Who was the first pop star you ever fancied?

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In the spirit of one of the great pop books - Fred and Judy Vermorel's 'STARLUST' - I'm wondering about your early pop star crushes. Mine was sparked by an early 80s pic of the Human League in Smash Hits(I imagine it was around the time of (Keep Feeling) Fascination) and the sulky, sultry Joanne Catherall - sporting a very of-the-time off-the-shoulder M&S jumper - looked like the most ravishing thing I had ever seen. Now don't be shy... what about you?

― stevie t, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Belinda Carlisle in the video for Heaven is a Place on Earth. She dances round and round and the camera looks down her top from above. Just after the alleged cheek implant surgery, so I had to question my interest in 'natural' women.

― alex thomson, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Funnily enough, I remember a Guardian Women's Page article of the time lambasting sexism in pop videos, citing this video as an example of the rot. Turned out to have been directed by Diane Keaton (of all people)...

― stevie t, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Girl: Julie Felix. Remember defending her honour, at school, aged maybe 10 (me, I mean), cuz she'd been busted for smoking pot, and I didn't think this meant she was horrible, as my silly friend did.

Boy: Marc Bolan. HOWEVER, at much the same time I had a very complicated fear-fascination relationshiup to Slade, also, who I madea very conscious effort NOT to like, because if I did they would find out, come round to visit me, and (a) beat me up (b: same thing) gang-rape me. This was not cool; it just kept slipping under my intellectual guard.

― mark s, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

It's really rare for me to fancy pop stars. God knows it would be wiser/more explicable than some of the people I do fancy.

Anyway, Madonna, when I was 11 and she was in her puffball shirt/hair ribbons/fishnet phase (Like A Virgin to Into The Groove). There was kind of an everygirl thing going on by default in that all the girls at the school discos were trying to look like her except mostly they weren't allowed fishnets, I imagine. It never reached anything like Starlust proportions, though.

― Tom, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Probably Anni-Frid Lyngstad. She looked really great in the photos I received from the Abba fan club (UK branch: 34 Sheep Street, Swindon) and, while I was aware that Agnetha was supposed to be the pretty one, there was something about her (especially in the 'Name of the Game' video) that made my little heart race. Very distressed by the 'one of us is ugly/one of us is cute' line in the NTNON skit. She looked nothing like Griff Rhys-Jones.

Fast forward to something a little more, er, hormonal - Clare Grogan. Sorry for being so bloody obvious but, like Stevie's choice, knitwear-in-disarray plays a part here. Isn't it the 'I Could Be Happy' video where she's larking about in a big plush armchair, pulling her jumper over her hands and knees? Tasty, as the Pinefox would say.

― Michael Jones, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I didn’t really go for pop stars then either - I quite fancied a couple of obvious ones - Edwyn Collins in his Postcard days, and Ian Curtis I guess. I am jealous of Mark’s Slade gang-rape fantasy, that really is sick and perverse!

― Guy, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I vaguely remember fancying Luke Goss. After seeing that 80s show on BBC, I'm happy I didn't end up being harassed by any of the other Brosettes. Yikes, we were evil!

― Stevie Nixed, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

LL Cool J. I still have a thing about his dimples.

― Madchen, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Deborah Harry.

First came to my attention via the "Rapture" video ca. 81 (perceived her as beautiful, but was too young to "fancy" her). REALLY came to my attention ca. 85 when I taped the EAT TO THE BEAT video compilation off TV and watched repeatedly, obsessively. REALLY REALLY came to my attention 1989 when I saw her live twice at a small club in London (Borderline?). Stage was low and I was right in front of her microphone both gigs. Fucking magic. And she looked great despite the advancing years. (Also remember the Darling Buds singer being in the queue for tickets; she was eyeing me up.) Saw Deborah live in Auckland the following year and actually copped a feel. Then, couple months later - VOOOSH - lost interest.

(Er, lest above sound too devoted, Madonna ca. fishnets, Sheila E ca. having hits, and countless others had an impact. And yeah, that overhead Belinda Carlisle cleavage shot was textbook perfect.)

― AP, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Speaking of the Duran thread...John Taylor. He was just bee-you- tiful. How come boy bands never hire anyone this attractive, and stick with Screech wannabes like Justin Timberlake?

And also Nick Rhodes, sorta. In retrospect I think I just appreciated his clothes and makeup application techniques.

― Nicole, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

clare grogan. I still fancy her, especially when she was "niamh brennan" (IIRC) in "father ted".. ROWR.

x0x0

― norman "saddo" fay, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I didn't until I was late 12 / early 13. I mean, prior to that there were loads of female pop stars that I found really beautiful but I didn't want to date them, and then men just all were wrong for me. No points awarded to guessing the male pop star I decided I fancied in approx early 93.

I always liked madonna though, from like age 3 onwards.

― Ally, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I think it was the chick from Missing Persons in that wonderfully bleached out video with her breasts baring in the light.

― , Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

yes the brunette from abba, back when they were tucking their jeans into their boots. later, when i was much older, i turned to indie types like harriet wheeler and rachel goswell.

― keith, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I was fascinated by Deborah Harry when I was 8 or so. Esp. in that video on the heart-shaped or round bed. It's that age you really don't like girls and women have to be motherly to have any charm, but that was something different which I didn't really understand. Something I understood quite well with Madonna at the time of Like a Virgin. ;)

Rachel Goswell? Is that Rachel, Fair Indie Lady of Slowdive. Used to fancy her I must admit.

― Omar, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Ann and/or Nancy Wilson way back when...

― Tim Baier, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

hmm, yes i think i'll have to conform to indieboy stereotype and admit that Rachel Goswell was my popstar crush too. not sure if was first popstar fancied, think that might have been betty boo

― gareth, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Apart from Belinda Carlise (already mentioned!)...The woman from Transvision Vamp...what was her name, anyway, I liked her...

― james e l, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

This is going to date me, but it was Olivia Newton-John. And this was way before she got physical, kids. Those mid-70s album covers...oh my.

― Mark, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

SHit, Scott Baio was the first to ever yank me by the shorts...first pop star? Probably Jason Donovan after he got the mullet cut. Meanwhile i sit here thanking all deities that my taste in men has improved

― Geoff, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I almost brought up on the Kylie thread: "Jason Donovan: Why was he considered attractive?". It's not even the bleach blond mullet, but he was just so damn whiny...

― Nicole, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Cindy Lauper. Debbie Gibson next.

― Sterling Clover, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Yes, I expect I would.

Not necessarily about Clare Grogan, though. I suppose I should second what Tom says about Madonna, except that the 1986 version was the one for me. Was? Is!

― the pinefox, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I'm gonna buck the trend here and admity my undying love for Agnetha, back from the Waterloo days...I mean, c'mon, that huge mop of hair Frida was wearing on the cover there just didn't do it.

― Sean Carruthers, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Oh, and I still think that Kylie Minogue is one of the most beautiful pop stars of my generation's pop life.

Is this question healthy?

― the pinefox, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Assuming Ginger and Marianne don't count, Janet Jackson.

Probably not a healthy question, no.

― Keiko, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

It's not unhealthy unless you post twice.

Anyway, I remember being struck by how beautiful Elvis looked. In his coffin.

― Tanya, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Of course it's healthy. I'm being boring and saying Belinda Carlisle again. Even though it's the first time I've said it.

― Ally C, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I'm not sure this really counts as fancying, but I was rather keen on Madonna when I was 5, especially the 'Material Girl' vid. I AM a material girl!

― DG, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I tended to fixate on movie characters myself (significantly, not the stars). I've got heaps of music by beautiful women but very little, I think, by beautiful men. I vaguely remember thinking Billy Corgan was good looking, but then he shaved off his hair, and the dream turned to NIGHTMARE. Recently I've found that the overpowering smugness of the lead singer from Soul Decision repels yet fascinates me. He needs to be punished.

― Tim, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Boy George.

― Simon, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Not pop stars per se, but Siobhan Duffy from Gunga Din and the girl from Solex are both quite easy on the eyes.

― bnw, Monday, 23 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Kate Bush and Debbie Harry.

― Nick, Tuesday, 24 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

Duran Duran's John Taylor he was just beautiful!! Scott Baio was when I knew I had hormones!!

― Debbie, Tuesday, 24 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

After I got over my "fancying cartoons stage" (my boyfriend might say I never got over it, the way I go on about Shaggy off Scooby Doo and Jason off G Force) my first serious crush was Bobby Gillespie, at the time wearing implausibly tight leather trousers in the Jesus and Mary Chain.

Pwhoooaaaarrrr!!! etc.

We've been over this a thousand times.

― kate the saint, Friday, 27 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I hope I never have to go over Bobby Gillespie a thousand times.

― the pinefox, Sunday, 29 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

perhaps if you involve a large tractor of some sort

― ethan, Sunday, 29 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

I don't know. Tractors aren't as heavy as you might think - and the pressure is reduced by the large tyre surface. I'm sure quite a lot of people survive being run over by a tractor. Maybe if you attached big fuck-off spikes it might be OK.

― Nick, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-three years ago) link

one year passes...

http://www.east17online.co.uk/images/tonydogfood_small.jpg

― minna (minna), Friday, 6 December 2002 06:38 (twenty-one years ago) link

Full Name: Anthony Michael Mortimer
Date of Birth: 21st October 1970

Birth Place: Stepney in London
Star Sign: Libra

Eye Colour: Green
Hair Colour: Brown

Role Within The Band: Songwriter and Singer
Parents: Geraldine and Timothy

― minna (minna), Friday, 6 December 2002 06:47 (twenty-one years ago) link

tony mortimer essential quotes

"I'm really feminine. You have to be to write songs. Sometimes I catch my hands doing wonderful things and I think 'Oh God! Very feminine', but it doesn't bother me."

― minna (minna), Friday, 6 December 2002 06:48 (twenty-one years ago) link

Well, he is a Libran.

― Damian (Damian), Friday, 6 December 2002 09:24 (twenty-one years ago) link

My answer - probably someone like Debbie Gibson...even at that age I was divorcing looks from musical quality, but I suppose Electric Youth was tolerable once.

― Damian (Damian), Friday, 6 December 2002 09:34 (twenty-one years ago) link

It pains me to admit it but probably Roger Taylor from Duran Duran. Although if i'm being revisionist about it i'd probably say John Taylor. Morten Harket arrived about the same time as puberty, i feel slightly unnerved whenever i see him today.

― leigh (leigh), Friday, 6 December 2002 12:33 (twenty-one years ago) link

I was ten years old and I had just seen Belinda Carlisle for the first time. And here was this woman unlike any other woman I had ever seen. It was then I realized that women were for me. It wasn?t until I was seventeen that women realized I was for them?.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Friday, 6 December 2002 12:47 (twenty-one years ago) link

dee snider

― geeta (geeta), Friday, 6 December 2002 13:20 (twenty-one years ago) link

Marc Almond, Siouxsie Sioux. I was 11 or so. But they both sort of scared me so I settled for Adam Ant and John Taylor. Now I could just wish I had picked Nick Rhodes; he is still utterly swoonworthy.

― Zora (Zora), Friday, 6 December 2002 13:39 (twenty-one years ago) link

Bernadette Peters maybe, back in 6th or 7th grade. I'm not really big on pop star crushes.

― Rockist Scientist, Friday, 6 December 2002 14:36 (twenty-one years ago) link

Dee Snider gave me the heebies when i was about 9 or 10 after seeing Twisted Sister on Razzmatazz, he still scares the life out of me.

― leigh (leigh), Friday, 6 December 2002 14:41 (twenty-one years ago) link

wow, i was surprised to see other refs to nick rhodes. i'm a bit ashamed of having had a crush on him. simon le bon came second. i was waaay too obsessed with duran duran. with age, i came to my senses.

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Saturday, 7 December 2002 18:23 (twenty-one years ago) link

the Bangles

― A Nairn (moretap), Saturday, 7 December 2002 18:42 (twenty-one years ago) link

madonna. blame the "express yourself" video. Oh my god, she's like totally naked at the end! and doing it with that guy!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 7 December 2002 19:35 (twenty-one years ago) link

Liz Phair when I was thirteen.

― ian johnson, Saturday, 7 December 2002 19:40 (twenty-one years ago) link

I dunno, probably Annabella Lu-win from Bow Wow Wow. I was very young though, and not quite a crush (and certainly not "starlust"!), but there were certainly stirrings. Also Clare Grogan, Madonna and Kate Bush, I think. The usual. More fascinated by the girls at school in my early teens though, to be honest. Much more.

― DavidM (DavidM), Saturday, 7 December 2002 20:21 (twenty-one years ago) link

Julie Andrews

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 7 December 2002 20:30 (twenty-one years ago) link

http://home.earthlink.net/~elbroome/longet/art/ilovehow.jpg

― dan (dan), Saturday, 7 December 2002 22:07 (twenty-one years ago) link

Ah, to be 11 and not quite sure which Spice Girl to fancy (I eventually settled on Posh Spice, which was a terrible mistake in hindsight)

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Saturday, 7 December 2002 23:07 (twenty-one years ago) link

I was obsessed with many pop stars, but never really fancied as far as wanted to date or sleep with or something. I guess this is kind of weird.

― Sean (Sean), Sunday, 8 December 2002 01:06 (twenty-one years ago) link

paula abdul (this is true)!

― Josh (Josh), Sunday, 8 December 2002 01:34 (twenty-one years ago) link

Viv Albertine of The Slits.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Sunday, 8 December 2002 02:08 (twenty-one years ago) link

I didn't watch a lot of MTV, or any at all until I was about 11, so as a kid I just kind of imagined what my favorite rockstars looked like while listening to the radio. I associated the image of Vanna White with any female singer and for quite a long time I just assumed all bands that were not Metal looked like Mr. Mister. Then somehow I was exposed to 'Walk Like An Egyptian' and have been sweaty for Michael Steele (and brown-eyed female bassists in general) ever since.

― Tom Millar (Millar), Sunday, 8 December 2002 02:29 (twenty-one years ago) link

I never really fancied any pop stars until I saw the hope sandoval/JMC video. I've fancied hope ever since.

― webcrack (music=crack), Sunday, 8 December 2002 03:19 (twenty-one years ago) link

three years pass...

Agnetha, the blonde from Abba. For many people the queen of 1970s pop. I've been hooked since I was about 17. Sure, dark-haired Frida was pretty hot too (I certainly wouldn't have declined the chance of a date), and had an excellent voice. But why did guys then, and even now, go on so about the blonde? Why do I gaze longest at her? I think she certainly had the edge as far as looks were concerned. What man isn't driven at least a bit wild by thick, long, blonde hair? She was the youngest, too - still only 26 in 1976, arguably Abba's most popular and visible year of all, when the other band members were already into their 30s. And her body...you don't win awards for your rear for nothing!

― Ian Withoutam, Saturday, 27 May 2006 00:26 (eighteen years ago) link

Stevie Nicks, hands down.

― sleeve (sleeve), Saturday, 27 May 2006 02:13 (eighteen years ago) link

I have to give a third nomination to Deborah Harry. I think I was around 12 or so when Heart of Glass came out, and man! That voice of hers was all I needed...

Come to think of it, I think Ann-Margret, or should I say Ann-Margrock got me when she "appeared" on the Flintstones well before Deborah Harry gave me wood.

― shorty (shorty), Saturday, 27 May 2006 02:38 (eighteen years ago) link

Justin Timberlake...NSYNC was HUGE when I was in middle school. I remember borrowing my friend's copy of their debut album, putting it in my computer and watching the video for "Tearin' Up My Heart" 100000000000000 times. Especially the part where he goes "I'm goin' crazy without you" and does this poppin' thing and it totally blew my mind. Oh, and the video for Bye Bye Bye where he jumps from the sky and lands and the music stops and he kind of laughs and then it starts again and OMG SQUEE. The only other boy-bander who came close was Nick Carter, but psssh. It was a big deal at my school, the whole BSB v. NSYNC thing. Memories.

― musically (musically), Saturday, 27 May 2006 02:43 (eighteen years ago) link

Susan Dey as Laurie Partridge. I still lose it for girls w/high cheekbones+long straight hair + big eyes+ full lips.

Debbie Harry.

+ many many 70's (when I was a little one) Spanish pop star ladies whose names I can't recall at the moment but Bless You All.

― Jay Vee's Return (Manon_69), Saturday, 27 May 2006 02:48 (eighteen years ago) link

Bet you like Joni Mitchell then Jay? At least from the cheekbones up?

― shorty (shorty), Saturday, 27 May 2006 02:50 (eighteen years ago) link

Yep. Young Joni is lovely.

― Jay Vee's Return (Manon_69), Saturday, 27 May 2006 03:15 (eighteen years ago) link

Aaliyah, specifically in the "If Your Girl Only Knew" video.

― Dr. Rodney's Original Savannah Band (R. J. Greene), Saturday, 27 May 2006 03:23 (eighteen years ago) link

Donna Summer. ('specially the back cover of Bad Girls)

― Myonga Von Beauty (Monty Von Byonga), Saturday, 27 May 2006 04:46 (eighteen years ago) link

toni basil

― oops (Oops), Saturday, 27 May 2006 05:03 (eighteen years ago) link

I had to double-check Leigh's post up there to make sure I didn't write it myself, so yeah, Roger Taylor (but I often kid myself on it was John Taylor so I don't look like I had such rotten taste). But really, Morten Harket was the first real proper freaky obsessive one.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 27 May 2006 08:08 (eighteen years ago) link

Bjork circa Sugarcubes "Hit" video, maybe.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Saturday, 27 May 2006 08:24 (eighteen years ago) link

If "fancying" mean really paying attention rather than just noticing a cute singer, it must've been Heather Small of M People.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Saturday, 27 May 2006 14:12 (eighteen years ago) link

janet jackson

― and what (ooo), Saturday, 27 May 2006 14:13 (eighteen years ago) link

http://i.rollingstone.com/assets/rs/10/3441/images/83225.jpg

― Mary (Mary), Saturday, 27 May 2006 14:22 (eighteen years ago) link

It was a battle between Corey Hart and all four Bangles (especially Michael Steele), and Corey Hart won.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Saturday, 27 May 2006 15:27 (eighteen years ago) link

Samantha Fox or Susanna Hoffs. Not entirely certain who was the first.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Saturday, 27 May 2006 15:57 (eighteen years ago) link

Jody Watley
Debbie Gibson
Cathy Dennis

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Saturday, 27 May 2006 16:01 (eighteen years ago) link

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