Monday, July 7, 2008

Mad Musical Monday.

(Just a quick note to let y'all know that as of today my blog address has been changed to simply lulaville.com. Please update your rolls and readers, if necessary. As always, thanks for stopping by.)

Hello my name is Leigh Anne and I love, love, love music. It is my thing...an enormous part of my life...and one of my greatest passions.

With that, I bid you welcome. Welcome to a new feature in Lulaville--Mad Musical Monday. Those who know me in "real life," can attest that I am a tune junkie...I love to listen to it, read about it, sing along to it and even play musical trivia. Pop, rock, country, classical, New Wave, disco, contemporary Christian, oldies, Big Band, jazz, hip-hop, "Mellow Gold," R&B, "hair bands," Bluegrass, hymns, soundtracks to films and Broadway musicals...you name it, I dig it.

I often hear, "You sure listen to a variety of stuff!" Yes, I do. I'm thankful to my father for instilling an appreciation of all forms of music within me. Because of him I adore Mozart, Tommy James & the Shondells, Billy Joel, Ray Charles and Alison Krauss. He also introduced me to Vince Guaraldi (the "Peanuts" guy--it ain't Christmas 'round here 'til someone breaks out the Charlie Brown soundtrack!), Chuck Berry, Emmylou Harris, The Police, Pablo Cruise and REO Speedwagon. My dad rocks...literally...don't even get me started on his mad guitar skills. And I'll save the story about how his band opened for Jerry Lee Lewis, and the time he had an in-depth conversation with Elvis for another post.

Because music is such a part of who I am, and who God has made me, I decided it would be fun (for me, at least--I hope it's fun for y'all, too!) to post videos and/or recommendations each week. Let's broaden our musical horizons, shall we?

Just as I love to share my favorite artists with others, I also love to hear about stuff I'm unfamiliar with...so please feel free to tell me who you're digging. This is a win-win situation, y'all.

Please join me each Monday and let's start our week off groovin'. Here goes...
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Lately I've been listening to many of my favorite artists from the 80's. While I love "classics" such as Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran, Wham!, and Michael Jackson, I'm also a big fan of those groups whose musical stylings scream "1985!" In particular I've been listening to artists who had either one-hit wonders or a string of a few top 40 charters before fading into oblivion. This is seriously good stuff, people. Anyone remember:

Nu Shooz and "I Can't Wait." Nu Shooz had another hit with "Point of No Return," and both of these songs instantly transport me to the mid-80's, when I was on the cusp of teenagehood and life was simple, yet confusing. Somewhere in here there's a Judy Blume novel waiting to be written...

There's Star Trek trivia lurking within the realms of this next group:

"Heart and Soul," performed by T'Pau. Royalty was still actively followed with an unbridled passion in 1987 and as a newly-minted teenager I just knew T'Pau's lead singer was the long-lost sibling of Fergie, or the Duchess of York, as is her rightful title. That quality alone endeared me to them, but the song? Oh...wow. To this day I find it still fabulous. I'm a sucker for harmonizing syntheziers. Any takers on the trivia mentioned above? Heather, I fully expect you to get this one.

I close with a dance favorite from Rumble Junior High, circa 1987 (go Imps!):

Pretty Poison and their one hit wonder, "Catch Me I'm Falling." Cheesy Jon Cryer movie aside, this is a great song. It takes me back to the days of Bonnie Bell Lip Smackers, cheerleading, using an entire can of Aqua Net every other week, and making out in the movie theater with whomever I was "going with" at the time. Where were we going? Wherever our mothers drove us, of course. (And I'm sorry, but this video's dancers are totally stirring the grits--classic mid-80's dance moves, y'all!)
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For those of you shaking your heads, thinking, "80's drivel...Lula's done lost her mind..." I promise a different genre every week. So you gotta check back each Monday and join my groove train. You dig?

A woman who shares her baby powder secret is never gonna steer you wrong. Right?

27 comments:

Unknown said...

Hun - we've gone from being BFF's to most likely twins separated at birth. I ADORE music. I have it going ALL the time, and have the most RANDOM eclectic collection of songs. I can't wait to read this blog at home so I can hear the songs, but I know all of them in my head (I always say the reason I can't remember anything is because my brain is completely taken up with 80's song lyrics). You SO TOTALLY ROCK!!

Speaking of Bonnie Bell - do you by any chance remember the little tins of lip gloss where the top slid back and forth?

Heather said...

I'm in! (As soon as I can figure out to get a Youtube video to play on my blog...)

I love music, too. My dad and I used to sit and listen to his little 45's of 1950's and 60's hits that he loved as a teenager (One of my favorite memories of him).

Thanks for the walk down memory lane. Now I'm off to find my jelly shoes and tease my hair upside-down to make it stand 6 inches high!

Anonymous said...

Awesomeness. I listened to the 80s channel on XM on my long drive. There were some songs played that I totally forgot existed.

angela | the painted house said...

Is there anything sexier than Pretty Poison's silhouette? The hair, the shoulder pads, the way she shimmies herself into that warehouse.

I still use Bonnie Bell lip smackers. :(

CaraBee said...

I love all of those songs!! Actually I love all 80s music. I just heard a Samantha Fox song the other day and it soo took me back to 7th grade. I definitely have a soundtrack to my life. Rhapsody is the best - if you don't have it already, check it out!

Heather said...

Once I'm done convulsing from having to listen to 80's music, I'll figure out the Star Trek trivia. I should know it, but I'm in anaphylactic shock right now.

I LOVE your music Mondays idea.

And don't you worry. Your love for 80's music will NOT be our demise.

Pinky Roth said...

I do not care for the 80s music too much, but this is a great idea to feature different music videos each week. You go, Lula!

love,

mom

Angie's Spot said...

Heart & Soul is one of my fave songs of all time! Great music genre to get this rolling. I heart the 80's big time!

Mama Dawg said...

OMG!!! You're totally my musical hero!

T'Pau alone is enough to immortalize you in my book! Add Nu Shooz and Pretty Poison and you, my girl, rank right up there with Cleopatra!

I have a one hit wonders c.d. that has T'Pau on it and I listen to it constantly in the car. My daughter loves it too, but not as much as "All That Jazz" from Chicago.

Mama Dawg said...

What? No "Mickey" by Toni Basil!?! With the cheerleading and all?

Oh, well, as I said above, you're still my musical hero!

Debbie said...

EIGHTIES MUSIC AWGGHHHHHHHHH...YUCK...I'm with Heather on that one. However, I love love love your reviews and snippets...and Mama Dawg is right...where was "You're so fine, you blow my mind Hey Mickey....."

What about "867-5309"...I can't remember who sung it or what it was about...I just remember the numbers in a song...and what about Jack WAgner singing some little love diddy...oh so many more bad
80's songs to reminisce about...And forget about Trek...you know how I feel about that....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Lula! said...

Heather, Mama, and Debbie--y'all are letting me down. How can you not love some 80's one-hit wonders??? GIRLS--come on!

The rest of you gals rock and we can all be BFFs forever, listening to channel 8 on XM & rockin' the day away.

"Oh Mickey you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind, HEY MICKEY...HEY MICKEY!" That was the best video.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I LOVE THE 80's. :) Now I am walking around singing catch me i'm falling, catch me now I'm falling in love, (enter electronic sounds)...

How about Freeze Frame or WE Got the Beat? Don't you want me?

Ahh, the memories!

Insane Mama said...

The 80s rock, not just the music, but the hair and the style. It was a strange and fun time!

Unknown said...

all the synthesized music made me think of howard jones. whoa whoa whooooaaaa whoooa whoa whoa whooouhoh. whatever song that was. and no one is to blame.

Teri said...

I'm just wondering where I can get that exact color of red for my hair.

Mama Dawg said...

Wait! What? I'm totally into 80's music. Read my comment again. I'm a total fan! Most of my compilation c.d.'s are of 80's music!

I'm not a hater! LOL!

Lula! said...

Oh no, Mama Dawg--I was referring to my own Mama--she's "Pinky," and she commented on her non-love for the 80's. I wasn't referencing you--just my own, real-life Mama!

We are down with our T'Pau love, girl...I promise.

sanctuaryseeker said...

I am so a music lover. Any kinds any types and I just love to hear new ideas so I can form my own opins. You rock girl.
Have you ever listened to Lauren Talley's gospel albums? They are marvelous. Her voice is a bit on the rebellious side I think.
Great posts.
Keep em coming.
(Oh, how about Don't Want to Fall in Love by Jane something or other) and WINGER<>>>>OMG!!!! Kip Winger was so sexy in the 80's. I'm just sayin'.

sanctuaryseeker said...

I am so a music lover. Any kinds any types and I just love to hear new ideas so I can form my own opins. You rock girl.
Have you ever listened to Lauren Talley's gospel albums? They are marvelous. Her voice is a bit on the rebellious side I think.
Great posts.
Keep em coming.
(Oh, how about Don't Want to Fall in Love by Jane something or other) and WINGER<>>>>OMG!!!! Kip Winger was so sexy in the 80's. I'm just sayin'.

Tiffany said...

I heard "Catch Me I'm Falling" yesterday on the radio and made a mental note to get it off itunes ASAP.

I love that song.

Lula! said...

sanctuaryseeker--OOOOHHHHH--Jane Child! I loved that song! Remember the video? She had that wild nose/ear earring thing going on? Great song! So many memories.

And yes--Kip Winger was the source of much junior high lusting on my part. "Headed for a Heartbreak" was my fave..."Don't ya think I feel the paaaaaaaaaain..." OH MY HEAD...everytime I saw that video my little teeny bopper self screamed at the screen, "YES--I FEEL YOUR PAIN!" Sigh...

Good times.

Swirl Girl said...

Okay- you are not going to believe this but I am in the video for The Pretty Poison song! Yes- I was an extra in the cheesy John Cryer movie. It was filmed in Boston, and I used to date the guy who cast extras in the movie. If you look real closely, at 1:06 in the counter - as cheesy John Cryer is running through a train station - there is a white cement post, I am standing with my back to the camera, big oversized black peacoat and very curly long 80's hair (who am I kidding, just very fuzzy hair.) THat is my 15 seconds (not even ) of 80's fame!!

WOW! now if you watch Merv Griffins Crosswords in July 11th, (2nd episode as I think there are two back to back) you can see me on replay of my 15 minutes of '08 fame!

A loser on both the movie and show....

I love music too!I am so gonna tune into Mondays!

Unknown said...

When I think of Heart and Soul I think of the most irritating song on the planet. The one played on the piano by every child who was ever near a piano! It absolutely drives me crazy. I always told my girls if they wanted to play the piano they could take lessons, but I wasn't listening to heart and soul! I'm such a mean mom!

Gina said...

I was 5 in 1980....
Can we still be friends if I only remember from 1985 on?

LiteralDan said...

Too... much... 80s...! Can't... take... any more...

I was born in 1981, but I remember everything from about 3 on-- I think Gina (above) must have had a blast in grade school, then gone sober around 3rd grade. lol

Mama Dawg said...

Whew.....I didn't want us to break up over 80's music!