Friday, January 30, 2015

Friday 80s Flashback for January 30, 2015

"Family Ties" The Real Thing: Part 2 (1985)

[At this Moment in 1987] -- Because the calendar dates for 1981 and 1987 line up with those of 2015, I'm using chart activity from '81 and '87 as my Flashback guide this year. And there was an interesting triumvirate of tunes topping the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending January 31, 1987. Do you remember the number one song that week? Do you recall any of the songs in the top 10? Well, read and hear more after the break and your memory will be revived!


Flashback #1"C'est La Vie, C'est La Vie | That's just the way it goes"

Our first Flashback of the week, "C'est La Vie," finds itself slipping from its peak position of #2 to #3. This was Robbie Nevil's debut single and it was nearing the end of its 23 week run on the charts. "C'est La Vie" was the biggest of the three top-15 pop singles off Nevil's 1986 debut album. In fact, "C'est La Vie" went on to be a top 20 hit around the world, peaking at #3 in the UK, #2 in Germany, Ireland, and New Zealand, and #1 in Canada and Switzerland.




Flashback #2"Open your heart to me, baby | I hold the lock and you hold the key."

If our previous Flashback was slipping, our next one was surging at this time in 1987. Madonna's 16th single, "Open Your Heart," bumped up two notches from #4 to #2. It would eventually peak at the #1 position becoming her fifth number one US single. It appears on her third studio album, True Blue (1986). In true Madonna fashion, the music video has, at least on the surface, very little to do with the lyrical content of the song. Although the song is ostensibly about (innocent) boy-meets-girl romance, the music video's main character is an exotic dancer who hangs out, and eventually escapes with, a young boy. The video drew significant critical ire, but fans loved it. 




Flashback #3"I'd fall down on my knees, kiss the ground | That you walk on, if I could just hold you again."

Our number one song, and our final Flashback, for this week is "At This Moment" by Billy Vera (and the Beaters). First released in 1981 on the live album Billy and the Beaters, the single got new life when it was featured in a few episodes during the 1985-86 season of Family Ties (and, no doubt, high school dances across the country). In Family Ties, "At This Moment" became associated with Alex P. Keaton and his girlfriend Ellen Reed (played respectively by Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan, who would later marry Fox in real life). You can catch Billy performing his song here, but if you have any recollection of "At This Moment," it's probably from these clips: 




Once again, I remind you that the rule of three applies when doing Flashbacks. As I've made my three offerings, that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the archives. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.

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I'll see you in seven!

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