1980

1980! Lots happened in 1980, I’m almost certain of that. I wasn’t born though, so obviously the world was much worse off than it is now. In actual news, 1980 was the year the Rubik’s Cube launched! Also launching in 1980 was CNN, which is handy for them as in December of that year they got to report about John Lennon being shot to death by Mark Chapman outside his apartment in Manhattan. In terms of music, 1980 formed some amazing bands, for instance, and yes, this is hard to believe, but trust me, this is my thing, ANTHRAX formed in 1980! Also forming this year was Eurythmics, Bad Religion (Also mental), New Order, Heaven 17, and the immortal Wang Chung! Also, personal fave, Regina Spektor was born! Kerry Katona was born in 1980 as well, to start her career of being an awful human being. Lastly on the birth front, someone also squashed Christina Aguilera out of a vagina this year as well. Enough of that though, let’s give out some fucking awards.

Singles!

1980 was seemingly a bit thin on the ground for female solo artists, but nonetheless they managed to produce some quality hits! Stuff that’s not been nominated or won anything, but is still worth a mention is the classic “Working My Way Back To You” by The Spinners and “Fool For Your Loving” by the hairiest hair band in the history of hair, Whitesnake.

Male Solo Single of the year.

Nominated:

Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne
Master Blaster by Stevie Wonder
She’s Out Of My Life by Michael Jackson
Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
Ashes to Ashes by David Bowie

And The Winner Is…

Master Blaster by Stevie Wonder

Taken from the brilliant album, Hotter Than July, this was released in the US in the September. It was written as a tribute to Bob Marley, whom he had recently been on tour with, and because of this, the song has a more reggae sound.

Female Solo Single of the year.

Nominated:

Upside Down by Diana Ross
Feels Like I’m In Love by Kelly Marie
Babooshka by Kate Bush
Bad Reputation by Joan Jett

And The Winner Is…

So, two categories in and already I’ve reached one where I’m genuinely stuck. Bush Vs. Jett. Both are classics. Babooshka for it’s theatricality and Bad Reputation for it’s not caring simplicity. Fuck, this is so hard. Right. Fuck it…

Had to be. I love Babooshka, but it’s not going to go unrecognised. Bad Reputation is a fucking anthem.

Band/Group Single of the year.

Nominated:

Brass In Pocket by The Pretenders
The Winner Takes It All by ABBA
Another One Bites The Dust by Queen
Atomic by Blondie
Another Brick In The Wall Pt 2 by Pink Floyd
Lay All Your Love On Me by ABBA

And The Winner Is…

Instant regret. That’s what the winner of this is. For thinking I could choose between those 6 songs. What the hell have I started. What do I even do at this point. These songs are quite different and so comparing them is proving difficult. Gut reaction time…

ABBA! The Winner Takes It All is a true classic, and of all the insanely good classics that ABBA produced, this stands above the rest in my opinion. Pink Floyd’s Another Brick In The Wall was it’s main competitor here, but, as amazingly good and inventive as that is, I think it suffers as a single track, and needs the rest of the album to shine. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an amazing song, but The Winner Takes It All is one of the most mature, well written pop songs of all time.

Song of the year.

Song of the year is awarded to a song that jumps out, it’s not always the best song of that year, it’s just a song that you will instantly know. A song that is still everywhere, even nowadays. Before we get to the winner however, I wanted to take a moment to mention another song that I considered for this. A song that is still amazing, just not as iconic as our winner. Here is Vienna by Ultravox.

And The Winner Is…

Now that we’ve got our runner up out the way, it’s on to our winner. My 1980 song of the year… Well, it needs no fucking introduction from me, that’s for sure…

THE ACE OF FUCKING SPADES! Right, that’s songs out the way, on to albums!

Albums!

1980 had some pretty classic albums! British Steel by Judas Priest and the debut of Iron Maiden! U2 were about with Boy, and Peter Gabriel’s Peter Gabriel III was released, commonly referred to as Melt! On with the awards!

Male Solo Album of the year.

Nominated:

Telekon by Gary Numan
Peter Gabriel (Melt) by Peter Gabriel
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) by David Bowie
Hotter Than July by Stevie Wonder

And The Winner Is…

Hotter Than July was Stevie Wonder’s most successful album in the UK, which is weird to imagine. He was in the later part of his success at this point, and his previous album hadn’t gone down well. Hotter Than July was a proper return to form though. Master Blaster was the first song written for it and the rest fell in to place shortly after. Stevie will always be one of my fave performers ever. He’s effortless.

Female Solo Album of the year.

Nominated:

Never For Ever by Kate Bush
Diana by Diana Ross
Guilty by Hanna Barbera. Wait.. No… Barbra Streisand.

And The Winner Is…

BABOOSHKA BABOOSHKA! Never For Ever is a great album. There was never much competition for this to be honest. As good as Diana’s Diana is, it never put up a fight for this, nor did Barry Gibb’s Guilty album for Hanna Barbera… I did it again! If you’ve never listened to Kate Bush’s Never For Ever, go get it listened to!

Band/Group Album of the year.

Nominated:

Back In Black by AC/DC
Remain In Light by Talking Heads
Blizzard Of Ozz by Ozzy Osbourne
The Game by Queen
Closer by Joy Division
Super Trouper by ABBA

And The Winner Is…

AC/DC’s Back In Black could quite easily be a greatest hits album. It’s incredible from start to finish. I’ve put the video up for Shoot To Thrill recorded live at Donington in 1991 because quite frankly it’s one of the greatest live shows anyone has ever done. This was their 7th, yes SEVENTH album and they were still slaying it.

Right, that’s 1980 dealt with!