A few months ago I heard that both Berlin and the Go-Go's had gotten back together,but I have not seen a new album by either. Does anyone have any info?

> A few months ago I heard that both Berlin and the Go-Go's had gotten back
> together,but I have not seen a new album by either. Does anyone have any
> info?

I was lucky enough this past summer to catch the Go-Gos and Berlin on their reunion tour in Dallas. Since the Go-Go's are my favorite group, I simply HAD to get the best seats, and sure enough, I ended up 3 rows away from the stage! Belinda has been my idol since 1987 when I was 8 years old, and it was so thrilling to see her singing live after all those years! I went with my very good friend, Matt, and we both dressed up like new wave 80s teens! It was a blast! I know for a fact that the deleted albums "Vacation" and "Talk Show" were reissued this past summer, but I haven't heard anything about an album of new material, (however, I heard there were rumors of a live album and possibly an album of covers!!!) Keep your fingers crossed!

~GGG52

> I was lucky enough this past summer to catch the Go-Gos and Berlin on
> their reunion tour in Dallas. Since the Go-Go's are my favorite group, I
> simply HAD to get the best seats, and sure enough, I ended up 3 rows away
> from the stage! Belinda has been my idol since 1987 when I was 8 years

I have been an idol of Belinda since I was 9 years old in 1981 when I first heard the Go Gos and when I started High School in 1986 it was the year she had her first solo hit MAD ABOUT YOU and the hits followed for over two years, she is a very underrated artist and one of the best musicians that were popular when I was in High School, I reflect now as my 10 year reunion is coming up in March.

As for the Go-Gos Concert, I was front row, there were no seats in Portland on the floor so I got to shake Belinda's hand and got Charlotte's guitar pick she gave me. I also got to shake Terri Nunn of Berlin's hand too as she walked through the standing room only crowd singing TAKE MY BREATH AWAY, another big hit my freshman year of high school in 1986. Does anyone have any memories of their freshman year? That was my fondest year for music 1986-1987, I loved the songs that came out that year like YOU GOT IT ALL by the JETS, NOTHINGS GONNA CHANGE MY LOVE FOR YOU by Glenn Mederios, WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN by the lovely Bangles and many more!

Aj

I agree with Aj that Belinda Carlisle is underrated. "I Get Weak" and "Summer Rain" are a couple of the most perfect and haunting pop records ever.

Does anyone find it strange that all-female bands (and strong female musicians in general, like Chrissie Hynde, Martha Davis, Sheila E., etc.)are somewhat scarce in the 90's? It's very odd that there have been no successors to the Go-Go's and the Bangles legacy.

> I agree with Aj that Belinda Carlisle is underrated. "I Get
> Weak" and "Summer Rain" are a couple of the most perfect
> and haunting pop records ever.

> Does anyone find it strange that all-female bands (and strong female
> musicians in general, like Chrissie Hynde, Martha Davis, Sheila E.,
> etc.)are somewhat scarce in the 90's? It's very odd that there have been
> no successors to the Go-Go's and the Bangles legacy.

I suppose someone will pop up and say that Courtney Love and Hole are just as good as those bands mentioned above. For the record, I think she is a better actress than singer. I love Martha Davis and the Motels what a voice! Another I might add is Aimie Mann (forgive the spelling as there are teachers out there watching this stuff!) of the group, Til Tuesday they may have only scored with VOICES CARRY, but what an amazing voice. She has been solo for many years now. The other bands I can think of are Expose with hits in the 80s with SEASONS CHANGE and with a different lead singer in 1993 with AS LONG AS I CAN DREAM and I'll NEVER GET OVER YOU GETTING OVER ME (long title), she has a lovely voice too. Roxette isnt too bad either, I havent heard from them in a long time. I cant explain why there are no girl groups out there, the emphasis is mostly on Sheryl Crow, whom I cant stand, and all the Lilith Fair acts; only Sarah McLaughlin (spelling again!) I can tolerate.

Aj

Thanks for mentioning Aimee Mann; she is a brilliant songwriter. "Welcome Home" and the "Everything's Different Now" albums are still extremely powerful and moving. Her later work is worlds better, in my opinion, than "Voices Carry" -- it's ironic that that is her most famous song.

Sure, Hole is a very good band. I'm glad they're around. Same with Babes In Toyland. I just wonder why there hasn't been the progress for female musicians that there was in the 70's and 80's. I realize that female pop singers like Janet Jackson, Shania, Mariah, etc. are probably more successful ($$, awards) than ever but there sure doesn't seem to be a lot of women as *musicians* and producers (except Sheryl Crow, whom I really admire -- sorry, Aj!). There is still such an effort by the music industry and the media to pigeonhole women into narrow categories, mostly "sexy pop diva" -- gag. I hope the new decade brings a return of the strong female band leader that we saw with Chrissie Hynde, Debbie Harry, and - yes! - Martha Davis!

> Thanks for mentioning Aimee Mann; she is a brilliant songwriter.
> "Welcome Home" and the "Everything's Different Now"
> albums are still extremely powerful and moving. Her later work is worlds
> better, in my opinion, than "Voices Carry" -- it's ironic that
> that is her most famous song.

I hope the new decade brings a return of
> the strong female band leader that we saw with Chrissie Hynde, Debbie
> Harry, and - yes! - Martha Davis!

Yes, let's hear it for those female musicians of the 70's and 80's!!!!! I definitely agree that Aimee Mann is very talented. I also love Chrissie Hynde, Debbie Harry, and Martha Davis....whom many seem to forget was the leader of the Motels! I, too, hope the next decade brings on another rush of talent like in the 70's and 80's. I wasn't impressed with the 90's music at all!

I forgot about Lilith Fair! -- that was a great idea/accomplishment by Sarah McLaughlin; I take my hat off to her. But a lot of that music is stereotypically "feminine" -- acoustic guitar, piano, lyrics about relationships. Musically, it doesn't break new ground for female musicians; challenging most people's perceptions of what/how women express themselves. But business-wise, I'm sure it helped a lot -- it was one of the few successful tours in the past couple of years.

> I forgot about Lilith Fair! -- that was a great idea/accomplishment by
> Sarah McLaughlin; I take my hat off to her. But a lot of that music is
> stereotypically "feminine" -- acoustic guitar, piano, lyrics
> about relationships. Musically, it doesn't break new ground for female
> musicians; challenging most people's perceptions of what/how women express
> themselves. But business-wise, I'm sure it helped a lot -- it was one of
> the few successful tours in the past couple of years.

I mentioned Lilith Fair in my original post and said I tolerate Sarah McLaughlin and her music, the rest I could live without. I'm sorry the Indigo Girls just don't excite me. Kurt Loder, whom I respect as a journalist and music critic said that Lisa Loeb's hit was perhaps the worst hit of the 90s, if not ever. I tend to agree.

I mentioned Roxette too and got no response? Did anybody like her besides me, she had hits before the Pretty Women soundtrack. Has anybody mentioned Pat Benatar, she maybe the most talented female singer of all time next to Aretha Franklin I do not know anyone else that can sing pop, rock, soul, jazz, R&B and opera and make it look and sound good!

PS-one of my favorite 80s songs, another from my freshman year I might add was from the Spring of 1987 when Aretha teamed up with George Michael to do I KNEW YOU WERE WAITING FOR ME.

Aj

Roxette was a fun band (the lead singer's name was Marie, by the way); I especially loved the song "Joy Ride". I guess the music scene just changed too much for them to hang in there.

I agree Aretha Franklin is pure genius. She's one of the very, very few people that you can't imagine what music would be like without her contributions.

Someone pointed out to me that I forgot to mention Melissa Etheridge; who's one of the best and biggest rock stars of the 90's. I agree! But Melissa's first album came out in '88, so I guess I don't exactly think of her as just a 90's phenom. She transcends time! No decade can hold her!!