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The Plastics were a Japanese New Wave band, and they had a wonderfully quirky style and sound to go along with some pretty good songs. Much of their quirkiness came from their singing a sort of Pidgin-Japanese-English, but it was also fueled by the guitars and the drum work. Delicious is a typical example of their coolness. Don’t ask me what it means.

You can listen to the song below:

And of course, the lyrics:

Tv Ningen Micom Mania
Plastic face technology
Chanel no powder Lichtenstein
Pyjama mama melon papa

Tokri jikake no Tokyo tower
Polypropiren no photographer
Ice cube tennis shoes
Pyjama mama melon papa

I have to admit–I had a massive crush on Annabella Lwin back in 1982. But that wasn’t the reason I dug Bow Wow Wow. I liked the band because they “blew a hole in the radio”–well, actually, they weren’t really getting any airplay even on WXRT here in Chicago, but I heard a few songs via video, bought a sampler or two with a song on it, and just loved the sound. Years later, I discovered that there were African folk songs that were pretty much note for note with some of their songs, and given that the infamous Malcolm McLaren was their manager, it doesn’t take much to put two and two together.

Still, I think their music still holds up, and I still listen to it frequently. This particular song is fairly typical of their output, at least while McLaren was manager–salacious, teasing vocals and lyrics, hard pounding bass and drums, and sparse, niggling guitar sounds. Quite excellent, and the fact that Annabella was cute just made it all the better.

Here’s a link to a live performance from 1982

And of course, the lyrics:

Lookin’ for a boy, a real boy, strong boy
Searchin’ for a boy, a tough boy, rough boy
I just love the smell of his leather skin
Just love to feel muscle in his jeans

Give me a cow (cow), give me a boy (boy), give me, give me a cowboy
I’m coming to hunt you down, Geronimo (hear the wolf attack in the canyon)
I’m sure I can’t stand this world much longer

Five Foot One is one of those truly iconic songs in many ways, a song about the frustrations of being different, moreso than just of being short. The singer complains of working in an amusement park as a freak as the only thing he can do, and wishes life could be “Swedish Magazines” (for a long time, I wasn’t sure if he was saying “Swedish Magazines” or “Sweetest Majesty”), presumably for the perks of being a small person in certain types of pornographic entertainment. However, what really comes out is the sense of frustration at simply lying outside the norms of society.

Oh, and it rocks too. Great song.

Here’s a link to a video

And of course, the lyrics:

Yeah, I like it
Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!

I’m only five foot one (x3)
I’m five foot one

Train In Vain was the Clash’s first top 40 hit in America, and in many ways signified changes for the band. Unlike the vast majority of their songs up to that point, it was a straightforward love song, more pop than punk–much more pop than punk. It seems to me it was also a sign of further experimentation with their music, leading to the sprawling style of Sandinista!.

Of course, it wasn’t the Clash’s first flirtation with pure pop (there was, of course, 1-2, Crush On You), but still this was much less tongue in cheek, much more honest. It’s a great pop song that has easily withstood the test of time.

It was nice this time around to find a ton of information about this song; in fact, more than I care to mention. There’s some great stuff at Wikipedia, and a pretty cool Blender article.

Here’s a link to a fan video

And of course, the lyrics:

You say you stand by your man
Tell me something I don’t understand
You said you love me and that’s a fact
Then you left me, said you felt trapped

Did you stand by me
Did you stand by me
No, not at all
Did you stand by me
No way
Did you stand by me
No, not at all
Did you stand by me
No way

This is such a great song–and no one seems to really know what it’s about. There are tons of theories out there, but nothing that I felt was worth linking to. I won’t even bother speculating.

Besides, it’s such a beautiful melody, and such a cool song. The piano really makes it work, and Bowie’s vocals are on target. This is one of those ballads that I liked instantaneously, and for me, that’s rare.

Here’s a link to a promo made back in 1973

And of course, the lyrics:

It’s a god-awful small affair
To the girl with the mousy hair
But her mummy is yelling “No!”
And her daddy has told her to go
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seat with the clearest view
And she’s hooked to the silver screen
But the film is a saddening bore
For she’s lived it ten times or more
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on

Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It’s the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he’ll ever know
He’s in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?

It amazes me that this song never really saw the light of day before 1982, and I’m also amazed that some band hasn’t co-opted it for their own as a regular encore.

This is just one of those great songs that should have been an FM staple–it’s a good rocking song with plenty of room for improvisation, making it an almost perfect jam song. Additionally, it’s got a good beat and you can dance to it.

You can listen to this great song below.

And of course, the lyrics:

She’s over by the corner
Got her hands by her sides
They hit her harder harder harder
Till they thought she might die

Sally Mae, Sally Mae, Sally Mae, Sally Mae
Sally Mae, Sally Mae, Sally Mae, Sally Mae

The Metro is one of those great 80’s songs that would likely be a massive hit now–actually, it was a decent sized hit then. It’s really good synth-pop, a great melody, an interesting story, and it’s got a good beat and you can dance to it. Nuff said!

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

I’m alone
Sitting with my empty glass
My four walls
Follow me through my past
I was on a paris train
I emerged in london rain
And you were waiting there
swimming through apologies

I remember a feeling coming over me
The soldier turned, then looked away
I remember hating you for loving me
Riding on the metro

When Our Love Passed Out On The Couch is one of those songs typical of X, a song of crashing despair over casual infidelity. Of course, the song features the trademark atonal harmonies of John Doe and Exene Cervenka, and it just plain rocks as well.

You can listen to the song below:

And of course, the lyrics:

Make out
When you passed out
On the sofa
Kissing any little child that comes along
I’m gonna leave on
The record
Too loud for you to hear me spreading technicolor blood

You’re fateful
I’m hateful
And I ruin any kind of fun you have in mind
Like make out
When you pass out
On the sofa
Kissing any little child who comes along

On the surface, this is simply a song about just why someone would choose to stay with someone that seemingly brings nothing of use to the relationship. That’s all well and good, and it’s a very well written song.

However, what really makes this song for me is that it shifts musical genres several times within the song. It starts out like a Broadway show tune, then settles into basic rock for the chorus, then shifts into a smooth jazz feel for the second verse, back to rock and then finally finishing with a reggae feel. Good stuff.

Oh, I think the video is brilliant too.

And of course, the lyrics:

Won’t make the bed up straight
I always stay out late
I never take you out
Ask what you’re all about
I always smell like smoke
Everythings just a joke
I never look at you
When you come hear me sing
These are not all of the
Many simple things
You can find wrong with me
Once would you tell me please

*What do I do…Right
*What do I do
*wont make the bed up straight
*I always stay out/great
*but what do I do
What do I do that is right

You’ve likely heard this one before, and you probably like it. Or not. But you’ve probably heard it.

An improbable tale about a man tossed overboard from Cruise ship and swallowed alive by a whale, it’s just infectious pop music. It’s got a good beat and you can dance to it. I dunno if there’s much more else to say. It’s a good song.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

A nice breeze blow’s in
Whenever the big fella cracks a grin
and when the time and the place is right
sit down and sip some Bouillabaisse.

I feel like Jonah in the belly of the whale
gotta keep my head up now if I wanna come back
I gets so lonely in the belly of the whale
You Wanna know you belong here but only your trapped
It feels like Jonah in the belly of the whale
oooo and I say if we swim faster we’re sure to come back