John Swan, better known asSwanee, is an Australian rock singer. He is the older brother of rock singer Jimmy Barnesand the uncle of singer and stage performer David Campbell. He emigrated to Australia with his family in 1961. When his mother remarried in the mid-60s, he was the only child to keep his natural father's surname. While his music career has never reached the heights of that of his more famous younger brother, Swan is well known and respected in his own right.
Song B – The Weather Girls – It’s raining menn
The Weather Girlsare an American girl group that formed in 1977 with Marsha Wash and Izora Armstead and became best known for their single It’s raining men, released in 1982 which went on to sell 6 million copies worldwide.
Song A – Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack – Tonight I celebrate my love
"Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" is a song recorded as a duet single released in 1983 by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack. It became a big hit for both singers, peaking at number sixteen on th Billboard Top 100 and number five on the Hot R&B chart. It also peaked at number two in the UK, becoming the 25th best selling single of 1983 in the UK. It boosted the careers of both stars and brought them both a return to prominence.
Peabo Bryson (born Robert Peapo Bryson on April 13, 1951, given name changed from "Peapo" to Peabo c. 1965) is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter. He is well known for singing soft-rock ballads (often as a duo with female singers) and his contribution to several Disney animated feature soundtracks.
Roberta Flack (born February 10, 1937) is an American singer, songwriter and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B and folk music. Flack is best known for her Hot 100 #1 singles The first time ever I saw your face, Killing me softly with his song.
Song B – Tim Finn – Made my day
Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE (born 25 June 1952) is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in Crowded House and his joint effort with younger brother Neil Finn.
A bit lop sided today with the nominations - think it was a foregone decision before we even started!!!
The nominees are:-
Song A – Katrina and the waves – Walking on Sunshine
Katrina and the Waves were an English pop group formed in the 1980s, best known for their 1985 hit Walking on sunshine and their 1997 Eurovision Song Contest victory with the song Love shine a light.
Song B – Michael Jackson – Billie Jean
Do I really need to tell you who Michael Jackson was?No???I didn’t think so!!
And the winner is ...
Song B – Michael Jackson – Billie Jean of course!!
New Kids on the Block(also initialised asNKOTB) are an American boy band assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. NKOTB enjoyed success in the late 1980s and early 1990s and have sold 80 million records worldwide.
Song B – Jackson Browne - Somebody’s Baby
Jackson Browne (born Clyde Jackson Browne) is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the US alone.Browne’s political interests and personal angst have been central to his music.
Black Laceis a British Euro pop bandbest known for noveltyparty records, including their biggest hit, “Agadoo”. The band first came to the public eye after being selected to represent the UK in the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest, in which they finished seventh with the song “Mary Ann”. With numerous line-up changes, Black Lace went on to have success with a number of lightweight party anthems such as "Superman", "Agadoo" and "Do The Conga".
Song B – Men without hats – Safety Dance
Men Without Hatsis a Canadian New Wave group. Their music was characterized by the distinctive baritonevoice of their lead singeras well as their elaborate use of synthesizersand electronic processing. They achieved their greatest popularity in the early to mid 1980s with their most successful single, “The Safety Dance” which was a Top 10 hit in both the US and the UK.
And the winner is:- (check out those skin tight black pants!!!!)
Hall & Oatesare an American musical duo composed of Daryle Hall and John Oates.They achieved their greatestin the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. Both sing and play instruments. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and R&B styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul." Hall & Oates' songs were filled with strong hooks and melodies that adhered to soul traditions without being a slave to them by incorporating elements of new wave and hard rock.
Song B – Chaka Khan – I feel for you
Chaka Khan(bornYvette Marie Stevens; March 23, 1953) is an Americansinger and composer who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontand focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career. Her signature hits, both with Rufus and as a solo performer, include Tell me something good, Sweet thing, Aint Nobody, I’m every woman, I feel for you and Through the fire.
Toni Basil(bornAntonia Christina Basilottaon September 22, 1943 is an American singer songwriter, actress, film maker, director and choreographer, best-known for her multi-million-selling worldwide #1 hit "Mickey" from 1982.
Song BCliff Richard and the Young Ones – Living Doll
SirCliff Richard,OBE(bornHarry Rodger Webb; 14 October 1940)is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist, who has sold over 260 million records worldwide.
The Young Onesis a British sitcom, first broadcast in 1982, which ran for two series on BBC2. Its anarchic, offbeat humour helped bring alternative comdeyto television in the 1980s and made household names of its writers and performers.
In 1986, the cast sang “Living Doll” with Cliff Richardfor the charity Comic Relief. The song, a reworking of his 1959 hit, reached the top of the UK Charts.
The breakfast show on my awarding winning radio station (2GO) is currently celebrating 80’s August. They are looking at all things relevant to this illustrious decade – the TV shows we were watching, the fashion we were wearing, the advertisements we were bombarded with, as well as the music we were listening to. The music isn’t just coming from the stations music archives, oh no! I’m sure some of it has been dug out from the dim dark recesses of the back room in the studio, gleaned from the bottom draws of desks, hunted out from cardboard boxes stacked in garages and pulled (along with assorted underwear, mouldy oranges and dust bunnies) from beneath spare beds in back bedrooms.
One segment of the show each morning is to pit one “memorable” song against another (and believe me these songs are “memorable” for all the wrong reasons!!)
in an all out musical voting frenzy – the prize for victory is the winning song to be played in full.
So I thought I would give you all a little trip down memory lane so we can all collectively bask in 1980’s glory. Some of this will be uniquely Australian but a lot will translate across the globe.
Day 1
Song AWa Wa Nee - Stimulation
Wa Wa Nee was an Australian funk/pop band, active from approximately 1985 to 1989. Led by the songwriting team of Paul Gray and Steve Williams, the band signed with CBS Records in 1985. Wa Wa Nee had four singles in the Australian top 40 from their debut album release of the same name and had limited success in the US charts.
Song BToni Childs – Don’t walk away
Toni Childs(born October 29, 1957) is an American singer songwriter. She has released four studio albums and is best known for her songs "Don't Walk Away", "I've Got To Go Now", a Top 5 hit in Australiain 1991, and the Emmy-winning "Because You're Beautiful" (released as a single in 2004, and featured on her 2008 albumKeep The Faith).
