# Was pop music ever more MELODRAMATIC than it was in the 80’s? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 24, 2018, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989 "2018-11-24T01:04:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/41 "2018-11-26T23:11:35Z")
Missed the edit window, but would something like the Who’s “Can You See The Real Me” fit the bill? To me, lines like “I ended up with the preacher, Full of lies and hate,” seems rather melodramatic. Come to think of it, lots of songs from the '60s till, well, the end of Rock as we knew it, can fit the bill. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/42 "2018-11-26T23:33:22Z")
“Which Way You Goin’, Billy?” by the Poppy Family. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/43 "2018-11-27T22:37:28Z")
> [@SirRay](#): > > Hmm > > To me, The stones “Gimme Shelter” comes to mind, but perhaps I’m not getting Melodramatic. > I mean “War, Children, it’s just a shot away” and “Rape, murder!”. Well, there _was_ a war going on at the time. Actually, I’ve heard the song Lord knows how many times, but I never realized they sang “Rape, murder!” anywhere in there. I’ve never had an easy time understanding the lyrics, and the song never mattered enough to me to look them up when that became possible. So the lyrics never struck me as melodramatic, because I had only a vague idea of what they were. And the vocal style can hardly be described as melodramatic. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/44 "2018-11-28T00:59:18Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) definition of ‘melodramatic’: > > 1: of, like, or befitting melodrama. > 2: **exaggerated and emotional or sentimental; sensational or sensationalized; overdramatic.** Oh, Dear Sir or Madam, have you no heart or soul? Ball and Chain is the epitome of the second definition! 'On stage I make love to twenty five thousand people; and then I go home alone." - Janis ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/45 "2018-11-28T01:12:32Z")
> [@SirRay](#): > > Missed the edit window, but would something like the Who’s “Can You See The Real Me” fit the bill? > To me, lines like “I ended up with the preacher, Full of lies and hate,” seems rather melodramatic… “However Much I Booze” might qualify as well, with Pete’s lament, _…While sitting here all alone with a bottle and my head a-floating Far away from the phone and the conscience going on at me And on at me, And I don’t care what you say, There ain’t no way out_ ---
**Author:** ![ben.sawyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@ben.sawyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ben.sawyer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/46 "2018-11-28T16:00:52Z")
UK punk band called Peter and the Test tube Babies (PTTB) actually have cover album with all those cheesy 80s pop songs. Album has a proper name though: The $hit Factory :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/47 "2018-11-28T22:34:49Z")
So does _Billy, Don’t Be A Hero_ count? I remember my sister and I singing that one all the time and then, a year later, hating it (and thinking it was whiny rather than beautiful harmonies) because we finally understood the tale. And, speaking of Paper Lace, _The Night Chicago Died_ seems awfully melodramatic in that last part… And there was no sound at all But the clock upon the wall Then the door burst open wide And my daddy stepped inside –G! ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/48 "2018-11-30T11:49:58Z")
This was the 1st song I ever learned to sing (poorly) by heart. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/49 "2018-11-30T13:32:08Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) definition of ‘melodramatic’: > > > [@](#): > > > > 1. of, like, or befitting melodrama. > > 2. exaggerated and emotional or sentimental; sensational or sensationalized; overdramatic. OK. I’ll nominate Foreigner’s “[I Want To Know What Love Is.](https://www.google.com/search?q=i%20want%20to%20know%20what%20love%20is&cad=h)” ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/50 "2018-11-30T15:58:50Z")
There’s a lot of great examples of shmaltz here. When I see"melodramatic pop music" and “the '80s” in a sentence I think of heartfelt ballads from the likes of [Europe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw)(The Final Countdown) and [White Lion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-0E2oFhPwQ) (When the Children Cry). And who can forget the angsty declaration that is The Scorpions [Still Loving You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjRas1yOWvo) “…loff, only loff ken braig down the wall some deyy”. Don’t get me started on Journey, who emoted over several decades. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2018, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/51 "2018-12-02T05:23:33Z")
Surprised nobody has mentioned Laura Branigan or Pat Benatar, surely each equal to Bonnie Tyler in every way. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2018, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/52 "2018-12-02T06:22:33Z")
> [@WernhamHogg](#): > > Remember that the 1950s had an entire genre for songs about dead teenagers. > > Edit: late 50s/early 60s LOL, just remembered, a local Hawaii favorite by local comedian Rap Replinger - \* Fate Yanagi\*. About a surfer facing death after a huge surf wipeout. It’s comes across 10x better if you understand Hawaiian pidgin English, but the lyrics are still priceless… [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLNAQ1-rmPk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLNAQ1-rmPk) “…as I was choking unda (under) da (the) wata (water), I could only think of one thing…AIR! and then her…” and “Tell Fate Yanagi no go (don’t) cry and don’t go out…with Mits Funai” Miss you Rap! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2018, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/53 "2018-12-02T23:34:04Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Surprised nobody has mentioned Laura Branigan or Pat Benatar, surely each equal to Bonnie Tyler in every way. Except with no Jim Steinman, though a link to a rebuttal video would be welcome. ---
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/54 "2018-12-03T02:45:13Z")
I think I get what the OP is going for, but I’m not entirely sure that “melodramatic” wholly describes that type of 80s power ballad with overwrought rock vocals, sustained notes, over-the-top production, and (often) soaring synth lines. I don’t think schmaltzy ballads a la Bobby Goldsboro, story songs like “One Tin Soldier”, or songs with a morbid or dramatic subject like “Timothy” automatically fit the category As mentioned before, Jim Steinman was a master of that kind of stuff, but he also predates the 80s. He’s also a direct link to the Phil Spector dead-teenager ballads of the late 50s/early60s The two best examples I can pull off the top of my head are “The Final Countdown” by Europe and [“Sister Christian”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z92bmlcmyq0) by Night Ranger ---
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/55 "2018-12-03T02:52:14Z")
Also, [“You’re The Best Around”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjcOJmoJwpk) by Joe Esposito, best known as the tournament montage song from The Karate Kid. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/56 "2018-12-04T05:18:53Z")
House of the Rising Son - Eric Burden and the Animals ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/57 "2018-12-04T06:40:14Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > War - Edwin Hawkins For the sake of accuracy, Edwin Starr performed the hit version of, “War.” As he was a one-hit wonder, I’m sure if he were still alive he’d appreciate the credit. > **[Edwin Starr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Starr)** > > Charles Edwin Hatcher (January 21, 1942 – April 2, 2003), known by his stage name Edwin Starr, was an American singer and songwriter. He is best remembered for his Norman Whitfield-produced Motown singles of the 1970s, most notably the number-one hit "War". > Born in Nashville and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, he later lived in Detroit while singing for Ric-Tic and Motown Records. He was backed by the band that became known as "Black Merda". Hawkins and Veasey of the group played on most of his ea... Probably a brain-fart, since you mentioned Edwin Hawkins just above, and holy cow, I can’'t remember the last time I talked about one Edwin, let alone two. How peculiar. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989/58 "2018-12-04T23:59:01Z")
The supposed story of the true meaning of “Total Eclipse of the Heart”: > **[You Never Knew What These Misunderstood Songs Were Really About](https://definition.org/commonly-misunderstood-songs/11/)** > > Whether it's due to urban legend or misleading chords, when the public gets hold of a song, it can morph into something entirely new. “What many don’t know, though, is that “Total Eclipse of the Heart” began as a love song for vampires. The song was written for Tyler by producer Jim Steinman, after she rejected the first two songs he offered her. Going back to the books, Steinman suddenly remembered a song he had begun writing when he was working on a musical version of Nosferatu, called “Vampires in Love.” He tweaked it and finished it, and we got one of the greatest love ballads of all time. (If you listen carefully, you can still hear the echoes of a song about falling in love in the darkness.)” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-pop-music-ever-more-melodramatic-than-it-was-in-the-80-s/824989.md?page=2)