Ep 21.5 Mar 81 Heaven 17, Phil Lynott, Hazel O'Connor, Light of the World, Sugar Minott, Bad Manners

Welcome back to I Completed 80s Music, the podcast where we traverse the vibrant, eclectic world of 1980s pop. I'm your host, the 80s Mixtaper, and today we dive into the second half of Playlist 21.5, filled with synth-pop, reggae, and ska tunes. We embark on this journey with Heaven 17's politically charged anthem, "We Don't Need This Fascist Groove Thang," a protest wrapped in infectious synth beats. Step into Sheffield's industrial atmosphere of 1981 as we unravel the protest anthem that dared to merge political commentary and dance rhythms. Then, join us in a nostalgic trip to Top of the Pops with Phil Lynott's "Yellow Pearl," a synth-pop banger that defined an era's TV music scene while showcasing Lynott's leap into solo ventures. We rekindle memories with Hazel O'Connor's "D-Days," a sharp critique of London's nightlife set to new wave beats, illustrating the artist's attempt to shed her "Breaking Glass" persona. Groove along to Light of the World's "I'm So Happy," capturing the essence of Britain's jazz-funk movement, and revel in Sugar Minott's reggae cover of Michael Jackson's "Good Thing Going," which soared through UK charts. Finally, we dive into the ska universe with Bad Manners' "Just a Feeling," a cheeky anthem from 1981 that rides on the energy of those larger-than-life ska performances. Join the mixtaper as we relive the unrestrained celebration of 80s music and its remarkable impact. Links to playlist 21: Spotify Apple Music In case the playlist hyperlinks don't work on your podcast platform of choice, the songs are: 8. Heaven 17 - Fascist Groove Thang 9. Phil Lynott - Yellow Pearl 10. Hazel O'Connor - D Days 11. Light of the World - I'm So Happy 12. Sugar Minott - Good Thing Going 13. Bad Manners - Just A Feeling