Category: Music
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Faith and the Last Christmas of George Michael
On December 12th of 1987 George Michael topped the US Charts with the # 1 hit, “Faith”. Sadly, the world would lose this talent on Christmas of 2016 to heart and liver disease. He died on Christmas. But as we run headlong into this Christmas, maybe we need to explore the wonder that is the…
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Cyndi Lauper And the Art of Appreciation
Cyndi Lauper just finished her North American portion of the “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour”. In her first arena tour since 1986’s True Colors World Tour and first world tour since 2016, she masterfully combined art, storytelling, fashion, and music into a harmonious and perfectly curated end of an era. She also gave…
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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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Comments
based on memory and the feeling i get when i read this list, my favourite is Number 3, the time…
Amazing to think of all has been done in one short year. Congratulations and thank you for encouraging us to…