For some of the songs I've listed, I have provided additional material, such as links to movie clips, when the song was connected to some other 80s events. With the next one, I hit the 80s culture link jackpot. This is Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight":

First, the official music video:

https://tinyurl.com/u3hnhum

Second, the song in a clip from a compilation of "Miami Vice" (Phil Collins occasionally guest starred in that show):

https://tinyurl.com/rkrmo8e

Third, the song as it appeared in the movie "Risky Business" (with Tom Cruise):

https://tinyurl.com/w35cuaz

And finally, the song as it appeared in the concert scene in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (Phil voices himself as a character in the storyline of the game):

https://tinyurl.com/yx534voa

Love the drum solo!

Well, it's New Year's Day. I don't have anything special, though. Auld Lang Syne doesn't really fit with my format. But in my "Science Fiction Interpretations" blog, I had promised to bring a certain video to this thread and I think this is a good time to do that. Here's the Information Society with "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)":

https://tinyurl.com/sv8dkqg

And, as stated in my blog, the lines where Leonard Nimoy says "pure energy" are taken from the Star Trek episode "Errand of Mercy" in a scene I have linked in that blog.

Happy New Year!

Here is Kim Carnes with "Bette Davis Eyes":

https://tinyurl.com/rp5xbcu

And now for Pet Shop Boys with "West End Girls":

https://tinyurl.com/yeufmce2

Next, I will post Kylie Minogue's "The Loco-motion". Yes, I know it's a cover. So what? Way back near the beginning of this thread, I knew Bananarama's "Venus" was a cover. I still like Kylie Minogue's very definitely 80s version. "The Loco-motion" has been covered many, many times, including a 70s Grand Funk Railroad version. Anyway:

https://tinyurl.com/yzsvl86t

OK, All right. For you purists out there, here's the original 1962 Little Eva version. And the Grand Funk Railroad version is second on the page:

https://tinyurl.com/yfq7radb

This next one is a little "out there". Here's Baltimora with "Tarzan Boy":

https://tinyurl.com/sy2mcb2

This one is super duper great!

Once again, I return to The Bangles, this time for "Manic Monday":

https://tinyurl.com/u7vdpco

Is today Monday?

Oh no!

Here's The Power Station with "Some Like It Hot":

https://tinyurl.com/up6jocq

I didn't know Robert Palmer was in The Power Station until quite recently. Well, I don't don't pay a lot of attention to names in groups.

This next one is from Mick Jagger. Yes, Mick Jagger, but *not* the Rolling Stones. The title song of (to me, anyway) one of the most hilarious movies of the 80s - 1986's "Ruthless People". Mick did this one especially for that movie.

First, the full track (not much of a video, I'll admit):

https://tinyurl.com/w9x8t8o

Next, the version of the song as it appears in the opening of the movie, which is how I first encountered it:

https://tinyurl.com/r9j7o7h

The Weird Al Yankovic parody of this song, by the way, is entitled "Toothless People". Worth looking up. One of the comments for that song on YouTube said it was the most obscure song Weird Al ever parodied. It shouldn't be. The movie was a hit and the song is great, in my opinion.

I wanted to link a clip from the movie, but decided not to because of the profanity (this is a very dark R-rated black comedy), but, if you're ever interested, go to YouTube and type in the search box "Ruthless People Dominator MX" to bring up my favorite scene.

"And when you die, they can bury you in it!"

I now return to Scandal, this time for "Goodbye To You":

https://tinyurl.com/w4qkysv

I think today I will introduce Tears For Fears with their classic, "Shout":

https://tinyurl.com/qru8k7o

Back to Billy Joel again, this time for "Allentown":

https://tinyurl.com/s8zhgxn

Here is my second offering from Berlin, "The Metro":

https://tinyurl.com/shhecnv

That's my favorite song from Berlin, nice keyboard sounds on there. Good 1980s "Spies like us" style video too.

Oh yeah, you did post the video...still too tired I see.

Back to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for a little Sci-Fi action with "You Got Lucky":

https://tinyurl.com/yx2bdq7z

Has a bit of that "Mad Max" post-apocalyptic feel to it. Tom Petty sure loves that hat.

Yeah, I remember that video....it made no sense then and none now.

I interpreted it as a futuristic post-apocalyptic group of guys (who we know just happen to be Tom Petty and his band The Heartbreakers) discovering archaeological evidence of 80s culture, arcade games, TV, and of course, a boom box with his song on it.

In my view, today's culture is much more pathologic than 80s culture. But there certainly were those in the 80s who thought the world was coming to an end. Some of my future videos will explore that theme further. I thought the doomsayers were wrong then and I think they are wrong now. But I did like the song.

"You better watch what you say,
You better watch what you do to me.
Don't get carried away,
Girl, if you can do better than me, then go

Yeah, go. But remember
Good love is hard to find,
Good love is hard to find.
You got lucky, baby
Yeah, you got lucky, babe
When I found you."

I don't see anything about any futuristic post-apocalyptic anything in those lyrics.

It should be obvious I was referring to the video, not the lyrics of the song. The video frequently is not correlated with the lyrics of the song. If I wanted to just post songs, I would do that. I post *videos* for a reason. Many artists (not just Tom Petty) produce videos with themes unrelated to the lyrics of the song.

Did I say that I didn't like the video?

I just said it doesn't make sense. Just like everything else going on.

So I was reminiscing again of my Grand Theft Auto days and decided to go today with The Pointer Sisters "Automatic":

https://tinyurl.com/qsf4wlg

Ah yes, Vice City. I got the fever (Fever 105). "Automatic" was a big song at the Malibu Club in Vice City

https://tinyurl.com/uehp6hy

How about a little trip to Africa? Toto's "Africa", that is:

https://tinyurl.com/tpgqb6t

This may seem unrelated, but Weird Al Yankovic doesn't always just do parodies of songs. I came across a fairly recent work of his which can best be described as a cover rather than a parody. He guests with the group Weezer as they cover "Africa". He flies below the radar a bit because he's dressed as he appears in his video "White and Nerdy" so it may not be obvious at first that this is actually Weird Al, and he plays it pretty straight until near the end when he rocks out on his trademark accordion. Yep, it's Weird Al.

https://tinyurl.com/usopfc8

For my second song from The Police, I shall go with "Wrapped Around Your Finger":

https://tinyurl.com/rs56fgd