I recently met up with some friends and we got talking about the strangest song of the 1980s.

There were so many that came up in conversation including The Mobiles ‘Dancing In Berlin’, TransX ‘Living On Video’ and Laurie Anderson’s ‘O Superman’.

But for me, there’s only one option…  it’s got to be Shriekback’s ‘Gunning For The Buddha’.

I don’t know if you’ve ever heard it, but it’s set to a gentle melodic, cocktail bar rumba, and it tells the story of Mark and Danny, philosophical assassins on the trail of a half baked phony Buddha! They are ‘pond life beneath southern skies’ who ‘get their equipment from a dwarf outside’.

Then when they corner their target in a bar down south, he finishes talking about politics and nuclear fission and moves on to the body of a beatle and gets ready for long long crawl.

We get a bit more about Mark and Danny being deadly angels for reality and passion, and possibly mercenary in the final verse but not whose sponsoring their crusade.

That’s a literal interpretation of the lyrics, perhaps you’d like to check the words and post your idea of what it all  means!

For example do they actually try and kill bogus Buddhas or merely follow them around the world assassinating their arguments

For me Gunning for the Buddha is the weirdest and most fascinating song of the 1980s.

Watch it for yourself right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1yiQE_aOjM

The 80s being the decade that refuses to go away is usually a good thing, especially when it comes to the music. However, one story from 1989 has just made an unwelcome return.

Exxon Valdez.

The 30,000 ton oil tanker hit Bligh Reef, Alaska spilling more than it’s own weight in crude oil into a remote bay. The environmental disaster devastated wildlife and fishing along a 2,000 kilometres stretch of coastline.

Although the clean up operation was successful and largely wound up in 1992, it was based on projections of how quickly the remaining oil would disperse naturally. The latest research, however, suggests that up to half the original spill may still remain below the gravel.

A lack of oxygen and ‘oil eating’ micro-organisms is the problem, a research team is currently working on the solution.

The tanker itself survived the incident and is also still with us, renamed several times,

it’s now known as Dong Fang Ocean

So everything from the 80s can come back, right? Wrong. Despite music, gadgets, stage shows fashion and movies from the era all doing well in our time, it seems one retro project is heading for the rocks.

Back in 84, Kevin Bacon’s career erupted into life with the dance movie ‘Footloose’. The re-make was scheduled for a Summer release this year with Zac Efron in the dancing shoes. Before filming wrapped, Zac jumped ship as did the original Director and Paramount has taken the finished product off its release schedule.

If you’re desperate to see Footloose ReBooted (not the official title!) they might sneak it out in either August or perhaps even January 2011. Forget Thanksgiving or Christmas, in movieland, these are the two months are usually when turkeys are consumed.

A friend of mine is a budding camera man and was talking about how difficult it is these days to get a break or any kind of paid work. It reminded me of the Rick Astley story.

Rick started out as a tea boy (and tape operator) at the studios of Stock Aitken Waterman. After two ‘PG rated’ years he got the chance to shine, racking up more than a dozen worldwide hits, two big selling albums and after rick-rolling into the new millennium was named Best Act Ever by MTV Europe. He still performs and tours and is a great example of grabbing any chance to do anything near to your ambition.

..and if you’re reading this Rick, milk and two sugars please!

We were very sorry to hear of the passing of 80’s icon Patrick Swayze.

He made young girls swoon and made dancing cool for guys in the 1987 low budget movie ‘Dirty Dancing’.  It was not only a great movie that spawned many a timeless tune including Totally 80s favourite “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” by Bill Medley and Jennfier Warnes, but cemented his place as a Hollywood leading man.

This video tribute is courtesy of and (c) Press Association 2009

You can catch that great song from the movie with Patrick’s (and Jennifer Grey’s) dancing along to Patrick’s very own 80s hit “Shes Like The Wind“

Congratulations to the Pet Shop Boys for their ‘Outstanding Contribution To Music’ award at the Brits. Brandon from The Killers and Lady Ga Ga both looked very comfortable singing with the influential duo.

It got me thinking about that peculiarly 80s phenomenon…the two blokes and a synth act!

Neil and Chris were arguably the most successful but there were plenty more to choose from. Soft Cell, Blancmange and Erasure readily springing to mind, but how about Wang Chung? They were a slight variation on the theme and one of the few successful Brit acts of the late 80s in the US.

There was also a great one hit wonder outfit called Blue Mercedes, whose single ‘I Want To Be Your Property’ seem to strike a chord with the Thatcher/Reagan times.

It could be argued that Tears For Fears fit the category and for a final twist don’t forget the ‘Boy with synth and girl on vocals’ band, Yazoo.

I’d love to know your thoughts, so feel free to post your comments below.

Yes I know our favourite five Mancunians were still schoolboys in the 80s, but their hugely successful comeback has had a wider effect. It seems every disbanded act now fancies their chances, from Boyzone to the Commodores to Yazoo to….Bros!!

It’s the news Brosettes have been waiting to hear for nearly two decades, but is it a good idea and will it actually happen? A couple of weeks ago Matt Goss said the other two, twin brother Luke and Craig Logan who famously quit the band soon after they made it big, were well up for a reunion. Two days later Luke’s people denied the story.

The Take That project seems to be a well oiled and slick(!) operation with new material to back up the return, I wonder if some of the others are just a cashing in exercise. What do you think, should the old groups stay in the past or is it open season now? If it’s ok for anyone to come back, who else should give it a go? I vote for Haircut 100!

Hi there,

Thanks for checking out my brand new blog.

This is where I’ll be chatting about everything to do with the 1980s. Whether it’s good or bad, I’ve usually got an opinion to share,  and I hope you’ll join in too.

As you may already know, on my weekly radio show ’Totally 80s’ I always aim to bring you the latest news on the BIG artists from the decade. Well, here’s a story that caught my eye over the weekend:

Apparently Jon Bon Jovi is a huge fan of Duffy (one of 2008’s hottest new stars - and famous for her hits ‘Mercy’ and ‘Warwick Avenue’). Jon is said to be so impressed that he’s desperate to meet her and has even taken to covering her song ‘Mercy’ on Bon Jovi’s current tour!

Now although I’m sure Duffy is flattered by the attention, it must also be a bit embarrassing for her?! But maybe she can return the favour by doing a cover of ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’ on her upcoming tour?