Dear Abby - Dog Songs: Hounds of Love by Kate Bush

Dear Friends,

Continuing with my dog song series, I am going to get a little creative this week.   "Hounds of Love" by Kate Bush is our featured song this week.   This is NOT a song about dogs, although it does feature "Hounds" in the title.  I have several favorite old songs like this, though, that I would like to share with you during this series.

"Hounds of Love" was the title song from Kate Bush's 1985 album.  (It is my Momma's favorite song from the album.)  This is a song about being afraid to fall in love ... with the image of falling in love being like running from hounds. 

From my pup perspective:  this is a beautiful song, but she sings about being chased by "hounds of love" like that is a bad thing.  I bet those hounds were perfectly delightful!

I'm including the official video for this song here.  It is filmed in an old movie style, and I just learned that it was a homage to the Alfred Hitchcock movie The 39 Steps. 



Do you remember this song?  What did you think of the music video?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments.

Talk to you next week!

Love,
Abby xoxoxo

Music Monday - "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by The Eurythmics (1983)

If I ever make a list of favorite 1980's songs, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by the Eurythmics will certainly be high on the list.  First, Annie Lennox has the most amazing voice!  Her voice is multitracked in harmony on this song.  Second, this song just captures a time in the 1980's so perfectly for me.

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" was released in 1983 as the title track of The Eurythmics' second album.  I had this album and played it again and again - it's a great one!

Here's the original video - it's very 1980's!
Do you remember this song? Do you have other favorites by The Eurythmics? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.

Music Monday - "Let's Dance" by David Bowie (1983)

This is one of those time and place songs for me. It was popular during my college years, and I loved it -- along with the album it came from (also called Let's Dance). It is just a song that reminds me of being young, going out dancing, and feeling very optimistic about life.  I actually had never seen the music video until I looked it up on Youtube.  In the 1980's I watched very little tv (I was at school or out with friends), so I sort of missed the whole 1980's music video craze.

Do you remember "Let's Dance"?  What's your favorite David Bowie song?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.

Music Monday - "Here Comes The Rain Again " by The Eurythmics (1984)

"Here Comes the Rain Again" by The Eurythmics was popular in 1984.  This was a pivotal year for me;  I was in college and changed majors from Drama to Creative Writing.  This song brings that year back.  Plus, it reminds me of Spring.  And of course, rain.   

I did not have cable in the 1980's and had never seen the video before this morning.  It's like a little movie.  Let me know what you think of it - and this song - in the comments.

An '80's Mixtape List, in Honor of Eleanor and Park

Here's what you need to know about Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell.  It's a young adult novel set in the 1980's.  You will meet two bright, creative high school kids who find each other:  the bold and defiant Eleanor, who comes from a deeply troubled family, and the sweet and sensitive Park, who comes from a loving Korean-American family.  You will glimpse first love again from this book, with all the messy feelings and complications that come with it.  You will remember the 1980's.  You will think of mixtapes and the music of your own youth.

With all of this said, I made a mixtape list from my 1980's years: 

1. "Someday, Someway" (Marshall Crenshaw)
2. "Every Day I Write the Book" (Elvis Costello)
3. "Swan Swan H" (REM)
4. "Hounds of Love" (Kate Bush) 
5. Behind the Wall of Sleep" (The Smithereens)
6. "Tenderness" (General Public)
7. "True" (Spandau Ballet)
8. "Raspberry Beret" (Prince)
9. "You Spin Me Round" (Dead or Alive)
10. "Bizarre Love Triangle" (New Order)
11. "Tainted Love" (Soft Cell)
12. "Tempted" (Squeeze)
13. "Oh L'Amour" (Erasure)
14. "Here Comes the Rain Again" (Eurythmics)
15. "When U Were Mine" (Cyndi Lauper)
16. "Desperate But Not Serious" (Adam Ant)
17. "Let's Dance" (David Bowie)
18. "Under the Milky Way" (The Church)
19. "Time Clock of the Heart" (Culture Club)
20. "I Melt With You" (Modern English)

I would love to hear from you in the comments - thoughts on Eleanor and Park, thoughts about '80's music, about mixtapes ...

Music Monday - "Manic Monday" by the Bangles (1986)

Happy Monday!  I'm back in Music Monday mode here.  I've missed talking music with you.

Today's song is "Manic Monday" by the Bangles.  This song, written by Prince, was a hit in 1986.  I always thought the lyrics were perfect for the day:


"It's just another manic Monday
I wish it was Sunday
'Cause that's my funday
An I-don't-have-to-run day
It's just another manic Monday."

I was in college when this song was popular, and I remember dancing to this song at clubs and parties.  Where were you in 1986?  And what is your memory of this song?

Music Monday - "Electric Blue" by Icehouse (1987)

This week's Music Monday song is "Electric Blue" by Icehouse.   It was a new wave/synthpop hit in 1987.   I hadn't heard this song in years until I heard it by chance on the radio a few days ago.  It was a fun musical flashback to my college years.

This song was written by Icehouse band member Iva Davies and John Hall (of Hall and Oates).  I think it actually has a Hall and Oates sound.

I watched very little tv in the 1980's, so most music videos are new to me.  I'd never seen this one before, and it is a throwback.  The lead singer has a very serious '80's mullet!   I hope you enjoy this musical time travel as much as I did.

Book Giveaway - This Ain't No Disco: New Wave Album Covers

New wave music was popular in the 1980's, my college years, and I loved it.   You'll find several new wave songs featured on my Music Monday posts, including:  "I Melt With You" (Modern English), "Be Near Me" (ABC),  and "Bizarre Love Triangle" (New Order).

You can find some fun lists of new wave music online:
100 Greatest New Wave Songs at DigitalDreamDoor
New Wave Hits of the '80's at Like Totally 80's
The Most 250 Archetypal New Wave Songs at Nothing But Good Things

I am giving away a copy of This Ain't No Disco: New Wave Album Covers (published 2005, Chronicle Books) by Jennifer McKnight-Trontz.  This is a fun book with lots of music memories from the 1980's.  It is in good used condition.

This giveaway will run through Thursday, September 18 at midnight.  I will draw a winner on Friday, September 19.  The winner will need to respond to email within 2 days.  This giveaway is U.S. only.

Entry is easy.  Just leave a comment below with two things:

(1) Your email - comments without an email address will not be published, and will not be eligible for the drawing.
(2) Your favorite new wave song - you will find lots of choices at the links above. 

Thanks for reading and good luck in the giveaway!

CONGRATULATIONS to giveaway winner, Susan S.!

Music Monday - "I Melt With You" by Modern English (1982)

"I Melt With You" by Modern English was one of my favorite songs from the 1980's.  It came out in 1982, during my college years, and I thought then (as I still do) that it was a perfect '80's love song.  "I'll stop the world and melt with you ..."   For your retro enjoyment, here is the original video:

Music Monday - "Bizarre Love Triangle" by New Order

My Music Monday song this week is "Bizarre Love Triangle" by New Order.   This is a fun New Wave dance song that was released in 1986.  It was popular on the radio and in dance clubs during my college years, and brings back lots of fun memories.  This song was also featured in the movie Married to the Mob (love that movie!). I've always loved the chorus:

"Every time I see you falling
I get down on my knees and pray
I'm waiting for that final moment
You say the words that I can't say."