"Los Angeles" - X (the band) - This band was one of our 80-90's faves we probably seen them the most, maybe 30 times. One of their biggest hits ever for an L.A. punk scene band. Here are the cleaner lyrics, "She found it hard to say good bye to her own best friend, She bought a clock on Hollywood Boulevard the day she left, She had to leave Los Angeles."
"London Calling" - The Clash - This band is one of my hubby's favorites and he made me a fan too. He claims that their better songs were pre-1980. I like this song and was lucky enough to see them in concert twice. Here are some of their powerful lyrics, "The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in, Engines stop running and the wheat is growing thin, A nuclear error, but I have no fear, London is drowning. And I live by the river."
"Now" - The Plimsouls - This great L.A. band had some great lyrics. Here you go, "Right now, I need your love tonight, I can't wait any longer, and I need you now." This band was big with the college crowd, which was me at the time.
"Turning Japanese" - The Vapors - I had to throw is one in, only because it's so 80's sounding and the song title's subject matter. Just in case you had not heard, it is about shhhh masturbation. Here are some lyrics, "I've got a picture of me and you. You wrote "I love you," I wrote "me too." Turning Japanese, I really think so." Funny how this is a very catchy, innocent and pop-y sounding song.
"What I like About You" - The Romantics - I must have hear this song at every bar, college gathering or house party. Even my favorite cover band, my boyfriend's band played it. Here are some of their great lyrics, "What I like about you, You hold me tight, Tell me I'm the only one, Wanna come over tonight." If you were a girl and in love in the 80's, you probably loved this song.
"Brass in Pocket" - The Pretenders - I did something dumb when I received a copy of this Pretender's album for my birthday, I returned it without listening to it. Later I would love them. Here are some of their sassy lyrics, "Cause I'm going make you see-- there's nobody else here, No one like me. I'm special, so special." What a cool band, their sound and look.
"Beaten to the Punch" - Elvis Costello - This artist was the first big concert I went to with my then boyfriend Steve and the opening act was Squeeze (next on this blog entry). They were both at their peaks. How cool! I remember hearing this song. Here are some of the lyrics, "Your body speaks much louder than your voice, You let it do the talking, So I don't have any choice... Almost beaten to the punch."
"Another Nail for My Heart" - Squeeze - A favorite band of mine, great pop-y sound and wonderful lyrics. Here's a sampling,"So play me the song, That makes it so tough, Another nail for my heart, Then play me that song...Another nail for my heart."
"Bombs Away" - The Police - This song was actually written by the drummer Steward Copeland. Move over Sting, for one second! Here are some lyrics,"The general scratches his belly and thinks, His pay is good but his company stinks, Bombs away, But we're okay." The Police were a great band, totally sad when they broke up. They have timeless sounding music with a Reggae, ska slant to them.
"Everything Works If You Let It" - Cheaptrick - This band is more of a 70's sounding Power Pop band, but they were able to still have a hit in 1980. I loved this band a lot in high school and Robin Zander wasn't too hard on the eyes either. Here's some of their always catchy lyrics, "But don't stop the dream, He can fix it, I know he can fix it, He's good, he's great at the work he does... Everything will work out if you let it, Let it in your heart. Love the last line!
