I don't recall too much from the 1980s. Just big hair, big padded shoulders, Charles and Diana's big wedding, and the big collapse of the Boston Red Sox in the 1986 World Series. But there was some pretty good music from that long-past era too. Some of the artists who made it have gone off the grid. Yet these songs still linger in the mind and on the radio.
Videos by Wide Open Country
These tasty morsels of music from Cutting Crew, The Weather Girls, Alannah Myles, and Phil Collins, and Philip Bailey are getting an overdue second look here. They are one-hit wonders of the 1980s that we still rock to.
'It's Raining Men' by The Weather Girls (1982)
Co-written by Paul Jabara and Paul Shaffer of The David Letterman Show, the song wasn't a gimmicky, giddy flash in the pan. According to Martha Wash, one of The Weather Girls, it remains a much-loved staple of get-togethers to this day. According to sfgate.com, she explained, "It's just become a classic now, one of those songs that everybody can get into it. It's played at weddings and all kinds of parties. From the grandparents to the parents to the grandkids, everybody just likes that song."
Many top female singers reportedly gave "It's Raining Men" a thumbs-down when they were approached to record it. Cher, Donna Summer, Diana Ross, and Barbra Streisand all passed on it. Interestingly, Wash was skeptical at first, too. Fortunately, she got over her initial nonplussed impression. She and the other Weather Girl, Izora Armstead, made this a delightfully bubbly anthem to finding a slew of eligible guys.
'Easy Lover' by Phil Collins And Philip Bailey (1984)
When Phil Collins of Genesis and Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire joined forces, they sizzled. This track was co-written by Collins, Bailey, and Nathan East. It has no "deep lyrical content," per songfacts.com. That is fine with me! I wasn't seeking any metaphysical meaning here, just a beat and a tune. As Collins explained to Musician magazine via songfacts.com, everything just kind of fell into place in an impromptu way, as is often the case with songs.
Collins said, "So we just started having a jam one night, and went round and round and turned it into a verse and a chorus. We recorded it that night so we wouldn't forget it. That song doesn't sound like any particular era. It's just fantastic. The hip-hop brigade fell in love with me after 'Easy Lover.' They were like, 'Where'd that come from? That ain't black music and that ain't white music. That's kind of an interesting color of beige.'"
Just watching the sensational video will make you begin to boogie!
'(I Just) Died In Your Arms' by Cutting Crew (1986)
The lead singer of the band Cutting Crew, Nick Van Eede, talked about the real-life roots of this song he crafted. Per songfacts.com, "Yes, I cannot tell a lie. It's a song written about my girlfriend (who is actually the mother of my daughter). We got back together for one night after a year apart and I guess there were some fireworks but all the time tinged with a feeling of 'should I really be doing this?' Hence the lyric, 'I should have walked away.'"
He added, "I know it sounds corny but I awoke that morning and wrote the basic lyrics within an hour and wrote and recorded the demo completely within three days."
This song has legs. Per the outlet, it has been used in several films, and even in a Planters Peanuts commercial that was on the Super Bowl in 2020.
'Black Velvet' by Alannah Myles (1989)
This song, featuring Myles' sinuous, bluesy voice and great lyrics, couldn't help but be a keeper. Not everyone agrees about the meaning of the tune, though. As evidenced by a discussion on Steve Hoffman Music Forums, some think it's about Black Velvet whiskey, others say it's about Elvis. Bah, who cares? One of its co-writers, Christopher Ward, clarified the issue on songfacts.com.
"According to the song's writer Christopher Ward, a key line in this song is 'A new religion that will bring you to your knees.' He says he got the idea for that line after realizing that Elvis' affect on fans was similar to what churchgoers would feel after being exhorted by fundamentalist preachers."
Alannah Myles snagged a Best Female Rock Vocal Performance Grammy for the song.
