Pop Shots – Valentine’s Day ’80s Style

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is getting into the Valentine’s Day spirit by traveling back to the ‘80s, and taking a look at the songs that were #1 on V-Day. There will be celebrations, whispers, prayers, and … porno mags. Yes, you read that correctly, and I’m going to try to connect as many of these songs as possible to love. Of course, since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

 

1980

Captain & Tennille – Do That To Me One More Time

 

Obviously there are really strong Valentine’s Day vibes with this one, but personally, it always makes me think of a scene from The Drew Carey Show that never fails to make me cry from laughing so hard. Setting this up – there’s a karaoke contest. Drew’s partner decides to go her own way. He holds auditions, and the best singer is a young girl. On the day of the contest the act before them does the same song they were going to do. Drew asks the girl what other songs she knows. She looks through the karaoke DJ’s songbook and chooses …

 

 

1981

Kool & The Gang – Celebration

 

Depending on how your Valentine’s Day goes, there could be cause for celebration. So if you’ve enjoyed some “good times” on this day, this song works perfectly.

 

1982

The J. Geils Band – Centerfold

 

This J. Geils classic features a combination of love lost, and a love of … let’s say print publications. In the days before the internet, if you were single, a “Centerfold” would’ve been your Valentine’s Day date.

 

1983

Patti Austin and James Ingram – Baby, Come To Me

 

Not to be confused with the K7 classic “Come Baby Come” that would come along ten years later, Patti Austin and James Ingram’s “Baby, Come To Me” is a slow dancing, baby making, classic. I wonder what the birth rate was in November and December of ’83?

 

1984

Culture Club – Karma Chameleon

 

This song is about a type of love, but maybe not the type you want to celebrate on Valentine’s Day. That said, it’s a truly iconic ‘80s song, so if you love the ‘80s, that’s the only love connection you need here.

 

1985

Wham! feat. George Michael – Careless Whisper

 

One of the greatest songs about ruining a relationship, and feeling like you’re never going to come back from it, when it comes to ‘80s pop ballads, it doesn’t get much better than “Careless Whisper.” The fact that it includes some of that super sweet ‘80s sax makes it damned near perfect. As far as Valentine’s Day goes, however, you probably don’t want to this to be your theme song today.

(and yes, it really is listed as Wham! featuring George Michael, even though George Michael was one half of Wham!)

 

1986

Whitney Houston – How Will I Know

 

“How will I know if he really loves me?” might be a question some of you will be asking tonight depending on how far along you are in your relationship … or if you simply like belting out Whitney Houston songs in the car, which I’m pretty sure is a universal love. As a bonus, this song gives us another dose of super sweet ‘80s sax!

 

1987

Bon Jovi – Livin’ on a Prayer

 

Tommy and Gina are one of the great musical couples of the ‘80s, and here’s hoping they’re currently more than just WHOOOOOOOAAAAAAA HALF-WAY THERE!

And to everybody else in the world on this Valentine’s Day – make like the song, and GIVE IT A SHOT!

 

1988

Exposé – Seasons Change

 

If we’re talking about underrated groups from the ‘80s, I’m always going to bring up Exposé. They gave us freestyle classics, and fantastic ballads. When it comes to the latter, “Seasons Change” is an absolute gem. This song, which is about a relationship fading over time, also gives us … wait for it … ANOTHER SAX SOLO!

 

1989

Paula Abdul – Straight Up

 

Paula Abdul is singing about love here, but she wants to know, STRAIGHT UP, if that love is for real.

Continuing with the love theme, if you are of a certain age you immediately fell in love with Paula the first time you saw this video.

Before you even ask, yes I am of that age.

 

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.