New Order – Blue Monday (1983)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV7LKjTV5oI

I’m a huge fan of New Order.  They started off in the 70′s as Joy Division. Since the lead singer died, they moved on to form the new band.  They began with the same depressing music style of Joy Division, but later changed to a more upbeat “clubby” songs which got the attention of the masses.  They finally broke up a couple of years ago.  It’s too bad, most new alternative bands now want to sound like them – and usually succeed.

Pet Shop Boys – Opportunity (Let’s Make Lots of Money) (1985)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1aYZ3e5EI0

[Original Video Link]

In a Roling Stone magazine, a critic wrote PSBs were “Britain’s Dopiest Duo”.  When a friend introduced me to the Please album, I dismissed that critical review.   They produced some of the catchiest melody, with smart lyrics.  They also made several remixes – labeled them as “dance” tracks.  So it was no surprise their songs made it to clubs.  This song reminded me of my clubbing days. The PSBs are still together making new albums.  I haven’t listened to them lately.  They’ve lost their unique sound.

Depeche Mode – Strange Love (1987)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5L0l9hS958

[Original Video Link]

I went to see these guys at the CNE Grandstand in 1987 when they were promoting Music For the Masses album.  The appeal of this band was it never went mainstream, yet popular enough in the clubs.  I just like them because they always reinvent themselves.

ABC – The Look of Love (1982)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuLcogdames

[Original Video Link]

This group is one of those bands that made me look back and ask, “Where are they now?” Apparently, they were still busy touring in 2009!  They were so good back in the 80′s, with their pop dance tunes, but somehow I lost track of them after their album Alphabet City.  Anyway, this song was part of the classy album Lexicon of Love, which has wonderful strings orchestra for a pop song.  Very catchy. Very dance-able.

Human League – Don’t You Want Me (1981)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KVlz88gXNA

[Original Video Link]

This is a classic 80′s dance tune.  Always a floor filler whenever I played this song in parties.  I just read the Human League story on Wikipedia, and they seem to have a rough past – but strangely enough the lead singer, Phil Oakey, is still recording, and touring!  I’ll bet people will go see them just to hear this song again.

Duran Duran – The Reflex (1983)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsKCcGFrwJQ

[Original Video Link]

Finally, the 80′s dance scene is not complete without these guys.  They were the poster children of MTV.  Girls loved them.  DJs loved to play their songs.  However, my personal favorite is “Come Undone“, from their self-titled album in 1993.  Since this is about the 80′s, I chose The Reflex because it was their final shining world Pop Music glory.

This article was posted on Rudy Amid's Blog:

Music of the 80′s – UK Club Edition

1. Canadians had a tendency to like European music.

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Once again, my favorite show from the UK is back! Season 13 started two weeks ago, and there will be (only) 7 episodes.  In Top Gear tradition, they started off wonderfully, with fun challenges (racing with a coal powered steam train), and testing fun cars like the Lotus and Ferrari FXX.

Of course, this time around they had something to say about the sad state of the auto industry.  Surprisingly, they didn’t talk about it too much.  They proceeded in doing what they do best: running cars around the test track, pushing their bodies to the limit, and causing mayhem.

And they revealed The Stig‘s real identity!

Anyway, I’m going to enjoy watching whatever Top Gear put together.  I’ve also been enjoying Top Gear Australia, which is now on Season 2.  The hosts dynamics are different, but they are equally funny blokes, having fun racing and thrashing cars.

Keep up the good work, guys!

This article was posted on Rudy Amid's Blog:

Top Gear: Season 13

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3. Top Gear USA – Under the Radar

• Booger. Medical term for it is Dried Nasal Mucus.
• Guitar Hero III for Wii has bugs. There is a solution: Guitar Hero III Wii Replacement Disc Pre-Registration Website.
• Kids in west coast universities (such as Stanford) seem more down to earth, regular students. Wearing regular jeans, t-shirt, and ride bicycles. Not flashy, not fancy. East coast is quite different. East coast has old money and the kids in Ivy League schools dress much nicer and are flashier.
• The chances of our kids getting into Stanford University with a scholarship. Apparently, there is a variety of scholarship available at Stanford.
• EuroStar – high speed (186 MPH) train between London and Paris. Eurostar info for American visitor is available. Best rate is €106 or US$154 for London-Paris Round-Trip Non-Flexible (Not Same Day Return).
• Tax rebate deal from President Bush.

We went to Spice Cuisine of Thai yesterday. It was a sunny day when we talked about:

• Most of us ordered the Crying Tiger
• French bank trading fraud. Why did it take a year to figure this one out?
• Guessing each other’s age. There’s actually a site for age guessing game.
• Used 3-year old Toyota Prius with the California Clean Air Sticker is still worth the original price of $24k! Cool, I wonder how much my 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid with the sticker is worth?

This article was posted on Rudy Amid's Blog:

Lunch Bits – Edition 9 and 10

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• Jeremy’s reviewed the Toyota Prius: seething review of the Prius being the slowest and quietest car he’s ever driven. But then again, Jeremy eats environmentalists for breakfast. Season 5 – episode 7
• Touching return of Richard Hammond to Top Gear after a big crash with a drag racing car that left him paralyzed for weeks. Some thought he wouldn’t return, but he did! Season 9 – episode 1
• James May doesn’t usually get a lot of love in the show. Perhaps that’s his trademark, just the smug individualist (he is a music artist).  His nickname on the show is “Captain Slow”, which probably explains why they keep putting him racing a car against bicyclists or runners (Man vs Machine). The best one was the race in a Peugeot, on the streets of Paris, against two Traceurs. It’s more fun watching the runners, of course! Season 8 – episode 7

This article was posted on Rudy Amid's Blog:

Top Gear is back on it’s 10th season!

Related posts:

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