[flv:RobinSparkles_Mall.mp4 480 360]
Even though I wasn’t old enough to appreciate the 80’s as it was happening (or the 60’s, or the 50’s for that matter…), I have a great love of all the oldies.One of the things that I noticed that I enjoy about 80’s music is the cheeriness. I remember when I first discovered the 80’s: the Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Belinda Carlisle’s Heaven is a Place on Earth made me feel carefree: something in me was set free. There was just something about the spirit of the 80’s that felt expressive and boundless. To me, the 80’s represents a time that was fun and freewheeling. Or at least that’s the romanticized version that I envision. And I suppose I’m not the only one: the funny folks over at TV show How I Met Your Mother made the video above, entitled ‘Let’s Go to the Mall’ by Robin Sparkles. The song embodies that cheeriness.

[flv:PopGoesMyHeart.mp4 480 360]
The funny thing is that it’s often the parodies that capture the 80’s stereotype so well. Pop! Goes My Heart in the movie Music and Lyrics is not a real song from the 80’s, but it puts a huge grin on my face: listening to it, you get the very essence of 80’s. It’s instantly recognizable as music from that era.

I love the 80’s. I love the music and the movies, and really, that’s as close as I’ll ever get to that era. Guess I’ll just have to stay tuned to Stuck in the 80’s. I think nostalgia is a disease.