What Song Most Encapsulates the 1980s? (3 Viewers)

[SystemShock]

I mean, i love the 80s too- but in terms of “masturbation songs”, and im no connoisseur of those types of songs (though my how i wish i were)- i would have to hand it (see what i did) to the 1990s, since there’s simply no mistaking the message of a song literally called “I Touch Myself”….

Without that song having the "I touch myself" line, it is a very forgettable song, lyrics and music alike. Dancing With Myself and She Bop not only are smarter songs utilizing innuendo and double entendre, they're both jams you can dance to.

 

[SystemShock]

... then there's the best stalking song ever!

 

[Saintman2884]

Without that song having the "I touch myself" line, it is a very forgettable song, lyrics and music alike. Dancing With Myself and She Bop not only are smarter songs utilizing innuendo and double entendre, they're both jams you can dance to.

Idol's "Dancing with Myself" does have a bit more of a edge, visceral audio-visual snear to it that sort of characterized so much of Billy Idol's songs and kind of became sort of his silly, cliched trademark during the 1980's. Crazy thing is is that Idol's musical career began in the mid-70's with punk band Generation X and he hung out at Malcolm McLaren's Sex boutique along with fellow mid-late 70's British punk rockers Clash, Sex Pistols Johnny Rotten, Sid Vicious, and the Damned and Generation X were one of the first punk bands to appear on Top of the Pops.

Cyndi Lauper's "She-Bop" sounds a lot more poppish, not as threatening, some of her fans might've been surprised by this hit song when it first came out in 1986 due to her seemingly more innocent-sounding, nicer, friendlier lyrical material in She's So Unusual and "Girls Just Want To Have Fun", and " Time after Time". "She-Bop" sounds like a slightly more dumbed-down version of a similar song Madonna mightve written or recorded around the same time or maybe later on but rejected it because it wasnt "daring enough".

 

[DCSaints_Fan]

Without that song having the "I touch myself" line, it is a very forgettable song, lyrics and music alike. Dancing With Myself and She Bop not only are smarter songs utilizing innuendo and double entendre, they're both jams you can dance to.

Personally I think“Beat It” was the best masturbation song of the 80s. And you can dance to it

 

[SystemShock]

... and the best S&M song ever!



Now, Depeche Mode has other songs that reference or allude to S&M, but Strangelove is the best one...

 

[SystemShock]

... and the best music video ever!



I don't think any music video has come even close to having the impact the Thriller video had. When it first aired back in 1983, it blew everyone's mind, not only because it was Michael Jackson at his best, but because of the production value of the video. It featured the voice of the Master of Horror himself, and was directed by a bona fide Hollywood director who has to his credit Animal House, An American Werewolf in London, Blues Brothers Trading Places, Coming to America, among others.

 

[saintmdterps]

Without that song having the "I touch myself" line, it is a very forgettable song, lyrics and music alike. Dancing With Myself and She Bop not only are smarter songs utilizing innuendo and double entendre, they're both jams you can dance to.

The I Touch Myself video wasn’t hard to watch

 

[Hedon James]

... and the best music video ever!



I don't think any music video has come even close to having the impact the Thriller video had. When it first aired back in 1983, it blew everyone's mind, not only because it was Michael Jackson at his best, but because of the production value of the video. It featured the voice of the Master of Horror himslef, and was directed by a bona fide Hollywood director who has to his credit Animal House, An American Werewolf in London, Blues Brothers Trading Places, Coming to America, among others.

Good call on the best video that encapsulates the 1980s! I would've suggested Video Killed the Radio Star, which was the first video played on MTV when it launched....but most folks probably weren't around to see that. The MTV audience grew exponentially after first launch, but probably only a minority saw that first video, and upon repeat (there was a lot of that in the earliest days, until artists starting producing videos specifically for MTV) it wasn't a big deal. It was just FIRST.

Anyhoooo....I digress....I would've said Video Killed the Radio Star, but I'd like to switch my vote to Thriller. If you take a poll about 80s videos, that one is ALWAYS going to be mentioned frequently! Good call!

 

[SystemShock]

The I Touch Myself video wasn’t hard to watch

Pervert

 

[saintmdterps]

Pervert

Christina Amphlette was hot!

 

[DCSaints_Fan]

Captures both the synth/pop, the hard rock/hair metal and "arena rock" sound of the era to a degree

 

[SystemShock]

Christina Amphlette was hot!

I wasn't criticizing. Game recognize game

 

[Grumpy Old Manatee]

Christina Amphlette was hot!

Must’ve been all those lights. Hope she stayed hydrated.

 

[Madmarsha]

... and the best S&M song ever!



Now, Depeche Mode has other songs that reference or allude to S&M, but Strangelove is the best one...

I was never a Depeche Mode person but I have come to enjoy them.

 

[DCSaints_Fan]

For some reason I thought of this thread, and realized this one wasn't posted. Main theme for one the major "brat pack" movies, with quintessential "synth pop" sound that which defined the era in large part, and released smack middle in the decade.