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-two years ago)

Roxette: 'It Must Have Been Love'

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

tainted love

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

top choice jez - one of thee greatest songs ever.

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

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

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

Love To Hate You

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

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

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


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