# Howard Jones appreciation thread (viva 80's synth pop!)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-jones-appreciation-thread-viva-80s-synth-pop/103984
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 16, 2002, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-jones-appreciation-thread-viva-80s-synth-pop/103984 "2002-04-16T17:24:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2002, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-jones-appreciation-thread-viva-80s-synth-pop/103984/1 "2002-04-16T17:24:25Z")
Yeah, it’s trendy now to pooh-pooh 80’s synth artists like Howard Jones. But – so sorry, kiddies – Jones brings me back to the carelessness and freedom of my youth. Just because his stuff is hardly even on the radio anymore doesn’t mean the guy is now the poster child for lousy music.
I heard – for the first time in 10+ years – “New Song” on our local 80’s station the other day. Damn! What a nostalgia trip! It’s hard for me to effectively describe what moves me about Jones’ tunes, but to say that listening to them now puts me in a great mood.
And yeah, I like the “sappy” synth hooks in “New Song”, “Life in One Day”, and “Things Can Only Get Better”. So sue me!
Plus, “No One is to Blame” was my official crash-and-burn crush song in high school. Howard was singing for me!
Well, I can’t find my cassette copies of _Human’s Lib_ and _Dreams Into Action_ – I think _Dreams_ was eaten by an old boom box long ago. But hey! I still have an old live bootleg casette of HJ’s music. That’ll do for a few days, until I get out and pick up his _Best Of_ collection.
Hey 80’s bashers … 😛
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### Author:  [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2002, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-jones-appreciation-thread-viva-80s-synth-pop/103984/2 "2002-04-16T17:40:36Z")
::singing and dancing in office::
_We’re not scared to lose it all
Security throw through the wall
Future dreams we have to realize
A thousand skeptic hands,
Won’t keep us from the things we plan
Unless we’re clinging to the things we prize_
That song reminds me of when **trishdish** had a Billy Idol haircut. 😃
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### Author:  [@madcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madcat)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-jones-appreciation-thread-viva-80s-synth-pop/103984/3 "2002-04-16T19:25:24Z")
I still like “Powerhouse” & “Wanders to You”.
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### Author:  [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2002, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-jones-appreciation-thread-viva-80s-synth-pop/103984/4 "2002-04-16T19:32:02Z")
I give Howard credit for asking the question that I so desperately wanted to ask many times in my youth:
_What is love
Anyway?
Does anybody love anybody
Anyway?_
Plus, the Howard hair…
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### Author:  [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2002, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-jones-appreciation-thread-viva-80s-synth-pop/103984/5 "2002-04-16T21:09:25Z")
His last album, _Cross that Line_, is my favorite. Especially that solo piano instrumental, “Out of Thin Air,” and the “Fresh Air Waltz.”
“Powerhouse” also kicks some spike-haired, padded-shouldered, ankle-booted butt.
He came out of retirement a couple of years ago to do ONE tour, and I missed it! _sob_
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### Author:  [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)
#### Post date: [April 16, 2002, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-jones-appreciation-thread-viva-80s-synth-pop/103984/6 "2002-04-16T21:23:25Z")
Um, by “last album” I meant (take your pick)
[list][li]the last album of his that I bought[/li][li]His last album that produced any hits[/li][li]Hi Opal.[/li]
H.J. did, of course, release several albums after 1989’s _Cross That Line_ - at least three more
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### Author:  [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2002, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-jones-appreciation-thread-viva-80s-synth-pop/103984/7 "2002-04-17T03:03:07Z")
The first tape I ever went to the record store to purchase was “Dream Into Action.” I really loved the second version of “No One Is To Blame.”
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### Author:  [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2002, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-jones-appreciation-thread-viva-80s-synth-pop/103984/8 "2002-04-17T03:13:47Z")
I was just talking about Howard Jones at work recently … had trouble remembering the name of the track he had in the movie “Better Off Dead” (it was “Like to get to know you well”, btw).
But when it all comes down to it, I like modern synthpop better 🙂
Colin
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### Author:  [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2002, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-jones-appreciation-thread-viva-80s-synth-pop/103984/9 "2002-04-17T14:52:29Z")
Gosh, he was one of my favorite 80s musicians, and I can only remember two of his songs.
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### Author:  [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2002, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-jones-appreciation-thread-viva-80s-synth-pop/103984/10 "2002-04-17T14:59:18Z")
Dammit, I meant “Action Replay.”
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### Author:  [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2002, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-jones-appreciation-thread-viva-80s-synth-pop/103984/11 "2002-04-17T15:32:04Z")
The only “rock star” poster I ever put up in my bedroom was of Howard Jones, because he is a synth GOD.
He’s one of the artists (along with Level 42 and Peter Gabriel) who taught me that the best tracks of a real musician are almost NEVER the ones you hear on the radio. (as “Eulogy” and “Hide and Seek” prove.)