Rob Masters

Let's leap back to the mid 90's and some synthpop from one of the great bands (and composers) of the 80s and 90s ... and who are still releasing new albums even now. For the video, we get an Oni and a westernised ... something? A small god? A sorcerer? Anyway we get some very silly wire-work, even dodgier magic effects, and a no-contact fight scene. And a rather standoffish romance. It is all gloriously over the top, extremely silly, and still works quite magnificently. Massively appropriating all sorts of culture, but it somehow does not feel mean-spirited in any way.  So here is 1994's "Always" from Erasure. 

Well, this brings us to a full year of videos, with 52 posts. I think I have covered everything from the 70s to the present day, and I have much more to come. There some real downers I have not shared yet, but they can wait until after The 19. For now, I am going to try to be a little more upbeat, so get ready for some fun. What does this anniversary bear? A track from the 80's, and one of the iconic SF-themed videos from the era. An human-looking alien, trapped on Earth, and slowly losing control of his powers, finally gets a message from space. Now all he has to do is get away from the humans who are now becoming obsessed with him. Featuring what was, for the time, cutting-edge special effects for a music video, this track carried the singer to stardom. Here is Nik Kershaw performing in "Wouldn't It Be Good" from 1984.

Wow... 40 weeks in... OK,this week I have a treat for me. One of the best bands of the 80s  that the 2000's produced. Hailing from my home state (well, one of them anyway), these folks are an icon of the Australian music scene. Formed as a duo from two other bands (at least - if you've not been in at least 4 bands with overlapping members in Australia, you're just not trying), The Sleepy Jacksons and Pnau, they embraced the 80s New Wave, and never looked back. They have embraced genre as a way of life, and their stage shows reputedly reflect that. This video was shot up in Lancenlin and Cervantes, a few hours north of where I live. It is dream-like, fantastic, and just all-round amazing. I hope everyone enjoys "Standing On The Shore", from 2009, by the inimitable Empire Of The Sun.

I fully expect that many some a couple at least one of my readers have been waiting for this iconic 80s video to make an appearance. Featuring a blend of hand-drawn pencil animation and live-action footage, this video was an instant classic, and made the song a 1985 number one hit in the USA, and one of the best selling singles of all time. But this is not the original - the original version (by the same band, from 1984) had a far less popular response, and a far more boring video. It was a flop outside of Norway.  Remixed and re-released a year later, it soared to remarkable heights, and has stayed there year after year, and is one of only five songs on YouTube to exceed one beeelion views. So here you have it, Aha's 1985 release of "Take On Me", as remastered from the original 35mm film in 2019.