A to Z of the 80s - J is for Jo, Obviously

Just So You Know.

by Jo Michelmore

And it's at this point in our second A to Z we see a trend emerging, because as also happened in the A to Z of Pop, when we come to the tenth letter of the alphabet, it's all about me. Just so you know, when it comes to the J in any A to Z that I write, the J will always be for Jo. Obviously.


Just so you know, if I ever find this Janet Jackson song at a karaoke joint, I will be singing it. I will not look at the TV screen, because I know all the words. And if my fellow karaoke friends are lucky, I may crack out a dance move. Or two. 

Just so you know, I have quoted the lyrics "I've been caught stealing, once, when I was five..." to a department store security guard. I don't think he'd heard of Jane's Addiction. He checked my bags on the way out.

Just so you know, I think Joy Division have one of the best band names ever, even though they were better in the 70s than 1980. But I'll take any excuse to post some Joy Division. And say the name Joy Division numerous times. Joy Division.

Just so you know, Journey wrote some of my favourite lyrics in any song, ever. And just so you know, south of Detroit is a river, and then Canada, therefore, there is no such place as South Detroit. And also, if you are at karaoke with one of my best friends and I and you're thinking about stealing this duet from us, you will regret it...all the way to South Detroit. Just so you know.

Where Is My Mind? - In The 90s, Of Course

 DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince And The Other White Guy didn't have the same ring, so someone had to go...

It's All About The 90s

by Jo Michelmore

Last week, I left you with Beyonce's 'Crazy In Love' in your head. That was a great song, right? It reminded me of Destiny's Child, which then reminded me of all the other 90s artists I loved, and while we've been compiling the best groups of the 90s countdown, I've been thinking a lot about music from the 90s. I must admit, when I think of the 90s, my decade is mostly about rock, but there were some great pop acts in the 90s too.

It's been an interesting thought process. On one hand, it was easy choosing who my favourite 90s groups were, some were definite, like, no questions asked, they had to be included. Others not so easy. Like for example; The Cranberries. I liked them, but did I love them? I couldn't decide. Luckily, Nayt could, so they made our top fifty. Tonight, inspired by our 90s group countdown which continues next week, I'm going to look at some 90s pop groups I might have included in my list....but didn't. So Beyonce and Destiny's Child led to another pop girl group...

I've talked about them a bazillion times before, because, just accept it, they were amazing. Beautiful, self assured, incredibly talented, a little more impressive than Destiny's Child ever were. There, I said it. I admitted it, I like En Vogue better than Destiny's Child. Whatever. Listen to that acapella! Amazing. The only thing I didn't like was that I always had that problem with 'Whattaman' that caught in my head days after I heard it, which reminded me of a song by another 90s pop group...

No, they were never in my picks of best groups of the 90s, but they would make my list of 'songs that stick the most'. I may or may not have experienced Hanson live sometime in the 90s as well. Yes, it's true. They lead me to another boy band I may or may not have seen live...

They didn't even get close to my list of best groups of the 90s, actually. But I felt like I should mention them, 'cause they were such a huge part of pop music then. The Backstreet Boys. That Howie guy? How did he ever make it? Who told him Howie was an acceptable pop star name? Seriously? Howie? No...and AJ. What does that stand for anyway? That reminds me of another guy from the 90s who had letters in his name....

LL Cool J. I know, not a group, but I still know what the LL stands for. Ladies Love Cool James. Why do I know that? Why has that stuck in my head like that? Surely that's taking up valuable brain space that should be filled with other things. Things like all the words to this...

Oh this is ridiculous. DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince? Why do I know the words to this song? Why? I know there's a better song from the 90s I must know all the words to....

Yes! Enough of the pop. I'll leave you with a band of the 90s that were SO close to making my list....but just missed the cut; Jane's Addiction. Now this is a song I'm happy to say I know ALL the words to and that's because I've never been caught stealing....

Well, we end on Jane's Addiction, but our 90s countdown continues on to number one soon and where will my mind take you next week? As usual, you'll have to wait and see...

Top 20 - 9 July, 2011

Emma-Louise makes an impact!

1. Seeker Lover Keeper - Even Though I'm A Woman





2. Gotye ft. Kimbra - Somebody That I Used to Know (NEW)





3. Bjork - Crystalline





4. Arctic Monkeys - The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala (NEW)





5. Emma-Louise - Jungle (NEW)

10 and 1 - 2011 (What's to Come)

In our first mid-year 10 and 1, we took a look at ten artists that have made an impact in 2011... and Brian McFadden, the one artist we could do with a whole lot less of in this and every other year. Next week we're going to hear our ten favourite songs of the year so far, but for now we're addressing what's to come. The ten albums It's My Kind of Scene is looking forward to hearing the most that are still to be released this year that have been given an official 2011 release date. And, as you would already know... one album we really don't want to hear.

The Ten:

The Grates - Secret Rituals

Release Date: June 17, 2011 (not long to wait!)

Red Hot Chili Peppers - I'm With You

Release Date: August 30, 2011

Beirut - The Rip Tide

Release Date: August 30, 2011

Little Dragon - Ritual Union

Release Date: July 5, 2011

Bjork - Biophilia

Release Date: Fourth quarter, 2011

Evanescence - TBA

Release Date: October 4, 2011

Tori Amos - Night of Hunters

Release Date: September, 2011

Jane's Addiction - The Great Escape Artist

Release Date: Fourth quarter, 2011.

Blondie - Panic of Girls

Release Date: September, 2011.

Santigold - TBARelease Date: Unknown... but after releasing a song as good as 'Go,' this has to happen!

The 1:

Joe Jonas - TBA

Release Date: September 6, 2011

I'd rather listen to whatever Rebecca Black manages to release as an "album" than whatever the solo Jonas brother does. I'm cringing already and there hasn't even been a single yet.

Top 100 Songs of the 1980s, #90 - 81

What's on tap for today then... how about the song with what many consider to be the greatest music video, the biggest band in the world, an anthem of female empowerment and a song that inspired Jessica Simpson to wake up one day and say, "I'm going to totally s**t on the legacy of that song by covering it." Now that I've got you in the mood, let's look at today's 80s hits!

#90 - Thriller (1984)

by Michael Jackson

Yah... this would be the one with the amazing music video. Long before Kanye and Gaga were doing pointless mini-movies because it's 'art' (and art isn't meant to be understood, right?), the former King of Pop was showing us how it's done. The song's good, the video is better.

#89 - Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves (1985)

by Aretha Franklin & Eurythmics

Do you remember the scene in The Simpsons when Milhouse sings a bit of this in drag. Funny stuff. I'm sure Franklin and Lennox were thrilled.

#88 - Heaven Is A Place On Earth (1987)

by Belinda Carlisle

#87 - Relax (1983)

by Frankie Goes To Hollywood

I like this song. Of course you do. Hello Derek. Hello. Welcome to your relaxation time. Let this wonderful 80s classic soothe you. Just a nice warm happy time. Happy happy happy... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Nothing to worry about at all, just relax. Hey there Derek, my name is little Cletus. I'm just a regular kid that wants you to know the real truth about child labour laws, okay? Okay. They're silly and outdated. In the good old days, kids as young as five could work as they pleased; from textile factories to iron smelts. Yippee! Hooray! But today the age-old right of children's work is under attack, from the Philippines to Bangladesh and China and India and South America too. Boo hoo! But you can help these children, Derek... BY KILLING THE PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA! He is bad. What? You learn martial arts. PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA BAD! Martial arts good. KILL NAUGHTY MAN. Obey my dog.

- I could have just said I like this song because of Zoolander but I don't think it would have had the same effect.

#86 - Jane Says (1988)

by Jane's Addiction

As we get to the end of the 80s, all these amazing rock bands start to emerge as the backlash towards new wave and the birth of grunge begins to happen. Rock doesn't get much better in the 80s than Jane's Addiction!

#85 - Word Up! (1986)

by Cameo

What's word up? It's the code word... duh.

#84 - Summer of '69 (1985)

by Bryan Adams

Karaoke classic... pub sing-along... 80s rock anthem. Who doesn't like 'Summer of '69? You'd be a rare breed.

#83 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (1987)

by U2

#82 - Don't You (Forget About Me) (1985)

by Simple Minds

Animated TV shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy are generally a good source for older music if, like me, you're young (and pretty) and don't remember anything pre-1993. I joke about the pretty thing, but I'm not kidding about the tv shows. If you know the scene in Futurama where Fry's dog waits his entire life outside the pizza place for Fry to come back from the future, then you'll love this song too.

#81 - Take My Breath Away (1986)

by Berlin

Yah... this would be the one that J Simps decides to poop on. Top Gun... good movie, better soundtrack.

I'm going to try and work through this countdown a little quicker than the 90s one... so look for some more great 80s musack very soon!

Top 200 Songs of the 1990s, #150 - 141

Welcome back! So here we are with 50 down and 150 to go. We're getting closer and closer to the top 100...

#150 - Name (1995)

by Goo Goo Dolls

Yeah, this is the same Goo Goo Dolls that sang 'Iris,' not that you'd be able to tell by looking at them in the video. It's like everyone had to have long hair when Grunge took off.

#149 - Passenger (1999)

by Powderfinger

#148 - No Scrubs (1999)

by TLC

Scrub used to be like, a method of cleaning. TLC changed the meaning of scrub forever. Look in the dictionary and it's now defined as 1) is a guy who thinks he's fly, also known as a buster.

#147 - What's My Age Again (1999)

by Blink-182

#146 - Just A Girl (1995)

by No Doubt

Rock Gwen Stefani was so much cooler than Super Pop Gwen.

#145 - Bachelorette (1997)

by Bjork

#144 - Something In The Way (1991)

by Nirvana

For those of you keeping score at home, that's now two for Nirvana. How many more do you think there'll be before the countdown is over?

#143 - Down Again (1998)

by Superjesus

#142 - Been Caught Stealing (1990)

by Jane's Addiction

#141 - It's Oh So Quiet (1995)

by Bjork

That is one damn good music video. Thankfully the song's great too.

Not much small talk today... just great tunes from the 90s. The next ten will hopefully be up tomorrow!