What are you listening to?

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Here's a cool song by Kate Bush from the 80s!

Trivia: When the song's video was released in the UK in 1986, Top of the Pops initially refused to play it because it was deemed "too violent". That's a laugh by 2025 standards! LOL!!!

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First appearance of Dr. House

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Another great song, which I believe is well composed, is Big Log by Robert Plant, released in 1983. It features an iconic guitar riff in the intro, and the lyrics are creative and imaginative. The song is a somber reflection on the challenges of life.

Bassist Viktor Krauss released a slowed-down cover version of the song in 2004, featuring his famous sister, Alison Krauss, on lead vocals.

Viktor Krauss also performed the song live with Jill Walsh on lead vocals. Sadly, Jill passed away in 2012 at the age of 47.

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This is an awesome uptempo pop-rock track from Belinda Carlisle titled You're Nothing Without Me, released in 1991.

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Harden My Heart was an awesome hit in 1982 by Quarterflash. I love the chord progressions.

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Twist of Fate, released in 1983, was the final top 5 US hit from the late Olivia Newton-John. Awesome track!

From the same movie soundtrack, Olivia released a second less known song in 1984, Livin' In Desperate Times, but I like it!!!  

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This Gibb-penned song and universal number one track was covered by the talented Liz McClarnon of the Atomic Kittens in 2006. Her cover version reached number 5 on the UK pop charts that year.

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The late Benjamin Orr was a bassist and co-lead singer of The Cars. He released Stay The Night in 1986 as a solo track. It reached #24 on Billboard's Hot 100 in the US in early 1987. That was his only solo hit. I believe it's a well-crafted pop-rock song that is reflective of the mid-80s.

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In 1969 Mason Proffit released Two Hangmen. It was an iconic statement at the time and has remained ever since an unmistakable warning to any audience to guard itself against designing men of ill repute seeking power over them. It still fits today. The song is the message. Its outro is the "audience's" reaction.

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Among the most prolific and successful songwriters of all time, Barry Gibb wrote and produced this hidden gem for a young, talented vocalist from South Florida named Kelli Wolfe in 1991. The song was semi-released in 1993 as a promo CD single in some markets. It's a power ballad with great vocals, excellent arrangement, and solid guitars. It's among my favorite tracks from the 90s. I find compositions like this one very instructional in terms of writing and arranging an excellent song. Barry's son, Stephen Gibb, plays lead guitar on the track.

Born To Be Loved by You -- Kelli Wolfe Hartman

Eyes -- Kelli Wolfe Hartman

Gibb also wrote and produced a second song for Kelli Wolfe, which she recorded during the same sessions.

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I always enjoy listening to Emily Linge perform brilliant cover versions of popular songs using simple arrangements. Here are four:

Heartbreaker (Bee Gees)

Ordinary World (Duran Duran)

Honesty (Billy Joel)

Against All Odds (Phil Colins)

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Eva Under Fire posted the best cover version of a song I've heard in recent years. It's a great hard rock version of the classic hit Separate Ways by Journey. There's tons of energy in this one!

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Chiara Kilchling (aka Cara Vel) created a couple of cool covers of two Led Zeppelin songs. Awesome!

The Rain Song

Kashmir

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Although Bananarama was best known for their 80s hits Cruel Summer and Venus (cover version), my favorite track from the group is A Trick of the Night from 1987. It has a great arrangement and vocals, interesting chord changes, and plenty of energy for a mid-tempo power ballad.

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Excellent 80s pop-rock sounds from The Motels, featuring Martha Davis on lead vocals:

Only The Lonely

Suddenly Last Summer