Feature 80s Song of the Week Pt 1 = 'You Belong To The City' by Glenn Frey (1985)

Part 1 of this weeks featured 80's songs goes to American musician/actor/singer/songwriter Glenn Frey, and his 1985 Miami Vice soundtrack song You Belong To The City. This is uber-saxxy 80's hit was featured on the soundtrack to that legendary 80's-undercover cop show Miami Vice,  and it peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in that year. Glenn Frey was a founding member of The Eagles back in 1971 (along with drummer Don Henley) who broke up in 1980 after having become one of the most successful rock-bands of all time. Frey then went on to start his solo-career at that point. Anyways, check it out...can't you just picture Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas cruising around Miami-beach in a Ferrari at sunset and shooting at bad guys when you hear this song...well if you can't just check out the music video below...

Mentionable 80s Mashups: 'Monster Holiday' by DJ Shyboy (2010)

Today's featured Mentionable 80's Mashup is a little masterpiece called Monster Holiday, by Mashup artist DJ Shyboy. The 80's song is clearly the 1983 Madonna #1 Holiday, and it is of course mashed with the 2009 Lady Gaga song Monster. This is one of my favorite mashups thus far, as it combines the Queen of Pop with her probable successor (could she be dubbed the Princess of Pop, or maybe we could redub Madonna the Empress of Pop?). I reckon these two should tour together or make a collaboration record or something. Chickity check it!

Feature 80's Songs of the Week Part 2 = 'Let's Go' by Wang Chung (1987)

Part 2 of this Week's Featured 80's Songs is none other than Let's Go by British 80's new-wave group Wang Chung. According to wikipedia the name of the band came from the Chinese word Huang Chung which literally means "yellow bell" in Chinese but the band surmised their translation of it as meaning the sound that a guitar made. In fact it wasn't until 1983 that they changed their name from Huang Chung to Wang Chung because apparently english speaking people kept referring to them as Hung Chung.They originally formed in 1979 and consisted of core members Jack Hues (vocals/guitar) (real name is Jeremy Ryder), and bassist Nick Feldman, and like so many other 80's acts they split up in the 90's only to reconvene in the 00's and are still playing concerts to this day. Wang Chung had their greatest musical successes in the US markets, producing 5 top 40 hits there between the years of 1984-87. Let's Go was a single release off of their 1987 Mosaic album, and in April of 1987 it would peak at #9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. There may be a part 3 this week if I the DJ feels really inspired, so stay tuned.

#24 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'She Sells Sanctuary' by The Cult (1985)

Back with the Countdown! And At #24 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown the song is She Sells Sanctuary by 80's British rock band The Cult. The Cult formed out of Bradford, Yorkshire, England in 1983, and consisted of members Ian Astbury (vocalist) and Billy Duffy (guitar) amongst many others who came and went over the years, but those two are the primary members and incidentally also the song-writers. Ian Astbury was earlier a member of a band called Southern Death Cult in 1981 (named after a Native American site as well as centralization of power in Southern England. Then in 1983 he Billy Duffy joined up and the band was just called Death Cult, and then by 1984 they had changed the name to just The Cult in order to appeal to a broader audience. She Sells Sanctuary is truly a legendary and truly solid 80's rock song that most of you have at least heard, but may not know exactly who it is that performs the song (until now!). It was released in 1985, on their second studio album titled Love where it would then peak at #15 on the UK Singles chart. The album Love itself would reach #4 that year on the UK Albums chart. And there is #24, and we only have 23 left to go, and then what??

Feature 80's Song of the Week Part 1 = 'Rainbow In The Dark' by Dio (1983)

For part 1 of this weeks featured 80's songs we have metal classic Rainbow In The Dark, by 80's American heavy-metal band Dio. Dio formed in 1982 in Cortland, New York and was lead by vocalist Ronnie James Dio (who had just left the band Black Sabbath) and involved various guitarists and the other primary member and drummer Vinny Appice (who was also a former Black Sabbath band member). Dio was named after its Italian language meaning, and in Italian 'Dio' means 'God'. Rainbow in the Dark was the 3rd track on side 2 of Dio's debut 1983 album titled Holy Diver. Stay tuned for part 2!

Mentionable 80's Mashup of the Week = 'Take Me On The Crazy Train' by MadMixMustang (MMM)

This weeks' mentionable 80's mashup is Take Me On The Crazy Train, by DJ/VJ/mashup artist MadMixMustang (MMM). This is yet another splendid mashup by MMM, and it involves 2 80's songs mashed together this time. The first song is Crazy Train, a 1980-release by British-metal musician Ozzy Osbourne which didn't manage to top any charts upon its release, but it is known as one of his staple songs to date. The second song is Take On Me, by Norwegian synth-pop band A-ha, which was released in September of 1985 and which would attain #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and #2 on the UK Singles chart. For more info and mashups by MMM head over to his website HERE.

Feature 80's Song of the Week Part 1 = 'I'm Tore Down' by The Jeff Healey Band (1989)

Part 1 of this weeks Featured 80's Songs goes to a 1989 release song called I'm Tore Down by Canadian rock-blues group The Jeff Healey Band. I stumbled across this band whilst watching the 1989 classic Patrick Swayze flick Roadhouse (truly one of the 80's classics of all time). Lead singer and star of the band Jeff Healey was born in Toronto, Canada in 1966. Shortly after he was born he went blind due to a rare retinal-cancer, and thus he learned to play the guitar and to sing at quite a young age. Jeff Healey past away in 2008, again from an aggressive form of cancer (R.I.P.). Its a bit sad too because the star of the film, and 80's-icon Patrick Swayze also died of cancer in 2009. I find this band's music to be quite upbeat and generally inspiring and it was no doubt a unique and important contribution to the decade of 80's music (lets say it enriches the flavor a bit). If you like what you hear then be sure to check out the Roadhouse (1989) Film Soundtrack as well as the bands website HERE. Now we shall see if I actually get around to a part 2 this week...boom!

#25 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'You Keep Me Hangin' On' by Kim Wilde (1986)

Here we are already, the final 25! Ranking at #25 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown and straight out of 1986 and now direct to you is You Keep Me Hangin' On by British singer/author/television presenter Kim Wilde. Kim Wilde was born on November 18th, 1960 in Chiswick, West London, England. She burst out onto the new wave music scene in 1981 with her chart-topping hit Kids In America (which incidentally was #85 on this countdown), but she didn't reach big success in the USA until the release of this song, which was a cover of the 1966 Supremes song You Keep Me Hangin' On. It was the second single released off of her 5th studio album released in 1986 and titled Another Step. After 1998 Kim Wilde continued on in music to some extent but took up an alternative career as a television gardener for 2 British TV programs called Better Gardens and Garden Invaders. She has also written 2 books on gardening for those who are interested. Getting back to the song, You Keep Me Hangin' On would prove to be her biggest hit peaking at #1 on the US, Canadian, Norwegian, and Australian charts. And so there is #25, and there are only 24 more to go before we are on to some other form of 80's countdown/party lists innit!

Mentionable 80's Mashups! : 'Casbah Wonder' by Dunproofin

Today's Mentionable mash-up is Casbah Wonder by mashup artist/VJ Dunproofin. It involves the 1982 The Clash hit song Rock the Casbah, and it is mashed up with a 1966 hit by Stevie Wonder you all should know called Uptight. This is another brilliant mash-up with a great beat, and if you also like what you hear then be sure to check out Dunproofin's website HERE for more of that artist's work. Its allright, out of sight!

Feature 80's Song of the Week Part 1 = 'Hold On Blue Eyes' by LaMarca (1986)

Part 1 of the feature 80's song for this week is Hold On Blue Eyes, by 80's rock-band LaMarca. Now, there doesn't seem to be a heck of a lot of information on this artist, but I can say that this song appeared on the 1986 film soundtrack for The Wraith (a teen-fantasy/sci-fi starring Charlie Sheen and Sherilyn Fenn), and that is about all the info I have for you. If anybody else out their in cyber-space has any more info on this artist feel free to add it to the comments section. Sometimes the feature 80's songs of the week are totally random and ones that I have personally stumbled across at one point or another, and some are well-known or should-be-well-knowns, but the whole idea is to just put them back out there and get people listening to them anew. Stay tuned for part 2!

Mentionable 80's Mashups: 'Somebody Told Me She's a Maniac' by MadMixMustang (MMM)

This week's Mentionable 80's mash-up is Somebody Told Me She's a Maniac by mashup artist/VJ MadMixMustang (MMM). This 80's mash-up involves the 1983 Michael Sembello hit She's a Maniac (found on the Flashdance soundtrack), and the 2004 Killer's song Somebody Told Me. I don't know how he does it, but MMM is one of the most prolific mash-up artists out there, and when you listen to his mash-ups you can tell that he has the expertise to achieve the vocal matching in with previously totally unrelated tempos and choruses of other songs. Definitely be sure to head to his website HERE if you like what you hear. BAM!

#26 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'Shake Your Foundations' by ACDC (1985)

G'day 80's Fans! Its time now to present #26 of Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown, and the song is....wait for it.....Shake Your Foundations by Australian hard-rock-legends ACDC. It was about time that ACDC appeared on the list, and none to late either as this song is one of my ACDC favorites of all time. Now, for some background ACDC...They come from Sydney, Australia and it all started there for them in 1973 when brothers Malcolm and Angus Young formed the band. In fact these 2 brothers were actually born in Glasgow, Scotland before their family moved to Sydney in 1963. A 3rd brother (George Young) was the first musician in the family as he learned to play guitar and joined up with The Easybeats, who were a successful Aussie band in the 1960's. According to their Wikipedia page, their sister Margaret Young gave them the idea of naming their band ACDC after noting having seeing the AC/DC symbol on a sewing machine. In 1974 the band was joined by lead vocalist Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott, who would lead the band to super-stardom in Australia and internationally. After Bon Scott died in 1980, he was replaced by Brian Johnson, who is the lead vocalist of the band to this day. As of 2010, ACDC sold more than 200 million records worldwide, and somewhere around 71 million in the USA alone. Back in Black (their most successful album from 1980) is estimated to have sold 49 million units worldwide making it highest-selling album by any band, and making it the second highest selling album in history behind the Michael Jackson's 1982 Thriller album which holds the throne at #1. Shake Your Foundations was released in 1985 on ACDC's 10th studio album titled Fly On the Wall. In 1986 the song was remixed by Harry Vanda and George Young and that version was released on the Who Made Who album, and then featured on the film soundtrack for Stephen King's classic action-horror film Maximum Overdrive (which I would highly recommend watching even just for the ACDC songs). And there was #26!

Feature 80's Song of the Week pt. 2 = 'Twistin' the Night Away' by Rod Stewart (1987)

The 2nd feature 80's song for this week is Twistin' the Night Away by 70's and 80's icon British singer/song-writer Rod Stewart. Now this song was originally written and recorded by American artist Sam Cooke back in 1962, but Rod Stewart would cover the song first in 1973 (and release that version on his Never a Dull Moment album), and then again in 1987 for the soundtrack to the movie Innerspace. I personally find the 1987 version to be much more to my liking (although both versions are great), and seeing that this a vlog about 80's music that is the version that we are focusing in upon as today's feature 80's song. The 1987 version would peak at #80 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Mentionable 80's Mashup = 'The Unbelievable Look' by DJ Y alias JY

This weeks mentionable 80's mashup is The Unbelievable Look by mashup VJ/DJ/mashup artist DJ Y alias JY. This is another splendid mashup involving the 1989 single-release-#1 hit by Swedish pop-duo Roxette, titled The Look. The Look peaked at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and it scored a #7 on the UK Singles chart in 1989. Its mashed-together with the 1990 #1 hit Unbelievable, by British indie rock-band EMF (Epsom Mad Funkers). Unbelievable was also #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and #3 on the UK Singles chart in 1990. Check out DJ Y alias JY's website HERE for more info on the artist, and you can also see the Mashuptown review for this mashup when you click HERE. BAM!
DJ Y alias JY - The Unbelievable Look (Mashup) from checkdissout on Vimeo.

#27 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'To Cut a Long Story Short' by Spandau Ballet (1980)

VJ Samsonite here, and we are back presenting #27 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown, and the song is the 1980 release  To Cut a Long Story Short by British 80's synth-pop/new-wave band Spandau Ballet. Spandau Ballet formed back in the 1970's in Islington-London, UK (originally the band was called The Cut). The band came together as they were inspired by the arising of the New Romantic fashion/genre, and at that time they consisted of band members Gary Kemp (guitars), Steve Norman (guitars, saxophone, percussion), John Keeble (drums), Tony Hadley (vocals), and Martin Kemp (bass guitar). To Cut a Long Story Short was the first track and hit single off of their debut studio album titled Journeys to Glory, and was released in March 1981 (the single was released in November 1980). It would peak at #5 on the UK Singles chart, and at #15 on the Australian Singles chart that year. According to their Wikipedia Page the Journeys to Glory album was considered quite cutting-edge/avant garde upon its release in 1981. More recently the band reformed in 2009 and released a new album that year that won Best Comeback of 2009 in the Virgin Media Awards. And there it is, #27 in all its glory. Check back next week for #26!

Feature 80's Song of the Week = 'Big Mess' by Devo (1982)

This weeks first feature 80's song is Big Mess by American synth-pop/new wave group Devo. Big Mess can be found on their November, 1982/5th studio release album titled Oh, No! IT'S Devo. After listening to the lyrics I was wondering if the song is about a particular radio DJ the band once knew, or if it was just made up?? This song did not manage to make VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown this time round, but it would mos def be on the Top 200 if I ever get around to that, and perhaps I will. Holy crapola, its Devo!