Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 81 - Kim Wilde - Kids in America

There are a few songs that instantly take me way back to my very young childhood, and Kim Wilde's Kids in America is one of them.  Specifically, this one reminds me of a local club my parents were members of and frequented often as a family (The Bluehouse Club, in Laindon). I guess they must have played it during one of our visits and that moment has been stuck in my head ever since.

Released way back on the 26th of January 1981, it was the debut single from Kim Wilde, taken from her self-titled first album, and peaked at number 2 in the UK Charts for two weeks

A great track, and another reminder of how great the music was in the 1980s.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 80 - Makoto Tomozawa - Still Dawn

One of my favourite gaming memories is playing the original 1996 Resident Evil on the PlayStation for the first time.  The game was unlike anything I had ever played before.  I'm not embarrassed to admit that it was probably the first game I played where I wouldn't turn off the lights.  Despite the (now dated) graphics, and the questionable voice acting, the game oozed atmosphere, with some genuinely creepy music in some places.

With that being said, when I eventually beat the game, and flew off in the helicopter just as the mansion and Umbrella laboratory exploded, I was (pleasantly) surprised with the rather happy, upbeat track that played as the credits rolled up the screen.

The song, called "Still Dawn", really gave me the satisfying relief of defeating the Tyrant and a sense of real accomplishment for completing the game, but at the same time, the song just felt...  well....  completely out of place and not suited for a horror game. 

Interestingly, Still Dawn is unique to the English version of Resident Evil in place of "Yume de owarasenai" which is featured in the Japanese version, which of course everybody knows as being called Biohazard.

So here it is...  Still Dawn by Makoto Tomozawa

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 79 - Nik Kershaw - I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

Today's song is a real feel-good track from 1983 by Nik Kershaw.  I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me was released exactly 40 years ago today, on Friday 9th September 1983 and was a single taken from his debut album Human Racing.  Initially, it didn't sell very well and only reached number 47 in the UK Top 100 charts.  However, following the success of Kershaw's next two singles (Wouldn't It Be Good and Dancing Girls), the song was re-released in June 1984 where it peaked at a rather impressive number 2.

As with previous Nik Kershaw tracks, listening to this song always brings back good memories of my childhood as it was quite often heard many times due to my sister being a big fan of his. 

I've got to admit though..,  Saying it's been 40 years since its release really makes me feel old.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 78 - Jean Michel Jarre - Chronologie Part 4

I've always loved Jarre's music, but I was completely oblivious to Chronologie when it came out back in 1993.  Hey, my excuse is/was that it was during a time before the internet.  I was never aware of when one of my favourite artists or groups released a new single or album, and I never really paid much attention to new releases or music in general during the 90s.  For Chronologie, I only found out about it after my friend Dan lent me his copy on tape.  

Anyway, Chronologie (which is/was his eleventh studio album) is great, and I definitely rate it as one of my favourites by Jarre, but the single that was released from it is mind-blowingly fantastic.  Chronologie Part 4 - a full-on, synth-party/pop dance track that really leaves a happy feeling inside me whenever I hear it.  If only the musicians of today had the talent to produce such catchy and infectious tunes like this.

The video that accompanies the song is your typical 90s nonsense with lots of randomness including the occasional glamour-head-turn of the maestro himself, but then with Jarre it's more about the music and his incredible live performances than anything else!

Sit back and listen to a great track, and make sure you've got the volume set high at 1:02

Oh, and thanks Dan English for introducing it to me earlier than I would have on my own.

Game Covers - Depth Charge/Marksman (Philips G7000)

Marksman

A number of targets float across the screen past the sights of your rifle.  You can slow down or speed them up using the joystick of your handset.  You can also move the targets up and down.

Depth Charge

An area of water is shown on the screen.  This water hides 7 submarines which you must search out and destroy.

3D View (hold and move to rotate) New Tab (Full Screen)

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 77 - The Human League - Don't You Want Me

Here's another banger from the 1980s, Don't You Want Me was a chart-topping hit for The Human League back in 1981.  Released on the 27th of November of that year, it entered the charts at number eight before shooting to number one for the following five weeks, thus becoming the Official UK Christmas Number One of 1981.  It also became the biggest-selling hit of the year too, and possibly their best-known track.  Crazy considering lead singer Phil Oakey wasn't particularly pleased with it and had the song as the last track on side two of the album it came from - Dare.

It's a true electronic-synth classic and one of the early 1980s' most defining songs.  It definitely makes it on my list of favourite tracks.

Enjoy!