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Mix Tape: Sad or dark songs by tacky/ camp bands

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I really had an urge to make a tape like this, but only really got as far as "Knowing me, knowing you" by Abba, "Superstar" by the Carpenters and possibly "Cosmic Dancer" by T-Rex. Anyone think of anything else that could go on there?

― Matthew (faster), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 08:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Roxette: 'It Must Have Been Love'

― Jay K (Jay K), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 09:02 (twenty-three years ago)

'he hit me and it felt like a kiss'

'better the devil you know'

― minna (minna), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 09:06 (twenty-three years ago)

Anything by the Gothic Archies.

"Find an open window" by the Future Bible Heroes.

Fuck it, any number of things by Stephin Merritt.

― Blood and sparkles (bloodandsparkles), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 09:28 (twenty-three years ago)

"shape of my heart" back street boys
"can't get you out of my head" kylie
"

― michael wells (michael w.), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 09:41 (twenty-three years ago)

tainted love

― brains (cerybut), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 09:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Well there's I Bloodbrother Be, by the Shockheaded Peters...which will certainly raise a few eyebrows ;-)

― Jez (Jez), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 13:43 (twenty-three years ago)

top choice jez - one of thee greatest songs ever.

― stirmonster, Tuesday, 3 December 2002 13:47 (twenty-three years ago)

"Walking in the Rain" by Flash & the Pan.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 14:09 (twenty-three years ago)

ahhh...oran "juice" jones? a fine, fine artist of the 80's. it took a while to be convinced that he wasn't arsenio hall. after all, eddie murphy had a girl that liked to party all the time.

― jq higgins, Tuesday, 3 December 2002 15:11 (twenty-three years ago)

Who needs Stephin Merritt when you can go straight to the source -- Marc Almond and Soft Cell? (This suggestion is in NO WAY BIASED by the brilliant show I saw the duo do last night, of course.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 15:30 (twenty-three years ago)

Love To Hate You

― Mr Swygart (mrswygart), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 15:46 (twenty-three years ago)

The early '80s are a minefield of pseudo-dark and intense songs by campy acts (although I don't think they thought they were camp at the time):

In the Air Tonight by Sir Phil Collins
Maneater by Hall & Oates
Sunglasses at Night by Corey Hart
Shadows of the Night by Pat Nebatar
Pressure by Billy Joel

I guess those are more brooding than sad or dark, but, well...

― Aaron W, Tuesday, 3 December 2002 18:22 (twenty-three years ago)

"Life Is Real (for John Lennon)" by Queen. Off Hot Space.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 18:38 (twenty-three years ago)

The most over-the-top selfish whining of the 80's appears in Moving Pictures' "What About Me."

Bread has plenty of songs that fit this thread, "Diary" being my personal favorite.

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 18:52 (twenty-three years ago)

Funny how Nilsson, who certainly did often present himself as winkingly "camp", produced so many REALLY sad, dark songs. Because it was such a big hit, "Without You" represents some kind of dark camp apotheosis.

Oh, and it's a tough call whether or not to take Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again" seriously.

― briania, Wednesday, 4 December 2002 19:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Falco - Jeanny
Abba - The Day Before You Came
Aqua - Turn Back Time
Modern Talking - Diamonds Never Made A Lady (it doesn't get more tacky than this, really)

― Siegbran (eofor), Wednesday, 4 December 2002 19:59 (twenty-three years ago)


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