Cyberpunk - Billy Idol

What is no doubt going to be a longer entry than the previous goes to British punk god Billy Idol's slated album 'Cyberpunk'. Well from what I gather it was slated. Mainly because people felt it left Billy's usual style which is why even if you're not a fan of his work, you should give this one a listen as in all fairness, it is something different.
What is also interesting is that the album managed to piss off a whole sub-culture of people who study the novel genre of cyberpunk and disapproved of the use of the name 'cyberpunk' as the title of Billy's album.

Now, I am a Billy Idol fan and I'm proud to say it. The man has produced some EXCELLENT music and what's more, he did have a drug problem but sorted it out unlike some modern artists I know about. The guy went to rehab and is still making music today. He will forever be The King Of Punk in my eyes. Totally Undisputed.

Anyway, 'Cyberpunk' hit the shelves in 1993 but remember that's okay for this blog since Idol was raking in his serious fame during the 80's. It amazes me how this album went unappreciated. 

It contains four very good tracks! And I wouldn't want to make this sound insulting but Billy Idol's previous stuff, 'Dancing With Myself', 'Rebel Yell', great songs and all and I will cover them at some point but they weren't exactly intellectual, moody affairs. 

'Cyberpunk' had some deep thought put into it which I really like. The lyrics are nice and meanigful most of the time and I like to think from what I've been told that Idol came up with them on his own.

The music video for the track 'Shock To The System' is right here.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx2fZU5USus)

Man, and you thought 'Dancing With Myself' was enough to screw up any small child watching. 

Just look at this thing! Billy gets trashed in the future LA metropolis by some cops and suddenly is resurrected as a technological monster from hell to help with a revolution!!!

His attitude is still as badass as ten years ago. He gives it his all and makes me love the track like something hardcore.

The other ones I like are 'Neuromancer' which has a really nice, dark tone with Billy telling us how he is The Neuromancer. Can't say I disagree as Billy describes a hellish life in a post-apocalyptic future.

Another is 'Concrete Kingdom'. Beautiful tribal synth music and the echo effect at the start is breathtaking. That sounds corny but seriously, this track rules. I really like the steel forging clangs that sound during the build up to the chorus too. Very cool. I'm not sure what this song's about but I'd guess maybe a future where technology and man-made things rule all and we lose touch with emotions, values or some other junk. Nice message.

The fourth track that I only recently managed to hear (and like) is 'Then The Night Comes'. 

This one's maybe more like Billy's earlier work. Punchy guitar slaps, an awesome chorus and lyrics that are really out there such as "Here she comes, all wild, so horny. My Sony eyed Medusa" 

I'm thinking that means the TV brand 'Sony' but who knows? 

This one's probably about sex. In fact, sex dominates Billy's catalogue quite a lot.

Just a badass and underrated release from The King Of Punk (Always capitalize that one). One that deserves a bit more attention and an apology from thousands of science-fiction fans.

Here are the good quality versions of the songs mentioned above

'Shock To The System'

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m8InLP2whA)

'Neuromancer'

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAovmuh4JpU)

'Concrete Kingdom'

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIpz3Y9NSrc&feature=related)

'Then The Night Comes'

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugg13q6MOao)

and the lyrics are right here.

"Shock To The System"

Woah yeah
Yooow

It was a night
Oh, what a night
LA, burning bright
Oh, what a night
I said yeah, come on
You make my world stand still
Ahh riot, rape, race and revolution, ah yeah
Here come the fire, and my world burns still

Say yeah
Well, you can
Rock this land, baby
Yooow

But like a shock to the system
It feel good, well alright
But like a shock to the system
I said yeah
Ain't it irie

It was a night
Hell of a night
LA, it really was
Oh, what a riot
I said yeah, come on
You make my life feel real
Oh, fear police and civil corruption, oh yeah
Is there a man who would be king?
And the world stood still

Ah yeah, loud
You can
Rock this land, baby
Yeahhh

But like a shock
(Shock)
To the system
It feel good, well alright
But like a shock
(Shock)
To the system
I said yeah
Come on baby
Shock to the system
It feel good, well alright
Like a shock
(Shock)
To the system
I say yeah, I say yeah, I say yeah
Come on baby

Yooow

Yeah
Well you can
Rock this land, baby
Yooow

But like a shock
(Shock)
To the system
It feel good, well alright
But like a shock
(Shock)
To the system
I say yeah
Ain't it irie
Shock to the system
It feel good, well alright
Like a shock
(Shock)
To the system
I say yeah, I say yeah, I say yeah
Come on baby
Shock to the
Shock to the
Shock to the system
Loud, I gotta
Shock to the
Shock to the
Shock to the system
Yeah, I gotta
Shock to the
Shock to the
Shock to the system
Yeah, that's a
Shock to the
Shock to the
Shock
(Shock)
To the system
(Got to shock)
You could be king
(Shock the system)
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, yeah
Or
(Shock)
I could be king
(Shock the system)
Yeah, well
(We got to shock)
You could be king
(Shock, or)
I could be king
Well, I gotta
You could be king
(Rock the system)
Say it louder
The world still burns

"Neuromancer"

(Age of destruction)
(Age of oblivion)
(Age of destruction)
(Age of oblivion)
Discovered love in the
Rancid days of ruin
My body's sweatin' toxins
Of my own demise
Only from space, can you see
How much earth is burning
Smokin' out the innocence
Inside the child
It's the age of destruction
In a world of corruption
It's the age of destruction
And they hand us oblivion
Neuromancer
And I'm trancing
I'm the neuromancer
And I'm trancing
Man wallows
In his insatiable greed
More is the answer that sweats
From desperate palms
Turn on the lies, the secrets
Of our desolation
Or be smothered
By the red hot core
It's the age of destruction
In a world of corruption
It's the age of destruction
And they hand us oblivion
The neuromancer
And I'm trancing
I'm the neuromancer
And I'm trancing
I'm the neuromancer
And I'm trancing
Trancing
Trancing
And I'm trancing
Denied love
In the age of ruin
Suicide toxins
Of my own demise
In cyberspace
You know how much
The Earth ain't learning
Smoking out the man
Inside the child
Yeah
It's the age of destruction
In a world of corruption
It's the age of destruction
And they hand us oblivion
Neuromancer
And I'm trancing
I'm the neuromancer
Trancing
Neuromancer
(Age of destruction)
Trancing
(Age of oblivion)
Neuromancer
(Age of destruction)
Trancing
(Age of oblivion)
Neuromancer
(Age of destruction)
Trancing
(Age of oblivion)
Neuromancer
 
 "Concrete Kingdom"

I hear cries tonight
I hear cries tonight
Ain't no love
Ain't no life
I hear cries tonight
I hear cries tonight
I hear cries tonight
I hear, I hear
I hear cries tonight
I hear cries tonight
I hear cries tonight
I hear cries
Like all of the best, we've been taken
Like all of the lost, we've been had
Pray God, kingdom come, deliver us
Amen
All life, is it lost, have they won?
Ain't no love in a concrete kingdom
Ain't much light
Ain't no life in a concrete kingdom
I hear cries tonight
Ain't no love
Ain't no life
Ain't no right
What's for my son?
When all of the good, have been taken
When all of the lost, have gone
Ravaged, then raped, annihilation
Amen
All life, is it lost, have they won?
Ain't no love in a concrete kingdom
Ain't much light
Ain't no life in a concrete kingdom
I hear cries tonight
Ain't no love
Ain't no life
Ain't no right
Ain't much love in a concrete kingdom
Ain't much life
What's for my son?
I
I wanna know why
I wanna know why
We're shrinking from the sun
I said now I
I wanna know why
I wanna know why
There's poison, everyone
There ain't no love in a concrete kingdom
Ain't much light
Ain't no life in a concrete kingdom
I hear cries tonight
(I hear, I hear)
Ain't no love
Ain't no life
Ain't no right
(Ain't no right)
Ain't much love in a concrete kingdom
Ain't much light
Ain't no life
In a concrete kingdom
Ain't no light
Ain't no light
Ain't no right
Ain't no right
What's for my son?

"Then The Night Comes"

In this world
Of wild illusion
My room cold
As the grave
Yes, she knows
I never pull my shade
Is it a fear
A fear of madness?
Or some strange
Alchemy?
Is it a fear
Of fear itself?
I think I'll get deranged

Then the night comes
I'm gonna be free
(Never enough, then the night comes)
Then the night comes
I'm gonna be me
(Never enough, then the night comes)

Never enough
Haunts my psyche
Never enough
Forever
Never enough
As I begin to shroooom
Ah
Here she comes
All wild. so horny
My sony eyed
Medusa
She's acting strange
Insane
Oh, yeah, we're gonna get deranged

When the night comes
She's gonna be free
(Never enough, then the night comes)
Yeah, then the night comes
I'm gonna be me
(Never enough, then the night comes)
Oh, then the night comes
Baby make me
(Never enough, then the night comes)
If the devil comes
He gonna tangle with me
(Never enough, then the night comes)

I take some GHB
I feel love, joy and wonderful ringing music
Ha, ha, ha, ha
Oooh
Now, I just got to be me

We're here now
Embrace this madness
We're here now
For sorcery
We're here now
There is no sadness
So take this town and bring it down

When the night comes
I'm gonna be free
(Never enough, then the night comes)
Then the night comes
I'm gonna be me
(Never enough, then the night comes)
Yeah
Then the night comes
Yeah
Then she comes
(Never enough, then the night comes)
Ha, ha, ha
Mmm baby
I'm gonna be free
(Never enough, then the night comes)
Yeah, yeah
Then the night comes
Wooo
Then the night comes
Ha, ha
Come on
Wooo
Then the night comes
Come on, yeah
Then the night comes
(Never enough, then the night comes)
Then the night comes
(Never enough)
Mmm, then the night comes
(Never enough, then the night comes)
Alright, then the night comes
(Never enough)
Yeeeah
(Never enough, then the night comes)
We're alright
(Never enough)
When the night comes
(Never enough, then the night comes)
(Never enough)
(Never enough, then the night comes)
(Never enough)
(Never enough, then the night comes)
(Never enough)
(Never enough, then the night comes)

Bitter Heart - Seona Dancing

Okay, first post right after the introduction. Let's get right to it. Seona Dancing.
Formed in 1982 by two students in their final year of college in London, Seona Dancing was a new romantic duo who by all accounts were pretty damn cool. A misty eyed Ricky Gervais provided vocals with David Bowie inspiration and Bill Macrae worked synthesizer, piano... whatever.
When I think about it, Macrae kind of looks like an extra from Pokemon with that gravity defying haircut. It's also strange to think that that's an overhead shot and the two are standing way, way too close together to achieve it.
Anyway I'm thinking 'Bitter Heart' was their second released single in 1983 after 'More To Lose' which I'll cover at a later date. It peaked at #79 in the UK and stayed in the top 100 for three weeks but garnered zero attention.
Here is a link to the very poorly posted music video
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXhSqmfRTfY)
The Wikipedia synopsis of this strange and cheap video is "A girl in a wedding dress who was about to get married has just had her husband leave her, after which she becomes angry and destroys most of the objects in the room".......
That... pretty much sums things up actually.
Ricky sings very well it must be said and the lyrics are good, the chorus being a catchy one I can't get out of my head. Macrae hammers pipes in the background yet somehow manages to also man his synthesizer which is evident throughout and is played with gusto as Ricky tells us about how he's going to end the angered cries and twisted joys that rage in a bitter heart. Basically, the relationship sucks so he's letting it go and he doesn't care what you think.
The B-side 'Tell Her' is not a song I enjoy in all honesty but this one is a keeper. It's a nice and sadly overlooked tune by a man who later went on to win several awards and gain national fame as a comedian with a great sense of humor.

Personally, I love it and it's sad that after no chart success, these two split up after only two singles. I think Macrae runs a record shop at current but I like to think he gets his piano out now and again and remembers when times were good and he was occasionally crowded by Pokemon fans.

Here is a link to a good quality version of 'Bitter Heart'

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Tw8CDB3u8)

and the lyrics are below.

"Bitter Heart"

You're losing out, now
You scowl and shout
Irrational accusations as I turn my head
Your threats and trials
My carven smiles
Revolts you in your torturous insecurities

With pleasured last goodbyes, I break the noise and we silently fly apart
I'll end the angered cries and the twisted joys that rage in a bitter heart

Go on, hit me, do
I won't hit you
You'd love that too much, 'cause it means that they'd all hear
Tell them you're free and
Tell lies of me
I'm out of range now so there's nothing more to fear

With pleasured last goodbyes, I break the noise and we silently fly apart
I'll end the angered cries and the twisted joys that rage in a bitter heart

With pleasured last goodbyes, I break the noise and we silently fly apart
I'll end the angered cries and the twisted joys that rage in a bitter heart

Introduction

Welcome person who has too much time on their hands.
Well you'd have to to be, reading this but who cares. You're still cool because this is a very special blog.
The reason you're here is because you love the 1980s music scene. No matter how many boring rap videos your friends show you they can't compare with Simon Le Bon hunting through the swamp in 'Hungry Like The Wolf'. The fact is you're not weird. You're in fact one of the lucky few who is tuned in with what music actually sounds like and you are enlightened enough to know that Justin Beiber just cannot compete with somebody like Nik Kershaw.
Trust me, I know what I'm talking about here. Being a teenager who loves the New Wave and synthpop scene that was prevalent during the 1980s I know that it can feel musically isolating sometimes but there are a network of us out there who enjoy this amazing stuff. And if you're reading this and you're somebody who lived through the 80s, then more power to you and I invite you to follow along and discover some things you maybe haven't heard before. That is the purpose of this blog. To document albums, singles and the songs they have that I like both mainstream and sadistically obscure. I'll also cover music beyond the 80's that has spawned from the work done at that time on the odd occasion including modern tracks by 80's artists and tidbits from the modern synthpop and futurepop scenes.
This blog itself was heavily inspired by two other blogs which I recommend you check out
http://vinylobscurity.blogspot.com/ - A true treasure trove of obscure music, and the tracks I like, I myself will post on
http://www.rare80s.com/ - Quality if fleeting site with some comedy and down-loadable tracks
I'll try to include all the information I deem necessary when I post links to videos that are important, links to good quality listening opportunities, the lyrics (some painstakingly listened to and written by me), images ect...
So enjoy. Look around. I aim to post at least once a week and maybe more. Obviously some posts will be short and some long. I hope to give whoever follows some new music to get their hands on in an easy to digest format. Please comment if you like a post at all. I'll provide answers to questions as soon as I can.

Yours sincerely
22ndWave