Friday the 17th August was to see my return to the village hotel at the Silverlink in North Tyneside, the last visit had been for a Naughty Nineties night, this time however it was to an Ultimate 80s party. Now I won't lie when it comes to decades having lived through many of the big ones is a great help. Now let's be clear, for dressing up as celebrities the 70s wins, for sheer dance music and formation dance tunes the 90s has it, but the 80s - oh the 80s has a bit of it all.
It's amazing how much music changed during this decade with the re-emergence of Ska, the birth of Electronic Music, House Music and a huge coming of age for Hip Hop. But the 80s is known mostly for its fantastic Pop and Rock music, not just from both side of the Atlantic, but from Europe and Australia as well. When you attend an 80s party one thing is certain, fluorescent colours, tutus and leg warmers. I'm not even sure where this look came from but people seem to think it sums up the era well.
The night started with the guests taking their seats, entry is slow due to the magic mirror they all have to pass outside so the first few songs were just me warming up a little. The meal took quite a while and this time there was no band on so the list I had prepared needed expanded a little, not that I wouldn't be getting my fair share of requests - in fact at one point I have over 90 mins worth of requests.
The meal ended and I dropped a Kylie classic which immediately got a few up to dance. As it was mainly the women (who were the large majority of the crowd) I continued with a few girl songs before dropping into the songs from the dance flicks. The floor swelled after a few songs and it was clear I had a party on my hands and there were pockets of people dancing all over where space permitted. The dance floor was full!
Hours ticked by till we had an announcement - Sarah had turned 21 and her friends had arranged a surprise (which wasn't me singing). Out came the cake to happy birthday then I played a request for her. This spurred a few more announcements for birthdays and hen parties etc. After 12 the crowd started to thin but it was still going strong when I announced the last few songs. You get such a buzz from a night like this - I totally love doing theme parties and getting in the spirit.
Playlist
Orange Juice Jones - The Rain Tears For Fears - Head Over Heels Ultravox - Love's Great Adventure Erasure - Oh Lamour Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance
Kim Wilde - Kids in America Level 42 - Lessons In Love A-Ha - Take On Me Billy Idol - Eyes Without A Face Tears For Fears - Sowing The Seeds Of Love Cock Robin - The Promise You Made Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing Kane Gang - Closest Thing To Heaven Kate Bush - Hounds of Love Dolca Vita - Ryan Paris Rain Or Shine - Five Star Culture Club - Time (Clock Of The Heart) The Blow Monkeys - Digging Your Scene Hall & Oates - I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) Laura Branigan - Self Control Huey Lewis And The News - If This Is It Wax - Bridge To Your Heart Don Henley - Boys Of Summer Billy Ocean - Get Out of my Dreams Billy Joel - Tell Her About It Holly Johnson - Americanos Falco - Rock Me Amadeus Kajagoogoo - Too Shy Nik Kershaw - Wouldn't It Be Good The English Beat - Can't Get Used To Losing You The Specials - Ghost Town Madness - It Must be Love Human League - Fascination Heaven 17 - Temptation Martha & The Muffins - Echo Beach Blondie - Atomic Toto - Africa
Prefab Sprout - King of Rock n Roll
Daryl Hall And John Oates - You Make My Dreams Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lucky Madonna - Like A Prayer Bonnie Tyler - Holding Out For A Hero Michael Sembello - Maniac Kenny Loggins - Footloose The Weather Girls - It s Raining Men Irene Cara - Fame Bros - When Will I Be Famous Bronski Beat - Why Lionel Richie - Dancing On The Ceiling INXS - New Sensation Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind Tiffany - Think Were Alone Now Salt N Peppa - Push it Culture Club - Karma Chameleon Wham! - Freedom Pat Benatar - Love Is a Battlefield Michael Jackson - Thriller Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up Erasure - Chains Of Love Communards - Never Can Say Goodbye Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) Deacon Blue - Real Gone Kid Journey - Don't Stop Believing Bon Jovi - Living On A Prayer Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark Rick Springfield - Jessies Girl Giorgio Moroder - Together In Electric Dreams Soft Cell - Tainted Love Wham - Wake me Up Before You Go Go Madness - Night Boat to Cairo Piranhas - Tom Hark Bad Manners - The Can Can Tina Turner - The Best Dexys Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen Bluebells - Young At Heart Sinita - So Macho Boys Town Gang - Can't Take my Eyes off You Billyjoel - Uptown Girl Robert Palmer - Addicted To Love ABBA - Lay All Your Love On Me Jam - Going Underground The Housemartins - Happy Hour The Smiths - This Charming Man The Cure - Love Cats Spandau Ballet - Gold Duran Duran - The Wild Boys Adam and the Ants - Stand And Deliver Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror Lionel Ritchie - All Night Long Erasure - A Little Respect Madonna - Papa Don't Preach Jermaine Stewart - We Dont Have To Blondie - One Way or Another New Order - Blue Monday 88 Erasure - Stop! Dirty Dancing Hit Mix into... Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - I've Had The Time Of My Life Glenn Medeiros - Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You
Andy P