#new romatic

[curatedplaylist-blog]

Quiet Life - Japan

Sequencing done right.

[maddtweed]

"my mind has fucked me over more times than any man can ever know.."

[thebrvtalist]

"As Seen in Blitz" is a new book which chronicles the style bible of club goers in the 80's, Blitz Magazine. The magazine documented the fashions seen at London clubs such as Heaven, Blitz, Kinky Gerlinky and Taboo. The magazine, which ran from 1980 to 1991, was a launch pad for designers such as Gaultier, Galliano, Pam Hogg, and Vivienne Westwood. 

As Seen in Blitz via Amazon

[retrofeedback]

New Romantic

"Some new romantic looking for the TV sound. Switch it off!"

Not just a lyric from Duran Duran's "Planet Earth", but a reference to the scene that the band formed from within.

Duran Duran came along a tiny bit later than the majority of bands that firmly placed themselves in the center of the New Romantic movement. A very short lived era in modern music history starting in 1979 and dead by 1985.

New Romanticism was founded by a love of art and style over substance. It's icons were David Bowie and Roxy Music who were well know for the stylistic approach to their music. Where the music was part of a larger artistic expression along with fashion and image.

Two London clubs were the heart of the scene, The Blitz and Billy's. The "founders" were Steven Strange and Rusty Egan who used the clubs for themed parties much in the vein as Studio 54 in New York. The concept was for the guests to dress as extravagantly as possible to call attention to themselves. This was escapism from the dreadful state of Thatcher England. Where Punk got in the face of Thatcherism, New Romantics withdrew into art and fantasy to create a whole new world for themselves.

Loosely based around the art and literary movement of the late 18th century; the bands took a Glam aesthetic, mixed in pre-Victorian fashion and incorporated synthesizers. It became a branch on the synthpop tree, but early on had a very unique and easily identifiable sound.

Bands like Steve Strange's Visage, which included members of Ultravox; Spandau Ballet; Duran Duran; ABC; Soft Cell; Adam and the Ants and Culture Club. Each band took their own approach to their interpretation of Romanticism with varying success. Duran Duran became staples of US radio and MTV, Culture Club had a string of hit singles and Spandau Ballet entered the US charts after modifying themselves into a more suave New Soul act. Adam and the Ants developed a strong following and, after going solo, Adam Ant had a couple US hits.

Where Visage, Ultravox and Duran Duran use stylistic synth sounds with strong sweeping vocals and electrobeats that worked well for the dance floor. Adam and the Ants used heavy African drumming and Native American chant style vocals to create infectious songs that had you tapping your feet. Culture Club barrowed from the Two Tone scene and included Motown and Philly Soul to round out their sound. At the base was all these artists viewed themselves as Artists and expressed themselves in everything they did, from fashion to  press shots to being pioneers of Music Video.

With the launch of MTV in 1981, at the height of the New Romantic period, these bands were able to provide the fledgling broadcaster with hours of content to program. In those days few artists used video production to promote themselves. MTV's other programming was mainly live tracks from long form concert films. The exposure of these acts to a market that was starving for something different than the bloated mainstream rock and pop rock of the day embraced the New Romantics along with all the other New Wave acts of the day. With many of these New Wave acts being British and many coming out of the New Romantic scene, the New Romantic drove the second British Invasion. Where at the peak in the mid-eighties more than half the US top hits were from British Acts. It was also lead to another peak in the music scene as a whole.

The demise of the New Romantic scene came about from many sources. Drugs and over indulgence tore apart some of the acts - such as Culture Club. Some bands kept their creative juices flowing and moved away from the "style over substance" and became more proficient with their music talents. There was also a backlash against these bands as being synthetic and untalented. Dismissed for their seemingly manufactured image of ruffled shirts and frizzed out hair. Oddly they were cast off as "hair bands" to be replaced by pseudo metal bands from the US that borrowed much of the same fashion, hair styles and overall image. Members of bands like Motley Crue and Poison could be interchanged with members of Visage and Duran Duran without being easily noticed - both wore colorful leather and lace with teased up hair. Just as New Romanticism was fading away Prince incorporated much of the image and style into his presence and sound during his Purple Rain era. Forming the New Romantic looking Revolution as his band and rolled it out to his protégés such as Sheila E, The Family, Vanity 6 and Maserati.

Many of the bands of the artists are still producing music today. Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet still tours performing their material. Ultravox and Adam Ant have regrouped for touring and producing new material. Boy George and Steve Strange have worked to overcome their addictions and break back into the music industry. Duran Duran has continued to produce new material consistently since their beginnings. Most of their work is met with favorable critical review but lags in the modern music market where they are often viewed as an "Oldies" act. Their 1993 self titles album produced one of their biggest singles ever, "Ordinary World" and in 2011 released their most recent recording All You Need is Now and was regarded as their best record since the 80s.

I recommend seeking out Visage's "Fade to Grey" along with early works by Spandau Ballet, Adam & the Ants and revisit Duran Duran, Culture Club and seek out other artists from the scene.

[king-daniel]

Marilyn & George

[denimchiken-blog]

Visit Original Link

Laura Marling- New Romantic There is no words to describe her voice

[idreamofafever]

I know I said I loved you but I'm thinking I was wrong, I'm the first to admit that I'm still pretty young, and I never meant to hurt you when I wrote you ten love songs. But a guy that I could never get 'cause his girlfriend was pretty fit and everyone who knew her loves her so. and I made you leave her for me and now I'm feeling pretty mean, but my mind has fucked me over more times than any man could ever know. Maybe I should give up, give in, give up trying to be thin, give up and turn into my mother, god knows I love her. And I'm sorry to which ever man should meet my sorry state, watch my steady lonesome gait and be aware. I would never love a man 'cause love and pain go hand in hand and I can't do it again. So we stayed up late one night to try and get our problems right, but I couldn't get into his head just what was going through my mind, and I think he knew where I was going  he put Bryan Adams on  I think he thinks it makes me weak it only ever makes me strong. I've got this friend and he sounds just like him, he's the man I'd leave you for, the man that I just adore like you. The same man, he turns to me he said "I've got to tell you how i feel,  if god could make the perfect girl for me it would be you  my god told me not tell about how much do you love your fella?"  I don't know more everyday not in this new romantic way. I'll always be your first love, you'll always be my first love. But I'm sorry to which ever man should meet my sorry state watch my steady lonesome gait and be aware, I will never love a man 'cause love and pain go hand in hand and I can't do it again. I will never love a man cause I could never hurt a man,  not in this new romantic way.

I can't stop listening to this song.

[idreamofafever]

"I will never love a man 'cause love and pain go hand in hand and I can't do it again."

-Laura Marling (New Romantic)