Here is a list of songs I recently listened to.
Please look at the fourth listed song — Jefferson Starship’s “No Way Out.” Could this be the most ’80s of pop rock songs from that weird, wonderful decade?
I listen to my ipod generally set to shuffle. From time-to-time I’ll share and list my listening experience on my Facebook page. This is what I did pictured above. It’s my way of staying “social” and engaged without being too social and engaged. But, honestly listing songs that randomly pop up from your personal ipod means that you could be sharing some really personal information — taste in music.
I admit I’m glad — and frankly relieved — I can share with the really judgmental social media world that I listen to the Velvet Underground, but I’m also horrifyingly embarrassed that I have Jefferson Starship on my ipod.
I don’t consider it a good song, in terms of originality nor creativity. Let’s be honest, and sorry for hurting your feelings, Jefferson Starship, but we’re not going to find this song sharing any top ten lists with the Beatles’s “A Day in the Life” or Aretha Franklin’s “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”. It’s not really even a guilty pleasure. In fact, “No Way Out” is just pretty forgettable; I literally forgot I had it in my music library until it came through my earbuds that morning. But, I do find it comforting because it sends me back to my radio-listening childhood days and to the decade when I grew up. That may be a weird reason to have it on my playlist, but I guess I do “enjoy” it on that level.
Good or bad, this song, released in 1984, has just about all the sonic qualities that make it, not only an undeniable 1980s pop rock song, but perhaps the most 1980s of all the ’80s hits.
It’s not an iconic or decade-defining song from that period, like Michael Jackson’s R&B monster-hit “Billie Jean”, the Police’s new wave single “Every Breath You Take,” or Madonna’s dance-oriented “Like a Virgin.” It’s certainly not an innovative or influential piece of work like offerings from U2, the Pixies, Run-D.M.C. or the Talking Heads.
First of all, the song’s title, “No Way Out,” and the album it comes from, Nuclear Furniture, are so 1980s. These titles were clear responses to the 1980s political world climate when the paranoid tensions of the Cold War seemed to be elevated and the threat of nuclear war was fearfully being expressed in all forms of popular culture.
Look at these lyrics:
How can she tell the truth from the lies
How does she know when to close her eyes
She doesn’t want to lose me
So she only sees what she wants to see
The song was written by Peter Wolf, formerly of the J. Geils Band, and his wife. And, man, did they seem paranoid. So 1980s.
The song’s sound is also so 1980s. It’s got a lot of dramatic keyboard and synthesizers — one of the signature sounds from pop music that decade. (Every pop musician back then couldn’t seem to get enough of the synthesizer. I mean, Van Halen started using it. Van Halen!) It’s got a lot of powerful melodic guitars — another trademark of 1980s mainstream rock music. And it all sounds big, pretentious and overly produced, thanks to Ron Nevison. Think: an unduly primped and hair-sprayed mullet. So 1980s. The only thing missing from the song is the cool sound of a saxophone, the ultimate 1980s musical instrument. But other than that, that song sounds like the 1980s to me.
If I could take all the songs from that decade, put it in a blender and turn it on to mix. I’m sure the result would be sugary big sounds with very little nutritional value: Jefferson Starship’s “No Way Out.”
Don’t get me started on the nonsensical video. So 1980s.