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| Those saucy Norwegians - a-ha |
What is it that makes thoses crushes so affecting? I recall feeling literally as if my life would end if I couldn't see my favourite band live in concert when I was fourteen. (For the record, no, my parents didn't let me go, and yes, I did survive!)
Who featured in the posters you plastered on your bedroom walls? I'm going to confess right now: I had a wall devoted to a-ha -- the largest wall space, actually. A slightly smaller wall for Duran Duran. And the smallest wall for other bands that came and went in my fickle world: Thompson Twins, Adam Ant, Culture Club, Wham!.
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| Duran Duran I wanted their hair. |
I've totally given away my age with that list!
I kind of feel sorry for today's teens that their pop stars don't seem to make quite as much of an effort with their appearances -- Lady Gaga notwithstanding. Just take a look at the Duran boys on the left there! Style AND substance, if you ask me.
Both a-ha and Duran Duran have been in my mind recently because, in case you didn't know -- both of them are still going strong (in one guise or another). D2 (as we used to call them) are touring Australia next month. I've seen them the last couple of times they've been here, and I have to say that they are an awesome live band. Simon le Bon might be in his fifties, but he's still got the voice and the moves!
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| Morten - still dreamy. |
Unfortunately a-ha are no more. They played a farewell tour in 2010 titled "Ending on a High Note" (and anyone who remembers their hit "Take On Me" will see the double meaning there!). I fulfilled the dreams of my fourteen-year-old self by attending their final show at Wembley Arena in London. But lead singer Morten Harket is about to embark on a solo tour in April, and he has a new single out as well. He's also in his fifties, but still has that amazingly distinctive voice and, I have to say, is still looking quite worthy of bedroom-wall-poster-status. (I will admit I am not objective when it comes to this!)
It's probably embarrassing to admit, but when I've been to see both Duran Duran and a-ha live in concert, the little fourteen-year-old girl inside me has come back to life. I've had the racing heart, the shaking hands, the overwhelming joy and excitement that nothing else approaches.
I guess it's the ultimate romance, a teenage girl and a poster-boy. A perfect love -- in your imagination anyway. :)
Who was your teen-dream love? Have you encountered them again as an adult? What was the experience like? I'm going to send the best story a copy of my debut SuperRomance, "Cassie's Grand Plan". And I think I might just go and listen to "Hunting High and Low". It's been a while since I've visited there.
At the risk of showing my age, I was pretty keen on David Cassidy. He was just sooooooo gorgeous. He still does a show in Vegas and, because his dad largely ignored him, he's very much dedicated to his son. Although his hair isn't anywhere near as wonderful now...
ReplyDeleteAround the same time, I think, girls were swooning over the Bay City Rollers. Never ever got that.
Ahh Emmie - I'm flashing back to the 1980's and rememering how I went to see Wham three times in concert in the same week - certain that George Michael was going to sweep me off my feet at some point. Sigh. Oh to be fifteen again. I had a huge Duran Duran poster on my bedroom wall. As well as Prince. Another sigh. And I had bad boy crushes in the shape of Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi (I still love a little Jon Bon though)Thanks for memories Emmie :)
ReplyDeleteRobyn -- I just missed David Cassidy -- but not by much. He had awesome hair too, didn't he?
ReplyDeleteHelen -- Wham live?? Three times?? My teen self is incredibly jealous right now!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Emmie! And now that Robyn's been brave enough to admit to David Cassidy, I can tell you he occupied a fair amount of my wall space! He shared it with horses, horses and more horses! LOL
ReplyDeleteWe used to live in rural areas so the whole concert thing passed me by until I'd gone to work and study and live in the big city. Then I went to see Fleetwood Mac! It was WONDERFUL!
:)
Sharon
I lived in the country too, Sharon, so I didn't get to see any big concerts until I was an adult. But although I can now understand why my parents didn't like the idea of their fourteen-year-old daughter boarding a bus for a three-hour, unsupervised trip to the city for a pop concert, I still haven't forgiven them. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Emmie, firsly LOVE the post, being a child of the 80s you may have also liked all the cartoons/tv programs that were on in that era?
ReplyDeleteMy first ever cassette tape was Wham The Final. It was all wanted for my 10th birthday. I danced around the lounge pretending George Michael was singing to ME! I still remember being so upset when it was announced he was gay :(
Putting hand up! I was right there with you for Duran Duran, A-Ha and most of the others. Teenage obsessions are like no others. Happy sigh.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about Morten Harket was doing solo work - am off to iTunes to search him out!
I did not really have a teen love, but I did have an intense Tween love. Greg Brady, yes THE BRADY BUNCH, was my Tween love. I actually fought with my friends because they wanted to have him as a boyfriend, but he was MINE & I was not about to share. Of course, Greg Brady had NO say in the matter what-so-ever. Which kind of made it a perfect relationship.
ReplyDeleteI did see him when he featured in the not so distant past Brady Bunch movies. He was all grown up & looking mighty fine thank you very much. However, the spark between us was gone.
I was definitely a Spandau Ballet girl. Martin Kemp was my dreamboat and he's actually still quite handsome, but even more importantly, still devoted to his wife and family. But I always did have a soft spot for Morton......
ReplyDeleteTashNZ -- you weren't the only one who was disappointed with George's announcement! And yes, the TV and cartoons of the era are definitely etched into my memory. The show "Monkey" stands out for some reason. Any show that was on ABC after school in the 80s is stuck in my head!
ReplyDeleteHI Rachel, not sure if you'll find Morten on iTunes -- he's really only popular in Europe, so it might be tough to download. But if you're really keen, here's the YouTube link... :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pTjbV2NcbQ
Marybelle, that's wonderful! I can't say I shared your appreciation of Greg at the time, but I can see why you'd go there. ;) Another one with beautiful hair...
ReplyDeleteHahahah, I remember Monkey. Their mouths moved lots but not many English words came out. YouTube is great for older things like that.
ReplyDeleteFurther to A-Ha, in NZ we had (well still have since my kids now watch it) a kids program on in the weekend called What Now and I think EVERY Saturday they played A-Ha's Take on Me and Nik Kershaw's Riddle... every weekend without fail! I loved the memories the 80's give me :)
Scarlet -- I can't believe I forgot Spandau! Love the Spands. Gold!
ReplyDeleteTash -- Nothing wrong with playing a little a-ha every week! Although personally I don't think Take On Me is their best song. And tiny Nik! I think I still know all the lyrics to that song... :-/ eek!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Emmie. I'm sorry to say I just missed Duran Duran...and had no idea who a-ha were until my hubby (who is still obesessed with music from the 80's) played me Take on Me. He's still playing various a-ha songs as I write...and has informed me they did a James Bond song too.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember a stand out music crush but I obsessed over Brad Pitt for a long time and *loved* the X-Files and Mulder (-:
Emmie, DC had the best hair EVA!
ReplyDeleteAnd Take On Me...I've realised who A-Ha are!
Great blog! - sending me straight down Memory Lane (and it's a long, long way!). I was a Bay City Rollers girl *hangs head in shame*, I even bought tartan socks! I also loved Starsky and Hutch! I can still hear that theme tune now....
ReplyDeleteOh Emmie,
ReplyDeleteGrowing up we didn't have the TV. But ever since I remember I was hooked to Ricky Martin....man his dance moves! Just bought a dvd of his concert the other day and now play it all the time. Daughter- says no 'straight' guy can dance that way! Lol!
Livin' la vi' da loca is just playing around in my mind!
If only he hadn't swung the other way...
Anna, kudos to your husband!! Yes, they did do a James Bond song -- The Living Daylights. It was a Timothy Dalton Bond movie. Not a great one, but the song was good!
ReplyDeleteLouise, I missed Bay City Rollers, but I do remember people getting very excited about their tartan, lol!
ReplyDelete*sorry, LouisA!!
ReplyDeleteNas, Ricky's not the only pop star to have flirted with girlie affections only for us to find out later they play for the other team! George Michael was a crush for me for a while and look how that turned out. Eek!
ReplyDeleteLOL! Your a-ha obsession cracks me up!
ReplyDeleteFor me it was Rick Springfield . . . I would have never been Jessie's Girl when he was in the picture!
Ooh, Emmie, I had the biggest teen crush on Wham. When nobody else was home I'd play "Careless Whisper" whilst hugging a speaker. Oh, the folly of youth. :-) Helen, I am SOOOOOO jealous you saw Wham in concert once let alone three times!
ReplyDeleteI have to say I was pretty partial to Howard Jones too. Another man with great hair. And speaking of great hair... I had a picture of Pat Rafter glued to the inside cover of one of my school books. And who remembers Beau Brady of Days of Our Lives fame?
Heh heh! Great post, Emmie.
Robin -- Rick Springfield is a great choice! And Michelle -- I totally remember Beau from DOOL! Now THAT was some hair!!
ReplyDeleteIn love with both bands - but my first love was DD!!
ReplyDelete