Ah, the 80′s. It’s one of the most recognizable decades… all you have to do is see some pastel colors thrown together, or someone wearing a Sonny Crockett outfit and BAM! You’re transported back to that decade. Musically, it was very distinct regarding the production. Just put as many effects as you can, make the guitar sounds as processed as possible, and use the Rhodes patch on the Yamaha DX-7 (the Doogie Howser theme song uses this sound) and you’re golden.
I grew up and discovered music in the 80′s. I thought the synthesizer was the most exciting instrument EVER, and plastered my bedroom wall with pictures of various synths like the DX-7 and the Roland D-50. I dreamt about them… salivated over them… I even wrote a card to my girlfriend that said, “You’re cooler than a DX-7.” No foolin’.
So it comes to no surprise that I was into synthbands. These groups put the synth on the map and showed just how powerful a tool they can be. One said group is Alphaville, a band that I write about here. By 1985, Alphaville had already established themselves with their hit, “Big in Japan,” and were ready to move on to bigger things. Their second album, Afternoons in Utopia, did just that.
Released in 1986, Afternoons in Utopia maintained the synth-focused sound, but also featured more “real” instruments like horns, percussion and guitars. There were about 30 guest musicians on the album. That’s a LOT. The synths were more subtle, but there’s no denying it’s the main instrumentation. The sound was grander than before and it felt like I was witnessing some weird spaced-out version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and only the REALLY weird parts of it.
I thought I was a pretty smart kid back then, but this album proved me wrong. Alphaville went from lyrics like “Forever young, I want to be forever young,” to lines like “Aquarian Warriors rebuild the ship, Mr. Rainbow is gone,” and “Mighty Maomoondog drifts across the grass, healing lullabies for Easter Time on Mars.” What the heck is a “Mighty Maomoondog?” I had no idea back then… I just figured it was something I’d eventually discover as I aged. Well, I Googled it, and nothing of any real worth comes up except for this one interview with singer Marion Gold. After 24 years, I finally know what it means.
Interviewer: What about dogs in your songs….in your personal life ? And especially about this mighty Moondog …
Gold: I do like dogs. Mao Moondog was the master of creative chaos. My “daimon” at the time when I was travelling Utopia. Meanwhile, I have become agnostic. Now, I am “Moondog” myself.
Ooooooo-KAY. After 24 years that was SO anti-climactic.
In the liner notes to their first greatest hits collection, First Harvest 1984-1996 , Gold revealed that fans were initially confused on the message of the album. “Sometimes people used to say, ‘Have they gone crazy now? Talking with dolphins and all that!!’ But I think that once we’ve learned the language of the dolphins – this mutual approach – that could be the moment of significant change in our messed up civilization.”
Oooooo-KAY.
Hey, I’m all for changing our messed up civilization, but what if all the dolphins are saying is, “More fish?” That would SUCK.
Five singles were released from the album, “Dance with Me” (reaching #22 on Billboard’s Dance/Club Play charts), “Universal Daddy” (#21 in Switzerland), “Jerusalem” (#57 in Germany), “Sensations,” and “Red Rose” (#24 on the US Hot Dance Chart). I remember I had the DJ play “Dance With Me” at a dance once (yes, I went to dances and actually DANCED with girls, not just stand on the boy’s side of the gym). NOBODY danced. I was like all, “What?” but I looked again and yes, it was in fact true. NOBODY danced.
“You suck. Thanks for ruining the dance,” was all the DJ had to say to me.
Despite this setback, I still love the album. It’s weird lyrically, but as a whole it works because it’s consistent with the weirdness. The music is cinematic, Gold’s voice soars and drops to the deepest depths, there’s beauty (Afternoons in Utopia), there’s pomp (Fantastic Dream), and there’s a message somewhere in there (the whole entire frikkin’ album). I’ve been spinning the album this whole time and even though I STILL can’t figure out what that message is, I’m sure that when I do, I’ll be able to go to Sea World and start jibber-jabbering away with the dolphins. People will look at me and think I’m crazy, but one person will say, “That’s interesting,” and get me a spot on the Oprah Winfrey show before she goes off the air.
I’ll then explain how I acquired this unique ability by deciphering the lyrics to Afternoons in Utopia. It will be a good day, oh yes it will.
The album reached #174 on the US Billboard charts, and didn’t quite make as big an impact as their debut, but it still stands as one of their best works. They were reaching for something extremely different, and judging by how weirded out I am about the lyrics, I think they got it.
The Dig-It section contains a couple of my favorite tracks from the record. I hope that these songs show the range of what’s to be found there, and I hope that it sparks an interest in you. I chose the title track because it sets up the whole “spaced-out version of A Midsummers Night’s Dream” thingy. “Universal Daddy” was selected because it’s simply one of the best songs on the record, and finally I put my favorite track, “Lassie Come Home.”
“Lassie Come Home” is epic in it’s tranquility. In the past, I’ve had this track on repeat for hours because it creates such a gorgeous atmosphere to live in. As with the majority of the lyrics on the album, I have no idea what they’re talking about, but I don’t really care. The subject matter sounds sad, but that’s probably because just the words, “Lassie Come Home” gives off a depressing tone. I really hope you enjoy this track because it highlights so much of what Alphaville excels in regarding sonic environment.
Alphaville has released a number of albums, and they’re all worth checking out. They have a vision and know how to use it. Just check out their official website and you’ll see what I mean.
These trips back to the 80′s are fun. I know that the music of the 80′s had more than synth-pop, but I think synth-pop is what separated the decade more than anything else. Images of keyboardists with stacks and towers of synthesizers come to mind when I think of the 80′s, and image that has faded from the stage nowadays. I always wanted that tower of synths in front of me. The most I ever got to was having two in front of me and two on the side… boy if I were talking about girls right now, I’d sound like a pretty big stud.
Take a listen to the tracks below and I hope you take the time to discover more about one of the hidden gems of the 80′s. But before you take a listen, go ahead and tease your hair so it adds an extra foot to your height, put on those acid-washed Guess jeans along with the oversized Guess shirt, pop open a Tab cola and then just relax and enjoy one of those lazy Afternoons in Utopia.
One final thought… I just realized that my copy of the album doesn’t include a website nor anything about the internet. Wow. That’s CRAZY, man. Crazy.
Your Dig-It Downloads:
Download: Afternoons in Utopia
Download: Universal Daddy
Download: Lassie Come Home
Buy Alphaville on Amazon
Buy Alphaville on iTunes
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Why was the music from the 80's so awesome? It was fun, memorable and entertaining. Not that we don't have good music now but do you think we will be reading and writing articles about it 20 years later?
Yes, people will undoubtedly be writing about the music now, but I don't think it'll stand out quite as much as the 80's. I mean, what defining style is from the 90's? Or the 00's? I can't think of one… not like the 80's: shoulder pads, big hair, etc… or even the 70's with the bell bottoms and disco shirts.
I think everything started to even out in the 90's… and in the 00's, it evened out even more. There's a pretty good balance between the outrageous and the “raw” now… I don't know what's to come in the 10's, but it'll be interesting.
Either that or I don't know what I'm talking about… you never know with me.
What the 80's music was good for was for use in video production and TV feature news. Or for workouts (Prince). Or for the famous lead singer striding atop the bar in Saratoga, NY belting out jukebox tunes (Talking Heads) moments after finishing a concert in front of 20,000, during which I worked Onstage Beer Girl handing out Heinies…
But I digress.
Yep, I guess there are some good memories of 80's music.
Of course there are! Glad you could find some :)