Love Howard Jones - got to see him concert back in the day! Some of my favorites are "Like to get to Know you Well," "Things can only get Better," "What is Love," and "New Song" - just to name a few.
This is on the soundtrack for the motion picture “Valley Girl”, which was one of Nicolas Cages first movies! The music is solid 80’s New Wave, and you will both LOVE the movie ♥️ The fashion is straight up 1980’s California Valley Girl, Amber! You will dig it 😍 Love your channel!!!
This is one of the songs from the first two years of MTV. The songs in that time period were very unique and will probably never be duplicated. I would love to see you react to a bunch of songs from those couple of years, such as Never Say Never by Romeo Void, Love Plus One by Haircut 100, Mickey by Toni Basil, Situation by Yaz (aka Yazoo), Don't Go by Yaz, The Look Of Love by ABC, I Want Candy by Bow Wow Wow, Puttin On The Ritz by Taco, Pop Muzik by M, etc
Those are all great songs! I'll add a few: In A Big Country by Big Country, Red Skies At Night by The Fixx, Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves, Rock Me Amadeus by Falco
For more 80s "new wave", you might want to try "Lips like Sugar" by Echo and the Bunnymen, "One Thing Leads to Another by The Fixx, or "Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo. All 80s standards.
Yes, "Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo is a must. The lead singer, Limahl went on to sing the title song to the film "Never Ending Story" - also another must review. It was played on an episode of Stranger Things!
Definitely part of the " New Wave" of British bands in the late 70's and early 80's with The Fixx, Duran Duran, Flock of Seagulls ,Madness, Men Without Hats...etc. great time for music,early 80's was
In the L.A. area we had a station called KROQ (pronounced k-rock) that played all the New Wave and alternative. It was KIIS FM (kiss fm) for top 40 and Kasey Kasem's weekly top 40. Good times growing up as a teen in the 80s
The 80's had tons of foreign bands that would chart in America once with a killer song and this is probably the best. It has been in a whole lot of movies, too.
I think the *Rob Squad* should check out The Plimsouls "A Million Miles Away" from the same movie (Valley Girl) It's a great New Wave song. AND the video is full of amazing 80's sights and fashions.
A few hits from around the same time, you might like, are "always something there to remind me" by Naked Eyes, "she's a beauty" by The Tubes, "no one ever is to blame", by Howard Jones, and "kids in America" by Kim Wilde. All great songs in their own right
They did the Tubes' "Talk to Ya Later", but "She's a Beauty" is another great choice. I would also recommend a band called The Fixx, who had great hits like "Red Skies at Night" and "One Thing Leads to Another". Totally second Naked Eyes!
@@LaptopLarry330 Stand or fall is a great song. I was a junior and at a laundry mat with this girl it was raining went outside under the covered walkway to smoke and this song was playing in the speaker above.
Been waiting for Ambers reaction to this…something else to add to your 80’s list would be “The Metro” by Berlin or “Blister In The Sun” by Violent Femmes
Would LOVE to hear Violent Femmes, although "Blister in the Sun" is my least favorite song of their's. I would rather hear "Add it Up," or "Special." Also, the Interrupters do an incredible version of the song "Metro," but either way, it's a cool song.
For those of us who lived the 80s and were into the world of music's post-punk new wave, this song is a classic. It was (eventually) in movies, on the radio, and playing at parties through the early to mid-80s. The song was one of the few that skater punks, new wavers, goths, and the mainstream could all agree on as brilliant.
This always reminds me of the movie “Valley Girl.” I love this song and I listen to it when I go jogging. Easily one of the best New Wave/Pop songs ever!
This is a British band from the eighties new wave/post-punk era and this was their biggest hit in the U.S. This song was in so many eighties teen movies! Smash hit!❤️❤️
The transformation from punk to New Wave. Reached a bigger audience. Punk rock didn't get much air time but new Wave really caught on. Blondie, the knack, the cure, the police and the Cars, before they went more mainstream, all created a new sound and sold out concerts.
I came of age in the 80s and was very much in the new wave/almost punk scene in our then small city. I’ve never been one for attaching huge significance between songs and a time in my life but THIS song epitomizes that special time in my life. It was a standard, almost an anthem for us. We sang with it, we danced our asses off to it. It’s truly a classic of that era.
You guys just played the song that my entire high school years centered around. Modern English was a predominately punk band but got talked into creating more pop album by the producer which was a huge hit. If you ever get the chance, listen to After the Snow, worth it.
This one slots right in the beginning of the New Romantics movement (New Wave). Even though it's another one hit wonder, this and a few others altered pop music's course. Jay and Amber- Yes you're correct. As the name would imply The Clash is a little more hard edged, a little more punk. There are obviously more ME songs, but no big hits. This was it. I can turn you on to similar music that isn't from ME, but you would still enjoy.
@@bethmiller1840 Well if Jay and Amber are "eavesdropping" I might suggest that they start with Human League. Human League hits would include "Don't You Want Me", "Fascination", and "Mirror Man". I would also make note that while "Mirror Man wasn't their biggest hit, it's unique for the time, even sounding a little like it has a Motown influence.
I would like to see Jay and Amber react to some music videos by Adam And The Ants, which is a "New Romantic" band that does not get its share of respect by modern music listeners. The band got a lot of airplay for their music videos on MTV, and they even aired one of their concerts on the channel. Some Adam And The Ants music videos that I would like to see reacted to, are "Stand And Deliver", "Antmusic", "Dog Eat Dog", "Prince Charming", and "Ant Rap".
While everyone knows this song, it wasn't even a Hit; never came close to the Top 40. When it was first released, it made it to 78 on the Hot 100. And when it was rereleased in 1990, it made it to 76 on the Hot 100.
@@sonsofthesportsguy According to Wikipedia, "I Melt With You" reached Number 7 on the Billboard US Rock Chart, which lists songs that get airplay on radio stations across the US. The song indeed did get a lot of airplay on radio stations at the time, and the music video got extensive airplay on MTV, and the song is a regular staple on 1980s Oldies Rock radio stations today. Modern English was signed to the small 4AD Records label, and therefore was unable to sell additional records outside of the major US cities. With the exceptions of a handful of years when they were broken up, Modern English reformed again, and is still active today as a Rock group.
Good job guys. You are getting it. There doesn't have to be a deep hidden meaning in everything. Spend too much time looking for that, and you miss out on the music itself. Just listen and let the music move you. My mother's young years spanned across Big Band, Swing, Jitterbug among others. It was the Swing and Jitterbug music that helped her ease into the music of my Brother's generation (10 years older than me) which included the 60's and 70's -- Beatles, Credence, Mamma' and the Pappa's; Animals, etc. She liked that stuff. Then with me, the 70's and 80's she eased into Punk, New Wave; Soul and Blues. She did not look for hidden meanings, she was drawn to the beat; the rhythm; and the groove of the music. She even liked Prince and Billy Idol. Thanks to young people like you two, for opening your minds to all kinds of music -- there is so much out there. It is almost a crime to live with tunnel vision, only experiencing one type.
Early 80s new wave. Pop/rock songs are usually written on a piano or acoustic guitar. Also the new wave music usually emphasized synthesizers instead of the lead guitar.
Awesome song! The Smiths, The Cure, New Order, Joy Division Depeche Mode, Morrissey, General Public, Psychedelic Furs, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Sundays, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Church, The Sugarcubes….so many great bands/songs from 80’s New Wave
☢️ If you’re gonna die in a nuclear war, might as well be making love and “melt” together!! This song and REM’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” were super popular nuclear war songs of the era. Genesis’ (Phil Collins’ band) had a popular song with a great video for “Land of Confusion” with “famous” puppets and the concept of nuclear war. That would be a great video for the channel as it’s super unique! ☢️
Another artist that you guys might wanna check out is *Elvis Costello* especially if you're diggin' *Modern English* they both have kinda the same vibe. It's funny because my mom had *Elvis Presley* for a hero and I had *Elvis Costello.* Some of his tunage to get acquainted with *Every Day I Write The Book, Watching The Detectives, Man Out Of Time, Accidents Will Happen, I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down, Pump It Up, Veronica, Radio Radio* and *Allison.* Get to know the other *Elvis* you'll be pleasantly surprised. *Love ❤️ Peace ✌️ and Happiness 😃 Y'all !!*
I had the album this was from and it was generally good. One of the really nice things about the British and Irish music of that era is how good the bassists were. There were so many good bassists. It's rare for me to hear something new where the bassline sounds as good. Also, I liked the way their sound suited my ported speakers. I thought ported speakers were interesting then and actually made a pair. There is an equation you have to use to figure out how to do the port properly.
AHHH, what we called bounce or jump rock in the 80's.......me and my gang went to a club called Art Stocks in New Brunswick NJ, and the whole place was literally jumping all night to these songs, but really in the PUNK era......... a house band called The Watch played this stuff really well.
Modern English can probably be considered a one hit wonder, but this song was hugely influential. If you like singers with a heavy Brit vibe you should check out the legendary band The Jam. "Town called malice" is a great place to start.
Definitely not a one hit wonder.. they had numerous albums from 1979 till 87 when they dismantled, got back together 2 years later, then broke up again a few years later and reunited in 1995-96 and continued to make music.
Back in the day, this band was classified as ‘new wave’. That was a label that included bands like Flock of Seagulls, Depeche Mode, Human League, Duran Duran, etc.. Basically anything that deviated from classic rock during the late ‘70’s to early ‘80’s. The lyrics to this song can be deceptive. Although it sounds like a typical love song, it’s really about nuclear Armageddon and what one would do if the world were ending. BTW, although I don’t know who performs it, there is a reggae version of this song that was also a hit.
My fav New Wave band! This song is what my blood is made of. I saw them at the Cabaret Metro in Chicago when this song came out. It's like it was yesterday in my heart. Song has never lost any of it's shine - it's always great every time I hear it!
From 1982. Always loved this song. Forgot about it for a long time but then during the pandemic saw that they got together virtually and did this song again. Interesting seeing how they changed in 38 years. Lead singer looked the same (just older), but the guitarist was shockingly different. Check it out - sounds just as great as the original - czcams.com/video/tvwm8KA0d_I/video.html
This is such a classic. Definitely reflecting the bleakness of the time. We often associate the 80s with fun and and think it was all a party, but the 80s were rough as well (Thatcher and Reagan were not the widely beloved leaders they’re portrayed as in movies and political speeches). This is one of those songs that transports you to a specific time and place and yet is timeless.
This Canadian girl was in Oceanside, California the Summer this movie and song came out. My first friend that I met was a real deal Valley Girl from Los Angeles who was staying with her Auntie for the Summer.. as I was staying with mine for the Summer! It was so surreal.. and some boys on the beach taught us to surf that Summer!! I loved the Josie Cotton songs on the soundtrack so much.. "Johnny Are You" and "He Could Be The One" Also loved The Psychedelic Furs "Love My Way". Oh and of course I was also singing Moon Unit Zappa's song that wasn't on the soundtrack.. but is called "Valley Girl" ... like totally... like fer sure.... like gag me with a spoon!!! 🤣 Soooooo... needless to say.. I LOVE this song by Modern English.. and it made my night to see you all reacting to it today!!!
You don't get many love songs set during a nuclear fallout, do you? I Melt with You literally means just that; I melt with you due to nuclear apocalypse.
A few random reaction suggestions: - Sellout by Reel Big Fish - Funkytown by Lipps, Inc. - Who’s Holding Donna Now by El DeBarge - I Heard A Rumour by Bananarama - Rio by Duran Duran - New York Mining Disaster 1941 by Bee Gees - Rise by Herb Alpert Definitely more Wham! Songs: - Everything She Wants - I’m Your Man - Freedom
While Modern English didn’t have any other hits, in the U.S. at least, the entire album where this song appears (After the Snow) is outstanding. My second favorite is After the Snow, but the whole album is worth listening to. This song brings back such feelings for me because it is mine and my husbands song. ❤️
Theres a REALLY cool version of this song that modern English put out during the pandemic Lockdown. Cool to see them still sounding great, nearly 40 years later. Its on CZcams "I'll melt with you (lockdown version)"
Such a great pop song from the 80s. They had a follow-up song (Ink and Paper) that I also liked but it never really took off. You can find it on CZcams though!
A defining song of postpunk / new wave 80s, Modern English never had another "hit". This is one of the most played songs in American radio history, yet never charted higher than 76 on the charts. Still, it's among the most beloved songs from the era.
This song is in my top 5 favorites of all time. It is one of the most Romantic songs ever written. Written in the early 80s during the peak of the cold War. The songs meaning is the couple is making love when the bomb is dropped and they melt away together.
There was a time in the 80s when Punk Rock started to morph into New Wave, you can hear this when Joy Division turned into New Order. This song is a great example of that. Check out the movie 24 Hour Party People to learn more about that time. ✌️
Not only is there an acoustic guitar, but it's a 12 string! Usually if it's in a rock-ish tune, it's used to create layers. This style is called New Wave- it's adjacent to punk and grew out of that very experimental style and ethos. If you liked this, I would recommend checking out Love Song by the Cure. They were also a New Wave-ish sound that grew up alongside the punk movement but never were punk. They're kind of proto-goth (they would have been called New Romantics in the UK- bands like the Stranglers, Trobbing Gristle, Kraftwerk, etc would be somewhat in that same hard to define punk adjacent place.
This was NEW WAVE music which started in the late 1970s and popular through most of the 1980s. The best I can describe it is that it evolved from punk rock and combined with pop mainly from the UK. Maybe someone else has a better description?
Modern English was my favorite band in 1982 … this song represents my junior and senior years in high school.. great times and great friends… This song and so many others were considered NewWave/Post Punk… other bands to react to from the early 80’ would be The Plimsouls.. The Sparks..The Psychedelic Firs… Josie Cotton… watch the 1983 movie Valley Girl… it was totally my life as a teen..
Sorry i disagree with those who says that this band is one hit wonder. INK & PAPER & HANDS ACCROSS THE SEA. They may not be a big hit in the US but they have followings in other places
The British invasion never ended with the Beatles in the 80s we had what I would call a sort of punk pop rock very British but it was popular here in the states also I noticed you've done a couple of others flock of seagulls was one of them it was popular radio play
One of the first songs of MTV's early days! For whatever reason, this song became a favorite of mine, and I, to this day, will shush everybody in the car and turn this up when it comes on! Stay safe!
new wave music was a different sound in the 80s vs what was sort of motown or R and B Prince, michael jackson, gap band, morris day. im my school you could spot the new wave kids by the way they dressed sort of punk. mostly everybody listened to a little of everything.
It's kinda new-wavy but it takes a bunch from the post-punk movement which in the 80s went both ways to the new wave and to the gothic. Talking about the latter, take a look at Bauhaus, Love and Rockets, Peter Murphy, Nick Cave, Echo & The Bunntmen, Sisters of Mercy and The Mission, just to mention a few, and you'll find sounds you might have never heard before
I love you guys! 😊 Thank you again! I can't resist adding a bit of '80s history (sorry). The "New Wave" came out of the '70s "Techno" and "Punk" influences, with a desire to make them more mainstream. Thus, some new wavers were heavy on synth, while others favored punk-style guitar. There was a broad mix, but toward the end of the decade "Synth Pop" emerged as something separate from the guitar bands (which became late '80s "Alternative" - bands like INXS, REM, The Cure, Midnight Oil, etc.). Modern English is one of those "Mixed" bands.
At the time this came out, America had started MTV without having really any American bands that actually had a real music videos. That's how these guys and XTC and U2 ect ect got popular. It took American music a couple years to catch up with content. Even Canada was ahead of the game at the time. In the beginning of the video age, all American bands could put forth was recorded concert footage. Seems like a lifetime ago
British bands had promotional videos at this time, so they could be shown on BBC 1 chart programme Top of the Pops instead of appearing on the programme if they were touring. Promotional videos were also featured on British children's Saturday morning programmes like Multi Coloured Swap Shop and Tiswas,which were very useful as the kids would then go to their local Woolworths or Boots and buy the single they watched on television. This is probably why there was a second British Invasion of the American charts in the early eighties,because of blanket coverage of British bands on MTV.
New Wave, and part of the second British Invasion.....the 80's were such a creative time, everyone trying to be different and unique. A good time to be in your early 20's. 😃
It's called New Wave. And was used in the Classic movie Valley Girl. A must watch. Explains a lot about the early 80s
Explains 80's..... in California..... that never happened in philly in the 80s
Great movie from a great decade !
Valley Girl is still a great movie.
@@mikemclaughlin3306 too bad California is trash now....well the whole US, Biden.
I think it was Nicholas Cage's 1st feature film (or 1 of his 1st)...I loved that movie!
Howard Jones is another 80s performer that Amber would love. "No One Is To Blame" is a great song
He’s got a few great songs
I saw him in concert a few months ago.
love Howard Jones!!!
@@Mark-zu6oz I saw him before the pandemic... brought me right back to childhood!!
Love Howard Jones - got to see him concert back in the day! Some of my favorites are "Like to get to Know you Well," "Things can only get Better," "What is Love," and "New Song" - just to name a few.
No matter which greatest hits of the 80’s you listen too, this song will almost always be on the playlist 😎
👍
This is on the soundtrack for the motion picture “Valley Girl”, which was one of Nicolas Cages first movies! The music is solid 80’s New Wave, and you will both LOVE the movie ♥️ The fashion is straight up 1980’s California Valley Girl, Amber! You will dig it 😍 Love your channel!!!
Beat me to it. When I saw it was this song, I was going to mention "Valley Girl".
I was a teenager in 1982 this song and movie were my life story.
Valley Girl let the world know about Plimsouls, too. I'd love to see RSR react to "A Million Miles Away". :)
My favorite song and movie from the early 80’s… reminds me of high school days.
I love that movie
This is one of the songs from the first two years of MTV. The songs in that time period were very unique and will probably never be duplicated. I would love to see you react to a bunch of songs from those couple of years, such as Never Say Never by Romeo Void, Love Plus One by Haircut 100, Mickey by Toni Basil, Situation by Yaz (aka Yazoo), Don't Go by Yaz, The Look Of Love by ABC, I Want Candy by Bow Wow Wow, Puttin On The Ritz by Taco, Pop Muzik by M, etc
ABC had some hits for sure.
Good to hear Romeo Void getting some love 👍
I wholeheartedly agree with you. Especially Yaz/Yazoo, From “Upstairs with Eric” album.👍🏼
Those are all great songs! I'll add a few: In A Big Country by Big Country, Red Skies At Night by The Fixx, Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves, Rock Me Amadeus by Falco
Don't forget ""Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo, "Blue Monday" by New Order, or "People Are People" by my personal fav Depeche Mode!
For more 80s "new wave", you might want to try "Lips like Sugar" by Echo and the Bunnymen, "One Thing Leads to Another by The Fixx, or "Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo. All 80s standards.
Definitely need to do som Fixx!!!!
Yes, "Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo is a must. The lead singer, Limahl went on to sing the title song to the film "Never Ending Story" - also another must review. It was played on an episode of Stranger Things!
I would put "Killing Moon" by Echo and the Bunnymen on there too!
Echo Beach (Martha and the Muffins) is another good song (1980)
@@williamarmstrong7721 YES! to Limahl and Neverending story.
Definitely part of the " New Wave" of British bands in the late 70's and early 80's with The Fixx, Duran Duran, Flock of Seagulls ,Madness, Men Without Hats...etc. great time for music,early 80's was
men whitout hats are a Canadian band from Montréal.
Jay and Amber, you guys haven't reacted to enough New Wave.
In the L.A. area we had a station called KROQ (pronounced k-rock) that played all the New Wave and alternative. It was KIIS FM (kiss fm) for top 40 and Kasey Kasem's weekly top 40. Good times growing up as a teen in the 80s
@@bethmiller1840 Totally agree with your comment!
Yes! The Safety Dance by Men Without Hats! Classic OHW!
One of the best one-hit wonders ever!
I always feel like I'm in a John Hughes movie when I hear this song, it's just so quintessential 80s.
Quintessential is a fun word to say!! ✌
The 80's had tons of foreign bands that would chart in America once with a killer song and this is probably the best. It has been in a whole lot of movies, too.
And Burger King commercials.
I loved this song but I loved "Pretty in Pink" and "Love my Way" even more
I think the *Rob Squad* should check out The Plimsouls "A Million Miles Away" from the same movie (Valley Girl) It's a great New Wave song. AND the video is full of amazing 80's sights and fashions.
Naked Eyes- Always Something There To Remind Me. Another early 80s new wave great banger that you would likely enjoy! Great reaction to M English!
That's a great song too.
A great cover..
That's a good one!
That was synth pop, not New Wave.
A few hits from around the same time, you might like, are "always something there to remind me" by Naked Eyes, "she's a beauty" by The Tubes, "no one ever is to blame", by Howard Jones, and "kids in America" by Kim Wilde. All great songs in their own right
That is supposed to be Howard Jones.
@@LaptopLarry330 thanks for catching that. I knew his name was Jones, don't know why I wrote Johnson.
They did the Tubes' "Talk to Ya Later", but "She's a Beauty" is another great choice. I would also recommend a band called The Fixx, who had great hits like "Red Skies at Night" and "One Thing Leads to Another". Totally second Naked Eyes!
@@Shrykespeare Some other songs/music videos by The Fixx that I would like to see Jay and Amber react to are ""Stand Or Fall", and "Saved By Zero".
@@LaptopLarry330 Stand or fall is a great song. I was a junior and at a laundry mat with this girl it was raining went outside under the covered walkway to smoke and this song was playing in the speaker above.
Been waiting for Ambers reaction to this…something else to add to your 80’s list would be “The Metro” by Berlin or “Blister In The Sun” by Violent Femmes
Anything by the Violent Femmes
Berlin is a great suggestion!
Would LOVE to hear Violent Femmes, although "Blister in the Sun" is my least favorite song of their's. I would rather hear "Add it Up," or "Special."
Also, the Interrupters do an incredible version of the song "Metro," but either way, it's a cool song.
The Metro, yes!!
For those of us who lived the 80s and were into the world of music's post-punk new wave, this song is a classic. It was (eventually) in movies, on the radio, and playing at parties through the early to mid-80s. The song was one of the few that skater punks, new wavers, goths, and the mainstream could all agree on as brilliant.
This always reminds me of the movie “Valley Girl.” I love this song and I listen to it when I go jogging. Easily one of the best New Wave/Pop songs ever!
Valley Girl had such a great soundtrack.
Randy and Julie falling in love scenes.
This is a British band from the eighties new wave/post-punk era and this was their biggest hit in the U.S. This song was in so many eighties teen movies! Smash hit!❤️❤️
The transformation from punk to New Wave. Reached a bigger audience. Punk rock didn't get much air time but new Wave really caught on. Blondie, the knack, the cure, the police and the Cars, before they went more mainstream, all created a new sound and sold out concerts.
To me, this song IS the ‘80s. Best song of the decade IMO
I came of age in the 80s and was very much in the new wave/almost punk scene in our then small city. I’ve never been one for attaching huge significance between songs and a time in my life but THIS song epitomizes that special time in my life. It was a standard, almost an anthem for us. We sang with it, we danced our asses off to it. It’s truly a classic of that era.
That music genre was called New Wave.Huge in the 80's.
You guys just played the song that my entire high school years centered around. Modern English was a predominately punk band but got talked into creating more pop album by the producer which was a huge hit. If you ever get the chance, listen to After the Snow, worth it.
Part of what I always called the second British invasion in the 80's. I loved this song when it came out.
This is one of those songs that are timeless.
One of my favorite early 80's song. Love this song.
This one slots right in the beginning of the New Romantics movement (New Wave). Even though it's another one hit wonder, this and a few others altered pop music's course.
Jay and Amber-
Yes you're correct. As the name would imply The Clash is a little more hard edged, a little more punk.
There are obviously more ME songs, but no big hits. This was it. I can turn you on to similar music that isn't from ME, but you would still enjoy.
I'd be interested in your suggestions! This song huge when I went to college and graduate school!
@@bethmiller1840 Well if Jay and Amber are "eavesdropping" I might suggest that they start with Human League. Human League hits would include "Don't You Want Me", "Fascination", and "Mirror Man". I would also make note that while "Mirror Man wasn't their biggest hit, it's unique for the time, even sounding a little like it has a Motown influence.
I would like to see Jay and Amber react to some music videos by Adam And The Ants, which is a "New Romantic" band that does not get its share of respect by modern music listeners. The band got a lot of airplay for their music videos on MTV, and they even aired one of their concerts on the channel. Some Adam And The Ants music videos that I would like to see reacted to, are "Stand And Deliver", "Antmusic", "Dog Eat Dog", "Prince Charming", and "Ant Rap".
While everyone knows this song, it wasn't even a Hit; never came close to the Top 40. When it was first released, it made it to 78 on the Hot 100. And when it was rereleased in 1990, it made it to 76 on the Hot 100.
@@sonsofthesportsguy According to Wikipedia, "I Melt With You" reached Number 7 on the Billboard US Rock Chart, which lists songs that get airplay on radio stations across the US. The song indeed did get a lot of airplay on radio stations at the time, and the music video got extensive airplay on MTV, and the song is a regular staple on 1980s Oldies Rock radio stations today. Modern English was signed to the small 4AD Records label, and therefore was unable to sell additional records outside of the major US cities. With the exceptions of a handful of years when they were broken up, Modern English reformed again, and is still active today as a Rock group.
This song always takes me right back to the 80s. The whole energy and vibe of where i was in the moment.
Good job guys. You are getting it. There doesn't have to be a deep hidden meaning in everything. Spend too much time looking for that, and you miss out on the music itself. Just listen and let the music move you. My mother's young years spanned across Big Band, Swing, Jitterbug among others. It was the Swing and Jitterbug music that helped her ease into the music of my Brother's generation (10 years older than me) which included the 60's and 70's -- Beatles, Credence, Mamma' and the Pappa's; Animals, etc. She liked that stuff. Then with me, the 70's and 80's she eased into Punk, New Wave; Soul and Blues. She did not look for hidden meanings, she was drawn to the beat; the rhythm; and the groove of the music. She even liked Prince and Billy Idol. Thanks to young people like you two, for opening your minds to all kinds of music -- there is so much out there. It is almost a crime to live with tunnel vision, only experiencing one type.
One of the best pop songs of all time...along with Just Like Heaven, by The Cure.
Early 80s new wave. Pop/rock songs are usually written on a piano or acoustic guitar. Also the new wave music usually emphasized synthesizers instead of the lead guitar.
Awesome song! The Smiths, The Cure, New Order, Joy Division Depeche Mode, Morrissey, General Public, Psychedelic Furs, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Sundays, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Church, The Sugarcubes….so many great bands/songs from 80’s New Wave
OMG Morrissey. Amber would LOVE that man's voice. "Every Day Is Like Sunday" is a great place to start on that journey.
Now that's a killer list the church doesn't get enough love.
@@Shrykespeare he might be an ahole irl lol, but he’s such a great songwriter and singer
@@ronparsons8786 for sure!
This reminds me of "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell. And "Tempted" by Squeeze.
One of my favorites songs from a movie Valley girls, that had an excellent soundtrack.
☢️ If you’re gonna die in a nuclear war, might as well be making love and “melt” together!! This song and REM’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” were super popular nuclear war songs of the era. Genesis’ (Phil Collins’ band) had a popular song with a great video for “Land of Confusion” with “famous” puppets and the concept of nuclear war. That would be a great video for the channel as it’s super unique! ☢️
As a Gen X kid, this song always brings back great memories! #❤The 80's!
Great song!! ❤️
I almost forgot, this is from the Movie “Valley Girl”.
Another artist that you guys might wanna check out is *Elvis Costello* especially if you're diggin' *Modern English* they both have kinda the same vibe. It's funny because my mom had *Elvis Presley* for a hero and I had *Elvis Costello.* Some of his tunage to get acquainted with *Every Day I Write The Book, Watching The Detectives, Man Out Of Time, Accidents Will Happen, I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down, Pump It Up, Veronica, Radio Radio* and *Allison.* Get to know the other *Elvis* you'll be pleasantly surprised. *Love ❤️ Peace ✌️ and Happiness 😃 Y'all !!*
Throw in Oliver's Army, and you've got yourself a deal!
Respectfully,
Andy NOT Annmarie
I had the album this was from and it was generally good. One of the really nice things about the British and Irish music of that era is how good the bassists were. There were so many good bassists. It's rare for me to hear something new where the bassline sounds as good. Also, I liked the way their sound suited my ported speakers. I thought ported speakers were interesting then and actually made a pair. There is an equation you have to use to figure out how to do the port properly.
Great song! Kind of a one-hit wonder in the US. "Hands Across the Sea" was their other charting song.
AHHH, what we called bounce or jump rock in the 80's.......me and my gang went to a club called Art Stocks in New Brunswick NJ, and the whole place was literally jumping all night to these songs, but really in the PUNK era......... a house band called The Watch played this stuff really well.
Definitely one of the best songs from the 80s
Modern English can probably be considered a one hit wonder, but this song was hugely influential. If you like singers with a heavy Brit vibe you should check out the legendary band The Jam. "Town called malice" is a great place to start.
Can never go wrong with The Jam!!!
"Town Called Malice" is a dangerous driving song! It makes me want to drive at unsafe speeds!
Definitely not a one hit wonder.. they had numerous albums from 1979 till 87 when they dismantled, got back together 2 years later, then broke up again a few years later and reunited in 1995-96 and continued to make music.
A true New Wave anthem. This is exactly the beat I think of when I remember being in dance clubs back in the day!
@@rbash yes… agreed…. I’m in my late 50’s and I still love this song!
Back in the day, this band was classified as ‘new wave’. That was a label that included bands like Flock of Seagulls, Depeche Mode, Human League, Duran Duran, etc.. Basically anything that deviated from classic rock during the late ‘70’s to early ‘80’s.
The lyrics to this song can be deceptive. Although it sounds like a typical love song, it’s really about nuclear Armageddon and what one would do if the world were ending.
BTW, although I don’t know who performs it, there is a reggae version of this song that was also a hit.
Two other great songs from Modern English are “Hands Across the Sea” and “After the Snow”. Thank you for giving them a chance! :)
My fav New Wave band! This song is what my blood is made of. I saw them at the Cabaret Metro in Chicago when this song came out. It's like it was yesterday in my heart. Song has never lost any of it's shine - it's always great every time I hear it!
Joy Division - “Love Will Tear Us Apart”
New Order - “Bizarre Love Triangle”
This is what I call Pretty in Pink ,16 candles and Breakfast Club mix. Those type of bands of the 80's.
John Hughes mix.
It really is a beautiful and bittersweet song!!❤❤❤❤
For me, this is the defining song of the 80s. Early in the decade, it set the tone for the New Wave and never fails to make me bop and grin.
From 1982. Always loved this song. Forgot about it for a long time but then during the pandemic saw that they got together virtually and did this song again. Interesting seeing how they changed in 38 years. Lead singer looked the same (just older), but the guitarist was shockingly different. Check it out - sounds just as great as the original - czcams.com/video/tvwm8KA0d_I/video.html
I really enjoyed that. Thanks for posting the link.
I just watched it. It was really good.
Is that really the original guitarist?!
@@ajruther67 Yup the guy with the tattoos is their original guitarist there.
This Album "After The Snow" Is ABSOLUTELY Fire From The First Song To The Very Last...TRUTH!!
💯👍
Ahh that made my heart happy. A quintessential 80's tune.
New Wave music had its own sound, fashion, dancing style. You could always spot a "waver" in the '80's. Great sub-culture and fun music.
So much to explore in the 80’s New Wave genre-it was time for some lighter fun after heavy 70’s
This is such a classic. Definitely reflecting the bleakness of the time. We often associate the 80s with fun and and think it was all a party, but the 80s were rough as well (Thatcher and Reagan were not the widely beloved leaders they’re portrayed as in movies and political speeches). This is one of those songs that transports you to a specific time and place and yet is timeless.
Damn we had so much great music when we were kids. I love watching you two discover all of it
This Canadian girl was in Oceanside, California the Summer this movie and song came out. My first friend that I met was a real deal Valley Girl from Los Angeles who was staying with her Auntie for the Summer.. as I was staying with mine for the Summer! It was so surreal.. and some boys on the beach taught us to surf that Summer!! I loved the Josie Cotton songs on the soundtrack so much.. "Johnny Are You" and "He Could Be The One" Also loved The Psychedelic Furs "Love My Way". Oh and of course I was also singing Moon Unit Zappa's song that wasn't on the soundtrack.. but is called "Valley Girl" ... like totally... like fer sure.... like gag me with a spoon!!! 🤣 Soooooo... needless to say.. I LOVE this song by Modern English.. and it made my night to see you all reacting to it today!!!
You don't get many love songs set during a nuclear fallout, do you? I Melt with You literally means just that; I melt with you due to nuclear apocalypse.
People seem to forget that this was about having "an intimate moment" at ground zero of a nuclear explosion.
GREAT song 🖤
I caught them live in like 2002, and they were FANTASTIC live.
This is the quintessential New Wave song that stands the test of time. Great reaction video!
I love this song a really inordinate amount given my heavy classic rock bent. One of the truly classic new wave songs.
A few random reaction suggestions:
- Sellout by Reel Big Fish
- Funkytown by Lipps, Inc.
- Who’s Holding Donna Now by El DeBarge
- I Heard A Rumour by Bananarama
- Rio by Duran Duran
- New York Mining Disaster 1941 by Bee Gees
- Rise by Herb Alpert
Definitely more Wham! Songs:
- Everything She Wants
- I’m Your Man
- Freedom
Pseudo Echo has a better Funkytown.
While Modern English didn’t have any other hits, in the U.S. at least, the entire album where this song appears (After the Snow) is outstanding. My second favorite is After the Snow, but the whole album is worth listening to. This song brings back such feelings for me because it is mine and my husbands song. ❤️
This was huge back in the day. One of the biggest hits in the early Eighties.
Theres a REALLY cool version of this song that modern English put out during the pandemic Lockdown. Cool to see them still sounding great, nearly 40 years later. Its on CZcams "I'll melt with you (lockdown version)"
Such a great pop song from the 80s. They had a follow-up song (Ink and Paper) that I also liked but it never really took off. You can find it on CZcams though!
A defining song of postpunk / new wave 80s, Modern English never had another "hit". This is one of the most played songs in American radio history, yet never charted higher than 76 on the charts. Still, it's among the most beloved songs from the era.
This song is in my top 5 favorites of all time. It is one of the most Romantic songs ever written. Written in the early 80s during the peak of the cold War. The songs meaning is the couple is making love when the bomb is dropped and they melt away together.
I love this song when it came out and I never tire of hearing it! I’m glad you guys reacted to it it’s a cool constantly moving upbeat song!
My first movie with no supervision,lol Valley Girl
"I made a pilgrimage to save this human's race, never comprehending the race had long gone by"
How prescient were those lyrics over 40 years ago. Incredibly accurate!!
OMG! A classic 80s song. It doesn’t go out of style.
An early 80's (1982-83) Alternative classic song which was released twice, the 2nd time in 1990.
There was a time in the 80s when Punk Rock started to morph into New Wave, you can hear this when Joy Division turned into New Order. This song is a great example of that. Check out the movie 24 Hour Party People to learn more about that time. ✌️
Not only is there an acoustic guitar, but it's a 12 string! Usually if it's in a rock-ish tune, it's used to create layers. This style is called New Wave- it's adjacent to punk and grew out of that very experimental style and ethos. If you liked this, I would recommend checking out Love Song by the Cure. They were also a New Wave-ish sound that grew up alongside the punk movement but never were punk. They're kind of proto-goth (they would have been called New Romantics in the UK- bands like the Stranglers, Trobbing Gristle, Kraftwerk, etc would be somewhat in that same hard to define punk adjacent place.
Iconic sound!
This one of thise 80's songs that you can't NOT like. It's iconic. I always sing along and always Bob my head..
I believe this song was in one of Nicholas Cage’s first movies, called “Valley Girl”, an early ‘80’s flick?
That soundtrack is AMAZING!
This was NEW WAVE music which started in the late 1970s and popular through most of the 1980s. The best I can describe it is that it evolved from punk rock and combined with pop mainly from the UK. Maybe someone else has a better description?
It's pop, punk, and old-fashioned all at the same time. Have always loved this song.
Modern English was my favorite band in 1982 … this song represents my junior and senior years in high school.. great times and great friends… This song and so many others were considered NewWave/Post Punk… other bands to react to from the early 80’ would be The Plimsouls.. The Sparks..The Psychedelic Firs… Josie Cotton… watch the 1983 movie Valley Girl… it was totally my life as a teen..
Sorry i disagree with those who says that this band is one hit wonder. INK & PAPER & HANDS ACCROSS THE SEA. They may not be a big hit in the US but they have followings in other places
I love this song, I listen to it at least a half a dozen times a month. You guys should get into some of the Cure!
03 kid here grew up listening to this song on 80s on 8 as a kid with my dad who’s an 80s kid, musical nostalgia can span generations
They used this song in ,Valley Girl , with Nickolas Cage.
The British invasion never ended with the Beatles in the 80s we had what I would call a sort of punk pop rock very British but it was popular here in the states also I noticed you've done a couple of others flock of seagulls was one of them it was popular radio play
Nice, my favourite era! You'll love Echo & the Bunnymen (The Killing Moon), New Order (Blue Monday), The Cure (A Forest live at Werchter Festival)...
One of my favorite 80's songs -- Loved it back then in high school.. still love it today.
One of the first songs of MTV's early days! For whatever reason, this song became a favorite of mine, and I, to this day, will shush everybody in the car and turn this up when it comes on! Stay safe!
new wave music was a different sound
in the 80s vs what was sort of motown or R and B Prince, michael jackson, gap band, morris day.
im my school you could spot the new wave kids by the way they dressed sort of punk. mostly everybody listened to a little of everything.
It's kinda new-wavy but it takes a bunch from the post-punk movement which in the 80s went both ways to the new wave and to the gothic. Talking about the latter, take a look at Bauhaus, Love and Rockets, Peter Murphy, Nick Cave, Echo & The Bunntmen, Sisters of Mercy and The Mission, just to mention a few, and you'll find sounds you might have never heard before
I love all the new wave songs!!!
I love you guys! 😊 Thank you again! I can't resist adding a bit of '80s history (sorry). The "New Wave" came out of the '70s "Techno" and "Punk" influences, with a desire to make them more mainstream. Thus, some new wavers were heavy on synth, while others favored punk-style guitar. There was a broad mix, but toward the end of the decade "Synth Pop" emerged as something separate from the guitar bands (which became late '80s "Alternative" - bands like INXS, REM, The Cure, Midnight Oil, etc.). Modern English is one of those "Mixed" bands.
Great track from my childhood and a cult classic movie - valley girl
oh, they should do Plimsoul's Million Miles Away!
At the time this came out, America had started MTV without having really any American bands that actually had a real music videos. That's how these guys and XTC and U2 ect ect got popular. It took American music a couple years to catch up with content. Even Canada was ahead of the game at the time. In the beginning of the video age, all American bands could put forth was recorded concert footage. Seems like a lifetime ago
Good point! They played Ed Sullivan clips like the Doors "Light My Fire" followed by Flock of Seagulls and I just loved it all!
Canadian New Wave is so good.
British bands had promotional videos at this time, so they could be shown on BBC 1 chart programme Top of the Pops instead of appearing on the programme if they were touring. Promotional videos were also featured on British children's Saturday morning programmes like Multi Coloured Swap Shop and Tiswas,which were very useful as the kids would then go to their local Woolworths or Boots and buy the single they watched on television. This is probably why there was a second British Invasion of the American charts in the early eighties,because of blanket coverage of British bands on MTV.
80's British New Wave was fab!
New Wave, and part of the second British Invasion.....the 80's were such a creative time, everyone trying to be different and unique. A good time to be in your early 20's.
😃
New wave ! Post-punk.
Good stuff as always have you guys tried pet shop boys-west end girls or the payolas-eyes of a stranger
This song was huge in the eighties exploded into the culture because of the movie Valley Girl and MTV play.
This song is a classic!!!...awesome 80s song! I'm a child from the 80s.