I'm really happy to hear you pulled out the dance remix of Safety Dance, I spent many, many hours dancing to that in teen clubs. (And no Joe, it is NOT too long. It's a perfect dance floor length) But definitely the album version/radio edit is much more well known by most people. And the video taking place is medieval times is just so great.
This is a tough one for me. Both of these songs are etched in my 80s memories for specific reasons. That Men at Work album was the first proper rock and roll record I owned. Up to that point both of my parents bought me stupid shit that I couldn't stand, or really no kid out age would want (Thanks for Bobby Vinton's Greatest Hits, Dad. Way to put you finger on the pulse of what the youth of America are into in 1980) I finally demanded rock music records for gifts and Business As Usual showed up on my 12th birthday (or maybe it was Christmas 1982).
But teen dance clubs were a revelation for me, and an escape from the hellscape that was the suburban American high school in the 1980s. In high school I was a complete loser, but in the clubs, to quote the older brother in the movie Sing Street, "I was a fucking jet engine!" And the dance mix of this song was so perfect on the dance floor, with it's softer, sexier tone and tempo. It was a great song to dance/make out with a girl on the dance floor (again, why this version is NOT too long).
For me the edge goes to Men Without Hats. More classic 80s sound and a constant presence in 80s dance clubs.
(By the way Keith, I think the third song of theirs that you are probably thinking of would be Where Do The Boys Go, which also got play in the clubs along with those other two)
Let's get to work, people! By a very narrow margin, my vote goes for Men at work, just because it aired way more than Men without hats in Latin American radio stations!
This is so difficult that I'm not going to vote until I talk myself into a conclusion right here in the comments. "Safety Dance" = new wave synthpop joy and well nigh impossible to *not* pogo to. (I still pogo. Good for the calves.) Also, "Pop Goes the World" is an unofficial relationship song for my wife and me, because, you know, "Johnny played gee-tar, Jenny played bass." On the other hand, while "Who Can It Be Now?" is not the strongest of Men At Work's hottest singles - a phrase which should help this page's SEO optimization - it kicked off a string of '80s sax-fueled pop rock with a discography that only spans 3 albums in 4 years. They were brilliant and everywhere, and theywere hardly ever *not* on MTV. They sang about nuclear war and thanks, Joe, for noting their undeniable role in the Aussification of the '80s. Add to that the memory of being at Kings Island when they were playing the park's amphitheatre and my friend Jacob and I listened from the top of the fake Eiffel Tower, and I think I have my winner.
I definitely think of you two whenever I hear “Pop Goes the World”! I love the insanely specific memory of an Ohio institution, King’s Island, even though many of my summer memories of songs are linked to America’s Roller Coast, Cedar Point! —Keith
I am definitely leaning hard into the synth pop sound, but that doesn't mean it is the standard...you can choose any 80s definition you want! But I think you are with me on the synth! :D
I'm really happy to hear you pulled out the dance remix of Safety Dance, I spent many, many hours dancing to that in teen clubs. (And no Joe, it is NOT too long. It's a perfect dance floor length) But definitely the album version/radio edit is much more well known by most people. And the video taking place is medieval times is just so great.
This is a tough one for me. Both of these songs are etched in my 80s memories for specific reasons. That Men at Work album was the first proper rock and roll record I owned. Up to that point both of my parents bought me stupid shit that I couldn't stand, or really no kid out age would want (Thanks for Bobby Vinton's Greatest Hits, Dad. Way to put you finger on the pulse of what the youth of America are into in 1980) I finally demanded rock music records for gifts and Business As Usual showed up on my 12th birthday (or maybe it was Christmas 1982).
But teen dance clubs were a revelation for me, and an escape from the hellscape that was the suburban American high school in the 1980s. In high school I was a complete loser, but in the clubs, to quote the older brother in the movie Sing Street, "I was a fucking jet engine!" And the dance mix of this song was so perfect on the dance floor, with it's softer, sexier tone and tempo. It was a great song to dance/make out with a girl on the dance floor (again, why this version is NOT too long).
For me the edge goes to Men Without Hats. More classic 80s sound and a constant presence in 80s dance clubs.
(By the way Keith, I think the third song of theirs that you are probably thinking of would be Where Do The Boys Go, which also got play in the clubs along with those other two)
Deni, I absolutely love how much of your experience you share with us!
I laughed hard at your dad buying you Bobby Vinton 😂!!!
You earn infinite cred with me for loving Sing Street seemingly as much as I do!
I'm sorry you were made to feel like a loser back then, but I am glad you had a refuge at the dance clubs! Glad you enjoyed the version I went with! 😃
And YES, that IS the other song that eluded me, thank you!
--Keith
Although the Safety Dance has some funky lyrics, I'm a Men At Work fan so Who Can It Be Now has my vote!
Let's get to work, people! By a very narrow margin, my vote goes for Men at work, just because it aired way more than Men without hats in Latin American radio stations!
This was such a tough call, on a different day, my vote would change! I understand that you have to stick with your Southern Hemisphere family!
--Keith
This is so difficult that I'm not going to vote until I talk myself into a conclusion right here in the comments. "Safety Dance" = new wave synthpop joy and well nigh impossible to *not* pogo to. (I still pogo. Good for the calves.) Also, "Pop Goes the World" is an unofficial relationship song for my wife and me, because, you know, "Johnny played gee-tar, Jenny played bass." On the other hand, while "Who Can It Be Now?" is not the strongest of Men At Work's hottest singles - a phrase which should help this page's SEO optimization - it kicked off a string of '80s sax-fueled pop rock with a discography that only spans 3 albums in 4 years. They were brilliant and everywhere, and theywere hardly ever *not* on MTV. They sang about nuclear war and thanks, Joe, for noting their undeniable role in the Aussification of the '80s. Add to that the memory of being at Kings Island when they were playing the park's amphitheatre and my friend Jacob and I listened from the top of the fake Eiffel Tower, and I think I have my winner.
I definitely think of you two whenever I hear “Pop Goes the World”! I love the insanely specific memory of an Ohio institution, King’s Island, even though many of my summer memories of songs are linked to America’s Roller Coast, Cedar Point! —Keith
I like to have sax, but I like to dance if I wanna more.
I am definitely leaning hard into the synth pop sound, but that doesn't mean it is the standard...you can choose any 80s definition you want! But I think you are with me on the synth! :D
--Keith