Her Strut

Bob Seger's "Her Strut" is a rock ballad celebrating a woman's confident walk ("she walks like a river flows"). Inspired by feminist icon Jane Fonda, it toes the line between appreciation and objectification, leaving interpretation open. While some see it as sexist, others view it as a tribute to female power and allure.

Released in 1980 on "Against the Wind," Bob Seger's "Her Strut" isn't a straightforward love song. Instead, it paints a vivid picture of a woman with captivating confidence, leaving the narrator both attracted and a little intimidated.

The song opens with a bluesy guitar riff, setting the tone for a tale of admiration mixed with apprehension. The lyrics describe a woman whose "smile could cut like a diamond" and whose "strut could stop a parade." Seger masterfully evokes her physical presence, mentioning her "high heels" and "tight jeans," but it's her inner fire that truly draws him in.

He admires her independence, singing, "She don't need no permission, she don't need no key." This self-assuredness, however, also creates a distance. He wonders, "Can a man like me handle a woman like her?" The lyrics hint at a potential power struggle, with lines like, "She's got the upper hand, she knows it too."

Despite the underlying tension, the song remains firmly in the realm of admiration. Seger acknowledges his own shortcomings, singing, "I ain't no jet setter, I ain't no movie star," but still finds himself captivated. The final line, "She walks on by, and I just stand there," leaves the listener wondering: will he pursue her, or will he remain a bystander, forever admiring from afar?

"Her Strut" transcends simple objectification. It's a snapshot of a captivating woman, seen through the lens of both desire and insecurity. With its bluesy swagger and Seger's gravelly vocals, the song remains a fan favorite, capturing the complex emotions sparked by an encounter with someone who both attracts and challenges us.

Big hair, synths galore, and love soaring high like shoulder pads. 80s ballads promised forever in neon, whispered secrets over sax solos, and danced 'til dawn with a touch of heartbreak. From Whitney's power anthems to Michael's smooth whispers, every beat pulsed with passion, chasing dreams on roller skates and holding love closer than a Rubik's Cube solution.

The love songs of the 80s, where big hair met big emotions! These sonic valentines throbbed with synthesizers, soaring power ballads, and a touch of neon-tinged optimism.

First love, innocent and electric, pulsed through songs like Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" and Michael Jackson's "The Girl Is Mine." Synthy anthems like Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf" and Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" promised forever young devotion, while the power ballad kings like Foreigner ("I Want to Know What Love Is") and REO Speedwagon ("Can't Fight This Feeling") belted out their hearts in epic choruses.

For a touch of melancholy, there were break-up bangers like Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" and Tears for Fears' "Shout," where wounded hearts raged against betrayal. But even heartbreak shimmered with hope, exemplified by Phil Collins' "Against All Odds" and Tina Turner's "Simply the Best," anthems of resilience and finding love again.

Beyond the mainstream, alternative love bloomed in The Cure's introspective "Lovesong" and The Smiths' Morrissey crooning about rainy day romance. And who could forget Prince's purple reign of sensuality, from the simmering "Kiss" to the playful "Raspberry Beret?"

Love in the 80s was big, bold, and sometimes cheesy, but always passionate. These songs were the soundtrack to first kisses, prom nights, and mixtapes passed between lockers. They captured the era's vibrant spirit, reminding us that even shoulder pads and leg warmers couldn't contain the power of a good love song.