July 17, 2009

Sunshine Reggae.

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!

14 comments:

Keera Ann Fox said...

I never realized that Laid Back were a couple of very cute Danish boys. Always loved the song, though. Light-hearted, easy, uncomplicated. And the accent was hardly noticeable. You must not have heard what I've heard that passes for English in Scandinavian pop. :-)

Blogaire said...

PROTEGE - you just made my day! I've always loved easy listening pop music but can honestly say I never heard "Sunshine Reggae" before. It's SO catchy, I have just downloaded it and I will be going around humming it all weekend....

sallymandy said...

How fun this was, Z. I've never heard this song before. I didn't get around much in 1983, I guess. What a funny, funny video. Those haircuts, and that early-style music video technology. Very enjoyable.

Your story did remind me of the trip I took to Europe when I was a teenager in about 1979. The song, 99 Red Balloons, was popular, and that was the song I heard all over Europe that summer. I remember it very clearly.

xo

Claus said...

If I had heard them on the radio, I would have never guessed they were Danish. Simple and relaxing song!...timeless even, because it does not sound like an 80's song at all. It was nice to learn what your teen summers sounded like :-) Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

Hey! happy friday to you too!
nice video!

Unknown said...

i love the song and the video too. that photo is heavenly. I wanna go to the beach again.

Zuzana said...

=Keera,
how fun that you remember this song.;)) Yes, Lid Back is Danish and I agree, the guys were cute. Today they are of course some 20+ years older.;)) Hope you are having a good weekend.;)

=Blogaire,
welcome and so glad that I could brighten your day with some reggae.;)) Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comment.;)

=sallymandy,
happy to hear that you like this old pop tune.;)) Yes, I believe it was Nena, a young German girl that was having a hit with "99 Luftballons". I too recall this song very vividly. Where did the time go right?
Always glad when you stop by.;))xo

=Claus,
glad you to hear you are familiar with Sunshine Reggae.;)) Yes, the song is somewhat timeless and still payed on the radio. Also lot of new artist have sampled it in their compilations.;))
Hope you are having a great weekend.;))xo

=MelRox,
thank you so much, I hope your weekend is lovely too.;))

=Denise,
I too want to go to the beach. But we are having terrible weather right now, just rain and rain.
Hopefully some sunshine is still in store for us.;)) xo

Mahmud Yussop said...

Wow, reggae is one of my favourite music rhythm. I like to sing two oldies in reggae style : To Love Somebody and Roses Are Red - my own improvisation. Unfortunately the song Sunshine Reggae didn't reach our shores, or else I would have picked up the song. Anyway, I love the 80's and video is lovely. Have a good weekend. ( It's always sunshine here in Borneo!)

Zuzana said...

=Mahmud,
please send me some sunshine! It is raining cats and dogs here today.:((
But glad you liked the song, your comments always make me in a good mood.;))
Have a wonderful weekend.;))

sandramucciardi.com said...

sunshine reggae!! such a fun song!!!
thanks for your comment on my painting.. i'm glad you liked it. i let loose with that one.. emotionally charged is right!

Zuzana said...

=Sandra,
yes, this song is a perfect summer song.;))
You are a very talented artist and artists do express what they feel.;))
Thanks for stopping by.;)

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Adorable, and such a treat amongst all this rain we've been having - Floods too...

I love your solar lamp as well, fits well with the Sixties' vibe and the talk of the fabulous Moon landings, too... Can I just add, that I think bees are very sweet too, and if we had more time in our lives, my husband would dearly love to keep bees and cultivate honey from them on a little piece of land... It is a shame that they are so much in peril, especially in Britain...

Love to you, Fhi x

valeria said...

Very funny song! I perfectly remember, I was 11 only but I clearly remember ...
I am really enjoying these posts labelled '80 (I am often on YouTube searching for 80's songs). xxx

Zuzana said...

=valeria,
glad to hear that you too remember this summer hit.;)
Thank you so much for your visit.;)