Monday 31 August 2020

80s Music Memes - very funny

Funny memes about 80s music

BLONDIE, the literally named band that we all know and love. With super hits like Heart of Glass, Call Me, Gonna Get Ya...


Blondie, Call me - doesn't give number

Blondie - gonna get ya

I really liked Foreigner and their rockin' hits, like Urgent, Hot Blooded, and Cold as Ice. Ever take the lyrics literally?

Cold as Ice - not to be taken literally

Speaking of lyrics, what was Def Lep thinking when they wrote Hysteria? Just trying to find a rhyming word with malaria, or diphtheria or careeria-ending-lyrics...who knows?

Def Leppard song writing session
I do still have a landline, just like in the 80s. You hear new music reference cell phones, but they'll never compare to the old landlines, cords and all!

Stevie Wonder and Lionel Ritchie landline joke

Stevie Wonder was wonderful in the 80s too. I think I wore out his 45s, like Part Time Lover, or I just called to say I love, and Isn't She Lovely. He looked pretty cool to. 

Stevie Wonder's part time lovers were eligible for dental benefits

I just called to say meme

Stevie Wonder Part Time Lovers, nobody got time for that

Isn't She Lovely Stevie Wonder joke

And, you can't forget to mention TV in the 80s. Come on ALF? A stuffed animal has his own prime time show! And, the staple of daytime television - The Price is Right? Am I right? I hear Bob Barker is still listening to the 80s music.
Alf: Have Cat will stay for dinner
Bob Barker defends 80s music


Tuesday 25 August 2020

Billy Ocean - Get Into My Car you Caribbean Queen

When the going gets tough they get into Billy Ocean's Car

Billy Ocean, what a name! That is his stage name. "Billy" is from the Caribbean, hence the name Ocean, but his real name is Leslie Sebastian Charles...so, where 'Billy' came from? Who knows.


What is Billy Ocean's real name - is it William?

No matter the name, Billy Ocean was big time news on the music charts in the mid 80s. His song When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going was a Number 1 hit. 

When the going gets tough, the tough get cats

That song along with Caribbean Queen helped him win a Grammy award in 1985.

Billy Ocean is looking for a Caribbean Queen

My personal favourite of William Ocean is Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car.

Image Billy Ocean pulling up in this rust bucket and saying 'get into my car'

People who say, 'get into my car'
Would you get into Billy Ocean's car

Billy is still active in the music scene and has recorded a new album which was slated to be released in April 2020, but due to this darn Covid 19 pandemic it has been delayed to fall 2020. Pretty amazing.

Billy Ocean is worth 12 million, you'd better believe I'd get into his car!

Support Billy - buy his greatest hits for $11


MORE 80s MUSIC MEMES

Tuesday 18 August 2020

TOTO's AFRICA - FACTS, FUNNIES, and COVERS

 AFRICA by TOTO - BEST SONG EVER?

Africe by Toto - best song ever

Africa - The iconic song by Toto, that is considered the best song of all time by many people, started out as a quick 10 min jam by the keyboard player/main singer (David Paich). It's one of those songs that fits this story line:

  • Member of the band inspired by something they saw on TV, writes a few lyrics
  • Member of band fiddles around with a melody or some chords to go along with lyrics
  • Member of band writes a song that does not sound like a 'typical' band song
  • Band members argue over whether the song sounds like 'them' and should be recorded
  • Song is a last minute edition to the album
  • Song hits #1 on the charts

How many times have you listed to Toto Africa?

That would be the storyline for Africa (get the album here). Paich was inspired by a documentary on the plight of Africa, and those UNICEF commercials. He wrote some lyrics in ten minutes. He played some strange sounds on his keyboard. He brought the song to the band who didn't think is sounded 'soft rock' enough. The band reluctantly recorded it. The song goes number one!

Africa Toto - yes please, I'll have another cup of that

Similar storyling for Van Halen's Jump. Eddie Van Halen fiddles around with a keyboard, Roth inspired by a suicide jumper on TV, they reluctantly record the song that is not 'rock', and they get their only number one hit.

Africa had a bit of a modern resurgence with the meme culture, linking Toto with the dog from the Wizard of Oz. Those are some funny memes.

Toto meme

Another Toto meme

Toto - hurry boys she's waiting there for you

Fast forward 35 years and a cover of the song by Weezer runs the song up the charts for a second time. It would only hit the 50s in the top 100, but still, a pretty good showing for a cover song. Just shows how universal the love is for this song.

Love Toto's Africa Love it!!!

When someone doesn't like Toto's Africa

Apparently, Weezer recorded the song after a fan requested it? See the love.

By fan request - TOTO!

As well, in 2007 Karl Wolf covered, or more precicely, heavily sampled Africa and the song exploded in Canada going all the way to the 2nd rung on the Canadian Hot 100 charts. Canadians love the TOTO!

I hear the drums echo in the night

Toto Africa meme

Personally, I love hearing this song when I'm driving...alone...at night. The primitive beat and then the cymbal crash into the high chorus makes it such a great karaoke style song. Even if I can't hit the high note. Which is kind of why it's best if I hear it while I'm alone.
Dad joke karaoke or dead bird!

This is also one of those songs that the lyrics are often misheard.

Is it missed or kissed the rains down in Africa?

Misheard lyrics - TOTO AFRICA

For me, it is right up there in my top ten best songs of all time. It never seems to get old and worn out - even if the band is getting old and worn out (ouch!).

Africa by Toto was written by a man who had never set foot on the continent

I bless the rains down in Africa



MORE TOTO MEMES

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