Mean Street

"Mean Street," the opening track of Van Halen's 1981 album "Fair Warning," is renowned for its innovative guitar work and gritty, urban atmosphere. The song begins with Eddie Van Halen's groundbreaking tapping technique, creating an instantly recognizable and complex intro. David Lee Roth's lyrics paint a vivid picture of a rough, inner-city environment, and the overall sound of the track perfectly encapsulates the darker, more serious tone of the "Fair Warning" album. It is a stand out song in Van Halen's catalog, showcasing the bands musical talent, and ability to create a song with a very specific feeling.

"Mean Street" is particularly notable for Eddie Van Halen's revolutionary guitar introduction, which pushed the boundaries of rock guitar playing at the time. The complex tapping sequence immediately grabs the listener's attention and sets the stage for the song's intense and driving rhythm. Beyond the technical prowess, the song's lyrics and overall vibe evoke a sense of urban unease, departing from the more lighthearted party anthems that Van Halen was also known for. This track really shows a different side of the band.

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.