I actually just played Laura Branigan’s “Gloria” on a podcast recently when I was a guest contributor.
The theme for discussion for this particular episode of the podcast was “All Time Top Ten Same Title, Different Song”. I played Branigan’s “Gloria” along with the same titled song by Them.
As a kid I, too, had a crush on Laura Brannigan.
I remember she was on SNL years ago, and I stayed up to watch it. I would normally just ignore the musical numbers on the show, but since it was her, I kept watching to hear her perform Gloria.
Her voice wasn’t up to it that night, though, but she tried. Her voice cracked a bit on it, and she couldn’t finish the song- but damn did she try. I think that watching her try so hard to finish it made me like her even more.
Good observation: if only the powerfully-voiced altos didn’t follow the unfortunate and baffling 80’s trend of women wearing shoulder pads in their music videos. What were they thinking?
“This looks good on me.”
Or,
“This looks good on me??”
Now you know. 
I have a very emotional connection to Branigan’s music-- it was the soundtrack for my first love and first broken heart. I wore that cassette to the nubs.
I’m happy to hear that others like her music. She’s sometimes dismissed as an '80s lightweight, but I think she was truly talented.
She and Kirsty MacColl died way too soon. I think they would have eventually been among the grande dames of music.
I didn’t notice any shoulder pads in the Self Control video, but then I wasn’t looking, either. It would take more than an unfortunate fashion trend to dim Ms. Branigan’s beauty.
The video I found for Gloria looked like a performance from Solid Gold (speaking of '80s trends). Her dancing and stage presence seemed almost nervous; a far cry from the overly-choreographed, and almost waifish presentation that seems all the rage these days.
Who are the grand dames these days? I supposed there are Madonna, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, and others of that era, but they don’t seem to get as much respect as the died-too-young types like Janis Joplin.
Aretha Franklin goes back even further than Madonna, Nicks, and McVie. So does Bonnie Raitt. If you want to include country, there’s Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Emmylou Harris.
Shirley Bassey, too, but I was trying to think of singers more comparable to Laura Branigan. If she’d survived and kept performing, who from that era and genre would we now be comparing her to?
Was it something that she said?
Nah - it was the voices in her head.
Calssic roller-skating song.
Maybe Linda Ronstadt?
I would add Annie Lennox and Alison Moyer to the Brit section of the list. I’m meh on Joplin, due mostly to me being born in 1967 and so not having an intense teen relationship with her music.
Adele and Amy Winehouse are reincarnations of Dusty Springfield, so I add them to the list.
I don’t know Moyer, but Ronstadt and Lennox are good choices. And add Tina Turner.
Haven’t heard from any of them recently, though.
Hi Robot: if you want your socks blown off check out Alison Moyet (correct sp., I had a typo). She was the lead in the '80 s Brit group Yaz and has had a great UK solo career since. If you were an '80s teen you’ll instantly recognize “Situations,” their one song that charted in America.
I’m talking a seriously blow-off-the-roof-goosebump-inducing voice, check out her solo work. I don’t know why she hasn’t enjoyed more success in the U.S…
Totally agree. Love Upstairs at Eric’s
Yaz in the US: everywhere else in the world, Yazoo. Fantastic voice.
Socks not blown off yet, but it’s still early. Reminds me a bit of Thea Gilmore, but it’s at least partially the accent. And historically speaking, Gilmore should remind me of Moyet.
No, I heard about her untimely death pretty much the day it happened, as well.
I don’t know Gilmore, I’ll take a listen.