Hot 80s Nights!: 'The Darkest Side Of The Night' by Metropolis (1989)

Hot 80's Nights! is back to present its latest feature track, which this time 'round goes to Canadian rock duo Metropolis and their 1989 song The Darkest Side Of The Night. Metropolis was a duo in the late 1980's consisting of Stan Meissner and Peter Fredette, and I don't have much other info on them than that. The Darkest Side Of The Night can be found on the Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan movie soundtrack which came out in 1989, and it also has appeared on the group's Power Of The Night album which was released in 2000. So there is the latest Hot 80s Night track, its a bit more obscure than some of the others, but its always interesting to hear all kinds of music from the 80s decade which was really just packed with great tracks. Speaking of, someone should do a high-quality 90's-music blog, and now we will soon be needing a proper 00's blog too!

Tragic Love In the 80s = 'Lament' by Ultravox (1984)

This edition of Tragic Love In The 80s features English new-wave band Ultravox and their 1984 love-ballad Lament. Ultravox have appeared before on this vlog's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown at #92, but they really do deserve more recognition as they had heaps of great songs that I recommend checking out. The London-based band had lots of changing members and frontmen, so check out their Wikipedia page for all of that info in detail HERE. The music video for this song features the band members visiting their lovers on a remote Scottish island. This song appeared on the band's Lament album in 1984, and it peaked at #22 on the UK music charts. Stay tuned, for there's more tragic 80's love songs yet to come.

The Beachy 80s: 'What I Like About You' by The Romantics (1980)

This week's beachy 80s hit goes to that hip American new-wave from Detroit, The Romantics and their 1980 hit song What I Like About You. Now this song is definitely beachy and well-known, and it almost sounds like a 60s British-invasion rock song (which certainly was an influence) but was actually released in January 1980 on the group's self-titled The Romantics album. The Romantics formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1977 and consisted of members Wally Palmar (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Mike Skill (guitar), Rich Cole (bass guitar), and Jimmy Marinos (vocals and drums). What I Like About You peaked at #49 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

#15 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'Send Me An Angel '89' by Real Life (1989)

We're back with #15 of the Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown! Wait for it...!!..Send Me An Angel '89 by Australian synth-pop group Real Life. Real Life are a Melbourne-based new-wave/synth band that originally consisted of members consisted of David Sterry (vocals and guitar), Richard Zatorski (violin and keyboards), Alan Johnson (bass guitar) and Danny Simcic (drums). The group enjoyed moderate success upon the release of the original version of Send Me An Angel back in 1983, which appeared on their debut album titled Heartland. The song was then re-recorded and released in 1989 (thus the '89 in the title) where it would peak at #26 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart that Summer of 1989. So there is #15 and only 14 left to go, so keep tracking and be sure to check out the different 80's feature series being posted as well.

The Saxxy 80s = 'Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run) (12" Mix)' by Billy Ocean (1984)

Thaaat's right! Another 80s series springs to life, and this time its Saxxy Hits of the 80s. So this series is dedicated to those 80s songs that contain great saxophone riffs, and it should be noted that the saxophone was a major instrumental component of so many great 80s tunes without a doubt. So to start this series is British artist Billy Ocean and his 1984 saxophone filled tune Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run (12" Mix). Billy Ocean is a Trinidad-born English singer/songwriter/performer/Grammy Award winner from Romford-London, UK who had some big hits in the 70's and 80's. Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run) was released on Ocean's 1984 Suddenly album, and it peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, and the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart, while reaching the #6 spot on the UK Singles chart. Now, in m opinion this song has one of the best sax-intros I've heard, so definitely check it out, and also note that it is the extended 12-inch version of this song that has the saxophone parts in it. More 80s saxxiness to come...

Hot 80's Nights!: 'Self Control' by Laura Branigan (1984)

Hot 80's Nights! returns again, and this time the feature track goes to the international hit Self Control by late American singer/songwriter Laura Branigan. Laura Branigan was active in music from 1973-2004, she was born in Brewster, New York, and she died in 2004 due to a undiagnosed brain aneurysm at the early age of 47. Self Control was an international hit in 1984, coming off of Branigan's Self Control album, and the song would peak at the #1 spot in Canada, South Africa, and most of Europe that Summer. It would manage to peak at #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and #2 on the  U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Disco chart. The music video for this song is a little bit different, and appears to be of the dream-sequence genre.

Tragic Love In The 80's: 'If I Turn You Away' by Vikki Moss (1985)

This is the first blog entry for yet another 80's series, this one being Tragic Love In The Love in the 80s, because we all learned just how tragic love gets in the 80's.  The first entry under for this series goes to Canadian singer Vikki Moss and her 1985 track If I Turn You Away. Vikki Moss is a Canadian singer who has had a close association with film producer David Foster, and she sang lead vocals for this track which was co-written by David Foster and Richard Marx. This song appears on the film soundtrack for the legendary 80's brat-pack movie St. Elmo's Fire. Good stuff, so stay with us for upcoming tragic 80's love songs.

The Beachy 80s: 'Cruel Summer' by Bananarama (1983)

Welcome to the Beach Hits of the 80s issue, and our first entry goes to British pop-trio Bananarama and their 1983 hit Cruel Summer. Bananarama originated out of London, England, UK and at that time consisted of members Siobhan Fahey, Keren Woodward and Sara Dallin. Cruel Summer comes off of their self titled, and second studio album Bananarama which was released in 1983. Now don't ask me exactly why this song is a beach-hit if you expect a good answer...so basically the song always brought to mind images of a beach in the 1980's and its always struck me as being a 'beachy-track.' So there! Stay alert for more 80s beach hits to come!

#16 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'Girls Just Want To Have Fun' by Cyndi Lauper (1983)

Welcome back everybody! Here we are again, this time presenting #16 of the countdown! And the song is 80's teen-bubble-gum favorite Girls Just Want To Have Fun, by that very unusual and no doubt one of the most memorable and classic high-octave American pop-stars of the 1980's, miss Cyndi Lauper. Girls Just Want To Have Fun can be found on Lauper's 1983 release and mega-hit album She's So Unusual, and is bar-none her most well-known signature track, and is one of those staple 80's dance-floor songs that gets the ladies dancing. The song would peak at #2 on both the UK Singles Chart and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, while reaching #1on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and Eurochart Hot 100 charts.  Cyndi Lauper was born in 1953 in New York City, and according to wikipedia she was the first female singer to have 4 top 5 singles released off of one album, although I can imagine that Madonna would have shortly become the second female singer to do the same, however I am not completely sure on that fact. Lauper's wikipedia also states that she has released 11 albums and hailed over 40 hit singles and has sold somewhere around 25 million records worldwide. So there is #16, and we get down to the final 15!

Mentionable 80s Mashup of the Week = 'Roll It' by DJ Lobsterdust (2011)

This week's Mentionable 80's mashup goes to DJ Lobsterdust and his recently released mashup Roll It. Roll It was released by DJ Lobsterdust on April 10th, 2011 and it features the 1987 track Push It  by 80's hip-hop/R-and-B group Salt-n-Pepa mashed with 2009 song Heads Will Roll by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. If you like what you hear you can head over to DJ Lobsterdust's website for more music, mashups, and info HERE.

Hot 80's Nights!: 'Hot In The City' by Billy Idol (1982)

Hot 80's Nights! is an 80's compilation I've put together and will be gradually featured on this vlog. It's just one of many 80's music sub-series that will be featured on this vlog so stay tuned to catch other ones too. So to start it all off, the first track naturally goes to British 80's rocker Billy Idol and his steamy Summer-track from 1982, Hot In The City.  Billy Idol (William Michael Albert Broad) originated out of Stanmore, Middlesex, England and has been active in music since 1974. Hot In The City comes off of his July-1982 Billy Idol debut album which reached #13 on the UK Singles Chart and #23 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Summer is coming so stay tuned for more 80s hits!

80s Song Of The Week Part 4 = 'True Blue' by Madonna (1986)

Part 4 of this week's featured 80's songs goes to the Queen Of Pop, Madonna, and her 1986 hit song True Blue. True Blue was the third single released off of the internationally successful 1986 album of the same title. True Blue hit #1 on the UK Singles Chart and #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, while the album itself hit #1 in over 28 countries, and has sold around 24 million copies worldwide. If you want more Madonna information then go check out her Wikipedia page HERE and as for a part 5...maybe, but then there is always next week too although it may be well past time to start some new categories of 80s music features.

80s Song Of The Week Part 3 = 'I'll Be Good' by René and Angela (1985)

Part 3 of this week's 80s tunes goes to American R&B duo René & Angela, and their 1985 hit song I'll Be Good. René and Angela consisted of vocalists/producers René Moore and Angela Winbush, who worked together as a duo between 1979-1986. Both Moore and Winbush went on to pusure solo-careers as songwriters and performers following their split. I'll Be Good appears on their 1985 Street Called Desire album, which was really a breakthrough album for the duo. I'll Be Good peaked at #47 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #4 on the US Hot R&B chart. Hang in there for a part 4..could happen...

#17 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown: 'The Safety Dance (Extended Version)' by Men Without Hats (1982)

Hello Hello, I am back to the 80s to present you with #17 of the Top 100 Dance Hits Countdown, and it goes to Canadian new-wave group Men Without Hats, and their 1982 top-10 hit song The Safety Dance (Extended Version). I just want to clarify that the original version of this song is also good, but #17 on this countdown goes to the extended club mix version that appears on the USA-release of their 1982 Rhythm of Youth album. I am sure that most of you are familiar with this song, or have at least heard it here and there over the years. Men Without Hats originated from Montreal, Quebec, in Canada in 1977 and consisted of key members Ivan Doroschuk (vocals and keyboards), Jeremie Arrobas (keyboards), Stefan Doroschuk (guitar), Colin Doroschuk, and various other members who made brief stops as band members before moving on in their musical careers and if you want to check that list out you can view it on their Wikipedia page. The music video for this is a classic and has always been a good laugh, be sure to check it out below. As for the rest of the countdown it is on its way and hopefully you won't all know all of the songs already, but who knows, there may be surprises yet to come, til next time 80's fans! The Safety Dance - Extended Club Mix

80s Songs Of The Week Part 2 = 'Smooth Operator' by Sade (1984)

Part 2 of this weeks featured 80's songs goes to British R-and-B band Sade, and their 1984 #1 hit Smooth Operator. Sade started out in 1983 in London, England and consisted of Sade Adu (lead vocals), Stuart Colin Matthewman (guitar, saxophone), Paul Spencer Denman (bass guitar),  and Andrew Hale  (keyboards). Smooth Operator was the 4th single released off of their 1984 debut album titled Diamond Life, it was the group's most successful single internationally, it peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and hit #5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Also, the band is named after their British-Nigerian lead vocalist Sade Adu.