1983: Music For Twelve-Year-Olds?

By Less Lee Moore

Remember when you were old enough to like “cool” music but still young enough to shamelessly appreciate crappy music? For me, that time was 1983.

I had been taking dance lessons since the age of four, following in the footsteps of my mother, who was a dancer, dance teacher, and the general manager of a dance studio. Since she was a single parent, I spent a lot of time at that dance studio. And at that point, Flashdance fever—the movie, the soundtrack, and the fashion—was everywhere. Never mind that I was too young to see an R-rated movie; I knew every song and music video by heart. Since I was already wearing legwarmers, torn sweatshirts and Gilda Marx leotards weren’t much of stretch for me, couture-wise. Flashdance may not have aged well, but I still love the soundtrack, particularly “Maniac” and “Manhunt.”

And speaking of dance, Culture Club’s Colour By Numbers album was prominently featured in our jazz class warm-ups. This is why I knew every song on the album even though I didn’t actually own the album until years later, when I bought the CD version. And since taping songs from the radio was such a pre-teen pastime, I had a tape with “That’s The Way (I’m Only Trying to Help You)” and “Miss Me Blind” on it that was on near-constant rotation in my Walkman. When no one was home I would (vainly) attempt to sing the Helen Terry parts of “That’s The Way,” admitting to myself that she was a way better singer than Boy George (and me).

Madonna’s first album also made a huge impact on me (and everyone else) at this point, both musically and sartorially. Still straddling the ever-vanishing line between preppy childhood and pubescent mall-punk, I managed to work black lace scarves, spiked belts, and rubber bracelets in with my sweater vests, Forenza jeans, and flats. (And I would kill to have those damn black crocheted lace gloves again. No, really.) I was impressed by Madonna’s dance moves in the “Lucky Star” video and I memorized every gesture and article of clothing in “Borderline” like there was going to be a test on it at any moment. I’ve long since gotten over Madge, but I still think her look then was amazing. And I still think “Burning Up” is the best thing she’s ever done.

You may think that such an image-conscious kid would have been totally disinterested in U2’s political leanings. But you’d be wrong. My friend taped Under a Blood Red Sky for me and I listened to it obsessively. U2 were Irish Catholics who sang about political events I’d never heard of. They seemed so passionate and earnest and completely at odds with breezy pop stars like Duran Duran. (And considering that the future would find them fighting with Negativland over copyright infringement, I think it’s hilariously ironic that they apparently had royalty issues with Stephen Sondheim over “Send In The Clowns” when this album was released.)

More from 1983:

The Minutemen, Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat by Jimmy Ether

The Police, Synchronicity by Jemiah Jefferson

And from 1988:

1988: Perk Up Your Ears, by Latanya