I do not know much about Masquerade. Except for the somewhat ethereal composition below, made in 1984 in collaboration with Drafi Deutscher. It moves me back at least two decades, when it was played on the radio and reminds me of care free times of my youth.
Even though the harmonies in "Guardian Angel" might be slightly old fashioned, the lyrics feel very time less...
The first time I heard of Elton John (now Sir) was in 1983 when he had a major hit with "I Want To Kiss The Bride". I had no idea who Elton was, nor did I know then that he has been an active musician starting two decades prior.
Since then, his numerous compilations has been topping the charts, but none has really manged to capture my heart the way that "Blue Eyes" has. From the 1982 album "Jump up!", the song went to #1 on the adult contemporary chart, becoming John's sixth chart-topper on this list.
I am not sure why I love this piece so much; perhaps as its lyrics somehow always manged to speak to me in one way or another. Or perhaps because I always imagined this song being sang to me...
Today I dedicate my Flashback Friday compilation to my sister for her birthday. Thus I am taking you way back to the mid eighties, when wild hair ruled the fashion and pleasant melodies the ether.
I decided to revisit the main theme song from a famous cinematographic masterpiece of a fairytale. Entitled "The NeverEnding Story", the main track with the same name is performed by Limahl. It received constant airplay in 1984, topping the charts all over Europe. Even today those pristine harmonies take me way back to my late teens, when my sister was my greatest confidant and my best friend. When everything was still new and fresh, magical and fairy-tale like and we were ready to conquer the world.
Happy Birthday to my little sister and Happy Friday to all of you.
I honestly do not recall when I first heard of Steve Perry. I believe it was in late 80's. His songs were played on the radio and I was familiar with some of them. In any case I knew of Steve way before I knew of Journey, even though he became famous as the groups lead singer.
Perry released his solo album "Street Talk" in 1984 and I stumbled upon it once while browsing the music section in a department store in North Carolina in 1992. My favorite single from this album is without a question "Oh Sherrie". It is perfect through and through, with stunning harmonies, showing off the incredible power and the extensive vocal range in Perry's voice. I love the way the song builds up and the catching chorus stays in one's mind long after the song has ended. And in one's memories forever.
Most of us are familiar with the fairy tale story of Grace Kelly. The stunningly elegant and sophisticated American beauty icon that met and married a prince, becoming princess Grace of Monaco.
When I was a teenager, the youngest daughter of the royal couple, Princess Stéphanie, was in her teens as well. Considered a somewhat rebellious child, often termed the wild princess, she was constantly in the tabloids, in less than flattering stories. We read about her escapades and her relationships and I guess at that time, she truly was a wild child. Although in today's world, I think her behaviour would be considered much less problematic than twenty years ago.
Princess Stéphanie enjoyed also a brief singing carrier. Although dismissed by many, I truly enjoyed her unique music style. Her soft, fragile, almost childlike voice and catchy melodies were very appealing and she did climb the European charts with her big hit "Ouragan" (Hurricane) in 1986.
Taken from her first album entitled Besoin released in the same year is also the compilation below. "Flash" became number one in Sweden, where I grew up. Still a teenager myself when this song was a hit, today I relish in the absolutely familiar eighties feel that envelops me every time I hear it.
Sir Cliff Richard. Even the name sounds iconic. Whether one likes his music or not, one fact remains; he is one of the true remaining superstars, talented and charismatic, having been active on the scene for half a century and managed to supply us with first class entertainment, looking forever young while doing so.
My awareness of Cliff Richard occurred in 1984, as he was climbing the charts with the catchy compilation; "Baby You're Dynamite". I was at this point somewhat familiar with his music, mostly because his old hits from the 60's and 70's, such as "Congratulations" and "Summer Holiday", were translated into Czech and often played on the radio when I was a child. There are numerous beautiful songs that I could share with you here, all made by this infinitely talented performer, such as "Dreaming" and "We Don't Talk Anymore", two of my absolute favorites.
However I opted for a somewhat overlooked gem, featured on the B side of the "Baby You're Dynamite" single. Not many are familiar with this beautifully composed and eloquently performed piece. Entitled "Ocean Deep", it is delicately sentimental and poetic.
The lyrics are full of melancholic longing and the harmony seems to make this song light as air, yet deep as the blue waters of the ocean... It is simply beautiful art - music at it's very best.
I was thirteen years old when I arrived in Sweden with my parents and my sister as an immigrant. It was a big change and a difficult time for our whole family, but it was also a very exciting time as well.
I do not remember much of the first few months, but one thing stands out very well. A song. Or a compilation, if you will.
I recall sitting in my aunts living room, watching a heartfelt story unfold every week on television, trying to make sense of the images. Trying to take in the English language which we did not understand and the Swedish subtitles in the bottom of the screen, which we were only starting to comprehend. Well, perhaps I did not always grasp the details of every scene, but I understood that the destiny of those depicted within resembled somewhat my own.
The main soundtrack stayed with me, in my mind, without a title as that eluded me at such a young age, but the harmonies were there, even though forgotten for almost thirty years. Stored on the dusty book shelves of my mind, until my Irishman brought them back one day in our conversations and elucidated the origins and the title of the story that took place on a television screen, ages ago in my past. Entitled "Six Ribbons", it is the theme song from the Australian series "Against The Wind", starring the enigmatic Jon English, who is also the performer of this poignant song, which climbed the charts in the early 80's.
It is an incredible feeling to make re-acquaintance with something we considered lost, but which we find again perhaps by coincidence. Or perhaps because we were meant to, as the meaning within will speak to us in a new way.
I am experiencing a fashion crises again. I have those once in while, often when the seasons change. As a typical woman, I love clothes and I love the idea of putting together outfits that just work, because they are unusual in colours and style. Well, these days all I can decide on wearing with certainty each morning are my jeans. I wonder how many people out there do not own at least one pair of jeans. Even more interesting would be to know, how many do. This must be by far the most successful piece of attire ever created. Sturdy, durable, comfortable and endlessly fashionable.
The word "jeans" comes from the French phrase bleu de Gênes, literally meaning the blue of Genoa. Jeans fabric, or denim, originated independently in two places: the French town of Nîmes, which denim owes its name to; and in India, where trousers made of denim material were worn by the sailors of Dhunga, which came to be known as dungarees.
Traditionally, jeans are dyed to a blue color using indigo dye. Initially, blue jeans were work trousers worn by factory workers during World War II. Popularized by Hollywood and movies such as the Rebel Without a Cause, blue jeans became a symbol of youth rebellion during the 1950s. As the decade passed, the relaxed atmosphere of the 60's made wearing of blue jeans more acceptable and by the 70's, they became a general fashion, at least for informal wear.
I myself have owned many pairs of jeans in my life and many different brands and types as well. Even today I wear them almost every day. When I was in my early twenties, with the arrival of Cable TV to Scandinavia in the 80's, Levi's sultry and sensual commercials made jeans an absolutely sought after item. These adds even launched carriers of young actors and performers, such as Brad Pitt and Nick Kamen.
The below is a favorite Levi's commercial of mine from that decade. Featuring a Levi's classic with a classic tune and sensual theme, it feels as timeless as a pair of jeans.
One of the most beautiful songs ever written, in my opinion, is "I Won't Let You Down" by the group Ph.D. It was a hit in the beginning of the 80's and I recall hearing it as it reached the top of the UK charts, while I was listening to Radio Luxembourg late at nights. It contains the most haunting and enthralling chorus, that made my thoughts travel and made my mind wander in time and space. Even today it moves something within me and the compilation brings back memories of the static in the radio signal and at all times leaves me with bittersweet feelings of almost another life that I no longer recognize, but remember so well.
Unfortunately, I had a very difficult time finding the original compilation, available for sharing, in a recording of reasonably good quality. Therefore I decided to post a cover by the famous Italian singer Zucchero. I am not a fan of covers, but I think he did this songs justice. He slowed it down and gave it more of a rock, or even blues feeling. His powerful voice and the Italian lyrics, mixed with the original chorus in English is superb. He also altered the title, which I think reads something like "All The Colours Of My Life".
Nevertheless, if you find the time, please listen to the original as well; it is worth those extra few minutes, I promise.
Discovering music, and my deep love for it, started through the harmonies so eloquently performed by the talented ELO. When the hit Twilight was streaming from the radio, conveyed by the very characteristic voice of Jeff Lynne, I clearly felt the enticement beautiful melodies and lyrics held over me.
Over the years, I owned a few tapes of their earlier albums, but to date I only have one single CD. Entitled "Balance of Power", purchased many years after it's release date in 1986, it is still a very important album in my collection. It contains one song that captivated me when I was a teenager. "Without Someone", has a haunting, escapist sound. I used to listen to it, while sitting at the window of my room on late spring nights, watching the city lights below, while my mind and thoughts would wander...
The somber lyrics felt very familiar already those twenty years ago and still do effect me today. Particularly, as the loneliness and longing in the sentiments of the song can feel very significant and reflective, at any age, in many aspects of ones life.
Considering that this is truly the middle of the summer, let me take you back to my teens today and to a tune that almost defined summer in Europe in the early 80's. Titled "Sunshine Reggae" it is performed by a Danish group called Laid Back and was their biggest international hit ever. I recall it streaming from the radio very vividly back in the summer of 1983, when I boarded a plane for the first time in my life to spend a week in Italy with my parents. It was our first vacation outside Sweden since our emigration to the west.
The video is extremely bad, the English very clunky (and pronounced with a very heavy Danish accent) and the overall feel to it, including the fashion, is so very 80's, it is almost a joke. Nevertheless, still today it is considered one of the most popular summer songs ever made - and I think I have to agree on that one fact.
Hope you enjoy the music and the best time of the year that it represents. Happy Friday everyone!
I do not know much about Masquerade. Except for the somewhat ethereal composition below, made in 1984 in collaboration with Drafi Deutscher. It moves me back at least two decades, when it was played on the radio and reminds me of care free times of my youth.
The first time I heard of Elton John (now Sir) was in 1983 when he had a major hit with "I Want To Kiss The Bride". I had no idea who Elton was, nor did I know then that he has been an active musician starting two decades prior.
Today I dedicate my Flashback Friday compilation to my sister for her birthday. Thus I am taking you way back to the mid eighties, when wild hair ruled the fashion and pleasant melodies the ether. 
I honestly do not recall when I first heard of Steve Perry. I believe it was in late 80's. His songs were played on the radio and I was familiar with some of them. In any case I knew of Steve way before I knew of Journey, even though he became famous as the groups lead singer. 
Most of us are familiar with the fairy tale story of Grace Kelly. The stunningly elegant and sophisticated American beauty icon that met and married a prince, becoming princess Grace of Monaco.
Sir Cliff Richard. Even the name sounds iconic. Whether one likes his music or not, one fact remains; he is one of the true remaining superstars, talented and charismatic, having been active on the scene for half a century and managed to supply us with first class entertainment, looking forever young while doing so. 
I was thirteen years old when I arrived in Sweden with my parents and my sister as an immigrant. It was a big change and a difficult time for our whole family, but it was also a very exciting time as well.
I am experiencing a fashion crises again. I have those once in while, often when the seasons change. As a typical woman, I love clothes and I love the idea of putting together outfits that just work, because they are unusual in colours and style. Well, these days all I can decide on wearing with certainty each morning are my jeans. I wonder how many people out there do not own at least one pair of jeans. Even more interesting would be to know, how many do. This must be by far the most successful piece of attire ever created. Sturdy, durable, comfortable and endlessly fashionable. 
I myself have owned many pairs of jeans in my life and many different brands and types as well. Even today I wear them almost every day. When I was in my early twenties, with the arrival of Cable TV to Scandinavia in the 80's, Levi's sultry and sensual commercials made jeans an absolutely sought after item. These adds even launched carriers of young actors and performers, such as Brad Pitt and Nick Kamen.
One of the most beautiful songs ever written, in my opinion, is "I Won't Let You Down" by the group Ph.D. It was a hit in the beginning of the 80's and I recall hearing it as it reached the top of the UK charts, while I was listening to Radio Luxembourg late at nights. It contains the most haunting and enthralling chorus, that made my thoughts travel and made my mind wander in time and space. Even today it moves something within me and the compilation brings back memories of the static in the radio signal and at all times leaves me with bittersweet feelings of almost another life that I no longer recognize, but remember so well. 
Discovering music, and my deep love for it, started through the harmonies so eloquently performed by the talented ELO. When the hit Twilight was streaming from the radio, conveyed by the very characteristic voice of Jeff Lynne, I clearly felt the enticement beautiful melodies and lyrics held over me.
Considering that this is truly the middle of the summer, let me take you back to my teens today and to a tune that almost defined summer in Europe in the early 80's. Titled "Sunshine Reggae" it is performed by a Danish group called Laid Back and was their biggest international hit ever.