In the 80s, the songs got more concise and slickly produced. This was mainly due to advancements in recording studio equipment and the invention of the first affordable synthesizer. Could you please comment on how, if at all, these changes make you feel about the sound as compared to the earlier recordings that you’ve been listening to? Thanks,
You should have considered to make a video about the 50 Years of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" on this day. A masterpiece that will never be forgotten.
Amy, please, can you find your way to the glorious band, Sparks? I cannot specify where to start in their 50+ year career, but given the classical music background, I would love to hear your thoughts on the album, Lil’ Beethoven. The first 2 tracks should serve to illustrate this work.
Terry's version of the song that he performed as a member of Fun Boy Three is noticeably more morose than the version performed by The Go-Go's and shows that this is in fact a sad song
The Go-Gos were a very underrated band, IMO. They hold the particular distinction of being the first and only all-female band to write their own material and play their own instruments to debut a #1 album on the Billboard charts. They were recently inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame, too.
@@zkrakowa9incorrect. The gogos are still the only all-female band that wrote and performed their own music to have an album debut at number one on the billboard charts. The acts you mentioned never had number one albums.
Always loved The Go-Gos sound and still have a bunch of their songs on my New Wave playlist. But, if you want to highlight actual musicianship and pioneering efforts, it begins in the 1960s with Fanny. Those ladies were studio-level talents/session players that recording companies had no idea what to do with. Their live/concert sound was jaw-dropping (ruclips.net/video/RWqFMAjO2a8/видео.html), while their album sound was often muted/plain and captured little of their actual ability or style. They had legendary fans like Bonnie Raitt and David Bowie. Looking back, Bowie said, “They’re as important as anybody else who’s ever been, ever; it just wasn’t their time."
I'm writing this before I watch -- but I will! I remember the first time I heard Beauty and the Beat like it was yesterday: I was in Musicland at the mall and they put on this album. "Our Lips Are Sealed" is the first track and I'm thinking, "Who is this? This is amazing!" I keep on browsing while "How Much More", "Tonight" and then "Lust to Love" played. I couldn't take it anymore. As shy and introverted as I was, I went up to the counter and asked about the album. The girl filled me in on The Go-Go's and I was sold. I bought that album that day and it's still a favorite of mine. It's just a solid, fun rock record. 17 years later I was in a gaming shop that was playing Beauty and the Beat and I commented to the young cashier there how much I loved it. She rolled her eyes and said that it was the owner who picked the music and added, "She's old." I replied, "Well, she has great taste." Another roll of her eyes, but I didn't care. I think The Go-Go's are so underappreciated. They just make me feel happy. 😊 Now, on to your video . . .
At this point, the Go-GOs were a 5 member band, 2 guitarists, bassist, drummer, and lead singer. The 2nd voice, singing the bridge and then countermelody, was the song's co-author, Jane Wiedlin, the lead singer was Belinda Carlisle. The little chord stabs you heard layered were the rhythm guitar part, played by Wiedlin. The rest of the band were, bassist, Kathy Valentine, lead guitarist, Charlotte Caffey, , and drummer, Gina Schock. Valentine, Caffey, and Schock all sang backing vocals (probably dubbed to a track with a Carlisle also on the backing). This song was considered either power pop or early new wave as a genre.
@@csn10 Apparently a big part of the change was the record label wanting to slow the tempo on their songs to make them more radio friendly. It's one of the few times where the label got it right.
@@joegreene7619 Interesting, thanks! I'd heard, from perhaps a not so reliable source, that the band themselves were tired of their lack of success as a punk band and so veered toward a poppier sound.
I'm glad you are moving on to the more post punk stream of rock. There is a lot of diverse and creative music to explore. You should try Echo and Bunnymen - Killing Moon and The Church - Under the Milky Way Tonight as examples of how post punk music was developing in the 80s with the multi layered approach.
The 80's were characterized with very slick production work, for better or worse. This is a great little pop song that is well arranged, recorded, and performed. There are also some 80's records that are more raw, like The Clash or even The Police on some of their earlier work.
Even The Clash and The Police with their surface rawness were well produced. You would have to go into underground Punk bands for a true raw sound; and they were pretty much ignored by the mid decade.
“Slick”? What really happened is that when the big money came in, the record companies realised that you could transform very standard musicians into chart acts just using selected producers. The production of the 80s was - kind of putting it politely - pop oriented.
@@yinoveryang4246 I don't understand your disagreement. Even established artists like David Bowie fell victim to it. Listen to "Let's Dance" vs. "Alladin Sane." "Let's Dance" is a rotting turd of a record but slickly, you could say over-produced.
@@rickpaul4216 I agree with this assessment. For me “Let’s Dance“ is possibly the most superficial record Bowie ever made, and I think he even said so towards the end of his life. But we are forgetting one thing - at the time - enormous amount of money was being poured into artists, Where all this money ended up, who knows? every radio DJ in U.K. would claim this was clearly the best thing Bowie ever recorded.
The other thing about early 80s New Wave is that you could dance to it. Dance music wasn't completely electronic yet, but there was this whole genre that could fill a dance floor at a party.
One thing about the Go-Gos, especially their early stuff, was they came from the SoCal Punk scene... as I've read, many of them were more teens out to party and listen to late-70s punk and such and party with the band, but thought maybe they can do it themselves. They were trying to do punk, and eventually replaced their drummer with Gina Schock, who had more experience, and brought a certain level of professionalism to them. They were the opening act for a couple Brit ska bands, and also coming from SoCal, you get some Beach Boys-style surf music influence... in this song, you have what could be a punk drum beat but with guitars and base with a bit more of a surf sound to it. That's the thing that is fun about music... it's an ever growing tree of branches, and as you get a surf music branch and a punk branch, you get people forming their own branches between the two.
They were also heavily influenced by East LA band "The Brat". Belinda (and possibly others?) used to watch them play backyard house parties. Look them up and you'll see what I mean. The through-line is undeniable.
@@anthonycervo9908 Good pull... yeah, I definitely hear it... I mean, I hear The Brats "We Are The One", and I'm transitioning into "Get Up and Go" in my head.
Say what you will, but Kathy Valentine is probably #1 on the list of criminally under rated bassists. She really lays it down here, no respect I tell ya.
Funny thing she stepped in as a bassist not knowing how to play it. She assumed it was the same as a guitar and there she was 4 days previous to join the band learning how to do it. By the time the recorded their first album she had been playing bass for only 6 months.
Their music was all produced so well. The muted guitar with the drums, then the counter point fills of the clean guitar, all supported by a bass line that is fun, without needing to be too complicated. Perfect pop ratios all around. One of the best pop rock bands of the era. 🤘🧙♂️🤘 Rich the Ancient Metal Beast
I'd have to agree. Being in junior high, when this came out, I did not appreciate it then. I found myself rather liking it just now. The Go Go's had a nice sound. I guess I'll throw in a The Bengals reference now, as another band I find pleasant to hear now, but not then.
Some main stream 80's bands that spring to mind. The Police, Duran Duran, Men at Work, Prince and the Revolution, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, The Pretenders, The B-52's, The Eurythmics
80's Girl Bands were quite the thing! - and FUN FUN FUN! I envy you Amy as you get to listen to great music for the first time...there is a real excitement in that.
I think I was about 11 or 12 and loved hearing Belinda come on the radio. Total crush. And that before it became painfully obvious how beautiful she was and still is.
This is real Rock and Roll to me, and a descendent of bubblegum rock era. And I don't mean that in a disparaging way, it's just what it is. That 4/4 time defines Rock and Roll, again not talking about rock music in general but specifically Rock and Roll. 4/4 time is the sound of a train going down the tracks. If you didn't know this, think about a steam train chugging down the tracks going: chug chug chug chug, chug chug chug chug and you'll hear it. This sound is the heart of the genre.
OMG..."rock music" and "rock and roll" are different phrases meaning the same thing. Anyone who claims different is not defining anything, merely opining. Read a dictionary if you want actual definitions. Why would anyone pay more attention to a dictionary than to some source like a magazine or a music website? Because outside of dictionaries, no two sources say the same thing. Or maybe you meant to say Rock & Roll, or perhaps Rock 'n' Roll. Rock AND Roll is different. See how that works?
Ask yourself, are the Beatles "Rock" stars? Or are they "Rock and Roll" stars? Is there any such thing as a rock and roll star (outside of Ziggy Stardust)? Even sources that claim there is a difference, during their long-winded discussion, then lapse and refer to people whom they claim play "rock and roll", as rock stars. Et cetera.
The Go Gos were one of my first favorite bands when I was a kid and young teenager. I grew up listening to the Beach Boys a lot, and the GO Gos reminded me of them a lot ... that summer beach type vibe, but resurrected in an all-girls band with their own unique 80s twist. More than a twist, actually, as i think about it. The Go Gos helped set a happy, carefree tone for the 1980s which I still remember so fondly. I feel blessed to have been a teenager then.
Excited to hear the GoGos on this journey. The 80s were my teen years so of course it tends to be my favorite lol. Just be prepared for all the folks who say "this isn't rock!" (Edit: happy to see in comments not nearly as much of this as I'd thought! Cool!) I've said it before, but Amy is gonna be excited as she starts recognizing these songs playing when she's at the grocery store!
I feel like with this swing toward punk, with The Knack and The Go-Gos, landing on The Clash or thereabouts in the 80s is an inevitability. ...but how about someone like Dead Kennedys...
Unfortunately Terry Hall, who wrote this with Jane Wiedlin, died just before Christmas. His bands The Specials, Fun Boy Three and The Colourfield are worth checking out (especially The Specials, who were at the forefront of 2-Tone music).
I would like to add YES again: with their Album "90125" and their single "Owner of a lonely heart", the first no.1-hit that used samples and scratches from a Fairlight computer, they were again on top of technological evolution, due to the production by Trevor Horn. He created a lot of iconic tracks and sounds, which influenced popular music - rock as well as pop - in the 80s much more than the "Go-Who?"s. Horn would have been a way better choice for a represantation of the way rock went into the future at that time.
To be honest this is an example sort of when a singer can sound like they're saying one thing but can sound like they're saying something else. And I like that, happens alot. A part of rock music I enjoy.
The Go-Gos came out of the LA punk scene and softened their sound a bit, probably for commerical reasons. I bought this album and admired the production, which is the reason for all of the layering. If you want complex for the 1980s, trying Joe Jackson's Night and Day.
There were at least 5 members at any given time and they could all play…however, I think a lot of the depth and complexity in this has at something to do with the producer….this song is very well produced!
If you've reached the 80s, it was an era for "Rock Ballads". One song that perfectly sums up the genre is Here I Go Again by Whitesnake. The video was pretty iconic but there is a live performance from 2004 that is just incredible. Pretty good voice from the singe David Coverdale considering he was 61 at the time.
It would be interesting to compare a song that had earlier roots to its equally famous remake from the 80s. I was thinking of Hazy Shade of Winter. Both the Garfunkel and Bangles versions are good, and track very closely musically - but the huge differences in production technique really set the two apart. Production became almost an instrument in itself, which brings a lot of the layering mentioned. HSoW might be a prime example of why (apart from heavier synthesizer use) the characteristic sound of music altered so much in the 80s.
Such a nice picture behind you, sad we only got one song from Rush with very poor audio. Hopefully they will appear again sometime but this probably would have been in this decade considering it was one of the first albums released in 1980
I worked at college radio station playing alternative rock. That was in 1980 and alt rock had not settled into a sound, it was just music that was out of the norm, and we played the Go Gos, imports from England. They sound so poppy today, but they were far from ordinary when they started. Shows how music shifts. Great band
Imports from England? The Go-Gos- were a bunch of American girls that met up in Los Angeles. Carlisle was born in LA. Caffee was born in Santa Monica. Wiedlin was born in Wisconsin. Oconomowoc, to be specific. Does not get more American that Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Schock was born in Baltimore. And Kathy Valentine is from Austin, Texas. Alt rock had not settled into a sound? What does that even mean? Every band, every album, and every song has a sound. There are no settled sounds in music. And hey, news flash...the 1970s called, they want their due credit back.
@@nickmcginley4570 Jeeze. In the late 70s early 80s it was quite common for American bands to go to England, play, and record music. Stray Cats is another band that did that. If you look at the history of the Go Go's I think you'll find that they spent much of 1980 in England, and returned to the states and recorded Beauty and the Beat in 81. The Stray Cats first US album was sort of the best songs they recorded from the two they dropped in the UK. That was a really common path in those days. This song, Our Lips are Sealed, was co written by one of the guys they met while in England. He sent them lyrics after they returned to LA
@@Wombatmetal you’re right the first Stray Cats album I played on college radio was an import from England. Not to mention Pixies and Throwing Muses gained an audience in the U.k . first.
It's really interesting reading the comments section because a lot of people are mentioning Fun Boy Three's recording of Our Lips Are Sealed. The lead singer Terry Hall co-wrote the song with Go-Go's rhythm guitarist Jane Wiedlin when they were briefly dating and on tour together. Fun Boy Three were pretty big in the UK but just a cult band in the US, while the Go-Go's were big in the US and just a cult band in the UK. It's wrong to say one version is better than the other, because (thankfully) they both recorded very different takes on the track. But what's interesting is that for UK ears the Go-Gos version isn't a classic because it wasn't a hit, the same for the Fun Boy Three version in the US. It says a lot about what gets remembered as important and has an impact on music. (BTW I love both versions, but lean towards the Fun Boy Three version as Brit and a Terry Hall fan).
A lot of the late 70's, early 80's bands that had been punk bands and had any talent transitioned over to pop. These tended to be the bands who could actually play their instruments and had at least one person who could write songs. The bassist for the Go-Go's had previously played guitar and switched instruments to join the band. So in the song, she plays her bass way up in front of the band with the singer and guitarist. It's very dynamic bass playing.
When I was young (12?) I saw their album (LP) at the library and checked it based soley based on the album cover: The band, all girls in bathtowels. I was deep in the throes of male adolescence lol.
I appreciate a VAST range of music over many decades and even centuries... and I'd argue it with anyone - this is one of the greatest songs ever recorded. Each time I hear it, I'm instantly back in that period and can see 80s styled girls in bikinis, poolside on a perfect summer day, wearing sunglasses and drinking beer, singing along, dancing and laughing. So yeah, heaven. :)
The 80's were defined by a parallel path of pop-rock and hard rock/heavy metal. This is an example of the pop-rock side of things, hopefully the next song is an example of the hard rock side of things.
It’s a very well recorded and arranged all the instruments are loud and clear the vocals are a little squashed into a narrow frequency range but it sits in its own space like all the instruments do. Funboy 3 did a good version of this with what sounds like a cello and timpani with electric rock instruments. Totally different feel. Really a very good song regardless.
Good choice for an 80s song. It's a nice sing-a-long pop tune, tailor-made for teenage girls liking it. All major chords, but a little switch up in the progression, almost like having a mini-bridge at the end of each verse before the chorus. That's what always caught my ear hearing this song, the part I liked the most. Then you get the real bridge or middle eight in the usual place.
The bass groove in the middle has been one of my favourite bass parts since i was a kid. Ranks way higher than a lot or virtuoso material out there imo.
I think the comment about the layers is really true, and it shows how record producers had become increasingly important by the late '70s and early '80s. The Go-Go's were from the LA punk scene, and yet the sound is pretty lush. Compare an early '70s punk record like the first New York Dolls LP, and you're basically just hearing a band performing in the studio.
Quarter note downstrokes were ubiquitous in the late 70's and early 80's. The Cars come to mind, as well as the great Australian band Icehouse , particularly their classic track Great Southern Land.
This song was co-written by Jane Wiedlin of the Go Gos and Terry Hall of The Specials ( who recently passed away) and also Fun Boy 3, the song is about their relationship and Fun Boy 3 also recorded a version of the song .
The 80s segment of this series really needs to be about the revolution caused by synthesisers becoming available to the masses. The whole second British invasion, synthpop, and the big budget music videos that populated MTV for a decade. If it's focused on Rock then it needs to cover hair metal.
Yeah that's the problem with breaking it down by decade. 80s is U2 and The Eurythmics but it's also: AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne, Poison, and even Metallica. Obviously you can't cover it all with two songs.
@@carebear224the two dominant genres were New Wave in the early 80s and Metal in the late 80s. Both were broad with New Wave having punkish elements, fashion ones, and power pop rock, like this track. Metal hard Brit bands, poppish Hair/Glam, the edgier, dirtier side of Hair, and the underground Thrash bands. Also it was the age of videos, the rise of Hip Hop, the growth of Pop into a separate genre with big stars, and lurking on the left of the dial alternative waiting to take over. The end of the decade also had a return to roots with reunions, giant tours of classic acts, and “classic rock” starting as a radio format. Amy should be doing more than listening now. The video was part of rock. The video of the Go Go’s driving through L.A. in a 1960 red Buick LeSabre convertible singing was part of the musical experience back then as it got played after MTV started.
I'm not sure why, exactly, but this reaction made me wish that Amy listened to something by Fleetwood Mac (I think she hasn't, yet). Maybe it's the layering of sounds and the multiple voices. Anyway, any of their songs would do, honestly, and I doubt that she would resist to make an in-depth analysis of whatever it was.
So this is the song's mother Jane Wiedlin - to hear the song's father, Terry Hall listen to the Fun Boy Three's version. The song is about how Jane and Terry's brief affair imploded under media intrusion - the song was the only offspring. Where the go gos bring a light fun feel, fun boy three have a darker take. It's an interesting comparison (as well as a great song).
Co-written with Terry Hall from the Specials - you should listen to Ghost Town by the Specials too. Hauntingly beautiful, and about the destruction of UK society.
an interesting transition from the 70's to the 80's that might be quite interesting is Blizzard of Ozz. It has was pretty much the origin of classical aspects to a rock/metal music. My ears can identify the classical elements but my brain can't say exactly what they are. Randy Rhoads was very talented and a very serious musician. Also he was a really nice guy. I would recommend Mr Crowley or possibly Diary of a Madman if you prefer more complex pieces. These came out very close to when The Wall was released. Added bonus would be to check Randy's acceptance of an MTV award. Ozz Osborne is about as proud as humanly possible of Randy winning the award. Very endearing.
Not knowing what you have heard before, I am guessing you are in for a ride that you may or may not like. Rock music in the 80s (music in general really) was a Rollercoaster. You want hard it was there, psychedelic it was there, punk it was there, pop it was there, new wave it was there. And more than any other Era it all mixed together unless you were a very picky fan of a particular style.
Check out Hanoi Rocks! Songs like: Motorvatin', Oriental Beat, Lightnin' Bar Blues, Don't You Ever Leave Me, Until I Get You, Tragedy, Don't Never Leave Me, Taxi Driver, Self Destruction Blues, Cafe Avenue, Dead By X-Mas.. or any other song they did
Recording technology plays a big role. The Beatles started out with just 2 tracks; Abbey Road had great acoustics - it was designed for recording orchestras - but primitive electronics. By the time the Go-Gos came along 16 tracks was the cheap format, and the big budget records were 32 tracks. Nowadays there is really no limit, and 1-200 tracks are the norm. In case you're wondering, one place the tracks went were the drums - placing each drum on an individual track. Its possible to 'bounce down' and reduce the number of tracks, but it comes with a loss of control and clarity.
I don’t know if sound becomes that much more layered in the 80s compared to the 70s as they had 16 and 24 track recorders in the 70s as well. Now I suppose a lot of the 60s stuff was done on 4 track machines and they often recorded multiple instruments in the same room at the same time which would make it harder to isolate each instrument on a track allowing you more ability to layer and mix. I think they even cut and spliced tapes by hand, played them backwards or at different speeds while recording them onto a new track again when they wanted to try differently effects in the 60s through to the early 70s.
I think the sound that piqued your interest may have just been a “reverb” applied to the guitar. The effect, when dialed high creates a warbling sound…which is just the note(s) repeating in quick succession.
React to their songs We Got The Beat, Vacation, Head Over Heel and Turn To You. And react to the Bangles Walking Down Your Street, If She Knew What She Wants, Manic Monday, Walk Like An Egyptian, Hazy Shade Of Winter, In Your Room, and Eternal Flame please.
Do you know what the Go-Gos were called when they were very, very young? The Goo-Goos. I know, I know. Super lame joke but it still makes me chuckle. Thanks for choosing the song to analyze. Loved it back in the day. HEAD OVER HEELS is a fun drum-driven song you might enjoy. ✌
This is such a wonderful idea for a series, but I am at a loss about the choices of some of these songs. This song is an incredibly mundane, mainstream choice.
If you like layers, textures, details, and interesting multidimensional compositions and sounds of all types, you need to listen to STEREOLAB! Emperor Tomato Ketchup and Dots and Loops are great places to start. I would love to see episodes on almost anything from them. Being French is optional, but recommended! ;-)
Please write here your questions ONLY.
In the 80s, the songs got more concise and slickly produced. This was mainly due to advancements in recording studio equipment and the invention of the first affordable synthesizer. Could you please comment on how, if at all, these changes make you feel about the sound as compared to the earlier recordings that you’ve been listening to?
Thanks,
You should have considered to make a video about the 50 Years of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" on this day. A masterpiece that will never be forgotten.
How come no youtubers ever pay any respect to Rod, Mick, or The Coop?
Amy, please, can you find your way to the glorious band, Sparks? I cannot specify where to start in their 50+ year career, but given the classical music background, I would love to hear your thoughts on the album, Lil’ Beethoven. The first 2 tracks should serve to illustrate this work.
When you reach the 90s I'd love to see an analysis of Zombie, by The Ceanberries
I hear this song and I'm instantly 10 years old again. Love it!❤
Co-written with Terry Hall of the legendary UK band The Specials. Terry recently passed but his music was wonderful in all his guises.
Terry's version of the song that he performed as a member of Fun Boy Three is noticeably more morose than the version performed by The Go-Go's and shows that this is in fact a sad song
My older sisters wore out this album. Thankfully enough time has passed so I can appreciate it.
I was that sister to do that to mine
The Go-Gos definitely deserved to be inducted into the Rock and Roll HOF. Their live performance was incredible.
🎉🔊Nobody sounds like the Go-Go's...but the GO-GO'S‼️🎶💜🎶
The Go-Gos were a very underrated band, IMO. They hold the particular distinction of being the first and only all-female band to write their own material and play their own instruments to debut a #1 album on the Billboard charts. They were recently inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame, too.
Not the first at all, mention about the runaways, much earlier, Birtha and many more...
@@zkrakowa9incorrect. The gogos are still the only all-female band that wrote and performed their own music to have an album debut at number one on the billboard charts. The acts you mentioned never had number one albums.
Always loved The Go-Gos sound and still have a bunch of their songs on my New Wave playlist. But, if you want to highlight actual musicianship and pioneering efforts, it begins in the 1960s with Fanny. Those ladies were studio-level talents/session players that recording companies had no idea what to do with. Their live/concert sound was jaw-dropping (ruclips.net/video/RWqFMAjO2a8/видео.html), while their album sound was often muted/plain and captured little of their actual ability or style. They had legendary fans like Bonnie Raitt and David Bowie. Looking back, Bowie said, “They’re as important as anybody else who’s ever been, ever; it just wasn’t their time."
I'm writing this before I watch -- but I will! I remember the first time I heard Beauty and the Beat like it was yesterday:
I was in Musicland at the mall and they put on this album. "Our Lips Are Sealed" is the first track and I'm thinking, "Who is this? This is amazing!" I keep on browsing while "How Much More", "Tonight" and then "Lust to Love" played. I couldn't take it anymore. As shy and introverted as I was, I went up to the counter and asked about the album. The girl filled me in on The Go-Go's and I was sold.
I bought that album that day and it's still a favorite of mine. It's just a solid, fun rock record. 17 years later I was in a gaming shop that was playing Beauty and the Beat and I commented to the young cashier there how much I loved it. She rolled her eyes and said that it was the owner who picked the music and added, "She's old." I replied, "Well, she has great taste." Another roll of her eyes, but I didn't care.
I think The Go-Go's are so underappreciated. They just make me feel happy. 😊
Now, on to your video . . .
Certainly a fun song, and their best IMO.
I prefer the BatB album to their Greatest Hits album.
This is a great choice and a good representation of the 80s, from my perspective, plus it brightened my day! 🌞
At this point, the Go-GOs were a 5 member band, 2 guitarists, bassist, drummer, and lead singer. The 2nd voice, singing the bridge and then countermelody, was the song's co-author, Jane Wiedlin, the lead singer was Belinda Carlisle. The little chord stabs you heard layered were the rhythm guitar part, played by Wiedlin. The rest of the band were, bassist, Kathy Valentine, lead guitarist, Charlotte Caffey, , and drummer, Gina Schock. Valentine, Caffey, and Schock all sang backing vocals (probably dubbed to a track with a Carlisle also on the backing). This song was considered either power pop or early new wave as a genre.
Nailed it Foss !!! Well done
I would add that the bass line stems from their beginnings as a punk band.
@@csn10 Apparently a big part of the change was the record label wanting to slow the tempo on their songs to make them more radio friendly. It's one of the few times where the label got it right.
@@joegreene7619 Interesting, thanks! I'd heard, from perhaps a not so reliable source, that the band themselves were tired of their lack of success as a punk band and so veered toward a poppier sound.
Charlotte also played keyboards on this song and all their others that contained keys.
Who can forget her kick ass piano on Head over Heels?
If sunshine could sing it would sound just like Belinda Carlisle. Such a bright and amazing voice.
A perfect pop song. So catchy. They're not breaking any new ground here, just irresistable.
I'm glad you are moving on to the more post punk stream of rock. There is a lot of diverse and creative music to explore. You should try Echo and Bunnymen - Killing Moon and The Church - Under the Milky Way Tonight as examples of how post punk music was developing in the 80s with the multi layered approach.
Go-Gos first Female Rock band to have # 1 Record !! 👍✌🖖🍁🌻
The Church are underrated. The Unguarded Moment, Metropolis, and Reptile are also great in addition to the fantastic Under the Milky Way
The 80's were characterized with very slick production work, for better or worse. This is a great little pop song that is well arranged, recorded, and performed. There are also some 80's records that are more raw, like The Clash or even The Police on some of their earlier work.
Even The Clash and The Police with their surface rawness were well produced. You would have to go into underground Punk bands for a true raw sound; and they were pretty much ignored by the mid decade.
“Slick”? What really happened is that when the big money came in, the record companies realised that you could transform very standard musicians into chart acts just using selected producers. The production of the 80s was - kind of putting it politely - pop oriented.
@@yinoveryang4246 I don't understand your disagreement. Even established artists like David Bowie fell victim to it. Listen to "Let's Dance" vs. "Alladin Sane." "Let's Dance" is a rotting turd of a record but slickly, you could say over-produced.
@@rickpaul4216 I agree with this assessment. For me “Let’s Dance“ is possibly the most superficial record Bowie ever made, and I think he even said so towards the end of his life. But we are forgetting one thing - at the time - enormous amount of money was being poured into artists, Where all this money ended up, who knows? every radio DJ in U.K. would claim this was clearly the best thing Bowie ever recorded.
I saw the Go-Go's perform before the Police around 1980 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. I had 3rd row seats and it was a great show!
The other thing about early 80s New Wave is that you could dance to it. Dance music wasn't completely electronic yet, but there was this whole genre that could fill a dance floor at a party.
Unless you are including Yazoo that was completely electronic, popular, and found for many years in dance clubs.
Makes me feel like a 13 year-old girl again! 😊
One thing about the Go-Gos, especially their early stuff, was they came from the SoCal Punk scene... as I've read, many of them were more teens out to party and listen to late-70s punk and such and party with the band, but thought maybe they can do it themselves. They were trying to do punk, and eventually replaced their drummer with Gina Schock, who had more experience, and brought a certain level of professionalism to them. They were the opening act for a couple Brit ska bands, and also coming from SoCal, you get some Beach Boys-style surf music influence... in this song, you have what could be a punk drum beat but with guitars and base with a bit more of a surf sound to it.
That's the thing that is fun about music... it's an ever growing tree of branches, and as you get a surf music branch and a punk branch, you get people forming their own branches between the two.
They were also heavily influenced by East LA band "The Brat". Belinda (and possibly others?) used to watch them play backyard house parties. Look them up and you'll see what I mean. The through-line is undeniable.
@@anthonycervo9908 Good pull... yeah, I definitely hear it... I mean, I hear The Brats "We Are The One", and I'm transitioning into "Get Up and Go" in my head.
Say what you will, but Kathy Valentine is probably #1 on the list of criminally under rated bassists. She really lays it down here, no respect I tell ya.
One of my absolute favorite bass lines out of the 80's. Super melodic.
Yeppers 👍💯
Funny thing she stepped in as a bassist not knowing how to play it. She assumed it was the same as a guitar and there she was 4 days previous to join the band learning how to do it. By the time the recorded their first album she had been playing bass for only 6 months.
And Gina Schock is an under-rated drummer.
Kathy punches it nicely. I really her sound on "This Town" also -- one of their best tunes
I'm learning to listen to and appreciate music I've enjoyed for most of my life, in new, deeper, and richer ways. Amazing! Thank you!
Great bridge n great bass line...
Their music was all produced so well. The muted guitar with the drums, then the counter point fills of the clean guitar, all supported by a bass line that is fun, without needing to be too complicated.
Perfect pop ratios all around. One of the best pop rock bands of the era.
🤘🧙♂️🤘
Rich the Ancient Metal Beast
I'd have to agree. Being in junior high, when this came out, I did not appreciate it then. I found myself rather liking it just now. The Go Go's had a nice sound. I guess I'll throw in a The Bengals reference now, as another band I find pleasant to hear now, but not then.
Some main stream 80's bands that spring to mind. The Police, Duran Duran, Men at Work, Prince and the Revolution, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, The Pretenders, The B-52's, The Eurythmics
They were definitely better, and I would also add the Cars and for something different, the Talking Heads.
English Beat too
80's Girl Bands were quite the thing! - and FUN FUN FUN! I envy you Amy as you get to listen to great music for the first time...there is a real excitement in that.
Agree. Bananarama kinda fits in that description.
Color my love... (I see what you did there)
I think I was about 11 or 12 and loved hearing Belinda come on the radio. Total crush. And that before it became painfully obvious how beautiful she was and still is.
Belinda Carlyle and Jane Weidlin are the two lead vocals, Jane does the Hush now baby part.
This is real Rock and Roll to me, and a descendent of bubblegum rock era.
And I don't mean that in a disparaging way, it's just what it is.
That 4/4 time defines Rock and Roll, again not talking about rock music in general but specifically Rock and Roll.
4/4 time is the sound of a train going down the tracks.
If you didn't know this, think about a steam train chugging down the tracks going: chug chug chug chug, chug chug chug chug and you'll hear it.
This sound is the heart of the genre.
OMG..."rock music" and "rock and roll" are different phrases meaning the same thing.
Anyone who claims different is not defining anything, merely opining.
Read a dictionary if you want actual definitions.
Why would anyone pay more attention to a dictionary than to some source like a magazine or a music website?
Because outside of dictionaries, no two sources say the same thing.
Or maybe you meant to say Rock & Roll, or perhaps Rock 'n' Roll. Rock AND Roll is different.
See how that works?
Ask yourself, are the Beatles "Rock" stars?
Or are they "Rock and Roll" stars?
Is there any such thing as a rock and roll star (outside of Ziggy Stardust)?
Even sources that claim there is a difference, during their long-winded discussion, then lapse and refer to people whom they claim play "rock and roll", as rock stars. Et cetera.
The Go Gos were one of my first favorite bands when I was a kid and young teenager. I grew up listening to the Beach Boys a lot, and the GO Gos reminded me of them a lot ... that summer beach type vibe, but resurrected in an all-girls band with their own unique 80s twist. More than a twist, actually, as i think about it. The Go Gos helped set a happy, carefree tone for the 1980s which I still remember so fondly. I feel blessed to have been a teenager then.
The lead singer was Belinda Carlisle, and the softer voice you heard during the bridge and doing the round thereafter, was Jane Wiedlin.
I love that this song was recorded by both parties involved RIP Terry hall
Excited to hear the GoGos on this journey. The 80s were my teen years so of course it tends to be my favorite lol.
Just be prepared for all the folks who say "this isn't rock!" (Edit: happy to see in comments not nearly as much of this as I'd thought! Cool!)
I've said it before, but Amy is gonna be excited as she starts recognizing these songs playing when she's at the grocery store!
An astonishing triumph of pop music.
One of he catchiest pop tunes ever written, simplicity at its best!
I feel like with this swing toward punk, with The Knack and The Go-Gos, landing on The Clash or thereabouts in the 80s is an inevitability. ...but how about someone like Dead Kennedys...
This is probably one of the most unique songs as the writers are in two different bands who both recorded it and very different sounds. Both are good
They had a very unique sound but that layering was pretty common for the time.
it would be fun to also listen to the Fun Boy Three version. the song was jointly written by members of each band.
Unfortunately Terry Hall, who wrote this with Jane Wiedlin, died just before Christmas. His bands The Specials, Fun Boy Three and The Colourfield are worth checking out (especially The Specials, who were at the forefront of 2-Tone music).
I would like to add YES again: with their Album "90125" and their single "Owner of a lonely heart", the first no.1-hit that used samples and scratches from a Fairlight computer, they were again on top of technological evolution, due to the production by Trevor Horn. He created a lot of iconic tracks and sounds, which influenced popular music - rock as well as pop - in the 80s much more than the "Go-Who?"s. Horn would have been a way better choice for a represantation of the way rock went into the future at that time.
Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense concert film 1984
Excellent!
Enjoyed it. Thanks and CONGRATULATIONS on your new arrival!
To be honest this is an example sort of when a singer can sound like they're saying one thing but can sound like they're saying something else. And I like that, happens alot. A part of rock music I enjoy.
The Go-Gos came out of the LA punk scene and softened their sound a bit, probably for commerical reasons. I bought this album and admired the production, which is the reason for all of the layering. If you want complex for the 1980s, trying Joe Jackson's Night and Day.
There were at least 5 members at any given time and they could all play…however, I think a lot of the depth and complexity in this has at something to do with the producer….this song is very well produced!
If you've reached the 80s, it was an era for "Rock Ballads". One song that perfectly sums up the genre is Here I Go Again by Whitesnake. The video was pretty iconic but there is a live performance from 2004 that is just incredible. Pretty good voice from the singe David Coverdale considering he was 61 at the time.
It would be interesting to compare a song that had earlier roots to its equally famous remake from the 80s. I was thinking of Hazy Shade of Winter. Both the Garfunkel and Bangles versions are good, and track very closely musically - but the huge differences in production technique really set the two apart. Production became almost an instrument in itself, which brings a lot of the layering mentioned. HSoW might be a prime example of why (apart from heavier synthesizer use) the characteristic sound of music altered so much in the 80s.
Such a nice picture behind you, sad we only got one song from Rush with very poor audio. Hopefully they will appear again sometime but this probably would have been in this decade considering it was one of the first albums released in 1980
The back story for this band is a odd, a grunge punk band that turned into the pop soundtrack for the 80s.
I worked at college radio station playing alternative rock. That was in 1980 and alt rock had not settled into a sound, it was just music that was out of the norm, and we played the Go Gos, imports from England. They sound so poppy today, but they were far from ordinary when they started. Shows how music shifts. Great band
Imports from England?
The Go-Gos- were a bunch of American girls that met up in Los Angeles.
Carlisle was born in LA.
Caffee was born in Santa Monica.
Wiedlin was born in Wisconsin. Oconomowoc, to be specific.
Does not get more American that Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
Schock was born in Baltimore.
And Kathy Valentine is from Austin, Texas.
Alt rock had not settled into a sound?
What does that even mean?
Every band, every album, and every song has a sound.
There are no settled sounds in music.
And hey, news flash...the 1970s called, they want their due credit back.
@@nickmcginley4570 Jeeze. In the late 70s early 80s it was quite common for American bands to go to England, play, and record music. Stray Cats is another band that did that. If you look at the history of the Go Go's I think you'll find that they spent much of 1980 in England, and returned to the states and recorded Beauty and the Beat in 81. The Stray Cats first US album was sort of the best songs they recorded from the two they dropped in the UK. That was a really common path in those days. This song, Our Lips are Sealed, was co written by one of the guys they met while in England. He sent them lyrics after they returned to LA
@@Wombatmetal you’re right the first Stray Cats album I played on college radio was an import from England. Not to mention Pixies and Throwing Muses gained an audience in the U.k . first.
Perfectly crafted pop masterpiece.
It's really interesting reading the comments section because a lot of people are mentioning Fun Boy Three's recording of Our Lips Are Sealed. The lead singer Terry Hall co-wrote the song with Go-Go's rhythm guitarist Jane Wiedlin when they were briefly dating and on tour together. Fun Boy Three were pretty big in the UK but just a cult band in the US, while the Go-Go's were big in the US and just a cult band in the UK. It's wrong to say one version is better than the other, because (thankfully) they both recorded very different takes on the track. But what's interesting is that for UK ears the Go-Gos version isn't a classic because it wasn't a hit, the same for the Fun Boy Three version in the US. It says a lot about what gets remembered as important and has an impact on music. (BTW I love both versions, but lean towards the Fun Boy Three version as Brit and a Terry Hall fan).
A lot of the late 70's, early 80's bands that had been punk bands and had any talent transitioned over to pop. These tended to be the bands who could actually play their instruments and had at least one person who could write songs. The bassist for the Go-Go's had previously played guitar and switched instruments to join the band. So in the song, she plays her bass way up in front of the band with the singer and guitarist. It's very dynamic bass playing.
I was a freshman in high school and would listen to this song during my off time at school. I always thought it “Oh How I Feel”
Kathy Valentine on that bass!
Co-writen by Jane Wiedlin and the late, great Terry Hall
One of the best choruses of the early 80's, and that's saying quite a lot.
I love the bass guitar in this song. One of my faves.
When I was young (12?) I saw their album (LP) at the library and checked it based soley based on the album cover: The band, all girls in bathtowels. I was deep in the throes of male adolescence lol.
I appreciate a VAST range of music over many decades and even centuries... and I'd argue it with anyone - this is one of the greatest songs ever recorded.
Each time I hear it, I'm instantly back in that period and can see 80s styled girls in bikinis, poolside on a perfect summer day, wearing sunglasses and drinking beer, singing along, dancing and laughing. So yeah, heaven. :)
One of the great bass lines in pop, makes the song.
The 80's were defined by a parallel path of pop-rock and hard rock/heavy metal. This is an example of the pop-rock side of things, hopefully the next song is an example of the hard rock side of things.
She has, I believe, already listened to that side of it with Metallica. Perhaps she needs to listen to something like Twisted Sister or Motley Crue.
@@n.d.m.515Rock of Ages
It’s a very well recorded and arranged all the instruments are loud and clear the vocals are a little squashed into a narrow frequency range but it sits in its own space like all the instruments do. Funboy 3 did a good version of this with what sounds like a cello and timpani with electric rock instruments. Totally different feel. Really a very good song regardless.
Karl's choices are really interesting. The Go Go's are very well regarded.
Well......at least we CAN dance to it.
Good choice for an 80s song. It's a nice sing-a-long pop tune, tailor-made for teenage girls liking it. All major chords, but a little switch up in the progression, almost like having a mini-bridge at the end of each verse before the chorus. That's what always caught my ear hearing this song, the part I liked the most. Then you get the real bridge or middle eight in the usual place.
I used to think they said pilots of steel instead of our lips are sealed
The bass groove in the middle has been one of my favourite bass parts since i was a kid. Ranks way higher than a lot or virtuoso material out there imo.
i saw these girls on the sunset strip in the days of Hair Metal and they rocked.
A perfect 80s example.
I think the comment about the layers is really true, and it shows how record producers had become increasingly important by the late '70s and early '80s. The Go-Go's were from the LA punk scene, and yet the sound is pretty lush. Compare an early '70s punk record like the first New York Dolls LP, and you're basically just hearing a band performing in the studio.
Quintessential 80s song for me would be Foreigner - Urgent
I saw Go Gos in 1984 at Six Flags…. I went because “girls” and came away a big fan of the band. Enjoying your show. Thanks!
I saw the Go Go's back up the Police on their first major tour in Detroit, I think 1982.
Quarter note downstrokes were ubiquitous in the late 70's and early 80's. The Cars come to mind, as well as the great Australian band Icehouse , particularly their classic track Great Southern Land.
This song has a lot of depth, things going on in the background
This song was co-written by Jane Wiedlin of the Go Gos and Terry Hall of The Specials ( who recently passed away) and also Fun Boy 3, the song is about their relationship and Fun Boy 3 also recorded a version of the song .
Came here to say this :) Link to the Fun Boy Three version: ruclips.net/video/QhVhK-VVeXo/видео.html
Didn't Fun Boy 3 do at least one song with Bananarama as well? It's been so long since I was a teen that it's hard to remember.
@@michaelb1761 I just looked it up. Apparently they did!
The 80s segment of this series really needs to be about the revolution caused by synthesisers becoming available to the masses. The whole second British invasion, synthpop, and the big budget music videos that populated MTV for a decade. If it's focused on Rock then it needs to cover hair metal.
Yeah that's the problem with breaking it down by decade. 80s is U2 and The Eurythmics but it's also: AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne, Poison, and even Metallica. Obviously you can't cover it all with two songs.
@@carebear224the two dominant genres were New Wave in the early 80s and Metal in the late 80s.
Both were broad with New Wave having punkish elements, fashion ones, and power pop rock, like this track.
Metal hard Brit bands, poppish Hair/Glam, the edgier, dirtier side of Hair, and the underground Thrash bands.
Also it was the age of videos, the rise of Hip Hop, the growth of Pop into a separate genre with big stars, and lurking on the left of the dial alternative waiting to take over. The end of the decade also had a return to roots with reunions, giant tours of classic acts, and “classic rock” starting as a radio format.
Amy should be doing more than listening now. The video was part of rock.
The video of the Go Go’s driving through L.A. in a 1960 red Buick LeSabre convertible singing was part of the musical experience back then as it got played after MTV started.
Anybody else think Jane Wiedlin back then looked like a Young Elizabeth Taylor in the 1950s?
I'm not sure why, exactly, but this reaction made me wish that Amy listened to something by Fleetwood Mac (I think she hasn't, yet). Maybe it's the layering of sounds and the multiple voices. Anyway, any of their songs would do, honestly, and I doubt that she would resist to make an in-depth analysis of whatever it was.
My respect for Karl just went up a whole lot. Rock historians often just gloss over the Go-Go's, if they even mention them at all.
I wholeheartedly agree.
So this is the song's mother Jane Wiedlin - to hear the song's father, Terry Hall listen to the Fun Boy Three's version. The song is about how Jane and Terry's brief affair imploded under media intrusion - the song was the only offspring. Where the go gos bring a light fun feel, fun boy three have a darker take. It's an interesting comparison (as well as a great song).
The FB3 version is far better.
You have better ears than I do. I did not notice hardly any of those features you commented on!
Co-written with Terry Hall from the Specials - you should listen to Ghost Town by the Specials too. Hauntingly beautiful, and about the destruction of UK society.
an interesting transition from the 70's to the 80's that might be quite interesting is Blizzard of Ozz. It has was pretty much the origin of classical aspects to a rock/metal music. My ears can identify the classical elements but my brain can't say exactly what they are. Randy Rhoads was very talented and a very serious musician. Also he was a really nice guy. I would recommend Mr Crowley or possibly Diary of a Madman if you prefer more complex pieces. These came out very close to when The Wall was released.
Added bonus would be to check Randy's acceptance of an MTV award. Ozz Osborne is about as proud as humanly possible of Randy winning the award. Very endearing.
As a rock fan this is the first song in this series I don't think I've heard before.
You've been missing out! Are you more into 70's era?
Not knowing what you have heard before, I am guessing you are in for a ride that you may or may not like. Rock music in the 80s (music in general really) was a Rollercoaster. You want hard it was there, psychedelic it was there, punk it was there, pop it was there, new wave it was there. And more than any other Era it all mixed together unless you were a very picky fan of a particular style.
Check out Hanoi Rocks! Songs like: Motorvatin', Oriental Beat, Lightnin' Bar Blues, Don't You Ever Leave Me, Until I Get You, Tragedy, Don't Never Leave Me, Taxi Driver, Self Destruction Blues, Cafe Avenue, Dead By X-Mas.. or any other song they did
Recording technology plays a big role. The Beatles started out with just 2 tracks; Abbey Road had great acoustics - it was designed for recording orchestras - but primitive electronics. By the time the Go-Gos came along 16 tracks was the cheap format, and the big budget records were 32 tracks. Nowadays there is really no limit, and 1-200 tracks are the norm. In case you're wondering, one place the tracks went were the drums - placing each drum on an individual track. Its possible to 'bounce down' and reduce the number of tracks, but it comes with a loss of control and clarity.
You have to do The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys - Traffic........
Belinda’s voice has changed a lot and a very unique vibrato
I don’t know if sound becomes that much more layered in the 80s compared to the 70s as they had 16 and 24 track recorders in the 70s as well.
Now I suppose a lot of the 60s stuff was done on 4 track machines and they often recorded multiple instruments in the same room at the same time which would make it harder to isolate each instrument on a track allowing you more ability to layer and mix.
I think they even cut and spliced tapes by hand, played them backwards or at different speeds while recording them onto a new track again when they wanted to try differently effects in the 60s through to the early 70s.
I think the sound that piqued your interest may have just been a “reverb” applied to the guitar. The effect, when dialed high creates a warbling sound…which is just the note(s) repeating in quick succession.
There were 2 singers in the band.
And the guitar player also added vocals.
The guitar player was the main writer of the songs
Other great all girl bands of the 70s and 80s and 90s: Fanny, The Runaways, The Bangles, The Dixie Chicks. All absolutely worth your time.
GOOD pick.
I remember hearing this on the radio at that time
React to their songs We Got The Beat, Vacation, Head Over Heel and Turn To You.
And react to the Bangles Walking Down Your Street, If She Knew What She Wants, Manic Monday, Walk Like An Egyptian, Hazy Shade Of Winter, In Your Room, and Eternal Flame please.
This song was perfect for MTV.
Do you know what the Go-Gos were called when they were very, very young?
The Goo-Goos.
I know, I know. Super lame joke but it still makes me chuckle.
Thanks for choosing the song to analyze. Loved it back in the day. HEAD OVER HEELS is a fun drum-driven song you might enjoy. ✌
This is such a wonderful idea for a series, but I am at a loss about the choices of some of these songs.
This song is an incredibly mundane, mainstream choice.
Connaissez vous la chanson "Jason and the argonauts" interpretée par le groupe anglais XTC ?
If you like layers, textures, details, and interesting multidimensional compositions and sounds of all types, you need to listen to STEREOLAB! Emperor Tomato Ketchup and Dots and Loops are great places to start. I would love to see episodes on almost anything from them. Being French is optional, but recommended! ;-)
I doubt it would happen but I would love to see you do a Cocteau Twins song