10 Forgotten Male Solo Artists of the 1980s by: Ronovan
Some of you are looking at this and thinking “He really has lost his mind” because this is not my normal type of article. Sometimes you need to just do something completely different to get the mind fresh and have fun doing it at the same time. What better way to do that than to go tripping through ’80s music?
• 1 Artist Per Year of the 1980s that you may have forgotten about
• Must have ended the year in the Top 100 on the Billboard Charts
• You must enjoy grooving to the videos included
First up, he’s written and produced songs for Barbra Streisand. She hand picked some of his songs for A Star is Born. Tony Award winner, Drama Desk Award winner and his second album, self titled, led Rolling Stone to compare him to Bob Dylan as being an artist of originality and someone to pay attention to.
You know him if you like…Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain.
1980 and the #11 Hit of the Year
Rupert Holmes-Escape
You heard him as a backup singer for Loretta Lynn, and his work included assisting record producer and composer Mike Post. Even after his hit he went on to record FlashBeagle for “It’s FlashBeagle, Charlie Brown”. But you know him as the voice of Believe it or Not, The Greatest American Hero.
1981 and the #11 Hit
Joey Scarbury-Theme from “The Greatest American Hero” Believe It Or Not
He was a 1960s backup singer who served four months in prison in 1995 for a DUI, and then eventually became a film producer with a Tom Sizemore film to his credit. But you’ll know him best if you are a Humphrey Bogart fan.
1982 and the #17 Hit
Bertie Higgins-Key Largo
At 17 he was a guitarist for Stevie Wonder. And let’s not forget working with Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and Chaka Khan. You’ve heard his soundtrack work in Cocoon and Independence Day but you’ll remember him best as a Maniac on the floor.
1983 and the #9 Hit
Michael Sembello-Maniac
Once a backup singer to Bette Midler, this eventual song writer and producer for No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom , Kelly Clarkson and even Christina Aguilera millions have heard him as the singing voice of Ling in Mulan, but you might know him better when when you Break his Stride.
1984 and the #27 Hit
Matthew Wilder-Break My Stride
This man worked on countless movie scores until taking a break to be a father. Foxes, American Gigolo, Top Gun, The Running Man, and Tango & Cash. But you know him for his part in making a Cop in Beverly Hills famous.
1985 and the #61 Hit
Harold Faltermeyer-Axel F
Perfect pitch? Volunteered for military service at 17? Jazz-Rock to Punk-Rock? Johann Hölzel was a man of many talents. But you might know him better by another name.
1986 and the #28 Hit
Falco-Rock Me Amadeus
He first wrote songs for the Pointer Sisters and Earth, Wind & Fire before ending up with a hit of his own. In recent times he has written songs for and produced for Babyface, Jessica Simpson and Destiny’s Child. But as for his own singing career? Well, that’s just the way it goes. C’est La Vie.
1987 and the #6 Hit
Robbie Nevil-C’est La Vie
Member of the Raspberries,70’s solo hit maker, then gone, until he got dirty and went dancing.
1988 and the #25 Hit
Eric Carmen-Hungry Eyes
Oh Danny, you went on to play Joseph and set box office records. You married Rosco P. Coltrane’s daughter and co-wrote films with Flicka. But we will always here you should, because you are always Young and Restless, Hey, Kids Rock and Roll.
1989 and the #45 Hit
Michael Damian-Rock On
Next time around it will be the 10 Ladies We’ve Forgotten About. Journey with me through the decades as I try to rediscover the music that made me.
I sat at the bus stop and laughter announced the arrival of Rod and Emerile. Rod nodded, I returned with a weak smile. He picked it up the meaning, glancing to my right.
The figure held the brim of a black fedora, twisting it out of shape. Rod elbowed Emerile. Both went silent staring up the street and into the sun as if looking for the bus.
Fingers squeezed into fists around the felt. They trembled as they settled upon his knees.
An occasional sigh was cut off by chocking sounds. Aftershave fought with the exhaust fumes of passing cars. He placed the fedora over his knee and took his left hand in his right, thumb touching the ring on his finger as if afraid it would break.
People became silent as they walked up to wait for the bus. The honking of horns began silent as if they knew. The hiss of airbrakes signaled the arrival of the bus. The man stood up and put on the crumpled brimmed fedora.
Rod and Emerile stood to one side as others did the same. The man nodded. The dark black suit climbed into the bus revealing a glimpse of navy blue socks.
Agents, writing coaches, and even the pros say “Kill your darlings.” It’s the truth. Kill ‘em. Every last lovely one.
Pause for the tears to fall.
Pause over.
I’ll tell you that I only learned about Flash Fiction a month or so ago, or actually learned that’s what a process was called, although I had been using it for years. You take a scene and break it down to its essentials in as few words as possible.
No extra adjectives
No extra adverbs
Tell the story in the dialogue what is happening
Do NOT get explanatory on the reader
They want the dialogue and to find out what’s going on. Yes, there are times when you have scenes with no dialogue. I’m going to give you an example of a scene without much dialogue, before and after cutting it down to the bare essentials. (I hope I didn’t copyright infringe there.)
Here is a romance scene that we’ll see if it can be cut down. I’m not a romance writer so don’t laugh too much. It is 216 words for a very brief scene.
The man looked across the shadowy room and gazed longingly at the silk covered form of what he had desired for so long. She had finally given in. After so many long and frustrating nights of games played and rejections he could tell that she wasn’t going to deny him this time.
He waited for her to come to him. The chasing had been his to do so far, now it was her turn. The moonlight shining through the window shimmered off the red form as she moved to him.
Her breathy voice was more than he had ever imagined it would be. Her red lips and whispered words tickled his ear in a way that he could feel it in his toes. A pain that was much longed for swept through his body.
“Why are you making me wait? You know I’m ready,” she said as her glossy nails slid down his chest, slowly finding their way.
He swallowed hard and slowly took a breath to gain control before speaking. “How do you know I’m rea…,” his voice was cut off.
“I know,” she said as the smile spread across her face. There was nothing more he could say. Silk slid under fingertips as the tender skin of her shoulder gave heat to his lips.
I don’t read romance novels, although I write them in my mind. So I don’t even know if I wrote that properly but it will give me something to go with.
The man looked across the room at the body he had desired for so long. After so many frustrating nights of games played and rejections he could tell that she wasn’t going to deny him this time.
The chasing had been his to do so far, now it was her turn to come to him. The moonlight shining through the window shimmered off red silk as she moved.
Her lips whispered words in his ear that sent a pain of longing sweeping down his body.
“Why are you making me wait? You know I’m ready,” she said, her nails sliding down his chest, slowly finding their way.
He slowly took a breath before speaking. “How do you know I’m rea…,” his voice was cut off.
“I know,” she said. She smiled.
Silk slid under fingertips as her skin burned his lips.
The word count for this scene is now 141 down from 216. I cut out a lot of unnecessary descriptions in the beginning that would be revealed along the way. I cut the description of the shadowy room, it was unimportant. I also left out the color of her lips. You tell me if the scene works now, just as well as before or better or worse.
Why all the cutting? To get to where the reader wanted to go while still giving the same mood and not wasting the readers time. Also I leave some things to the imagination of the reader. The physical descriptions of the two people are not given. This means they could be anyone and thus any woman or man can slip into the scene and imagine their fantasy lover.
I didn’t have many opportunities at dialogue tags in this scene but in heavy dialogue scenes you need to occasionally throw in a he said or she said just to keep the reader on track.
Keep the paragraphs short, even if not traditionally grammatically appropriate.
This is not an English class.
Pull the reader to the next part and make them want to moved onward.
If this had been some psychological court case type thing, maybe there would have been more interior monologue, or maybe not. I tend to like the faster paced ideas when there are two or more people involved. A one person scene can get as ‘thoughty’ as they want to be. (Yes, I made up one of my new words.)
Yes, I would have done more with this scene if I were really writing it, but this was just for an exercise.
Let me know what you thought of the scene. Did either scene work? Was one better than the other? Why?
If you’ve never written Flash Fiction then you are missing a great opportunity to learn what Literary Agents and Editors are looking for, ‘Show Don’t Tell’.
As writers we make a major mistake when we first begin writing, we look at word count and page numbers. I advise you to either turn off the word count on your program, or put something over it so you can’t see it. And also don’t format for page numbers to show. Just write.
Let the story tell the story. Your first draft is just that, a first draft, a blueprint to be build upon.
Sure the industry looks at word count often but it’s the story that sells. Writing Flash Fiction does something great for your skills. Write a scene as you normally would, then strip it down to under 600 words or 300 words. If you can do this and still convey…
Some writing is just too long and I won’t read it no matter how good you tell me it is!
It sounds harsh but it’s true. And it’s not because you’re not good. There are many types of audiences out there a writer is attempting to engross in their story, article, or whatever other type of writing it may be. Even a research piece needs to keep this in mind.
Make that first sentence engaging-If that first sentence hooks me I might keep going and give it a chance.
Keep the paragraphs short-Short paragraphs gives me this false sense of not committing to a long read. It also allows me to pause quickly if need be and come back to the article if I have to ‘step’ away for a moment without the idea I missed something or having or reread a long paragraph.
If Blogging, give me some visuals-Visuals make for a little something to keep me there and bring me back to reading. It also can help visual people click with your piece and add deceptive length without adding to reading time.
If Blogging keep this in mind-You may be the only reading material that some people are engaging in. I have problems reading books now. I can’t commit to it because I know after two chapters I can’t keep going. Blogs, however, give me something I can read and learn from that are quick and to the point. Break the article up into two parts if it is extremely long. That last part is just a suggestion. (But it might bring back people for a second day of viewing to your Blog. Authors keep that in mind too.)
Unless I am familiar with the work of the writer I will often bail if I see those long paragraphs. We aren’t in a Grammar or Writing class where you have to do things just so.
We write how people talk
We write short paragraphs
We use double negatives
If you are Blogging think of Flash Fiction in your article. Just get to the point and get out. Yes, add humor and entertain, but when it comes to the points you are making don’t draw them out.
Being stuck in an airport terminal without any electronic devices probably seems like sheer…bad places…to some people. For me, I see it as opportunity to hone a craft.
Airports are crossroads of the world, culture, society. If you really think about it, the only electronic device you might even want to use is some recording device.
I would use a delay of say 6 hours to listen to conversations and jot down phrases that just capture a moment. Also writing down a visual scene in detail including the emotions it brings out would be great for my writing journal.
Writers always look for descriptions of so many things in their work; people, clothing, hair, jewelry, sounds, even smells. A six hour workshop on observation of imagery would be something we all could use.
In truth we could do this intentionally by going any place that has a fairly large gathering of people; a park, a mall, and even a grocery store. There are little interactions between people you can mention in writing that makes for a connection to the reader that you just take for granted in everyday life.
Blogging isn’t easy. Some make it look that way, and I thoroughly despise them for it. Actually those of whom I speak know who they are and know I love them and just jealous…maybe.
I first showed up in this blogger world to share my creations, my stories. Then I discovered I had more to share than that. And I learned that the blogging world was a community and there was support among that community you couldn’t find anywhere else.
But I know from the title of this article you’re wondering about actual blogging itself. I’ll share three things today:
I cannot look
As they burn our land
No affording to pay
They take it all
Now we have nothing
He stares on with strong eyes
But I cannot bare it
I know the hardship to come
I know his humiliation
He braves onward for our little one
I will brave onward later
For now I cannot look
For now I simply comfort with a touch
But someday…someday…I will comfort
With justice
Someday they will burn
“So you say I’m pretty? I am not interested in you, so give up.”
How many of you men out there have heard anything like that? No, keep your hands up. I’ll get to you eventually. Oh, never mind. I’ll just say a lot of you said yes. Pardon how I ask this, but doesn’t that just chap your cheese and grate your hide? And yes…that is how I say it.
I have a confession to make. I have a habit.
Yes, it’s true. I….I…I pay compliments.
The weight is lifted and I can breathe again. Ah, that feels so good.
When I compliment it’s normally about someone’s talent but occasionally it may be about someone’s hair or dress. I am even sometimes amazed at the way someone’s skin looks. Maybe it’s because I have fair skin and cannot tan that I find those who can amazing. But I get judged because of other people who have complimented in the past with other intentions.
And it’s not just women that will judge. Even men think you are up to something if you pay compliments to a woman.
Why?
I believe it is one of three reasons;
1) That’s the reason THEY pay a woman compliments
2) In their experience that’s the ONLY reason men have paid compliments before
3) Media/Entertainment PORTRAYS it that way
Don’t worry, I’m not saying that this judgment hasn’t been brought on by legitimate actions of men over the course of existence but I don’t like it.
Yes, I said it. I DON’T like it.
I’m not an attractive guy, so if a woman were to pay attention to me should I instantly assume she is after money?
“Oh, that is just so wrong of you to even think. Not all women are like that. And you need to have more confidence in yourself.”
Excuse me? Hello! You judge me shouldn’t I judge you? Guess what, I don’t think that way. For one thing I don’t get approached but if I did I wouldn’t even think about it. People are just people to me.
“Impossible!”
No it’s not. It’s taken years to get to this point in my life and with some odd occurrences but I am a person who just sees a person as whatever they represent. That doesn’t mean I am going to let you spend the night at my house and pet my cat. I don’t know you that well. But you haven’t done anything to me to warrant my considering you a criminal.
Do you know that’s what it feels like when someone thinks of you as just a hit on artist? A nice person feels dirty and ashamed. And all they did was be nice. It makes them not want to try and be nice any longer.
I’m not saying people should be naïve. I am just saying people should take each person as they come and be “Okay, you’re fine until you screw up.” That screw up is not as in, go out with a person or trust a person in your home until they do something bad. That means you know them for a long time and see what they are like consistently before advancing any further, if that is even a possibility.
And don’t treat us nice guys like the last person that hurt you in a relationship.
Many writers on Twitter know how great #MSWL is. It’s a hashtag where agents and editors can list what they’re looking for. (P.S. For those of you not on Twitter there are two blogs that post them: Agent And Editor Wishlist & MS Wishlist.)
Many agents also list on their websites what they’re actively looking for, too.
It’s exciting when writers see their manuscript align with an agent’s interest so they send off a query and…then nothing. Either no request. Or a request but no offer of representation.
What happens when agents pass on material they say they’re looking for?
We’re still looking for the ‘magic.’ So many things have to be perfect for us to sign up new projects. Even if the plot matches with what we’re looking for there are other parts to the equation.
The voice wasn’t right for us. This is the other part of the…
Why do we have so many mass murders of late? Blame the media.
There are so many reasons given for why someone writes a note or letter, suits up movie or video game style and then finds a crowded place to unload on. Ultimately what it comes down to in my opinion is they want the attention or fame.
Enter the media that is happy to give it to them.
Do I mean that they are happy to report such events? No, but you know the ratings rise and so do those behind the scenes. Not even the most professional reporter can hide how they feel about having to report on these situations. They are as disgusted by it as we are. Yet they report it and we watch it.
You will have news agencies say “We must keep the public informed of…
The animated Gif’s being used are hilarious at times, but sometimes too many take away from your content.
Just as you want to work on short paragraphs to encourage people to move on and keep their attention you also want to keep from distracting them from what you have worked on.
If possible place them either at the very beginning or very end to introduce a tone or leave the reader with some visual message on the way out.
The other part of this is that using too many can actually make some people feel queasy or physically ill. They love your content but have to hold their hand over the Gif in order to read.
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