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

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?