Run-DMSteve

  • Duran Duran can’t touch this

    In 2010, Special D and I went to the ’80s Video Dance Attack at Lola’s Room here in Portland. ’80s videos played until closing. At 9pm the average age in the crowd was probably in the high 40s, but by midnight that had dropped at least 20 years. The ’80s…

  • How I went gaga for Gang of Four

    “Barracuda” Heart 1977 “At Home He’s a Tourist” Gang of Four 1979 “Here Come Cowboys” The Psychedelic Furs 1984 (With thanks to Loyal Reader Barb for suggesting this post.) I’m lucky. I’ve usually had someone in my life who could explain music to me. In the early 1980s, that someone…

  • For a good time call

    “867-5309/Jenny” Tommy Tutone 1982 In 1969, Sheraton Hotels forced television viewers to memorize their new toll-free reservation number. The fact that after 40 years I can still recall their campaign of flashing numerals and insanely cheerful female voices singing Eight-oh-oh. Three-two-five. Three-five, three-five proves that advertising works. And the fact…

  • That Was the Modern World

    “Everywhere That I’m Not” Translator 1982 We tend to give decades shortcut images as they recede in our rearview mirror. The ’50s are Happy Days. The ’60s are Woodstock. The ’70s are disco. And the ’80s, my favorite decade, are shoulder pads, polo shirts, big hair, and Valley Girls. OK,…

  • The People vs. Coldplay

    A Rush of Blood to the Head Coldplay 2002 My three regular readers know that I use the term “Coldplay” as a handy benchmark meaning “inoffensive crap.” Is the case against Coldplay really that simple? Probably, but let’s consider it anyway. Coldplay offers expertly crafted, atmospheric soft rock that implies other,…