#flashback80s

"The New Romantics: A Fine Romance" (2001 BBC Documentary)

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 03:56:00 +0000

"The New Romantics: A Fine Romance" is a 2001 feature documentary, which takes a look at the movement born from the London club scene at the beginning of the 80s.

IMDb lists Sharon Walker as the director, with voice over narration by Magenta Devine. I've attempted to screengrab the cast credits, which essentially showcases the bands whom appeared in the 45-minuter (also music listed here), all of whom are familiar names to my Soundtrack To Life (FLASHBACK WITH ME ON TUNESTALKSG), growing up, although you might argue I am still living in the 80s, and I will not deny that accusation, cheers.

Reliving the 80s on #TUNESTALKSG: https://t.co/q33dNMdg9L #80smusic #toysrevilblogs pic.twitter.com/JFIe98xJPc
— toysrevil (@toysrevil) August 22, 2022

"Wonderful 80s" (Disc One) MV Compilation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 08:20:00 +0000

WATCH "Wonderful 80s" (Disc One) MV Compilation on these #toysrevilblogs:#TUNESTALKSG: https://t.co/PW2vBZddFt #FLASHBACK80s: https://t.co/BDcMIMSz8M

... and a right decent compilation too! These are some of my favs :)#80smusic pic.twitter.com/FPUDoHTafO
— toysrevil (@toysrevil) June 12, 2022

80S TUNES (VOL.2)

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Wed, 25 May 2022 06:32:00 +0000

80S TUNES (VOL.1)

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Fri, 20 May 2022 10:26:00 +0000

#Tunestalktapes

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Wed, 18 May 2022 08:32:00 +0000

WHAT-IS: #Tunestalktapes are a collection of video clips of me opening up and checking out my cassette tape collection (from the 80s), and reminiscing the various makes and brands. No, these are not for sale, and were filmed & edited for my TUNESTALKSG-blog.

I've uploaded a bunch of them but not posted about all for far too long, so here they are in a single post. One day I'll tell stories about them, cheers.

REPOSTING:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by TOYSREVIL (@toysrevil)

My Top Ten Fav Spandau Ballet Music Videos (from the 80s)

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Sat, 14 May 2022 10:38:00 +0000

I remembered my very first Spandau Ballet track on the local radio to be "Communication". I remembered as clearly because it took me sometime before I could track down the actual name of the band "Spandau Ballet" (I had zero reference to spell it), with only the song title as "clue". I cannot remember of it was from magazines ("SMASH Hits" etc), or more likely it might have been on a compilation tape, seen in Coronation Plaza or likewise music shops selling legit and non-too-legit tapes.

After that, tracks from their 1983 third album "True" had become a staple of my 80s' playlist, along with their 1984 album "Parade". It was not until their 5th studio album "Through the Barricades" in 1986 did I managed to get the entire album... and my music memories remained within that period.

The tenth track listed here - "Be Free With Your Love" - sounded familiar, but frankly was no apart of my music memories as deep, but nevertheless here to fill the list, cheers.

ABOVE: "Be Free With Your Love" (1988)

ABOVE: "Highly Strung" ( released as the third single from the 1984 album 'Parade').

ABOVE: "Lifeline" (from their 1983 third album 'True').

ABOVE: "Communication" (from their 1983 third album 'True').

ABOVE: "Through the Barricades" (from their 1986 5th studio album "Through the Barricades").

ABOVE: "I'll Fly For You" (the second single from the 1984 album Parade)

ABOVE: "Round And Round" (from their 1984 third album 'Parade').

ABOVE: "Gold" (from their 1983 third album 'True).

ABOVE: "Only When You Leave" (released as the first single from their fourth album 'Parade').

ABOVE: "True" (title track from their 1983 third album 'True').

80's SUPERHITS (CD #1) Compilation MVs

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Wed, 11 May 2022 10:59:00 +0000

FLASHING BACK TO FLASHBACK80s

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Tue, 03 May 2022 03:39:00 +0000

Wow. My last post here was in "2019", and I've since abandoned this blog into the wwwild, but was reminded of FLASHBACK80s when a round of blog-deletion was enacted by Blogger, and I went through a quick state of "self-reflection", asking myself WHICH BLOG WOULD I SEEK A REVIEW, to have them "undeleted"...

One of the primary reasons for stopping my rambling-shares on THIS blog, was finding out multiple music video and documentary embeds had been deleted (through the years), and in a roundabout way, as if my "memories were being deleted" AGAIN, even if I was reminiscing about them! Which frankly defeated the purposes of my reminiscing in the very place. Having literally lived thru the 80s, and now being told "not to", was something I perhaps took too seriously (*As far as I was concerned, this was "serious" to me).

Resurrecting my #FLASHBACK80s blog (https://t.co/K0pKyY0CRh) which I had abandoned since 2019 to share my love of #80smusic on #TUNESTALKSG (https://t.co/FWC0PaPcOB), cheers.#toysrevilblogs

(Screengrabs 1/2) pic.twitter.com/a4gFjLEPmN
— toysrevil (@toysrevil) May 3, 2022

Since then I have spent more time on my dedicated MUSIC hobby-blog at tunes-talk.blogspot.com, and have been sharing music from the 80s - including content reposted from HERE, and quite frankly continue to be having a BLAST!

I started writing this post without a clear focus on whether or not I'd have decided to CONTINUE authoring this blog? Or mirror music-posts from TUNESTALK? And frankly I might be doing a bit of both, but as I styped, I hgave not decided yet ... WHY? Because I am whoilly unsure how many folks cares enough if anything'll happen otherwise LOL

I like listening to my past a lot more than talking about it tho LOL

Screengrabs (2/2) of my love of #80smusic shared on #TUNESTALKSG (https://t.co/FWC0PaPcOB), cheers.#toysrevilblogs #flashback80s pic.twitter.com/qrWuPPNhAP
— toysrevil (@toysrevil) May 3, 2022

It's one thing when I have embraced blogging into the vaccum of the www (as liberating as it had been through the years, I will not lie), but so too after a bit, it might feel a tad bonkers, as if I am "talking to mysef" (as I am doing right this instant ~ d'oh), with zero-to-hardly-any-tangible engagement, besides the blog's hit count (non-existent-to-dismal), and retweets of #TUNESTALKSG! I am none too disillusioned about my own lack of wordsmithing skills, and of my niche recollections of the 80s, but...

THAT said, I have just convinced myself (with my own words lol) to keep this blog, and will attempt tp feed it when I have something to say, or in the case of THIS particular blogpost, to KEEP IT ALIVE - so I blog to myself, comfortable again sitting and typing away in the void of the corner-of-the-www... a corner I call my own.

Thank you for reading, and have a fab flashback ahead!

Cheers,
Andy TOYSREVIL

My Top Ten 90s Songs (Vol.1) To The #SoundtrackofMyLife

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 08:39:00 +0000

Aaaahhhh "The 90s" ... a truly turbulent decade of music devourment of multiple genres and languages! And while the 80s had been an awakening to the synth and pop life, the 90s saw a mixture of sounds and influences, brought primarily of the ability to spend $$$ on albums and visiting clubs! I had started working after my National Service, and physical venues like HMV and Tower Records were our weekly haunts! Admittedly, it took me some time to embrace while other aspect of 80s music as I transitioned from schoolboy to army boy to working adult, so quite a few songs featured here ere indeed from the (late) 80s, but I'd only discovered & devoured them in the 90s :)

Amy Grant's "Baby, Baby" (1991) was pop-fun and embodied the cheerful spirit of the 90s (in my book). The sound quality would echo for quite a long time, actually, thru folks like Climie Fisher, Boy Meets Girl and Danny Wilson etc, from the late-80s forward.

I realised there is a larger number of female singer/songs in this list, which isn't really a surprise, as the "bands" of the 80s gave way to (seemingly) strong independent woman singers/performers. Julia Fordham's "Happy Ever After" will always been an "anthem" for me during that time.

"Been around the world-aiyahi-aiyahi-aiyahi" .... "All Around the World" by Lisa Stansfield (1997 / Album: Lisa Stansfield)

"Save The Best For Last" (1991) by then beauty-queen Vanessa Williams shall hold a special place in my heart as well.

Lisa Loeb's 1995 "Stay (I Missed You)" from the album: "Tails" would also be a common theme of seemingly "less faux groomed" performers enter my soundscape, which was ironic, as in the "end", we still "judged" them based somewhat on appearance ...

"Caramel" by Suzanne Vega (1996 / Album: Nine Objects of Desire)

Fairground Attraction with "Perfect" was a actually released circa "1988" (Album: The First of a Million Kisses), and I am glad I discovered them! I remember listening to the album in HMV too :)

I had initially found it bizarre that Frente! had cover3d New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle" (1992 / Album: Marvin the Album) - No Pun intended! - but it actually opened me up to the sheer notion of "covers", while not needing it to be karaoke-fuelled concepts or for live-pub performances :p

I'll also admit that I'd discovered Siouxsie and the Banshees with their song "Face To Face" on the 1992 soundtrack for "Batman Returns", and subsequently sent me "back in time" to devour their 80s' material - of which one of my faves was "Kiss Them For Me" (1991 / Album: Superstition).

And while Prefab Sprout's "The King of Rock 'N' Roll" was circa late-80s (1988), I'd coped unto them on the early-onset of 90s, and helped provide that indie-pop-rock bridge between the synth and perhaps even inevitable-grunge of the 90s.

My Top Ten 80s Songs (Vol.2) To The #SoundtrackofMyLife

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 09:11:00 +0000

And while the early 80s in my soundscape had been fuelled with electronica and synth, the later part of 80s begun taking me on more a ... "soulful" journey of sounds, including appreciating jazzy and funky pop music, and where my appetite needed variety and ironically a hark back to much earlier era of music (Big Bands etc), and of course beyond the British New Wave (which will remain an essential part of my youth, going forward). This is jut some of my favs, in My Top Ten 80s Songs (Vol.2) To The #SoundtrackofMyLife

Truth be told, I think I'd coped unto Swing Out Sister more likely in the 90s, having discovered them as I'd somewhat tire of the 90s grunge/Hard Rock Cafe-tunnage, and was seeking a return to the early days of music which made me happier ... and entered SOS! "Breakout" was invirogating, and as inspired as its release was circa 1987, with its album "It's Better to Travel" being one of my all-time Top Ten Fav Albums!

Matt Bianco was a beast of a sound for me, also discovered much later in the 90s - where tracking down older albums was not as difficult these days (Thanks Tower Records and HMV!), parallel to youtube these days somewhat LOL

"Get Out Of Your Lazy Bed" (February 1984) is a sound example of their sound!

A distinct singer with Matt Bianco, Basia ventured forth with her own solo album ("Time and Tide"), with tons of songs that remain close to my memories of the era, chief of which was her first single "Time and Tide".

To choose one sole track from Sade is pretty "cruel" for me (LOL), but in lieu of a full-on indidivual post, I'd offer up her 1985-released "The Sweetest Taboo" (Album: Promise).

Level 42 was somewhat of a "guilt-pleasure" not of the "Top Pop 40s"-variety, but the verve which I relished, chief of which was "Something About You" (1985).

One of the more rounded sounds (to me) of the late 80s was from Curiosity Killed The Cat, with 1987's "Down To Earth" (Album: "Keep Your Distance") being that one-hit-wonder going down in history as a champion track, IMHO.

Fine Young Cannibals is known for their track "", but my fav had to be "Good Thing" (1988 / Album: "The Raw and the Cooked") instead.

Somewhere in my cassette collection, is a Terence Trent D'Arby album ("Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby") which I may not be able to listen to now (*Actuay not true, I do have a tape player... just need to find the tape :p), and I thank YouTube for hosting select single, of which "Sign Your Name" (1987) was an example of the sound which led to the early 90s of pop-funk of my soundtrack of life.

Suzanne Vega's "Luka" (1987) was a beginning of a sound that brought me forward to the early-90s as well, along with a more intense lyrics

The late-80s cannot be mentioned without Australia's INXS in the same sentence, with 1987's "Need You Tonight" (Album: "Kick") being the eternal classic.

My Top Ten 80s Songs (Vol.1) To The #SoundtrackofMyLife

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 10:19:00 +0000

This list started out as a "request" I had asked a friend, to share her 90s' songlist with me, which in turn had gotten me intrigued on songs which "instinctively reminded me of the 80s" once I heard it, and of course I had come out with a decent stack of mixtape suggestions!

So, instead of choosing my own "Top Ten Favourites", I'd offer instead different "volumes" of tunes from the 80s that are dear to me and my Soundtrack of Life!

"Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo (1983 / Album: White Feathers) instinctively contours up a vivd memory of a certain afternoon, as I am laying front down on the floor, on a mattress, as I am writing into an "autograph book" of a classmate (maybe I had a crush on her?), while beside laid a plate with a couple of slices of pandan cake. This was in Teban Garden's flat, when I was more likely in Secondary 3, or 4, or repeating my Sec 4. Crips memory too.

I do not have a very distinct memory of "Always Something There To Remind Me" by Naked Eyes (1983 / Album: Burning Bridges), except that hearing it would bring me back to the heydays of the 80s ... the excitement of the tune, the adventure that awaited...

Tears For Fears had been one of my ultimate "Top Ten" bands of the 80s, with most of their songs from their "Songs from the Big Chair" album my faves - which folks will remember "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" and "Shout" - but to me, the track that triggers my memories more is "Head Over Heels" (1985) ... which might or might not have described a moment in life for me back then ... I really don't remember the details, but the feels ...

I first heard Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)" on the radio (1985 / Album: The Breakfast Club), but in reality only really watched the film from which its apart of the soundtrack for, early last year!

And while Spandau Ballet is also one of my "Top Ten" bands of the 80s, this track - "True" (1983 / Album: True) - is without a doubt the clearest fave of their discography, at least for me.

The Human League's "Human" (1986 / Album: Crash) is the epitome of 80s soundscapes for me.

This list is a personal list, and one track that had always stuck with me, was Haircut 100's "Love Plus One" (1982 / Album: Pelican West), which may be one of the earliest tracks which somehow "introduced" me to the British New Wave...? A very "safe" relaxing track, it was a smooth harbinger to the techno-synth soundscape which subsequently devoured me LOL

I cannot remember the exact moment when I first heard "Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood, but hell I know their era of ZTT tunes stayed with me for a while longer than other songs, methinks ... this is the "Laser Version".

Depeche Mode is my ultimate 80s-Jam and onwards! And each of their tracks and albums are very distinctive of the 80s, and are yet ageless, IMHO. Two songs battle for the top spot: "Somebody", and the first DM song I've ever heard; "Just Can't Get Enough" (1981 / Album: Speak & Spell).

If New Order's "Blue Monday" (1983 / Album: Power, Corruption & Lies) is a "cliche" for "80s Tunes", then colour me CLICHED, dammit! LOL

Nerdist Presents “Thor 3: Ragnarok” - 1987 Trailer (The 80s-flavor makes everything awesome)

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 05:52:00 +0000

”Nerdist Presents brings you the answer to a question you always needed to ask - What if Thor: Ragnarok was actually made in the 1980S?” … Look, EVERYTHING looks awesome when does thru the retrolicious-mill of the 80s’ kitschy=style, and I LOVE IT! #Fact

But NO, I don’t want to see the actual “Thor: Ragnarok” as an “80s movie” … I have memories of “Masters of the Universe” film (with Dolph Lundgren) and even “Flash Gordon” for those space-adventure operas flavoured here, thank goodness! LOL

I’ll leave this post with an IG-snap of the “live-sized” statues of Gladiator Hulk and Thor - seen at the entrance of the recent weekend’s Singapore Toy, Games & Comic Con 2017 (Sept 9-10), seen behind my buddy Andrew and I :)

A post shared by Andrew Him 💰 (@a_very_fierce_bear) on Sep 8, 2017 at 10:05pm PDT

[ READ: Experiencing "My First STGCC" ]

The Songs of Eight Wonder + The Beauty of Patsy Kensit

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 04:49:00 +0000

The simple fact is, I tuned into “Eight Wonder” because of Patsy Kensit, and with “music videos” the primary xxx of visual delivery in the mid-to-late 80s, I was happily head-bopping to their songs and smiling at the sight of Ms Kensit. Maybe I might have heard their tunes on the radio, but I cannot remember much of it, as addled as my memory had been recently (*cough*) … and how could I ever forget the happy pop of “Stay With Me”? Fuss free jaunt thru the urban mindscape of escape for this dull average boy in Singapore way back when, hand-in-hand with Ms Kensit, of course! :p

It also “helped” the fantasy when she’s about my age too (ok, maybe a couple years older :p) … *cough*

Alas their sounds very quickly graduated to the fast-paced Ameri-Electro-Pop, like in “Will You Remember?” and movie soundtrack-friendly “When the Phone Stops Ringing”, sounding like other ladies in the genre, like Kim Wilde (but less rock and more pop tho :p) … but regardless of my fascination with her beauty, today instead we focus on their songs, shall we? :)

Haircut 100

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Sat, 24 Jun 2017 07:10:00 +0000

WHO-ARE: ”Haircut One Hundred are a British new wave/jazz-funk group formed in 1980 in Beckenham, London by Nick Heyward. In 1981 and 1982 the band had four UK Top 10 hit singles: "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)", "Love Plus One", "Nobody's Fool", and "Fantastic Day”.” (Wiki).

And the four singles are what I remember of the band, especially with “Love Plus One” - first hearing it on the radio, was a such a breeze of fresh tunes, amidst onslaught of synth resplendid in the new Romantic British New Wave, like a holiday in the carribean (which was not as alluring to myself as Singapore was a hot-bed of humidity, innit? LOL) … well, at the very least seen in their MVs, like “Fantastic Day” LOL.

Years later, bands like Aztec Camera and Prefab Sprout came to the fore with their jingle-jangle pop musicality and rhythm … which somewhat funnily led me to bands like Toad The Wet Sprocket, which led me down the “grunge” path in the 90s.

The Summer Of Rave 1989 (Full Documentary)

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 12:00:00 +0000

"The Summer Of Rave 1989" is a documentary on BBC2 - First shown on-air June 2006 - charting the rise of the rave phenomenon which swept the country in the late 80's. Directed by Anna Davies, this nearly one-hour doc features archive news footage, interviews and also focusing on the 'Manchester' music scene which sprang up at the time.

My personal music journey continues to be vividly in the early-to-mid 80s, of the synth generation and New Romantics, with smatterings of Ameri-rock and early J-Pop, but untilamtely more England-fueled audio trip for nearly a decade during my teenage years.

I don’t know which might have THE particular song, or maybe it was more of a flood of tunes, but when “rave” and dance music returned like a vengeance, a mutated version of 70s’ disco, buffered no doubt by the “remix” dance versions of my fav 80s tracks, which lead to the new age of dance music.

“Acid House” has always been associated with “drugs” in the UK, but in Singapore - at least for me - it was just groovy dance music you can boogie your bums to, without the pressure of feeling you needed pre-practised steps to “perform” to on the dance floor … or maybe for myself personally, Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation” came to fore, and American-based dance tunes soon took over my “New Romantics”-era preferences, as much as cassette tapes and vinyl LPs soon gave in to Compact Discs not long after.

It was a few short-lived years of “dance” before I swung back to the British era of pop boybands and girlbands :)

Cheers
Andy TOYSREVIL

YAZOO - A Short Film (#Documentary) & Full Album for "Upstairs At Eric's"

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 04:45:00 +0000

I have mad love for YAZOO, parallel to my dedication to DEPECHE MODE, small wonder as Vince Clarke had been apart of both groups - in the early days of Depeche, when they scored a place in my heart, anyways.

And while Yazoo had only two albums to their name, that somehow cemented their “greatness”, because the albums were epic and that had not fallen from their pedestal with futher dismal album, as most bands were wont to do, I reckon.

1982’s “UPSTAIRS AT ERIC’S” will remain one of the Top Twenty Most Important Albums in the soundtrack of my life. Here’s the “full album”, thanks to youtube.

SIDE ONE

"Don't Go" (Vince Clarke) – 3:08
"Too Pieces" (Clarke) – 3:14
"Bad Connection" (Clarke) – 3:20
"I Before E Except After C" (Clarke) – 4:36
"Midnight" (Alison Moyet) – 4:22
"In My Room" (Clarke) – 3:52

SIDE TWO

"Only You" (Clarke) – 3:14
"Goodbye 70's" (Moyet) – 2:35
"Tuesday" (Clarke) – 3:22
"Winter Kills" (Moyet) – 4:06
"Bring Your Love Down (Didn't I)" (Moyet) – 4:40

New Order's "Blue Monday" covered by HEALTH (for "Atomic Blonde" film)

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 04:17:00 +0000

“Blue Monday” by Los Angeles-based HEALTH (www.youwillloveeachother.com) as heard from the latest Red Band trailer for ATOMIC BLONDE (starring Charlize Theron), with this incarnation of New Order’s 1983 synth-techno-tune all HOUSE’d up with all the frills-n-thrills of the EDM-Generation! Hey, I'm not knocking it, as I've heard it three times in a row with the volume UP!

Here are the OG versions to help you relive the “good old days” nevertheless - Cheers :)

CineFix Does “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” in 8 Bit Cinema

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 14:56:00 +0000

"If you were more the type to cut school to play classic video games than cruise around in a classic Ferrari, then we've got the video for you! CineFix presents Ferris Bueller’s Day Off retold via old-school 8-bit (and a little 16 bit ;) game tech. No quarters or controllers required!

8 Bit a.k.a. the third generation of gaming started in 1983 with the Japanese release of the Nintendo Family Computer and Sega. Can you guess what games inspired this 8-bit version of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off? "

New Poster for #GuardiansoftheGalaxyVol2 is retrolicious!

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 12:30:00 +0000

New Poster for Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2” feature film debuts - along with the TV Spot aired during Super Bowl - and it’s a wonderful visual compilation of cassette tapes, with the actors/characters mentioned/ hand-drawn into the tape spines!

No doubt a carry-over from the “Awesome Mix, Vol. 1” from the first James Gunn-directed film, and “Peyter Quill” AKA “Star Lord’s” collection of tapes! Here’s a compilation of the tape to content with, before “Vol.2” is unleashed!

“He-man 80’s” Tribute Illustration by Caio Thiago Oliveira

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 04:30:00 +0000

This tribute to 80s-cartoons illustration by Brazilian illustrator Caio Thiago Oliveira, is all the awesomeness with the visual references! If you can name at least 8 references, then we can be “friends” LOL … Meanwhile, go check out his DeviantART for more art!

Source: Facebook

R.I.P. George Michael (1963-2016)

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Mon, 26 Dec 2016 05:21:00 +0000

RIP #georgemichael #wham! #faith #carelesswisper #lastchristmas
A photo posted by Kaz Oomori (@kazoomori) on Dec 25, 2016 at 6:35pm PST

The world “outside” sometimes seemed “immortal”. The realm of escape into non-reality are filled with larger than life-sized films and music that transported you to another dimension other than your own, field with dreams of a colourful life, a better life, a happier life, a life immortal!

Put on a pair of headphones and you shut off the rest of the world, while the music surrounds you, and the songs cradle you in sadness, in anger, in joy, in ways unknown to you to verbalize but to mouth the lyrics to, and brings you on a journey into the good old days worth remembering, or of a day when you tinkle the ivories on a smoke filled stage in a darkened club, or arms stretched out to embrace the love of 30,000 fans, on a stadium stage, a dream to be a STAR, personalised and fulfilled, in your own head, between your earphones.

Music is immortal, but the singers aren’t. The films you enjoy are encased in a DVD, but the actor and filmmakers may one day be encased in a coffin of pop culture.

The year 2016 has seen it’s fair share of lost artists and performers, and a few meant more to me than others, apologetically so … David Bowie, Prince, and since this morning, George Michael.

Born “Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou” in June 25th 1963, “George Michael” passed at home, at the age of 53, on Christmas Day 25th December, 2016. (Wiki)

All three gentlemen had been instrumental in making my teen years moe bearable than they should. I reminisce tons about the 80s, especially on flashback80s - but the reality was, it had been mostly about the toys, the comics and yes, the MUSIC, which played a part of nostalgia worth remembering, while the “real life” about “growing up wasn’t as cracked up to be as worth remembering LOL.

RIP George Michael
A photo posted by Nathan Jurevicius (@nathanjurevicius) on Dec 25, 2016 at 4:38pm PST

The 80s has since long gone, 3 decades back, but the 80s still lived on, in my music heroes and heroines, but hey too are leaving us … and one day, all i’ll have left, are CD albums and unplayable cassette tapes, and a blog filled with recorded memories, twice over.

The music videos featured here ranged mostly from George Michael’s WHAM! days, and of his solo tenure in the early-90s, while a “later” range of MVs can be heard HERE on #tunestalk.

In an age of “New Romantics”, WHAM! presented themselves as clean cut boys, in oversized tees with large text like “CHOOSE LIFE” - rage alongside Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s “RELAX” and other simple life-affirming affirmations and seemingly “choices” manifest on their chests and bellies. “Bubbleum Pop” had a face, and they belonged to George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley).

The Music of Miami Vice

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Fri, 11 Nov 2016 05:46:00 +0000

Spurred on by seeing Daimen Darhk dressed like “Sonny Crockett”, and of my recent rewatch of the 2006 “Miami Vice” adaptation by director Michael Mann (who himself was the Executive Producer for the tv series back in the day too!) - here are a few select MVs for the MIAMI VICE television series (1984-1990) - including Jan Hammer’s infamous “Miami Vice” opening theme, and Phil Collin’s “In The Air Tonight”, Godley and Creme’s “Cry” (ED for 'Definitely Miami' ep), and Phil Collins & Sting’s “Long Long Way To Go” (ED from the second season’s final episode 'Sons and Lovers’) - both by fan-made by StevenMighty :)

DC's Legends of Tomorrow Goes the 80s in Season 2 Episode 5 on The CW

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 05:07:00 +0000

DC's Legends of Tomorrow Season 2 Episode 5 is titled "Compromised”, features the team in the 1980s! Which of course is PERFECT for this flashback-blog, and as well I adore the show myself haha

Here’s the write-up for the episode, and while the above is a featuerette, you can scroll down for the promo for this ep :)

PLOT: "When the Legends trace a timequake to President Reagan’s White House, they are shocked to discover their old enemy Damien Darhk (guest star Neal McDonough) is now a Senior Adviser to Reagan.

As the team works to uncover what Darhk has up his devious sleeve, Sara (Caity Lotz) struggles with the choice of getting revenge or helping with the team’s larger mission.

Thinking that the JSA members could be of help, Amaya (Maisie Richardson-Sellers) and Nate (Nick Zano) break into the JSA and are surprised at what they find.

Meanwhile, Stein (Victor Garber) tries to prevent his younger self from creating an even bigger time Abberation. Franz Drameh, Dominic Purcell and Brandon Routh also star."

David Geddes directed the episode written by Keto Shimizu & Grainne Godfree (#205). Original airdate 11/10/2016.

"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" #remixed

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 08:15:00 +0000

Bjork & PJ Harvey perform 'I Can't Get No... by JesseeOuida
Seen above is the song "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" covered by Björk & PJ Harvey and performed at the Live BRIT Awards 1994. Originally sung and released in 1965 by The Rolling Stones, the song has endured thru the decades, and seen a myriad of covers, from folks like The Beach Boys, Cher, Take That, Britney Spears, Tom Jones and even Alvin and the Chipmunks!

Featured below are a couple of tracks from DEVO (used in the 1995 Martin Scorsese-directed "Casino" movie soundtrack) and a 90's version by Samantha Fox! But seriously though, nothing ever did beat the "original"…

WHAT:
""(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released in 1965. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. Richards' three-note guitar riff‍—‌intended to be replaced by horns‍—‌opens and drives the song. The lyrics refer to sexual frustration and commercialism." (Wkiki)

#SilverHawks 1986 TVC from Kenner

noreply@blogger.com (TOYSREVIL) — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 04:55:00 +0000

"SilverHawks" toy commercial from Kenner, circa 1986. The metallic-looking surface and liking the cartoon itself made me hanker for the action figures / toys! But I never did seem to get my hands on them, rarely seeing them at the shops I go to in my childhood anyways … and even as an adult, I never did attempt to buy them off the secondary market - which by that time the cost of which was beyond my personal toy-threshold anyways … years later, I would still enjoy looking at the on display at toy-museums and trade sales tables, and of course, the tv commercials! LOL

(Above ad image via haveageekasm.com)