Here Are Boleo's Picks From The Summer of '84

Starting this Friday, May 25th at 2 pm we will be celebrating Memorial Day with a Summer of '84 Weekend!

And since we are celebrating the Summer of '84, I decided to pull 5 songs that I think define 1984! Of course, I was 9 in 1984, but the music stood out then just as it does now.

This is not an official list from any source except me. Let's see how many you agree with!

#5 - Culture Club - Karma Chameleon

Boy George has said this about the song: “The song is about the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing. It’s about trying to suck up to everybody. Basically, if you aren’t true, if you don’t act like you feel, then you get Karma-justice, that’s nature’s way of paying you back.”

#4 - Kenny Loggins - Footloose

From a review on Amazon:

"Be careful....listening to this WILL make you dance and sing! For those of us who remember seeing this movie at the drive-in back in '84 this CD will bring back all those great memories. Your first car, first girlfriend, etc... The one bad thing is that when I popped the CD into my boom box I tried dancing like I did in high school....but 30 years later I found that I just can't bust a move like I used to and threw my back out. Heavy medication and six weeks of therapy later I can truly say it was worth it!
I'm now feathering my hair, wearing parachute pants and tend to use the word 'bitchin' much more now."

#3 - Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time

From a review on RateYourMusic.com

" Unlike much of the glop released in the 80s Cyndi's "Time After Time" is devoid of the vapidity so beloved of the music world of that era. Her vocal style I tend to label as precocious yet Cyndi has no problem getting away with that here, and the fact this track has endured over the decades belies a depth to Cyndi's work despite what her voice seems to imply."

#2 - Duran Duran - The Reflex

If you know what the song is allegedly about then that is all that needs to be said.

#1 - Prince - When Doves Cry

It should come as no surprise that this is #1 on my list, and probably yours as well.

From Rolling Stone:

"The heart of the Purple Rain soundtrack and the biggest hit of 1984, "When Doves Cry" showed how experimental pop music could get, making the most mainstream moment in America conform to the avant-garde. With no bass line and Prince wailing over guitar, synth and drum machine, "When Doves Cry" sounds as cold as a tense relationship can feel. His engineer recalls that the artist, who played every instrument on the track, instantly knew the impact the single would have on music. "Nobody would have the balls to do this," the Purple One reportedly told the engineer. "You just wait – they'll be freaking."

Do you agree or disagree with this list? Let us know in the comments!