Recently I've taken a trip, not quite memory lane but definitely for you it will be! My friends and my mum won't stop going on to me about the 80's so let me tell you what I've learnt... #throwback #80s #musicthrowback #80smusic
Welcome back to the 80's and let me tell you something, you aren't going to be impressed by who or what I mention and it would be a laugh for you to ask your kids or friends whether they remember any of these things!
So, let me start off with a bang and tell you only the other day did I hear the song "Purple Rain" by Prince. I didn't need to tell you who it's by, you already knew...
*wait for you to gasp and be shocked*
So the first time I heard about Prince was on RuPaul's Drag Race because he stood up for LGBTQ, specifically black gay men, and of course was a total fashion icon and music legend ever. However, I never really looked into Prince after that.
I was in a conversation with my mum and she gasped like there was so oxygen at the fact I have never heard purple rain before. So she played it. In my personal opinion and please take this with a pinch of salt... it wasn't for me. But that's probably because slow songs aren't my favourite and I wasn't in the era or the vibe when it hit the charts okay so don't blame me!
I still think Prince is an icon even if his music isn't my taste but I'm sure I will end up finding a song I like...
You guessed it... The Queen of Women. Madonna.
The first time I heard about Madonna was when I was about 11 years old and my mum heard some news or read something and I asked what she was so happy about. My mum mentioned about Madonna or one of her songs or something but whatever it was, my reply was "Who's Madonna?" and I have never seen my mums face drop quicker she just screamed "WHAT" - I was terrified since that day.
Now, I have heard a few lines or at least the chorus of Madonna songs but I never sat and actually listened to the whole thing. So a popular song is Material Girl - as you already know, I was walking to the gym and I actually listened to the whole thing.
I already knew Madonna was very political and set trends anyway, but her music I can tell is really pumped up and proving she is THAT GIRL. I see why her music is also iconic because it all ties into her, she really does define the 80's.
Believe it or not I did actually know Queen. I just didn't realise I knew Queen. There have been many songs my mum played me and I could sing a long to and then she would tell me that's Queen, however ask me to name one of their songs and I'd be clueless.
I thought their music was a bit random, like the beat, the back noises it is quite fun to listen to and I see why they were or still are popular but again, just iconic songs to me.
Freddie Mercury. Of course I know who this is. I know this iconic image and who he was but other than that I couldn't name you anything else. It breaks my heart to hear that we lost him to AIDS as I know before I was born (2003) AIDS was a hard to help let alone even talk about.
This lady, now some may say she ran the streets of Motown. I had no idea who she was, I know one song off the top of my head and that's the only song I've heard: I'm Coming Out.
Now don't panic, I am educated on Motown I can at least give you Jackson 5 and The Supremes, but Diana Ross just doesn't come to mind. She may be offended I have no idea who she is, but listening to her songs and they are a bit old... for ... me...
Please don't be mad! But the vibe of her songs is too old days for me to jam to, but I don't deny she has made a huge impact in the music industry especially for black women!
When you say 80's to me however what come to mind is slightly different to everyone else. This is an iconic group called N.W.A - I won't tell you what it stands for, but you can find out.
NWA is more 80s-90s but they definitely represent the struggle of being black in a place like Compton, or even the USA in general.
They have had songs like "Straight Outta Compton" "F*ck The Police" and "Express Yourself". I even adore the movie Straight Outta Compton.
Similarly to Freddie Mercury, Eazy- E (the smallest one in the group) passed away to AIDS too and the movie teaches you all about their separate lives and in definitely THE STRUGGLE.
Movies!
Despite my music taste of the 80's being not-so great, my movie taste is actually brilliant. I do love retro movies as I like to call them.
My mum's all time favourite movie! The Goonies!
I think this is the first old movie I have ever seen from Sloth, to Chunk to Mouth and One- eyed Willy!
Lost Boys! I was about 9 years old when I first watched this!
I was in my childhood era of finding horror movies and thrillers that were actually scary (I'm still looking!) but I loved this movie!
I feel very honoured that I know this movie as a lot of other people have never heard of it!
Dirty Dancing is iconic!
My mum had a rule, that every new house we moved to the first movie we watched is Dirty Dancing!
I'm not a fan of some of the acting but that's old movies for you, the storyline seems boring right, but the movie is executed brilliantly.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you weren't too disappointed in my 80's knowledge but maybe you can quiz your friends and kids to see if they know any of these movies or singers.
Until next time...
Phoebe Xoxo