GOING BACK TO MY ROOTS!! Part two, the 80's

My last blog was a bit about my history, mainly about my father's influences...I'm carrying on with that today. 

When you grow up in an environment where music is the main focus, you take it for granted. My mum played the piano and listened to music constantly, I would sing Hoagy Carmichael while she played. My dad was a working musician, touring, gigging and composing. When we stayed with granny she would listen to jazz or Eric Satie, or we would put on 'the carnival of the animals' and go through all the parts, how the sounds represented the various species(if you're not familiar, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsD0FDLOKGA this was my favourite). Anyway, you get the picture. After school I would often go to where my dad rehearsed with his bands(it was right next to my school) and hang out, sometimes I would get to play the tambourine or something. Most of my friends had 'arty' parents so it wasn't really until I got older that I started to realise that this was actually quite unusual. I'm so glad for it though. It's easy to gift your children with that, it's free. Of course, piano lessons cost money but it is a discipline that carries you through life. 

I loved the 80's. When I look back, I'm filled with nostalgia. I guess it's the same for everyone, but I'm SURE it was better? One of the first records I bought was 'Karma Chameleon' I made my dad take me to the music video and tape exchange on camden high street(what a shop, now KFC, I rest my case) and buy the vinyl. It was a hot summer's day. We left it in the car while we went to do something and when we came back it had melted. As i'm writing this, I'm thinking 'is this possible?' but that's my memory and I was devastated. Records cost a lot back then and we were pretty poor so that would have been a big deal. 

Boy George, Wham, Wee Papa Girl Rappers, Mel and Kim, Tears for fears, Bangles, Madonna, Maxi Priest, Aswad, Michael Jackson, Prince. These were MY influences, MY favourites, and I guess that's how all kids carve out a bit of independence from their parents, even if their parents are all about music. All my pocket money was spent on records(and sweets of course), and I used to hold my tape recorder up to the tv when top of the pops was on to record a song i liked! Such a far cry from the free downloads of today. I give this a lot of thought at the moment. On the one hand the demise of the label and rise of the internet has given a lot of power to musicians, on the other, it has devalued music in many ways. I think I will save this for another blog!