# 80s Songs Talking Parts

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 26, 2002, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183 "2002-03-26T14:10:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Embra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@Embra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Embra)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/61 "2002-03-28T15:53:16Z")

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The version of _Living Doll_ that the [Young Ones](http://www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/hawkslane/231/frliving.htm) did with Cliff Richard.

Neil: Well I feel sorry for the elephants.

Years before Michael Jackson started caring about them…

Embra

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**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/62 "2002-03-28T17:48:57Z")

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Don’t I just love getting in the car at lunch and listening to THE EIGHTIES AND MORE radio station.

From “Come Dancing” by the Kinks: “Out of my window I can see them in the moonlight,  
Two silhouettes saying goodnight by the garden gate.”

That really is a sweet song. I like the lines:

\*She knows they get away with things she never could,  
But if I asked her I wonder if she would,

Come dancing,  
Come on sister, have yourself a ball.  
Don’t be afraid to come dancing,  
It’s only natural. \*

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**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/63 "2002-03-28T18:38:43Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Ellen Cherry \*  
> \*\*\*She knows they get away with things she never could,
> 
> * * *

Well, chalk one up for the Mondegreen thread! That was my favorite song EVER!!! in 7th grade, but up until this moment, I thought he was saying:

_You know, together we would think she never could._

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**Author:** ![dinahmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dinahmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinahmoe)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/64 "2002-03-29T00:51:12Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by sidle \*  
> \*\*eh? \*\*

The Tubes: _What Do You Want From Life?_

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**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/65 "2002-03-29T02:23:15Z")

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how about more Martin Frye of ABC in “Poison Arrow”

Boy: I thought you loved me but it seems you don’t care.

Girl: I care enough to know that I can never love you.

and the unforgettable sung chorus.  
_Who broke my heart? you did you did, straight to the mark, blame cupid, you think you’re smart, well that’s stupid, right fromt the start when you know we would part. Shoot that poison arrow through my heart_

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**Author:** ![dinahmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dinahmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dinahmoe)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/66 "2002-03-29T02:43:31Z")

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My inner 13 year old remembers an ABC short film called “The Lexicon of Love”, based on the “Poison Arrow” video. Same deal for Bowie’s “Jazzin’ for Blue Jean.”

Anyone else?

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**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/67 "2002-03-29T04:03:33Z")

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Another one: Roxette’s “The Look”

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**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/68 "2002-03-29T05:37:45Z")

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\<whisper\> “Happy Xmas, John”  
\<whisper\> “Happy Xmas, Yoko”

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**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/69 "2002-03-29T05:47:18Z")

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There is also the classic “Jam on It” by Newcleus.

Wikky wikky wikky wikky

And “The Double Dutch Bus” middle part, where the kids speak what we call today Sim-ian. If you want to know where The Sims language comes from, this song is a good place to start.

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**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/70 "2002-03-29T07:34:44Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by capacitor \*  
> \*\*There was this song by Suicidal Tendencies, in which the lead singer has two verses of talking soliliquy–I think it was “Institutionalized”.  
> \*\*

All I wanted was a Pepsi! And she wouldn’t give it to me! Just one pepsi!

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**Author:** ![plankter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ba0ec/32.png) [@plankter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plankter)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/71 "2002-03-29T14:13:29Z")

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Two pages already and no one remembers “Paranomia”? **Art Of Noise** had a song and video with Matt Frewer doing his “Max Headroom” routine. I’ve got the vinyl single around somewhere.

" '_Come sweet slumber enshroud me in thy purple cloak’…Hhmmph! Doesn’t even rhyme._"  
“_I can’t stand tea._”

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**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/72 "2002-03-29T14:24:26Z")

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JESSE! NOW JEROME! YES!

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**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/73 "2002-03-29T17:24:17Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by plankter \*  
> \*\*Two pages already and no one remembers “Paranomia”? **Art Of Noise** had a song and video with Matt Frewer doing his “Max Headroom” routine. I’ve got the vinyl single around somewhere.
> 
> " '_Come sweet slumber enshroud me in thy purple cloak’…Hhmmph! Doesn’t even rhyme._"  
> “_I can’t stand tea._” \*\*

Actually, I was contemplating adding **The Art of Noise** to the list, but I wasn’t sure if they fit the criteria, since the only “words” to most of their songs are little spoken bits. But, if this one counts, surely “Close to the Edit” and “Legs”, along with “Who’s Afraid (of the Art of Noise)?” would also count.

_Lord, where do we get such men?_

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**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/74 "2002-03-29T18:25:30Z")

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Either in or adjacent to the 80’s…The envelope please [ul]  
[li] **Somewhere Down the Crazy River…Robby Robertson** [/li]“I Think I’m gonna go down to Madame X and let her read my mind”  
[li] **Here Today, Gone Tomorrow…Dada** [/li]“Just about the Time Jack Webb walked in and said, son I’m gonna tell you somethin’ and it ain’t pretty, there’s a thousand ways to die in this freakin city”  
[li] **I Feel Better Than James Brown…Was Not Was** [/li]“I was attending Mardi Gras with Fidel Castro, buxom cross-dressers threw fake gold coins at our feet as we discussed the fate of the revolution. Suddenly CIA men dressed in bikinis tried to stab us with fountain pens. Fidel blew mustard gas through his cigar and immobilized the lot of them. 19 tequilas later we had a deal, Havana goes back to the mob & Fidel and I open a chain of Kentucky Fried chicken shops. Ain’t Life Sweet? I feel good…I feel better than James Brown.”  
[li] **Screenwriters Blues…Soul Coughing** [/li]“I wanna see my name on a screen, 5 feet long and luminous…”  
[li] **Detachable Penis…King Missile** [/li]“I saw my penis lying on a blanket next to a broken toaster oven…He wanted 22 bucks but I talked him down to 17…”  
[li] **The Sweater…Merynn Cadell** [/li]“The sweater has that kind of goat-like smell which all teenage boys possess…”  
[li] **Stuffin’ Martha’s Muffin…Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper** [/li]…I said oooh Martha, Martha Quinn, I wanna be doin’ some with ya Marha Quinn, I wanna be gettin’ in Martha, I wanna be stuffin’ Matha’s muffin." [/ul]

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**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/75 "2002-03-29T23:43:17Z")

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**Indie version was 1979, but the major label release was 1980, so it counts.**

Hey, you’re not a local, get out of here  
Valley!!  
Haole!!  
Hey man, outta my way man outta my way  
This is my wave baby, get off

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**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2002, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/76 "2002-03-29T23:56:07Z")

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I think 80% of Dead-Milkmen songs were mostly talking or had talking parts.

“The important part is you ask me what kind of car I got.”  
“Uh-what kind of car you got?”  
“I got a Bitchin’ Camero” - **Bitchin Camero**

"You know what Stuart, I _like_ you. You’re not like the other people, here in the trailer park. **Stuart**

“Tuesday, yes it was Tuesday when I saw my congressman come out of the titty bar. He didn’t look like my congressman, but that’s OK, nobody looks like themsleves these days. I think it has something to do with all that crap they’ve been putting in the water.” **Joey Bazooka**

“Some of you may not know Sarah Jane, but shes a Lesbian, Eskimo, Midget Albino. She went to college and started the Lesbian, Midget, Eskimo Albino student union. And 400 people showed up!” **Lesbian Eskimo Midget Albino**

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**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/77 "2002-03-31T10:46:05Z")

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To me, our discussion cheesy 80s song talking bits shouldn’t include all this self-consciously lah-de-dah ironic crap that noone ever heard on the radio (e.g., Dead Milkmen). Top forty had quite enough cheese to go around without plumbing those depths. To wit, Exhibit A:

> [@](#):
>
> When the push comes to shove  
> And you need a little love  
> Let me put some rock into your world  
> Call me up don’t be shy  
> For my love will make you high  
> I just want to be your lovergirl

“Lovergirl”, by Teena Marie. Now try to get that song out your head! Bwahahaha!

Had enough? No? Try “Sheila”, by Ready for the World:

> [@](#):
>
> Like I always say:  
> What’s good for the goose  
> Is always good for the gander  
> Oh Sheila!

(If you’ve heard it, you know that this is spoken in a cheesy faux-Cockney accent.)

And finally, how about the Cars and “You Might Think”:

> [@](#):
>
> You kept it going  
> Till the sun fell down  
> You kept it  
> (pregnant pause)  
> Going.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/78 "2002-03-31T17:33:04Z")

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I see your Let’s Go Crazy and raise with…

1982’s “International Lover”

Good evening. This is your pilot Prince speaking.  
U r flying aboard the Seduction 747  
And this plane is fully equipped with anything your body desires

If 4 any reason there is a loss in cabin pressure  
I will automatically drop down 2 apply more  
2 activate the flow of excitement  
Extinguish all clothing materials and pull my body close 2 yours  
Place my lips over your mouth, and kiss, kiss, normally  
In the event there is overexcitement  
Your seat cushion may be used as a flotation device

We ask that U please observe the “No Letting Go” sign  
I anticipate a few turbulence along the way

We r now making our final approach 2 Satisfaction  
Please bring your lips, your arms, your hips  
Into the upright and locked position  
4 landing – Can U feel it? Can U feel it?  
Yeah

{ Let me take it around }  
{ Let it all hang out }

yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Welcome 2 Satisfaction  
Please remain awake until the aircraft has come 2 a complete stop  
Thank U 4 flying Prince International  
Remember, next time U fly, fly the International Lover

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2002, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/79 "2002-03-31T23:48:31Z")

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For all you pot smoking fans:

“Each generation, rules the nation  
with version!”

from “Pass the Dutchie” by Musical Youth.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2002, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80s-songs-talking-parts/100183/80 "2002-04-01T15:36:12Z")

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And you can dance…  
For inspiration  
C’mon…

_Get into the groove…_

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