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Every Saturday Night almost every station plays retro because Saturday is considered party night. ;D



Howard
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Howard, you are right!  They play the 80s songs, because there hasn't been any good party music done in the last 14 years!   ;D

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Well, last weekend, a radio station here had an 80's weekend. I requested Depeche Mode, and unfortunately the best I could get out of them was "People Are People." THEY PLAYED IT!!! I don't remember ever hearing Depeche Mode on the radio here back in the 80's. It would have been nice though!

Another song they played was "Space Age Love Song" by A Flock Of Seagulls, which I thought was rather interesting because back in 1982-83, "I Ran" was played to death, and their other songs were never given a chance.

Oh!!! And another one: "Love Plus One" by Haircut One Hundred. I never heard that on the radio before in the 80's. The DJ made a big deal of it because he got several calls enquiring about the song. I knew it though! The DJ had never heard of Haircut One Hundred. Ah, but this is Canada. Land of Loverboy, Bryan Adams, and Corey Hart. General crap.

Absolutely Vile
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Vile, we should take over all commercial radio stations in North America and expose people to the good stuff!   ;D  

Here in the U.S., "Love Plus One" and "People Are People" were both probably top 20 hits.  They both stand the test of time much more than some of the other bigger hits of the day!

And while you're mentioning some of Canada's biggest musical acts, you can't forget Glass Tiger!  Sorry, I couldn't resist!   ;D ;D

Quoting:
What really bothers me is the lack of variety on the weekend 80s shows.  I swear "Walk Like An Egyptian" is played on every show, every week.  So I would love to hear "Change" played.  There are many bigger hits that are rarely heard.  "Break My Stride"  and "One Night In Bangkok" are perfect examples.  
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No "Break My Stride"?  Well, thank heavens for small mercies!
Yes, the '80s is now defined by music cool people like us listened to, and not the same old rock 'n roll the Top 40 stations were pushing back in the day.  I consider this VICTORY!
"They called me a nerd 'coz I liked Psychedelic Furs, but when they recall the '80s, it ain't '(Dude) Looks Like a Lady'"
Or, as I used to say when they'd diss Depche Mode,
"Just pull those Depeche Mode records off the shelf, I'll sit and listen to 'em by myself..." :D

Quoting:

"They called me a nerd 'coz I liked Psychedelic Furs, but when they recall the '80s, it ain't '(Dude) Looks Like a Lady'"
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Hey, I like Aerosmith.  >:( But you're intitled to your opinion.  :)
And I also like Psychedelic Furs.

I have 3 local "retro" radio stations that's dedicated to the '80's or have '80's shows (like "80's at noon", Friday nights, etc.).

My local Alternative station plays rare songs, songs that hardly get played, "lost" hits/cult classics, and common '80's new wave/alternative songs everyday.

Another is dedicated to R&B & hip hop of the '80's and '90's.

Finally, my aldult contemporary station plays "party" music Friday nights from the '80's & 1990's. Mostly the same stuff from their '80's lunch hour and popular songs like "Love Shack" (B-52's), "Baby Got Back" (Sir Mix-A-Lot), and (BLECHHH) even some from New Kids & Milli Vanilli.  :P

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Hey, I like Aerosmith.  >:( But you're intitled to your opinion.  :)End Quote

I'm not knocking Aerosmith, mind you, I was just trying to, um, make up a dumb little rhyme! ::)  

Quoting:I'm just saying that there are dozens of songs (some even Top 10) that are never heard. Honestly, when was the last time you heard "Right On Track" by The Breakfast Club?  That song was huge!
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The only Men Without Hats you hear is "Safety Dance," and possibly "Pop Goes the World."  The only AFOS they play is "I Ran," "Space Age Love Song," or "Wishing."  This is true of most bands in most genres, not just New Wave.  Classic rock stations always play the same few songs by Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, Led Zep, Jethro Tull, The Who, and so forth.  That's the problem with radio, no variety, no adventure.

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Here in Vegas we have an 80s atation that is strictly music from the 80s. I love it but I have to say they could have a little more of a variety. But then again, a lot of people who are listening are like most people who want to hear what was catchiest to listen to.

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Here in Columbus, we had the first all 80s station (since the 80s were over) in the US.  They played a pretty good variety, including some of the pretty obscure stuff from 10 pm to midnight.  That lasted about 3 years.  Then they were bought out and the new owners made it an oldies station!  >:(

I'm glad I have VH1 Classic, my CDs, and Music Choice (which I occasionally tape the 80s station and replay it in the car).   I would be so nice to have a local station that played all 80s again, rather than a few hours on Friday night!

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I hate that too!  Here in Houston, the 80's station plays all the SAME OL 80's.  Like for instance..madonna.  I like "Holiday" but I would love to also hear.."Like a prayer", True Blue", Papa don't preach"..etc...
I've noticed in some cities they do play a more random choice of songs...not here though.

I never hear cool songs like "Luka" by suzanne Vega, I can't wait" by Nu Shooz, "rock on" by Michael Damian...etc...
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True.  Madonna had lots of big hits but you only hear a couple.  I've been DYING to hear "Like a Virgin" but I swear I haven't heard it played in 10 years - except finally, the other month at a retro club I go to now.  But of the 5x I've been there, I've basically heard "Holiday" and "Get into the Groove" (which I do love, but they also remix which bugs me).  And actually, thru the years "Like a Prayer" is the 1 that is played on radio over and over and over again!

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it's an hour and a half of 80s hits. they play mostly popular 80s songs
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Well, hmmm......"popular" = "hits"!  Who'da thunk?    ;)

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when was the last time you heard "Right On Track" by The Breakfast Club?  That song was huge!
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Eahhh?  What is THAT?  I didn't hear that in the '80s!  Where is it on the (general) charts?

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Finally, my aldult contemporary station plays "party" music Friday nights from the '80's & 1990's. Mostly the same stuff from their '80's lunch hour and popular songs like "Love Shack" (B-52's), "Baby Got Back" (Sir Mix-A-Lot), and (BLECHHH) even some from New Kids & Milli Vanilli.  :P


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WHOA!  I havent heard a milli vanilli or New kids song on the radio in like 10 years!

Quoting:
This is basically what I was agreeing w/from that website I posted.  But it's not just radio, it's what people talk about on forums, too.  You'd think the Smiths were huge.  You'd think "Tempted" was a big hit.  Nonsense.  Truth is what was really big isn't discussed much.  It all gives the wrong impression to those who don't know at all.

Which brings to mind that the boiled-down question here was:  What songs were actually *POPULAR* (not fringe!) in the actual '80s that you don't hear now, even on retro shows?
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You've got to understand that people who post on forums are from all around the world!! Not just the United States Of America. And yes, folks, the US of A is not the world!! Some of these songs were hits...elsewhere!! People do discuss what was big in their own country because that's what they've got to go on. The Smiths were a phenomenon...in the UK! And "Tempted" by Squeeze was a hit! Some of these people did make it to this side of the world but only with minor success. Those bands who may have been "one hit wonders" in North America (KajaGooGoo, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, and Dexy's Midnight Runners, to name a few) had a few hits in the UK and elsewhere.

Does only what was big and popular in America matter? It shouldn't. People in other countries (and yes, let me reiterate that there are other countries) are proud of what and who made it big in their country (for the most part anyway. Some UK hits were dodgy.) Just because an American hasn't heard of something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist, or isn't important to someone, or wasn't a hit in another country. A public forum is exactly that: a public forum. What the 80's meant to some people may not be the same as what it meant to someone else. I'm from Canada. The 80's, unfortunately, meant hits from Glass Tiger, Doug & The Slugs, Toronto, Chilliwack, Platinum Blonde and The Headpins (who??) as well as the usual American and UK standards.

Absolutely Vile

It's easy when you're big in Japan...

Quoting:
A local radio station has a program called "Friday Night 80s."  Last night they played "Change" by Tears For Fears.  Now back when that song was out, you couldn't pay them to play it.  What songs do you hear now on 80s radio stations or songs that are remembered fondly that Top 40 wouldn't play back in "the day"?  Another example might be "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow.
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You've got to understand that people who post on forums are from all around the world!! Not just the United States Of America. And yes, folks, the US of A is not the world!!
It's easy when you're big in Japan...
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Vile, you couldn't be further from the truth!  Being from the good ol' US of A, I have always been frustrated with the American way of viewing music.  Back in the 80s, I listened to stuff that was big in other parts of the world, but not here.  Granted, I liked alot of mainstream music too.  Most of my friends didn't "get it" and chose to listen to whatever was on their favorite Top 40 or rock stations.  

Quoting:People do discuss what was big in their own country because that's what they've got to go on.End Quote

I think it is like that all over.  There was some good music that never made it on the other side of the pond that we loved here.  I guess it's all a matter of geography!   :)    

By the way, loved the Alphaville reference!  Big In Japan is one of my favorite 80s albums!

Quoting:
Does only what was big and popular in America matter? It shouldn't. People in other countries (and yes, let me reiterate that there are other countries) are proud of what and who made it big in their country (for the most part anyway. Some UK hits were dodgy.) Just because an American hasn't heard of something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist, or isn't important to someone, or wasn't a hit in another country. End Quote

When I talk about '80s music, most of the artists I like were from the UK and places other than the US.  It's no coincidence that my most top 40-listening time was 1983, the peak of the "second British Invasion."  American Top 40 tastes changed, my interest was in the British "alternative" bands.  The biggies being Depeche Mode, New Order, The Cure, and The Smiths.  While these groups had big hits in Britain and elsewhere, they were still called alternative here.  Even after "People Are People" hit the top 20, Depeche Mode was still "alternative."  Furthermore, I loved Star Hits and Smash Hits because they featured articles about the less well known British bands I liked.
In the '90s, some of the more interesting pop music was coming from Japan by groups such as Pizzicato Five and Cibo Matto (spelling)?  

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WHOA!  I havent heard a milli vanilli or New kids song on the radio in like 10 years!
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Glad it's not played every where.

Not all that bad. My local Alternative station sometimes play Alison Moyet, XTC, The Clash (besides "Rock The Casbah" & "Should I Stay Or Should I Go"), 10,000 Maniacs, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Alarm, early REM, Devo, Nik Kershaw, Spandau Ballet,  etc. And some cult classics &  "rarities".

Quoting:


You've got to understand that people who post on forums are from all around the world!! Not just the United States Of America. And yes, folks, the US of A is not the world!! Some of these songs were hits...elsewhere!! People do discuss what was big in their own country because that's what they've got to go on. The Smiths were a phenomenon...in the UK! And "Tempted" by Squeeze was a hit! Some of these people did make it to this side of the world but only with minor success. Those bands who may have been "one hit wonders" in North America (KajaGooGoo, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, and Dexy's Midnight Runners, to name a few) had a few hits in the UK and elsewhere.

Does only what was big and popular in America matter? It shouldn't. People in other countries (and yes, let me reiterate that there are other countries) are proud of what and who made it big in their country (for the most part anyway. Some UK hits were dodgy.) Just because an American hasn't heard of something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist, or isn't important to someone, or wasn't a hit in another country. A public forum is exactly that: a public forum. What the 80's meant to some people may not be the same as what it meant to someone else. I'm from Canada. The 80's, unfortunately, meant hits from Glass Tiger, Doug & The Slugs, Toronto, Chilliwack, Platinum Blonde and The Headpins (who??) as well as the usual American and UK standards.

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When did I refer to non-US music fans or the non-US scene, something not in my ken?  Boy, that's alot of defensive verbosity over something that didn't exist.  I said nothing about non-US or anything like that; don't try to make it like my observations had anything to do w/non-US, cuz it didn't.  Don't make my words something they're not.

Incidentally, a whole lot of the forumites are Americans, and I see plenty of them referring constantly to the non-hits and acts which really had no impact on our (so there is no mistaking what I'm talking about) pop culture.  Yes, perhaps I only view it from the American side (which has nothing to do w/being "arrogant", BTW; just to head that off at the pass), but from knowing "that side" and knowing lots of Americans here talk about non-hits; that's where my observation about wrong impressions of the AMERICAN 80s pop culture (as well as the dude who wrote the webpage) comes from.  Not wondering why non-Americans talk about them all the time.  That's all I'm observing.  Geeessh.

Quoting:


"Right On Track" by The Breakfast Club went to Number 7 on the Pop charts in the Spring of 87.
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Yes, I saw that on the Top40db site.  I don't think I ever heard it - I didn't recognize the lyrics, either.  They must never have played it around my area (another regional difference problem?).  Of course, half my time was spent listening to "oldies"; perhaps I always managed to miss it on the regular stations!

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When did I refer to non-US music fans or the non-US scene, something not in my ken?  End Quote

Could be something not in your barbie.  Arf arf arf!  
I think this dispute is without much basis.  I, for one, like to hear about pop culture in other countries.  America IS the world's biggest exporter of pop culture, but different countries have their own homegrown fads and styles, and often have quite a different take on American imports.