Member-only story
Ah, the ‘80’s, big hair, neon clothes, jelly shoes! Love it or hate it, the “decade of decadence” was the soundtrack to my coming of age. Most of my important “firsts” happened during that 10 year span, first crush, first kiss, first “more than a kiss,” first love, first heartbreak, first car, first protest and the list goes on. And I can associate a song with each and every one of those moments.
It was a time, musically, when anything went. Mainstream pop, no problem, Wham, Duran Duran, Hall and Oates, they were all there to fit the bill. Need something with a little more edge, no problem, Ozzy, Quiet Riot or Metallica might have been more your thing. And if you were more into alternative, there was always Depeche Mode, The Smiths or R.E.M.
The music scene seemed to be wide open! Anyone that could carry a tune, at least to my mind, appeared to have a shot at the big time. The problem, however, with everyone having a shot is that not everyone gets the recognition they deserved, regardless of talent, looks or the elusive “it factor.” This is my list, in no particular order, of the artists, or bands, that had most, if not all 3 in spades, yet didn’t quite find themselves alongside Madonna, Michael Jackson, The Police or U2 in the royal court of retro.
- Rush:
