Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 14 - The Butterfly Song (Splodgenessabounds)

Here's a good 'un from 1980... If you've never heard this one before, then listen to it now. Like me, you'll probably be singing and humming it for the rest of your life. 

"Have you seen the butterfly, 

on the windowsill John (Windowsill John).
The one I squashed last night, 

with my fingernail John (Fingernail John).
I squashed his little head, his blood was green not red,
so I left him (where'd you leave him?)
On the windowsill John!"

Lyrics do not get much better than that!

Splodgenessabounds were/are an English punk group, and this song was released way back in 1980 as a triple A-side single (featuring a cover version of Two Little Boys, and Horse). My parents had it on vinyl, and have fond memories of listening and singing along to it when I was very small.

A true classic!

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 13 - Rio (Duran Duran)

Duran Duran is one of those groups that pretty much sums up the 80's for me and Rio is probably my favourite song from them. Strangely, whenever I listen to this song, I can always remember one morning when I was very little (probably 1982 or early 1983 - my parents were taking me and my sister on a day trip to London, and this song was being played on the radio in the kitchen while we were getting ready. 

Funny how one song can make someone remember such a random memory from childhood.

Rio was released in the UK on 1st November 1982 and peaked at number 9 on 11th December 1982.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 12 - Sweet Harmony (The Beloved)

"What's this?" I hear you ask...   A 90's song in my list of favourite music?  He must be going mad!

Yes, believe it or not, I do like some music available after the 1980s.  Sweet Harmony was released on 11th January 1993, (FYI one day before my 16th birthday) and stayed in the charts for 10 weeks, peaking at a very respectable number 8.  

It reminds me a lot of my last few months in compulsory education as it was played on the radio quite often while I was taking my GCSE exams.  It's definitely one of my all time favourite songs. 

An amazing track, featuring a very 'interesting' video!

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 11 - I Won't Let You Down (Ph.D)

I am not sure what it is about this song that makes me like it so much.  It does happen to be one of my earliest memories of 80's music (in that, I mean a song I can actually remember being in the charts when it was released).  Released in April 1982, reaching number 34 initially and peaking at number 3 a month later,  I was only 5 years old when this came out.  Scary.

You've also got to love music videos that were shot on a budget of a couple of quid!

Enjoy.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 10 - Road to Nowhere (Talking Heads)

Just plain awesomeness.  A fun song despite its deep meaning of the futility of our existence and the inevitable end of life that faces us all.   Not dull, boring, dreary crap you get in the charts today.  Great memories from 1985!

Road to Nowhere was written by David Byrne for Talking Heads, and was a single from the album "Little Creatures".  The song reached number 6 in the UK singles charts.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 9 - The Look of Love (ABC)

Quite possibly one of the defining songs of 80's music, this song will always remind me of my early childhood. 

It doesn't remind me of any specific memory, but the cheerful lyrics, the comicy video (is comicy even a word) are enough to make me wish it was the 1980's all over again.

The Look of Love was released in 1982 and was a single from their debut album "The Lexicon of Love".  It reached an impressive number 4 on the UK Singles Chart.