h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My goodness, the eighties! I was in senior school at the start of 82 (for you 'youngies' that's year 8 or something). The fashions were worse than the music! Speaking truthfully, there were only a few bands that I didn't like. One of my faves was Strawberry Swithcblade who were from Glasgow. They used to dance around in polka dot dresses, high-heeled black patent leather boots and make-up you could scrape off with a palette knife. Oh those were the days! They did an excellent cover version of 'Jolene' by Dolly Parton. Sadly, after the initial success of 'Since Yesterday' the rest of their singles flopped. Rose McDowell left and formed a group called 'Spell' which didn't do much better.

The boys really tried to keep up though in the make up department. Japan, The Cure, Culture Club, Visage, Duran Duran... A-ha was my all time favourite, and yes, I admit, I wore the leather laces. I was young. Give me a break! By the way, A-ha has a new album out but it's not available in this country. With each album they became more 'themselves' rather than what was expected of them. I still collect all their music even though I'm in my thirties. Living in Liverpool, the eighties music scene was big with the likes of Yazoo, Dead or Alive, Frankie, The Mighty Wah. Clubs like The Cavern and Eric's is where you would find the Liverpool sound.

Back twenty years! Then, just as I thought it couldn't get any better, the song 'Orinoco Flow' was released. I remember ringing all the radio stations (without my parent's permission. Can you remember how expensive the phone was then!) asking what was this song. They told me that they were all inundated with calls about the same thing. It was of course Enya. There was nothing like it before and even though some groups have tried to copy her approach, there is nothing like it still. Her style is totally unique.

Even though I went out clubbing in the nineties, the eighties music scene will always be more important to me. Oh how I used to wish I could have had my hair like A Flock of Seagulls!

Jims

For me the 80ies were the Dire Straits decade.

In more ways than one - as the entry on our front page today shows

Now that was a nasty one! But very good, oh yes

"Steps are well-honed and practised professionals"

Oh ha, ha ha. Thanks for that. I needed cheering up. Professional children's entertainers maybe...