80's Music & TV

Flamingo Road

2011-03-26T04:17:00.000+08:00

The 80's was a time of colour. There was a joy about that era. Every TV series I loved was colourful and joyous to watch even if it dealt with revenge, jealousy, sex, murder -- traits of the soap operas that was part of 80's life.

(Don't you notice that series dealing with revenge, jealousy, sex, murder in the 2000's have gone dark, negative, bloody, gaudy and depressing to get you into a reality-like tormented time? That's why Glee became a hit -- cos it brought back the joy of the 80's with all those melodious, rhythmic 80's music and joy!)

Who can forget Dallas, Dynasty, The Colbys, Knots Landing....and Flamingo Road. I loved this series, especially because I could swoon over Mark Harmon. And Constance (Morgan Fairchild) was the most beautiful bad...ass I ever seen.

The chemistry between Mark Harmon and Morgan Fairchild was swooning and heating up this innocent teenage girl. Alas, I think it was short-lived cos the series disappeared from my TV screen after a few episodes!

My Teenage Heartthrob - Ralph Macchio

2011-03-26T03:59:00.000+08:00

I feel sorry for the teenage girls today. They didn't have the chance to have a crush on Ralph Macchio.

Oh, Ralph, my macho, macho guy,
You were buried when my teenage sighs
Left me as adulthood came
And so it's adulthood years I blame
For the memory loss of my teenage crush
Crazy over you, I missed you very much.

Eight is Enough, I think it was on TV every Monday night. Oh, it was one of my favourites and I could not miss a single episode, especially after Ralph arrived! He was absolutely cute and that was when I decided I would only like Italian boys. And I loved pretty Nancy, played by Dianne Kay.

I loved Ralph Macchio. Karate Kid!

And then came Karate Kid 2. Hated the Japanese girl he was in love with.
I wished I was her! I really wanted to marry him.

I had forgotten all about him until I was told that he's on Dancing With The Stars. So thank you to youtube, here's sharing with you a really charming, young almost-50 Ralph Macchio!!!

Remington Steele

2010-05-23T00:00:00.000+08:00

Oh, how suave Pierce Brosnan was when he first appeared on my TV life! He was unbelievably the finest-looking man ...until Tom Cruise.

Anyway, it starred Stephanie Zimbalist as private detective Laura Holt and Pierce Brosnan as a roguish former white-collar thief and former con man who assumed Remington Steele's fictitious identity—without his originally having planned on doing so.

The show combined the standard TV detective genre with ironic plotting and elements of romantic comedy. Both Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist were a great pair with wonderful, witty chemistry.

Madonna - Icon of the 80's

2010-05-02T22:38:00.000+08:00

One of the great icons of the 80's -- Madonna -- whom I absolutely went crazy over. Every song, every music video, every dance move, every hairstyle, every outfit she wore had me in awe. This is a song I loved, and sung in a concert I loved.

In fact, the recent fashion trend of the 2000's is a re-adaptation of the 80's ( I guess the designers grew up & decided to bring back their love for the 80's) ...the big baggy blouses with low-waisted big belts, the legging and leotards...we've seen it all before - back in the 80's!

Dress you up!

What A Wonderful 80's World

2010-01-09T14:24:00.000+08:00

Few nights ago, we were out for dinner and drinks. Then, at one point the conversation switched to things we loved from the 80's, the songs etc. Then, the 4 of us started singing bits from our favourite songs. Some of it, we'd forgotten....

....the Romantics, Johnny Hates Jazz, Cyndi Lauper, Boy George, Bronski Beat, Pet Shop Boys, Spandau Ballet, A-Ha, Tears for Fears wahhhhh...

Here are some of my favourites:

Cult music...wow

I died every time this came on...

Fantastic, passionate music...

I had recorded this music video off tv & watched it everyday.

I love this song like crazy...

We can still remember the words, twenty years later...oh no!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH Morten Harket!!! (sound of crazy female fans screaming)

Somehow 80's songs sound happier...even the intense ones

Who can forget Red Red Wine but I love this UB40 song more: classic innovation

Who hasn't this beautiful song before? Caravan of Love by The Housemartins

Long lost song! I finally found it -- Happy Hour by The Housemartins

More favourites!
Spandau Ballet - True (I used to love Gary Kemp)(RIGHT CLICK TO PLAY)
Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over (wow, I found it!)(RIGHT CLICK TO PLAY)

BJ and the Bear

2010-01-02T21:05:00.001+08:00

I remember many happy nights watching BJ and the Bear! I can't remember the lyrics to its theme song, but it was a happy, catchy one ending with "I'm BJ Mckay and this's my best friend the Bear...."

And a good looking star in Greg Evigan. Can you beat that smile?

Although the series ran from 1979 to 1981, we can still consider it a product of the 80's. The 70's was a great growing-up time too. But that's another blog...

Back to BJ and the Bear. It was just fun watching him drive the big truck with his chimpanzee the Bear, and all the sexy ladies who used to drive his trucks. Yep, we like them cheezy stories.

We have to also mention Judy Landers. Not much of a pretty woman, but she was definitely an arresting sight for the men. We have to remind everyone that the Landers sisters, Audrey and Judy were very famous in those years.

Judy Landers

Audrey Landers

The Love Boat -- better than Lost (HAHA!)

2009-12-13T16:43:00.000+08:00

This is the show that made the 80's "livable"! Haha! How can life be dull on Love Boat day? There were some who described the show as cheesy. How could we believe in anything that was so lovely and happy? But its cheesiness worked! How can The Love Boat work for today's audience? What kind of people lived in the 80's anyway?

No, life on TV today is full of reality -- the heartaches, gruesome murders, twisted minds etc. But, I say who cares for the people who are LOST on the island when you can be lost in a love boat?

I feel sorry (again) for those who have never experienced life on The Love Boat. Everybody should know the words to The Love Boat. The Love Boat was like a status symbol for actors then. It felt that if you were somebody on the TV scene, you would want to be a guest of the week on The Love Boat.

Now I remember the time I used to rush to sit in front of the TV set at the sound of the theme song....

Love....

Exciting and new

Come aboard

We're expecting you....

Moonlighting -- Bruce Willis & Cybill Shepherd At Their Best

2009-12-13T16:11:00.000+08:00

Nights were so exciting when Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd lighted up the TV screens with their fireworks!
And Al Jarreau sang one of my favourite songs ever!
Moonlighting.

Duran Duran - My Teenage Obsession

2009-12-13T14:29:00.000+08:00

What is the 80's without Duran Duran?

This band was one of my life's obsessions and was I kept busy collecting their posters!

My favourite was Simon Le Bon. I even sketched a portrait of him. It's lost now!

But my schoolmates and I were constantly fighting over who was cuter. Most of them liked John Taylor. Such a sissy. It was always Simon for me.

Not only were they so full of personality, they played excellent music. Let me just try to find some of my favourite Duran Duran songs and post them here.

At that time, music of that era with the Briti sh bands in the forefront were described as New Romantic. And sound that got everybody grooving was New Wave. Beautiful.

Save A Prayer -- one of the best songs ever written. See it here

A View To A Kill -- who could write a better James Bond theme song than Duran Duran -- surpassed expectation!!!

Come Undone --who could write more romantic, amazing lyrics than Duran Duran & Madonna.

I Am Missing The 80's

2009-12-12T03:43:00.000+08:00

Two nights ago, I happened to be surfing the TV channels and chanced upon Airwolf showing on a channel I rarely watch!

I was so excited that I had to alert my old schoolfriends on facebook. Cos you see, those were the times we fought over those gorgeous male TV stars and superstars!

I just couldn't get over how happy life was on TV back then in the 80's. And soon, the theme music began echoing in the minds of my facebook junky friends. It really brought back memories of great theme songs and great-looking guys!

Yep, that was when I was a teenager. A normal, full-blooded, aging woman wouldn't admit this so readily. But, yes, it's like that famous question I have to ask: "Where have all the flowers gone?"

TV shows were such a part of me then. We didn't have that many TV channels, if you remember, and so it was easy to memorize the TV guide.

Even though TV shows are good today, but they are different. Where are those famous theme songs? Those happy feelings? Now, it's all gory gory gory dark dark dark -- even the comedies. Where are those great sitcoms? Family Ties, The Cosby Show, Cheers, The Greatest American Hero, Growing Pains...

Yes, those were the times of the big curly hair and puffed up shoulders. But those were great times on TV and in music. Hey, that was when Michael Jackson and Madonna showed up in a big way, don't forget! Now in 2009, even after Michael's passing, people are still playing Beat It and Billy Jean.

Well, for those folks looking for a little magical memory jolt amongst the dreariness and charmless TV of the 90's and 2000's, I will do my best to bring back the happy 80's by digging up the old files in the archives of my mind, heart and soul. Let me surf the world wide web and do my part for society.

Meanwhile, let me leave you with one of my favourite songs: theme from The Greatest American Hero. (Everyone should know this song)

Look at what's happened to me

I can't believe it myself

Suddenly I'm up on top the world

Should have been somebody else

Believe it or not

I'm walking on air

I never thought I could feel so free

Flying away on a wing and a prayer

Who could it be

Believe or not

It's just me!