#77 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown!

Welcome back everybody! I am here today to present #77 of the Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown. You know, I keep coming across songs that I forgot about or that I haven't heard in awhile thinking that I should have made this countdown an even Top 200 or something, but I suppose I can just post my own professional recommendations following the countdown, and in the meantime lets just get on with it!! Ok, so number 77 is....Burning Up, by the Queen of Pop herself Madonna! Now like I mentioned in the (#80) MJ post Madonna, Prince, and MJ all turned 50 last year, making them all 51 this year of 2010. The Queen of Pop was born on August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan, and it was back in 1977 when she moved to the Big Apple to pursue a career in modern dance, which inevitably led her to the music business and the amazingly prolific success she has had there over the past 31 years or so. Madonna has sold over 250 millions records over the years and is considered the best-selling female artist of the 20th century (according to wikipedia). She has also graced the silver-screen winning both a Golden Globe Award and an Oscar in 1996 for her starring role as Eva Perón in the 1996 movie Evita. There could be entire books written about the controversies, implications, and details of Madonna's life, career, and impact on global culture; in fact as the Queen of Pop she has no doubt been one of the most influential female icons in the past 30 years. Go buy a book or look her up elsewhere if you want more than what I've said here. Burning up was the 3rd track on Madonna's first studio-released and self-titled album. It was a not a big hit relative to her various other hits, I mean seriously, can you find another highly prolific artist outside of Michael Jackson with the same consistent number of mega-hits as Madonna?? That is why she is the Queen of Pop. Madonna was released in March of 1983, and Burning Up was the second single released following Physical Attraction of that first album. Well, that's all I got for you here, like a said books probably have been written and she is still producing hit albums so no need to go into depth here. Enjoy the Queen of Pop!

The Song of the Day is....

...Bicycle, by American recording front Memory Tapes. Memory Tapes is a recording alias of New Jersey-based Dayve Hawk, former frontman of Philadelphia-based Hail Social. Memory Tapes is considered an electronic/chill-wave artist (according to wikipedia). Check out his myspace page here.

The Song of the Day is....

...I Want to Know, by Australia metal band The Art. The Art are based in Sydney (suburb of Newtown), Australia and consist of band members Steven Asbury (Drums), Jak (Guitar / Vocals),  Kara Jayne - Bass / Vocals, and Azaria (Vocals / Guitar). I don't have too much other info on them, so check out their myspace page if you are keen. Now youtube didn't have this one, but vimeo did, so lets see if it works...
The Art - I Wanna Know from Jen Panczenko on Vimeo.

The Song of the Day is....

...Beyond All, by Australian indie-latin-rock-ska-jazz-eclectic band The Cat Empire. Now I have personally seen this band live twice and would recommend it. The Cat Empire is a hard band to classify as a genre as they mish-mash so many different musical styles and so many of their songs are different sounding from others, but not to worry, wikipedia just classifies them as "eclectic," so there is even a genre for "no classifiable genre." Directly quoted from wikipedia "Currently, the Cat Empire is composed of Felix Riebl (percussion and vocals), Harry James Angus (trumpet and vocals), Ollie McGill, Ryan Monro (bass and backing vocals), Will Hull-Brown (drums) and Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwhala (decks, percussion). They are also commonly backed by the Empire Horns, a brass duo, and have recurring guest musicians, (keyboard and backing vocals)." They formed back in 1999 and have released 5 studio albums, and 3 live albums. Beyond All comes off of their June 25th, 2010 new album release titled Cinema. Enjoy!

#78 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown!

Well hello hello again! Welcome back to the Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown, and today I am bringing you #78! Now this next band got their name from the villain of an old 1968 Jane Fonda classic sci-fi movie and the song comes from the 14th James Bond film...have you guessed it yet?? Well, totally rad if you have and if you haven't here is #78 of the Countdown...A View to a Kill, by brit-synth-pop new-wave band, and no doubt one of my personal top fav bands of all time Duran Duran. As I mentioned before Duran Duran were named after Milo O'Shea's character from the sci-fi 60's movie Barbarella, and his characters name was Dr. Durand Durand. Duran Duran formed in Birmingham, England way back in the solid year of our lord 1978. According to wikipedia Duran Duran were one of the most successful band's of the 1980's and they led the "Second British Invasion" of the United States. Also a direct quote from wikipedia  "Since the 1980s, they have placed 14 singles in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart and 21 in the Billboard Hot 100 and have, according to the Sunday Mercury, sold more than 100 million records. While they were generally considered part of the New Romantic scene along with bands such as Spandau Ballet when they first emerged, they later shed this image." Band members include the ever memorable (mostly for his hair) lead singer Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes (synth and keyboards), John Taylor (bass guitar), Stephen Duffy (vocalist, songwriter and bassist), and Roger Taylor (drummer). They've had many former members but you can look those up if your really keen. A View to a Kill was a stand-alone single (the 13th single by Duran Duran) made for the 1985 release James Bond movie of the same name, and to this very day it is still the only James Bond theme song to have reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was co-written by Duran Duran and composer John Barry. Naturally the song was released with the movie in May of 1985. Well, this is one of my favorite bands of all time, so naturally that could be a hint that you might see some more of them on this countdown, but I won't spoil it for you, you'll just have to wait and see, now lets "Dance into the Fire!"

And the Song of the Day is....

...The Suburbs, by Canadian indie rock band Arcade Fire. Arcade Fire come out of Montreal, Quebec and are fronted by husband and wife duo Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, amongst other band members not mentioned here. They've won awards and have been a fairly well known act in the new-rock world for a few years now. The Suburbs is the title track and earliest debut release off of their brand-spanking new album, to be officially released in early August of 2010 titled The Suburbs. Enjoy!

Global Forecast for July 2010 - by Astrologer Steve Judd

Here it is, sounds challenging for us all:

And the "Hot Song of the Day" is....

...Saturn, by Aussie rock band Last Dinosaurs. The Last Dinosaurs are a trio with a unique sound that come out of Brisbane Australia (aka Brissie or Bris-vegas). The band consists of Sean Caskey (vocals/guitar) Lach Caskey (guitar) Danjuro Koyama (drums) and Sam Gethin-Jones (bass). This song comes off of their EP called Back From the Dead, which was released in March 2010. I am looking forward to their full length album release for sure. Unfortunately youtube doesn't quite have this song, so you have to go to following link to listen to it: SATURN by LAST DINOSAURS. Back From The Dead

#79 of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown!

Oh my F6$#^ing Gawd, its the Fu&#$g 80's!!! Welcome back to the countdown, it has been a few days, but we are officially into the 70's now! And yes number 80 had to be an MJ hit, seeing it as the #80 of the 80's. And now, for #79...Will I Ever Understand You, by American new-wave synth pop band Berlin. I bet you thought they were German didn't you??? Was it the name or the blonde lead singer? Berlin actually formed in the late 1970's and originated in Orange County, California.  As with my previous post of them, this is their second song appearing on the Top 100 and according to wikipedia there are 4 current members (Teri Nunn is the blond lead singer), and it lists about 10 former band members who were in and out of the band over the years. The core band members of the band are considered to be Teri Nunn, John Crawford , and David Diamond. Nunn left the band temporarily to pursue an acting career at one point and actually auditioned for the part of Princess Leia in the Star Wars films.  Wikipedia also lists Berlin as having an inactive period between 1987 and 1998. Berlin are obviously a better known band from the 80's, and have had many hits over the years. Will I Ever Understand You was the first track appearing on their October 1986 release album titled Count Three & Pray. The song also appeared on the Inner Space soundtrack and a club scene from the movie, back when Meg Ryan was young and hot, those were the days. Enough data and repeating facts from the previous Berlin post and on with da music mahn!

Eckhart Tolle - Earth as Gaia Clip

Here's a great clip of Tolle talking on the concept of Gaia. Kind of makes you realize how insignificant humans really are in the bigger picture of it all:

US Republic vs US Empire?

Interesting concept, could be the new distinction between the old America and the New one, you heard it here first:

And the "Hot Song of the Day" is....

...Living in America, by American indie-pop group DOM (previously known as FUR). This DOM is a 3 piece band from Worcester, Maine, and the reason I said "this DOM" is because there are about 8 other bands around the globe by the name of DOM, so its not too original to say the least. Living in America comes off of their Sun Bronzed Greek Gods EP released in April of 2010. They have an interesting sound and it is an eclectic mix for sure. Check out their myspace page here.

And the "Hot Song of the Day" is....

...Mowgli's Road, by Welsh indie-pop singer/songwriter Marina and the Diamonds. Marina and the Diamonds is actually Marina Lambrini Diamandis, and is of Greek decent (hence the name), yet she grew up in Wales. The "Diamonds" part of her stage name refers to the Diamanidis part of her birth name. The song Mowgli's Road comes off of her February 2010 studio album release titled The Family Jewels, which has been certified gold in the UK already.