane grill and blasting some tunes. Remember that song ‘Come On Eileen’ by Dexy’s Midnight Runners? They were kind of a one hit wonder. Recently I heard a mashup in which that song was mixed with ‘I’m Gonna Knock You Out’ by LL Cool J. It was called ‘Knock Out Eileen’.

So if you’re into mashups you might find that to be a cool video. There were other bands like Men at Work, and also Men Without Hats, that had hits in the 80s. Lots of men in those bands, apparently. Another band that had men in flamboyant costumes was the Village People. They had that YMCA song which is still popular to this day. I was at a wedding not long ago and people went nuts for that song. Never that it would still be popular but I still hear it at clubs.

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(posted in 1980's Music)

Depeche Mode on Kindle

Monday, September 19, 2011 | 7:04 am

As a child growing up in the 1980s, one of my favorite bands both then and now is Depeche Mode. I remember always video recording the Top of the Pops show so I could watch my favorite bands throughout the week. The 80s was an era when pop music still retained some credibility – or maybe it just seems that way to me. Depeche Mode’s brand of electronic pop was both catchy and cool. They have had so many phases to their career and are still going today – over 25 years after they first formed! THAT is pop longevity.

Depeche Mode original band members

This picture shows the original members of the band. Vince Clarke was originally the driving force behind the band. When he left, Martin Gore took over the song writing responsibilities. The band has been through many challenges: dislike from the media – members coming and going – drug addiction. However they have managed to make it through to 2011 and they’re still going.

Depeche Mode have been a part of my life since I was young. What’s really cool is that now a days, in the electronic age, I’m able to purchase electronic copies of their books. On the Amazon Kindle store, there are plenty of books in this format to choose from including: Stripped: Depeche Mode: 0 by Jonathan Miller, Depeche Mode: The Alan Cross Guide by Alan Cross and even some books written in German! When the new Kindle 4 hits the streets, I’m going to treat myself to a new Depeche Mode book at the same time.

True Depeche Mode fans should be able to appreciate how good a match they are to the Amazon electronic reader. Since they formed, they have always been keen to use technology to make their music. They were pioneers of using samplers in pop music in the 1980s. This was one of the reasons why their sound was so appealing – its uniqueness. This is why they have so many true fans. If you ever have the chance to go to one of their live shows, you should take it. Visually the performance is amazing. Dave Gahan is a fantastic front man and really knows how to work the crowd. Almost everyone who goes knows the words to all the songs – the atmostphere is truly one of togetherness.

I’ll leave you with a video of one of my favorite Depeche Mode songs, Stripped. To me, this sounds just as fresh today as when I first heard it many years ago…

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(posted in 1980's Music | tagged , )

Did you Drink Fresh Juice in the 1980s?

Tuesday, September 20, 2011 | 7:58 am

As a kid born in the mid-70s, I remember the 80s pretty well. I often look back on my childhood days with nostalgia. One thing that has changed for me for sure is that I reckon I’m now much healthier than I was as a kid. This isn’t to say that my mum didn’t feed me well. I loved her cooking – and still do to this day! What I’m getting at though is drinking fresh home made juice. Back in the day, it was a real treat to get some freshly squeezed orange juice at breakfast time. But now a days, I’m drinking at least one (if not more) fresh fruit juice per day.

Learning about Health

I have been studying about the effects of a high plant based diet and am very impressed with the information I’ve gathered so far. Not only that, I’m using my new knowledge and applying it to my own diet. So while, in the 80s I might have eaten a banana and an apple as snacks throughout the day then had some vegetables with my dinner, I’m now eating much more fresh fruit and veg on a daily basis. What I’m finding is that it’s making me much more keen to exercise and get fit – a virtuous circle.

Find out About Juicers

To learn more about how to make juice at home, it would be best to look through some juicer reviews – these can be found just by doing a quick online search. If you can find sites that have pictures or videos, then so much the better. There are lots of different styles and brands of juicer available. Therefore, it is wise to look into which type of machine would serve you best. It really comes down to what types of drinks you are hoping to make for yourself and your family. Some juicers are good at making green juices while others are better at juicing fruits. It just depends what you want.

Where to Learn More

Juicing is fun for kids to get involved with as well. Home made drinks taste great and consuming high amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables has numerous health benefits. If you want to find out more about how juicing can help you, there is an interesting movie called, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. It was made by an Australian guy called Joe Cross. It is a very inspirational movie and shows how powerful a weapon juicing can be in fighting poor health. Check out the movie trailor below:

YouTube – Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead Trailer

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(posted in Health | tagged )

Cat Furniture For Cats That Never Go Outside

Wednesday, September 28, 2011 | 11:28 am

Cats are natural beings just as we are, and while it is a good idea for cats to go outside whenever possible, to experience the multi-sensory experience provided by the outdoors, many of us tend to worry about our cats wandering off, or suddenly crossing the street and meeting their untimely demise.

Cat furniture is created in different styles, shapes, sizes and kinds, with some more complicated than others in structure. If you have not noticed it before, cat furniture is also made to emulate any items that cats can enjoy in nature. A lot of cat furniture also appeals to cats’ natural instinct, and there is an equivalent cat furniture or cat toy for just about anything that a cat may enjoy doing outside. Cat furniture such as these is perfect for cats that never go outside.

Cat Tree

Either freestanding or floor-to-ceiling, cat trees are perfect for cats that love to climb trees. These are even safer than actual trees, however, since there is no risk of your cat climbing a cat tree and getting stuck on a high branch. A lot of cats are often retrieved from trees each day, since they find it very easy to climb up, but then they find themselves unable to get down, and a cat may need a ladder to get down from the tree. As mentioned, this big hassle is not something to have to deal with, in using an indoor cat tree. There aren’t many cats that will not enjoy climbing cat trees, and your cat can easily go up and down the cat tree whenever he wishes to do so.

Cat Scratching Post

Another thing that cats simply love to do is scratch, and this is something that your cat will be able to enjoy doing indoors using a scratching post. It is also a great idea to get a scratching post if your cat won’t leave your leather furniture alone.

Cat Exercise Wheel

Running is one other thing that cats love to do, and in getting your cat an exercise wheel, your cat will be allowed to run inside your home, away from all the dangers that your cat may encounter when outside. Getting your cat an exercise wheel is like getting your cat a treadmill. Your cat will get to enjoy all the benefits of exercise within your own home.

Cat Toy

Some cat toys like feather danglers remind cats of birds, and cats can spend endless hours chasing this “bird”. Likewise, a toy mouse can provide your cat endless hours of enjoyment, as your cat plays with the toy mouse, chasing and pouncing on the toy mouse inside the house.

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(posted in Uncategorized)

Pop Icon Jewelry Replicas: Britney Spears Fake Wedding Ring

Saturday, October 1, 2011 | 11:28 am

It’s not the 1980′s any more when it comes to picking up the beautiful jewelry worn by the stars at rock bottom prices. These days you can find rings made with replica stones which rival the real thing worn by your favorite pop stars. Longer longer do we have to put up with cheap imitations which fall apart after a couple of hours, and they look fantastic!

Keeping up with the hottest jewelry trends often leads me into the world of celebrities, with gossip columns ablaze with the latest who’s marrying who and what gargantuan gemstone ring they’ve been given. Since my focus is jewelry {and not the actual love lives of the pop icons}, I’ve more than once fallen into the Britney Spears engagement rumor trap, and recently assumed, as a few others did, that Britney’s bejeweled finger was on account of x-agent Jason Trawick’s generosity after visiting a well-known jeweler. But not so. Apparently Britney remains single although the engagement-like diamonds on her finger have sparked jewelers to mimic the pieces so that non-celebrity ladies who are really getting married can sport a sparkling fake wedding ring replica.


One of the companies that retails excellent imitation rings {including Britney’s fake wedding ring}, is Eve’s Addiction. In fact the imitation is so good that it was featured in Star magazine. To have a look at the Britney Spears sparkler or browse other hot celebrity fake wedding ring designs, go to Eve’s Addiction’s “Celebrity Jewelry” online catalogue and have a blast! At the time of writing, the Britney Spears Replica Engagement Ring was available, however, it’s the reproduction of the engagement ring used to seal the deal between herself and short-lived hubby Kevin Federline. According to celebrity gossip, the massive 5 carat diamond in the original version was bought and paid for by Britney herself, but in any case, the replica retails for just $44 {not $44,000}. It features a cushion-cut cubic zirconia gemstone and a double band that’s encrusted with smaller CZs. Cubic zirconia are flawless so they tend to catch the light and radiate a rainbow of colors {called fire}, so this piece is a show-stopper even though it’s fake.

Since Eve’s Addiction features celebrities by pictures you can click to view their specific jewelry, and when you click on Britney’s face, you’ll find the heart necklace she’s worn, and the replica is called the Sterling Silver Bezel CZ Heart Necklace. Unfortunately, there are none of the more recent fake wedding ring designs that have caused heads to turn. There are, however, some other excellent imitation rings like a replica of Kate Middleton’s royal blue sapphire, Reese Witherspoon’s vintage engagement ring, Eva Longoria’s emerald ring replica, Mariah Carey’s emerald-cut diamond masterpiece, and other slightly altered versions inspired by famous pieces like J Lo’s pink diamond, Eva Longoria’s wedding band and Jennifer Aniston’s swirling cluster engagement ring. All fake wedding ring designs are approximate replicas of the originals, but usually very good imitations that cost between $37 and $45, although some pieces may be $80 or $90, few items are priced over $100.

If you want to stir up some gossip like Britney, but not get married, a fake wedding ring is a cheap way to get some laughs. But celebrity replicas crafted by companies who specialize in excellent imitation rings can also be affordable wedding jewelry for ladies on a budget.

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(posted in Jewelry | tagged )

Katrina and the Waves

Friday, March 16, 2012 | 10:09 pm

I went to see Katrina and the Waves when they first started out and were called ‘The Waves’. They gigged in Cambridge pubs and I was studying there at the time. They were fairly poppy at the time, but I didn’t think when I saw them that they were going to be such a big hit. That was 1976

It didn’t happen for the band for a while. One of the band members left and they eventually reformed as ‘Katrina and the Waves’. They got a record deal with Capitol and released their first album that included their most famous hit – ‘Walking on Sunshine’. It’s one of my all time favorite pop tunes and really reminds me of my life back in the 1980s working on a burger van that toured the festivals in the summer. I was young and it felt that I was walking on sunshine.

Their second single was “Do You Want Crying” which was not as catchy but did very well in the USA.

Sadly, the second album was a flop both commercially and critically. One bad record really killed the band. Nevertheless they continued on gigging for several years. Katrina and the Waves eventually finished in 1997.

I recently went to Natai Beach in Phang-Nga Province in Thailand. It was a beach that was badly hit by the tsunami of 2004. One day while I was sitting in the restaurant of the Hotspring Beach Resort and Spa I heard “Walking on Sunshine” on the stereo. It seemed a poignant moment to me, almost as if she was being ironic in a wistful fashion. That’s synchronicity I guess, or just the ability to make random associations.

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(posted in Uncategorized | tagged , , )

Kid Creole and the Coconuts

Monday, March 12, 2012 | 9:45 pm

I was opening some supermarket coconuts the other day to make cocktails for my friends when I remembered a great band that I used to listen to when I was a teenager. Of course, that band was Kid Creole and the Coconuts. How many bands in the 1980s had ‘coconut’ in their name?

So I dug out my stereo controller with Napster on and searched for a few Kid Creole songs. Brilliant. I listened to Off the Coast of Me (1980), Fresh Fruit in Foreign Places (1981) and Tropical Gangsters (1982). All early 80s hits. I didn’t appreciate it at the time but Kid Creole was combining many different musical influences: Latin American, South American and Caribbean. Added to the mix was American pop, and his stage show was heavily influenced by Cab Calloway. When you are a kid you never understand how so much new music is rooted in long musical traditions.

I looked Kid Creole and the Coconuts up on the internet and they are still going. The line up of the backing singers have changed over the years, but the kid is still rocking it in live concerts. I wish I had gone to see him at the height of his fame when he won a BRIT award in 1983. It is said that his was the best live show around.

After, we drank the coconut cocktails and had our fill of Kid Creole information one of my friends put on some ska music – The Specials. And of course Madness followed that. The 1980s truly was a golden age of pop and somehow CDs, mp3 players and dance music ruined it. The day when a ring tone was number one I stopped following the charts.

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(posted in The 1980's | tagged )

1983 – Change from Analogue to Digital

Thursday, February 9, 2012 | 6:31 pm

The year 1983 was an important one for music and for the electronic equipment industry generally. That was the year the first CDs came out. At the time, as with a lot of new technology, it seemed expensive and people dismissed the new technology as a fad. How wrong they were. By the end of the 1990s nearly everyone, except DJs, had abandoned the analogue format of music in favor of CDs.

Today in 2012 CDs themselves seem to be coming to the end of their lifespan. Where once people rushed out to replace all of their tapes and vinyl records for compact discs, now people are keen to buy mp3 players and smart phones to store digital records of their favorite music as well as video files.

The speed of change since the music industry decided to move from analogue to digital is noticeable. Things are moving faster than ever as microchips are made that can hold more information and process information faster and faster. Real copies of music and film are being replaced with virtual copies. And virtual copies stored on private hard drives are being replaced with copies stored in the ‘cloud’ of the internet.

It is interesting to note that the 1980s was the last great decade for pop music. It seems more than a coincidence that as music moved from analogue to digital so music changed from pop to dance and electronica. There is nothing wrong with these new forms of music but something musically seems to have been lost by the switch.

Music stands very much as an exception to a trend. In other cases of electronic equipment such as programmable home thermostats, computers, satellite navigation systems, movie making and a myriad other examples the move to digital from analogue has made life more convenient and has empowered us. In the case of music, the move of medium has impoverished us. it all began in 1983

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(posted in 1980's Music | tagged , , )

Live Music in Koh Phangan started in the 1980s

Sunday, December 18, 2011 | 1:15 pm

Koh Phangan’s Full Moon Party that started in the 1980s has sky rocketed the small Thai island onto the international backpacker circuit over the last few years. Now for those doing a tour of South East Asia it is de rigueur to include a night on Haad Rin beach going crazy for the full moon. As a result the image of Koh Phangan is now one of a place where DJs and electronic music rule the roost. There is, however, a small live music scene on the island that is worth checking out for all those tired of endless psy-trance tracks.

While thousands turn up for the Full Moon Party, Half Moon Party, Black Moon Party and Jungle Experience not to mention the after parties at Ban Sabai and the Backyard Pub there is a growing feeling among many of the permanent and semi permanent residents of the island that the situation needs to be balanced with live music. As a result there are now a number of regular live music nights.

In Ban Tai there is the Sound. It is a bar and guest house with a small stage and a music studio. It holds live music events every Friday and Sunday. In the main town of Thongsala a new bar called Bangers and Mash has a live band performing jazz, funk and hip hop every Monday and Thursday.

In Hin Kong there is The Jam Bar that has a popular open mic night every Saturday night. They have a variety of instruments and a few regulars to make sure there is always some interesting music being played.

Similarly on Wednesdays there is the Art Music event at Omega Bar in Chaloklum. This is an event designed to give something back to the community. During the day volunteers lead arts and crafts for local and tourist children, and in the evening there is a jam session where anyone can join.

Koh Phangan has one famous Thai band. It is a reggae band called ‘Job 2 Do’. They had one minor hit and sometimes come back to the island to play gigs. The other famous band on Koh Phangan is Moscowfish. They are a couple from Canada who have set up a recording studio outside of Thongsala. They play an eclectic selection of music – blues, trip hop and pop. It is possible to see them twice a week opening for the Half Moon Party. They also play various gigs around the island.

It is great for Koh Phangan that the live music scene is developing. The beauty and the atmosphere of the island are starting to attract a creative group of people. It is only a matter of time before someone writes a famous song about Koh Phangan.

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(posted in Uncategorized | tagged , , , )

Dance Clubs And Vaporizers in the 80s

Monday, November 14, 2011 | 3:56 am

From what I’ve read, there were some legendary dance clubs around in the 80s in New York City. I was just reading that actress Lisa Edelstein was known for being a club kid on the scene. I’m a pretty big fan of Lisa Edelstein – I liked her as Dr. Cuddy on House. She’s been on the show for seven seasons and right now it looks like she won’t be back for the eighth.

The nightclub business model is interesting to read about. There’s a famous Harvard Business School case about the club business. Apparently, the turnover of clubs is very rapid. There’s a common cycle that a nightclub follows. It starts out exclusive and popular, with celebrities promoting the club. At this point many people try to get in the club and get turned away. Then the club drops off in popularity, and all of a sudden it will let anybody in! Now it’s a mass-market club that no longer has an air of exclusivity. The whole cycle takes about two years. The HBS case documents this process for the Marquee nightclub in New York City.

Inside the club anything goes. Of course people like to get their drink on, and in some places you might be paying $12 for a cocktail. You might even find some people in the back using the best vaporizer. Personally I like to bring my Magic Flight Launch Box to the club because it’s very stealth. Others may be into something different.

Run DMC

80s music was pretty good. I have noticed lately that Drake’s music seems to be influenced by some of the eighties synth sounds. I have to admit I am a fan of Drake, or Drizzy as he likes to call himself. They say that Drizzy got the money. He’s in tight with Lil’ Wayne, the founder of Cash Money records. That guy knows how to rap. Speaking of rap, a lot of classic hip hop came out of the 80s – I think that fact is underappreciated. For instance, Run DMC was around then.

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(posted in The 1980's)

Best Eighties Music: 1987

Sunday, October 30, 2011 | 9:08 am

The Nineteen Eighties was the last great decade for pop music. There were so many great hits and great bands: Cindi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen, Wham, Duran Duran, The Eurhythmics, Bangles, Whitney Huston, The Police, Michael Jackson, Genesis, Roxy Music, Queen, Human League, Stray Cats, The Cure the list goes on. Even boys bands and the ostensibly ‘manufactured bands’ of the 1980s were better than they are today.

At the same time vinyl was still king. The CD was only to replace the vinyl as the commercial medium for music at the end of the 1980s. DJs were not gods, the music was the thing.

Something changed in 1987. It was a record that shot from obscurity in America. It was Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley’s ‘Jack Your Body’. It was basic dance music. The lyric was demoted and the focus was on the repetitive beat. Although Human League, Heaven 17 and Kraftwerk had bought electronica into music they still mostly crafted pop tunes. ‘Jack Your Body’ was something different that started a different movement in music, in fashion and in DJing.

1987 was also the year that the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan started. It was just a birthday party for a friend that just happened to fall on the night of the full moon. Just as with Steve Hurley’s song, the party set a precedent and marked the beginning of change. Within 10 years Haad Rin Nok beach was devoted to bars playing psy trance and within 10 years the UK charts and the American billboard charts were losing importance and relevance to young people as dance music genres drew in the crowds at raves and nightclubs.

Here are some of my favorite pop songs from 1987:

1)    Walk Like an Egyptian – Bangles
2)    Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
3)    With or Without You – U2
4)    Notorious – Duran Duran
5)    Land of Confusion – Genesis
6)    Hip to be Square – Huey Lewis and the News
7)    Luka – Suzanne Vega
8)    La Isla Bonita – Madonna
9)    Breakout – Swing Out Sister
10)    Big Love – Fleetwood Mac

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Take a trip down memory lane and reacquaint yourself with the great music and fashions of the 1980's.