Songs and imagine it is 1980. I was around then; was it a more innocent time than today’s tumult? I think not. Let’s look at the real clues…what were the three most popular songs in 1980. #3 Magic by Olivia Newton John; #2 Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd; #1 Call Me by Blondie.

Here are some partial lyrics starting out sexy but not too dark in Magic:

“You have to believe we are magic
Nothing can stand in our way
You have to believe we are magic
Don’t let your aim ever stray
And if all your hopes survive
Destiny will arrive
I’ll bring all your dreams alive
For you
I’ll bring all your dreams alive
For you”

I can live with Olivia looking for a little “magic”. Now let’s go a lot darker with Pink Floyd and Another Brick In The Wall:

“We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave them kids alone
All in all it’s just another brick in the wall
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall
We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave those kids alone
Hey! Teachers! Leave those kids alone
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall”

I’ll just leave you thinking about control, abuse, and world domination. Now let us go to 1980 #1—Call Me by Blondie. Here is a description: “Call Me” is a song by the American new wave band Blondie and the theme to the 1980 film American Gigolo. Released in the US in early 1980 as a single. The lyrics were written from the perspective of the main character in the film, a male prostitute:

“Cover me with kisses, baby
Cover me with love
Roll me in designer sheets
I’ll never get enough
Emotions come, I don’t know why”

So there you have the innocent 1980. How about just last year are we closer to a new spiritual and intellectual space? Last year by one measure the top song was Share Of You by Ed Sheeren. Here are the lyrics in partial:

“The club isn’t the best place to find a lover
So the bar is where I go
Me and my friends at the table doing shots
Drinking fast, and then we talk slow
And you come over and start up a conversation with just me
And trust me, I’ll give it a chance now
Take my hand, stop
Put “Van the Man” on the jukebox
And then we start to dance
And now I’m singing like
Girl, you know I want your love
Your love was handmade for somebody like me
Come on now, follow my lead
I may be crazy, don’t mind me

Say: “Boy, let’s not talk too much
Grab on my waist and put that body on me”
Come on now, follow my lead
Come, come on now, follow my lead
I’m in love with the shape of you
We push and pull like a magnet do
Although my heart is falling too
I’m in love with your body
Last night you were in my room
And now my bed sheets smell like you
Every day discovering something brand new…
Oh, I’m in love with your body
Every day discovering something brand new
I’m in love with the shape of you..”

Oh, we’ve grown so much in almost 40 years. Peace, and go listen to some songs. Maybe I’ll choose Jazz or Classical tonight.