Come on Eileen
Man, I remember shaking my tail to Come on Eileen many moons ago — when rat-tails were a right of passage and Molly Ringwald held both the lock and the key to my tiny pitter pattering heart. Back then it was all ice-skating and fairy floss; skateboards and trading cards. It was bags of chips by the rusty school fence and sunburnt faces on crackling summer days. It was Pepsi and Milo; showbags at the Easter show; and games of Twister by the electric heater. And all the while a soundtrack of pure musical and lyrical indulgence played on and on and on. Mighty props to the 80s. If it weren’t for the misdemeanors and feeing of unbridled potential that pervaded that decade like a bad New Romantic haircut, then every year since wouldn’t have made any sense at all.
RELATED
The Alan Parsons Project’s Eye in the Sky
It sounds like a cliche to say it, but they just don’t write em’ like they used to: the soulful melodies, the crisp acoustics ringing out across murky lyrical lines. The Alan Parsons Project was an experiment in creating perfect, somewhat sinister, pop. With Eye in the Sky they succeeded, then added in an extra layer of prog-rock for good measure.
80s themed video for new Honeydrum’s song
The video for Honeydrum’s new song, Traci’s on the Phone, is sort of a warped 80′s k-hole of that era’s graphics and fashion. It’s cheesy neon bliss for the masses, taken from the EP from AMDiscs called Pleasures of the Sun.
I had to put up with some seriously obnoxious jocks and drunken highschool kids at a recent show featuring flavor-of-the-moment acts that did the whole ecstatic, 80s electro thing that’s so popular these days. Lots of fluorescent colors. I had to blast some death freaking metal when I got home, and Hooded Menace fit the bill perfectly with their doom-leaning, aural assault. Nothing pisses me off more than tepid, uninspired music, and nothing makes me feel more alive than real, gut-wrenching, skull-pounding, giddily sinister heavy metal.
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Also by ZOLTON
Maths explains the origin of superhero characters
I love the colours and simple reasoning in this clever series by Scottish illustrator Matt Cowen, which uses basic maths equations to explain how certain pop culture icons came to be. Read more
Star Wars Uncut: a fully crowdsourced version of Episode IV
The project of creative technologist, Casey Pugh, this full length version of the George Lucas masterpiece was created from multiple 15 second segments recreated from the original movie and submitted by thousands of Star Wars fans, which were then spliced together by editor Aaron Valdez to form the final product. Genius, as both a commentary on contemporary pop culture trends (there are references to LEGO, stop motion, memes and the like) and on the power of tapping your audience for quality material.
Filmmaker creates LEGO stop motion to propose to girlfriend
Now, this is one for the ages: back in 2010, Atlanta film-maker Walter Thompson created a jaw-dropping LEGO stop motion to propose to Nealey Dozier, his girlfriend of four years. The video took 22 hours of shooting and some 2,600 pictures to splice together, a small sacrifice to pay for years of happiness together. Right? Right! Oh, and she said yes. Bonus.
YOU'RE SAYING (5)
Zolton said | 23 June, 2007
Hey Belle, good to see another 80s tragic out there. Which link didn’t work for you? i tested them all and they all seem fine. ZZ
Belle said | 24 June, 2007
Ahh! it works now – it was the 80′s trump cards link. When I clicked on it I just got a search engine site. I really liked your description of the rusty fence, I was always leaping over them getting my backpack caught like a spazz! haha 
Kath said | 25 June, 2007
It’s good to see that there’s still some people out there born in the 60′s that are still into new (and old) music, arts and culture. We’re a bit of a dying race out there at the music venues but hey, I think we still go the hardest! Nouvelle Vague were amazing at the ‘V’ Festival, I knew all the words, especially ‘too drunk to *uck’.
Zolton said | 26 June, 2007
Good to get your comment Kath. I wasn’t born in the 60s though – not quite anyway! But I totally agree with you about the quality of the culture back in the day.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Los Angeles-based artist Ronald Llanos takes his inspirations from the surrounds of the urban jungle around him. Of his work, he says: ‘I’m interested in the people and places of Los Angeles. The urban realities around me hold plenty for me to be inspired by’. His work has been exhibitede at the Pasadena Center for Fine Arts, ANDlab, Brentwood Art Center, the Art Center College of Design, and, more recently, the Wax Poetic Gallery. Read more
David Mack is one of those rare comic book creators who has mastered both writing and art. Mack’s art isn’t what you will typically find in a comic book. He uses a mix of collage, pencil, ink and varied mediums to form his intricate and unique fine art style. His latest graphic novel, Kabuki the Alchemy, may be his best work yet.
The Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project involved fourteen countries around the world filling crates with the best of their local nightlife and exchanging their country’s crate with another. We were there all the way, following Australia’s involvement. And the final stage, with Brazil and Australia swapping crates, was a beauty! As this video attests.
Mozzarella is the new sushi in New York since the opening of Obikà (pronounced Oh-bee-KA), Manhattan’s first mozzarella bar, at 590 Madison Avenue. Read more
Why is it that perusing the creative projects at ReadyMade always makes you wish you had more time? Read more
Lush was one of the best bands to come out of the indie-tastic early ’90s. They set the standard for shoegazey, ethereal pop from the British Isles, and they were about to break big with their 1996 album Lovelife before drummer Chris Acland hanged himself in his parents’ home. The band is a bit of a forgotten gem at this point. Let’s cross our fingers for a reunion.
Lana, the Romanian designer behind the Facebook profile dress, is back with a new collection, this time featuring wickedly cool digital prints inspired by traditional Romanian costumes. Read more
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
Christoph Niemann illustrates a nightmare flight
New York Times illustrator Christoph Niemann has created a brilliant visual diary outlining the peril and pitfalls that beset the everyday passenger based on his recent experience flying from New York to his home town of Berlin. Read more
Here are a couple awesome pieces by Matt Leines that were recently on display in the Doubting Thomases exhibit at Nudashank gallery in Baltimore. Gives me ideas for Halloween. Read more
Never ever, ever, ever, ever park here
Some friendly advice for the neighbours, who simply don’t get it, or street art? You decide which one it is.
Honest Food Preparation Instructions
Yes, we’ve all been there: the chinese food from last week that still looks edible amongst the bare surrounds of an empty fridge. But really, we shouldn’t. Just let it be. Or College Humor will expose you! Read more
Mathematics? Leave me out. Fashematics? Now you’re talking! This gem of a site is a runway equation that adds up to a whole lot of wonderful.
In 2008, graphic designer Becky Edgington and illustrator Sarah Beetson created two limited-edition packs of playing cards featuring images from Beetson’s exhibition, 50 Bucks: Bring On The Sluts. The images were selected from almost 500 small artworks created on moleskine paper, inspired by vintage pornography and a trip to Japan. Read more
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Belle said | 23 June, 2007
Hey, I love your description of the way the 80′s primary school days were. that’s exactly what they were like for me too. I tried your link but it did not work by the way..