Loyola Greyhound

Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Arts & Society

Media Credit: MCT campus Marilyn Manson's cover versions of great 80s synth songs such as "You Spin me Right Round" hooked me onto the electric pop sound.

I will freely admit it: I love the 80s. Even though I was not born until seven years into the decade, I admire many aspects of this crazy age. The crazy synthesizer-created electronic pop, the brat pack movies, the incredible fashion sense--all of it makes me warm and fuzzy inside.

I first caught onto the 80s sound when I heard Marilyn Manson's renditions of Dead or Alive's "You Spin me Right Round," Soft Cell's "Tainted Love," and Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus." Although his sultry dark tone took over most of the beat, the underlying melody perked my interest. After looking up the original versions, I was hooked.

Although, as in every decade, there are a variety of genres of music in the 80s, I love it all. However, I especially like the electric vocals and synthesizer sounds that seem to make up the majority of the popular songs. Fortunately, for me, this kind of music is making a comeback of sorts. With huge electronic-based artists making headlines in the alternative world, I do not have to worry about not being able to experience the 80s firsthand.

In recent years, thanks to the glory of Myspace, I have found a variety of synth-based rock bands that inspire feelings of nostalgia in me (even though I never actually had them).

One of them, fittingly named, is a Californian two-piece "band" called Electric Valentine. With lyrics capturing real feelings and catchy, throbbing light beats, singer Lauren and synth-tech Chris make the perfect pair for creating poppy new wave music. They even have an Alkaline Trio cover under their belt, which is impressive, considering the band has only been together a few short months (a side project of the pairs' other electronica band, A Kiss Could be Deadly). They also have performed with superstar, hot-pink goddess of vocal techno, Jeffree Star. All of Electric Valentine's music, including videos, is found on their Myspace, http://www.myspace.com/electricvalentine.

Even electronica music can have a spectrum. On one end are the light hearted, danceable pop-fueled ballads of fun. On the other are the almost industrial, heavy-bass-line interpretations of anger. Enter a band called Porcelain and the Tramps from Detroit. With dirty, growly lyrics and husky female vocals, it may be questionable as to whether this band is 80s synth-fueled or not. Truthfully, they do veer away from the happy sounds of Electric Valentine or Depeche Mode, but the band still has the fuel of excitement necessary to let loose and dance to manufactured sound. Fronted by a purple haired, dark-eyed suicide girl look-alike, Porcelain and the Tramps have lyrics that are insulting and disturbing, covering things from whores to drugs. My personal favorite song is "Leftovers," which contains taunting insults from one girl to another, saying that all the plastic surgery in the world wouldn't make her look as good as she is. Even though the lyrics are far from the happy, simple 80s words that I am so fond of, the under-beat to it is irresistible in its crazy danceable rhythm.

Recently, I came across the glory of European electronica music. As popular as hip-hop or emo here, artists such as David Guetta or Regi are more than sensational. Some of the songs are even named "Sensational." In the late 90s and early 2000s, Finnish artist Darude barreled to the top of the charts with his hits "Feel the Beat" and "Sandstorm." Made up entirely of beats with minimal words, they embraced the spirit of movement that I am so fond of from the 80s. That is why I am so happy to see it still strong in the European music scene.

I am far from finding out the full range of electronica music today. What I have heard, though, makes me think of the soundtrack to "The Breakfast Club" or "Class." I am pleasantly surprised that I enjoy music entirely made from machines and vocals.

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