I can't think of any better way to get this blog started than by talking about music. I consider myself to have a strong sense of musical history, and I've been expanding it ever since my current class, The History of Rock, started earlier this semester. Recently I've been thinking about the '80s. I've always had a lot of contempt for the '80s. Musically, it made me sick. In my opinion, arena rock and hair metal is a disgrace to music. Rock was a commercialized commodity, and it was only recently that I truly enjoyed something that came from the stereotypical band, and that was just Slash in a commercial. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6X0YtvKwy8). I think I always knew it, but New Wave holds a special place in my heart. Devo, Gary Numan, they each bring something interesting to the table. In the '70s synths took rock prog, but they were used perfectly in New Wave. With new technology in the bustling suburbs, synths brought a futuristic, technologic, robotic feel that was only made better by advancements in videos and visuals (www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8M-jWBmuyc). Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark's "Enola Gay" is my current favorite. And how would you want to picture yourself in the '80s: at a Twisted Sister show or in "Ferris Bueller" and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High?" So next time you go on iTunes or Limewire, stay away from Motley Crue and download "Pocket Calculator" by Kraftwerk and play some Pac-Man.
