Category: Music
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Band Aid Released Do They Know It’s Christmas
On November 25th of 1984 a song released by a one song supergroup assembled by Bob Geldof. It featured some of the hottest musical stars in the UK and Europe of the day. They had one mission, raise money to help relieve famine in Ethiopia by recording a song. It raised more then 8 million…
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What does Faith and Vampires With Open Letters Share?
Faith, Hot Vampires, Open Letters, White Bic Lighters, Wednesday Addams and Large Shoulder Pads. What could any of these things possibly have to do with one another? Other than being in this article together? Not much. October has been an amazing month at Gen X Watch. We have had another month of amazing growth. 13%…
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Weird Al Giving to Himself as He Gives to Others
Today is Weird Al’s Birthday. Most know him for his parodies of top artists and songs over the decades. Some know him for his movie presence and voice over acting. Regardless of how people know him they know him for the humor and kindness he gives to the world with the gift of laughter. Everyone…
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It’s Okay to Want a Slushy Groovy Kind of Love
October 22nd of 1988 Phil Collins’ remake of The Mindbenders 1966 classic Groovy Kind of Love became the #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. What were the deeper undertones of this song? What did it do to us culturally and as a society? Was there more to the story of this song? Honestly? It…
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Human League’s Invasion Inspired by Toxic Love
On October 16th of 1981, The Human League began the second British Invasion with the release of their third album ‘Dare!’ Two of the founding members left. Front man Phillip Oakley was at the helm and in a do or die moment. The album would either be a new chapter or the end of Human…
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Toy Soldiers Fighting for Better Lives
Did an important song hit number 1 on this day in the 80s? Could a Latin Pop star tell a better story than a first lady? Was a song able to make an addicted teen pause? Martika and the song Toy Soldiers would be a hard yes. If I’m being honest, 1989 was a blur.…
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Gen X Music Was The Best Music For Gen X
Was the music of our generation the best? Does today’s music just not connect as well? Kind of. There’s a lot to unpack. When I was a teenager I got to constantly hear Boomers and the Silent Generation tell me that my music was simply noise. Unless that Boomer was Tipper Gore or a Minister,…
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Under The Radar: Shawan Rice
Susquehanna Soul I first encountered Rice’s music at a festival along Harrisburg’s Susquehanna River waterfront. At the time she was playing with a band under Shawan & The Wonton. I was just sipping a coffee in a folding chair, enjoy the shade of a hot Memorial Day weekend. The music began and I perked up.…
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My Purple Reign! A Tale From Tawnlandia!
No other era was influenced by Prince more than the 80s. Nine gold, platinum, or multiplatinum albums that included 1999 (1982), Purple Rain (1984), and Sign o’ the Times (1987). He masterminded albums by the Time, and Sheila E. and wrote hit songs for The Bangles, Madonna, Chaka Khan, Stevie Nicks, and more, shaping the…
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Delving into The Tortured Poets Department And Cowboy Carter
Tortured Poet’s Department Taylor Swift has broken the internet again with the release of Tortured Poet’s Department. The Swifties have brought the album into record breaking territory yet again and with that comes the hatred. Call it our collective “keyboard courage era” in which we hate in viral fashion. Like a virus, I’m thinking herpes…
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Comments
Great article! I didn’t know (or had intentionally blocked out) the origin story of the Cabage Patch Dolls (very dark)…
If we were to direct quote my grandmother, it would definitely be NSFW. Fictional versions of them exist in Hearts…