Who's your favourite POP Diva from the 80's?

Don't even recall if it was released as a single here, but I know the song well and I think it's pretty decent. Her stuff sure was recorded lousy though, like there was a veil behind everything. Don't know if it is just here in the US as I think she recorded in the UK. I sure noticed a difference with all the ONJ albums when I bought them as imports recently. Referring to vinyl.

 

I have her CDs and they aren't amazing soundwise. A Japanese edition of her debut album sounds nice, though.

 

A great album, but I do like Agnetha's debut a lot as well. Both of them fell off the rails fast after their debuts though.

 

In the US that one is absolutely terrible...just no fidelity at all, no treble....a shame given her voice and range. They got slightly better after that one, and by the time Strut came out they were fairly good.

 

Sheena wasn't too shaby either!

 

She was good at those loud bombastic songs, going all the way back to The Way of Love on her debut. Really enjoy Turn Back Time.

 

Time plays funny tricks.

I could have voted for 10, but went with Sade, Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks because I think time has been kinder to their music and it still stands up nicely today e.g. Albums like Promise, Hounds of Love, and Bella Donna.

Back in the day I might have gone for Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston and Tina Turner, each of whom I really like, but they've just been so overplayed during the last 30 years or so, and they just don't have the same spark any more, great though they are. I find it hard to play the likes of Control, Whitney I and II, and Private Dancer any more.

Also still like the early Madonna (first up to True Blue, Ray of Light and Confessions) and Plastic Letters/Parallel Lines by Blondie.

 

Yes, no love for Gloria either! And I did know they were Gloria songs but as I had absolutely no real opinion on her, I commented on Paula instead. Gloria Estefan really only had the one or two hits from the 'Cuts Both Ways' album here, I think! I remember the TV ad for the album being everywhere but I never really investigated her beyond that...always found her really boring .

 

I always had, and still have, a soft spot for 'The Lover In Me' album from 1988 and also the 'Private Heaven' album too. Not a huge fan of her earlier stuff. She had a big hit in Australia in 1991 (I think) with 'What Comes Naturally' and I liked that single but think I only ever played the album once - it was pretty bad!

 

Yeah, I think that describes her. But I own up to liking "Words Get In The Way" and also "Coming Out Of The Dark". I used to love "Conga" when it was a hit, but that's because I was 12 and the Latin rhythms seemed really cool.

 

I like the song "The Lover In Me". Sheena was also on Prince's 1987 hit "U Got The Look". That song (and video) had a lot of airplay in NZ then.

 

Yes, here too. Great song! Loved the video too- one of my favourite tracks from 'Sign Of The Times'. My favourite track from TLIM was always '101'. I still listen to that LP pretty regularly actually.

 

About Sheena Easton, she had a great run, in the early '80s and then again in some of the later part of the decade. I've got a copy of that 1985 flop she made with Nile Rodgers, now that was a big failure...

 

Olivia, Kylie and Belinda

 

Two things on Gloria, because the subject's come up. Not very taken with most of what she's done, but I have to tell ya, I think the Shep Pettibone Remix of Bad Boy has got to be one of my favorite singles of all time. Insanely good.

 

Debbie Harry
Dodo Gad from Dodo & The Dodos

 

I think it's a shame Marilyn isn't doing better.

 

I dont like much of Aggie's 80s stuff. Nor did I like Shine by Frida... for much the same reason... they sound like 80s albums. The awful gated reverb trashcan drums, stitled and stiff synthi-pop stuff, electric guitars full of chorus and other horrible effects... I dont like that sound. Somethings Going On had a bit of that, but it wasnt too bad.. it sounded a lot more natural than anything Aggie did.

 

Interesting thoughts. I actually thought Frida's album, producd by Phil Collins with his strong gated drum sound, sounded far more 80's and Agnetha's sounded more like an ABBA album. If memory serves hers was also recorded at the same studio as well. Talking just about their debut albums. I really don't play Frida's anymore, but sometimes I spin Agnetha's. I love Michael Chapman, her producer, as well so maybe that is why I prefer her album. I wish Agnetha would write an album. Among her best songs are the ones she wrote, imo.

 

I just don't get the love for Kate Bush. Because so many people around here like her work, I bought a used vinyl copy of her hits album. Clearly I need to give it more tries....I just didn't care for it. Will try again. Maybe someone can explain the love for her...kinda like Dylan. So loved and for some reason I just can't get into him.

 

Well, I thought her stuff was great, and well produced. I got back into her recently. I bought all her vinyl, inc Miami Sound Machine. All was good to my ears except her later stuff, which is kind of typical. They almost always run out of ideas after a few albums.

 

Went with ONJ.

Great decade for female artists.

 

You know, now that you mention it she was the rare artist who got better over time imo. Those are great songs...much better than her early titles imo.

 

I'm aware you're joking but I'd like to say that Marilyn was a GREAT and very underrated artist. All five of his singles were such high quality and his only album, Despite Straight Lines, is a bona fide 80s Classic. It absolutely blows every Culture Club album out of the water.

 

Erm.. Are we talking about Marylin - A.K.A.- Peter Robinson?