BEST OF THE 80S REWIND FESTIVALS
by Mark Nobes, chief editor
This video playlist features some of the best quality clips of performances from the 80s Rewind festivals from the last decade. There are many poor amateur clips on Youtube, so I've sorted the wheat from the chaff so you don't have to! Many of these are official clips and in HD.
1. Kajagoogoo - Too Shy
I've always adored the bassline in this Kajagoogoo song and here we can see some awesome bass playing from Nick Beggs. This is an excellent live performance of the ban'd biggest hit "Too Shy", and Limahl's voice sounds in good shape, although the same can't be said about his hair! This is the best video I could find as far as sound quality is concerned, as other clips were very "tinny".
2. Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
This is official footage from Rewind in 2012. It's a short clip, but it really gives you a good sense of the atmosphere at the event, and Rick's voice is on top form. Produced by Stock, Aitken and Waterman and Rick Astley's debut single, "Never Gonna Give You Up" topped the charts in 25 countries and remains his biggest hit.
3. Holly Johnson - Relax
The ex-Frankie Goes To Hollywood frontman performs the band's first No.1 hit from 1983, "Relax", which was banned by the BBC. A top performance from the Henley in Thames rewind concert in 2011, and Holly is looking and sounding great!
4. StarShip - We Built This City
This performance is from the Henley-On-Thames 80s Rewind festival in England during August 2012. "We Built This City" was Starship's debut single which was also released in August (way back in 1985) and topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. In the UK the song peaked at No.12. Their other big hit was "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now".
5. ABC - The Look Of Love
"The Look Of Love" was ABC's biggest 80s hit here in the UK, reaching #4 in 1982, and featuring on the band's classic album The Lexicon Of Love. The song also reached a very respectable #18 in the U.S. This is a very decent performance from Henley in 2011, and Martin Fry can still belt out those hits!
6. Billy Ocean - When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going
The No.1 hit from 1985 is performed here at Henley in 2011, and Billy still has one heck of a voice. "When The Going Gets Tough..." was used as the them tune in the action-adventure film The Jewel of the Nile which starred Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito.
7. Midge Ure - Fade To Grey
"Fade To Grey" was a huge synthpop hit back in 1980 for Visage, of course. The song was partly produced and written by Midge Ure, and although I would prefer to see Steve Strange as a vocalist, this is an interesting version of the song with a rockier edge performed at Rewind in 2017.
8. Interview with Toyah Willcox
Martyn Lee from Absolute Radio talks to Toyah backstage in 2011. The English singer and actress fronted the band Toyah from 1978 until 1983 before starting a solo career. Thunder In The Mountains
9. Cutting Crew - I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight
An official clip from 2013 of the song that topped the U.S. and Canadian charts and reached No.4 here in the UK. Apparently, frontman Nick Van Eade thought of the lyrics while having intercourse with his girlfriend, but, thankfully, he didn't die in her arms!
10. The B-52's - Rock Lobster
I'm a huge fan of The B-52's and their quirkiness, and this lively performance is from 2013. Although originally released in the late 70s, the song didn't become a hit until 1986 here in the British Isles. Looking at the cover of the single, I've never really understood how it relates to the song, but judging by the nonsensical lyrics maybe it isn't supposed to!
11. The B-52's - Love Shack
The band's biggest hit from 1989 is performed again in 2013. I remember dancing to this one in the clubs back in the day and each time this song is played it reminds me of my late teen years.
12. Chesney Hawkes - The One And Only
Those of you with good memories will know that this song was actually released in 1991, so I'm not sure why the guy was performing at an 80s Rewind concert. Nevertheless, it's a tune fondly remember by many and, contrary to popular belief, this wasn't his one and only hit. The follow-up single I'm a Man, Not a Boy reached #27. Mr Hawkes had four other minor hits which charted outside the Top 40 during the 90s and Noughties.
13. Go West - King Of Wishful Thinking
Go West are, of course, best remembered for their 80s
hits such as "We Close Our Eyes" and "Call Me", although this one was
actually released in 1990, and it featured on the soundtrack to the movie Pretty Woman.
14. Heaven 17 - Temptation
It's a shame that this is the remixed, dancier version of the 80s tune, although vocalist Billie Godfrey has a fine set of lungs on her. The original tune reached #2 in April 1983. See the original video for Tempation.
15. Sonia - You'll Never Stop Me From Loving You
Okay, so I'm not really a fan of the S/A/W records but Sonia managed to belt this one out in a fine manner. This was the Liverpudlian's debut single and also her only chart topper.
16.Matt Bianco - Yeh Yeh
I've always enjoyed this band's feel-good songs which feature a vibrant mix of sophisti-pop, latin pop, soul and jazz. "Yeh Yeh" is certainly one of these and was a No.13 hit for the band back in 1985. This is actually a cover version of the No.1 song from 1965 by Georgio Fame and the Blue Flames. Other hits by the band included "Get Out Of Your Lazy Bed" and "Wap Bam Boogie".
17. Steve Harley & Rebel - Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)
Like Chesney Hawkes, here we have another band from the wrong decade performing at 80s Rewind. This song was a chart-topper back in 1975, but, no doubt, many folk at the festival will still remember the band and the song, nonetheless - I certainly do! This performance is from 2013.
18. Paul Carrack - Over My Shoulder
This guy was, of course, the frontman of Mike + The Mechanics and the song he's performing here was a #12 hit for the band in 1995. The band's biggest hits were The Living Years which topped the British charts in 1989 and Silent Running which peaked at #21 in 1985. Paul Carrack has also had much success as a solo artist and has performed as a session musician for numerous acts playing piano, organ, keyboards, guitar, bass guitar and harmonica.
19. Rewind Festival South 2021
This clip features a compilation of interviews, performances and crowd footage from the 2021 Rewind festival, which was back (at long last!) after a break of two years due to the Covid pandemic.
20. Interview with Trevor Horn at Rewind South 2021
The legendary producer of ABC, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Seal's debut album, plus, a couple of clips of The Trevor Horn Band performing Video Killed The Radio Star and Relax.
