It is challenging to remember many of them because I see more and more 80s bands promoting an anniversary tour these days. Have you noticed these? This is where the band or artist performs their most celebrated album release in its entirety. The Human League recently embarked on the “Dare 40” tour. Two other anniversary tours are quickly coming to mind. ABC with the seminal album “Lexicon Of Love” and A-Ha with “Hunting High and Low.” The nostalgia of seeing your favourite bands from the ’80s play live has never been greater. Similarly, reunion and sounds of the ’80s tours are still proving popular. New Kids On The Block had such a blast with their Mixtape Tour in 2019 they are doing another one this year.
Mixtape Tour is as it sounds. A few different artists, all successful from the same era, linking up together for a gig celebrating their biggest tracks. This summer, Rick Astley, Salt-N-Pepa, and En Vogue will tour with New Kids On The Block. Danny, Joey, Jordan, Jonathan, and Donnie are all so eager for the tour to begin. They’ve hit on the super fun idea of writing a new song that pays homage to their ’80s heyday. Where they collaborate with the other guest artists on this tour. This song is “Bring Back The Time“.
The “Never Gonna Give You Up” singer Rick Astley is one of many ’80s artists I follow, and where I first heard about “Bring Back The Time“. I had a prod from Raj who saw this also. I feel it most likely the New Kids and the En Vogue ladies are where he picked up on the song.
Although not an ’80s cover. “Bring Back The Time” totally encapsulates the ’80s wonder years in a throwback style. The song noticeably leans into the late ’80s, early ’90s synth-pop vibe. If there has to be one, there’s no denying the video directed by John Asher is the star of this show. Throughout the video, the New Kids and their Mixtape Tour mates parody some of the most iconic music videos from the ’80s. Rick Astley transforms into David Byrne from Talking Heads. Terry, Cindy and Rhona of En Vogue become the iconic backup ladies in a pastiche of the Robert Palmer video for “Addicted To Love“. Salt-N-Pepa becomes Madonna x2. The new kids have too much fun stepping into the shoes of Twisted Sister, Devo, Duran Duran, Billy Idol, and A Flock of Seagulls, among others.
No lie, I am living, for Rick Astley as David Byrne, New Kids as Duran Duran the most. If you’re a fan of a certain age, you’ll get a good laugh out of this music video. I did. Especially Duran Duran.
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