‘L’Amour Toujours’ N°96 – Vintage 80s Music Videos

1 . Alison Moyet – Is This Love?

Released in November 1986, Alison Moyet’s “Is This Love?” steps onto the synth-pop stage as a reflective yet commercially savvy single from her sophomore album *Raindancing*.

Co-written with Dave Stewart (using his pseudonym Jean Guiot) during Moyet’s time in Los Angeles, the track teeters between emotional surrender and skeptical curiosity, asking the titular question with both restraint and longing.

Produced by Jimmy Iovine, the song leans heavily on a polished pop aesthetic that occasionally feels at odds with Moyet’s raw contralto—a voice seemingly made for grit, not gloss.

In the UK, the single soared to number 3, though its reception in the United States was tepid, barely scratching the surface of the Billboard Hot 100.

The accompanying music video, filmed against the backdrop of Cornwall’s coastlines by Nick Morris, shrouds the narrative in windswept mystique, garnering solid MTV playback that paradoxically couldn’t propel the track stateside.

Critics remain divided: some applaud its simplicity and melodic structure, while others argue it does little to challenge Moyet’s considerable vocal depth.

Touching on themes of vulnerability wrapped in pop sheen, “Is This Love?” feels both like a product of its time and a hint at the challenges of harnessing Moyet’s formidable talents within a highly commercial framework.

Featured on the 1987 album “Raindancing”.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

2 . Terence Trent D’Arby – Sign Your Name

“Sign Your Name” by Terence Trent D’Arby transforms romantic yearning into an anthem of devotion, channeling the lush textures of 1960s and 1970s soul with a late-1980s polish.

Written and co-produced by D’Arby himself with contributions from Martyn Ware, the track showcases an ear for melody and arrangement that blends pop accessibility with intricate emotional depth.

The song’s languid rhythm and soft percussion provide a foundation for D’Arby’s impassioned vocals, which oscillate between vulnerability and desperation as he pleads for mutual commitment.

A hallmark of its production is the tasteful restraint—each instrumental layer, from the shimmering keys to the understated bassline, serves to accentuate the song’s raw sentiment.

The music video opts for simplicity over spectacle, featuring moody close-ups and minimalist compositions that focus attention squarely on D’Arby’s expressive performance.

Commercial success followed, charting highly in both the UK and the US, a rare crossover moment for an artist often placed outside the traditional pop mold.

Some critics at the time compared D’Arby’s emotive dynamism to Prince, though the comparison feels mostly superficial; D’Arby’s style leans less toward rebellion and more toward romantic introspection.

The song’s enduring appeal has inspired covers, most notably Sheryl Crow’s 2010 rendition, which enlists Justin Timberlake’s smooth backing vocals but fails to capture the original’s aching sincerity.

“Sign Your Name” is both a benchmark of the artist’s talent and a reminder that sometimes, simplicity and earnestness are all a great song really needs.

Featured on the 1987 album “Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby“.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

3 . George Michael, Aretha Franklin – I Knew You Were Waiting [For Me]

When George Michael and Aretha Franklin teamed up for “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” the result was a vibrant fusion of pop and R&B that celebrated their distinct musical heritages while constructing something undeniably mainstream. Released in January 1987, this track landed on Franklin’s *Aretha* album and managed to strike a rare balance—Michael’s polished vocals paired seamlessly with Franklin’s commanding delivery. It felt like more than a mere duet; it was a dialogue between generations of artistry.

Produced by Narada Michael Walden, the song is a high-energy concoction blending pop rock, gospel-tinged flourishes, and dance-ready percussion, a mix that seemed primed for late-80s radio dominance. Its universal appeal carried it to #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart, while its success abroad underscored its broad resonance. Gold certifications and eight chart-topping global placements didn’t hurt its reputation, but numbers aside, this collaboration capitalized on both artists’ natural charisma and undeniable talent.

The story behind its creation adds an interesting dimension. Written by Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan, it began as a pitch for other iconic vocalists of the time, including Tina Turner. Clive Davis, ever the architect of major music moments, recognized its potential as a duet and paired two artists from seemingly different universes. What’s fascinating is how their chemistry dissolved any sense of clash. The contrasting tones of Franklin’s soulful grit and Michael’s smooth timbre found harmony, both vocally and thematically. The effect wasn’t just an empty exercise in combining big names; it was an authentic powerhouse performance deserving of the Grammy it would later receive.

Visually, the accompanying music video offered a wink to fans, showcasing career-defining clips from both artists on a backdrop of projected screens—a meta take on their legacies while they performed together. Shot predominantly in London, the video carried an air of simplicity that balanced the grandiosity of such a collaboration. Both Franklin and Michael appeared to relish the experience; this wasn’t two egos vying for dominance but performers enjoying mutual respect. For Franklin, this marked her first UK top-10 track in twenty years, as well as her lone number-one hit in Britain—an unexpected achievement for an artist of her stature in a foreign market.

Where “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” succeeds most is in its ability to maintain timelessness in a genre littered with fleeting trends. Unlike many pop duets that sag under the weight of overproduction or gimmickery, this one remains fresh, thanks largely to Michael and Franklin’s sincere performances. It’s significantly more than a historical footnote in their careers; it’s a reminder of what happens when iconoclasm crosses generational lines without pretense. Equal parts nostalgic and forward-looking, the song is a cultural snapshot bold enough to bridge eras, yet clever enough to avoid being boxed into one particular time. It resonates precisely because it refuses to feel contrived.

Featured on the 1986 album “Aretha”.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

4 . Renée & Renato – Save Your Love

“Save Your Love” by Renée and Renato is a 1982 pop ballad that captures the essence of sentimental kitsch, a sugary concoction of operatic male vocals and a contrasting gentle female voice.

The track secures its place in Christmas chart history, topping the UK Singles Chart on December 25, 1982, and holding the spot for four weeks, while simultaneously polarizing listeners for its unabashed melodrama.

Written by Johnny Edward and his wife Sue, and released under the independent Hollywood Records label, the song was engineered to tug at heartstrings, resulting in over 980,000 copies sold and BPI Gold certification.

The song’s presentation was, like its lyrics, an exercise in over-the-top sentimentality; the accompanying music video opted for a campy romance narrative, with model Vivienne Marshall stepping in for the absent Renée, whose actual singing voice came courtesy of Hilary Lester.

Renato Pagliari’s operatic exuberance is credited in part to his unlikely discovery on TV talent show *New Faces* in 1975, and while rumors of his “Just One Cornetto” ad jingle contribution linger, they add a peculiar charm to his legacy.

In a curious twist of history, the Dutch version by Willy and Willeke Alberti scaled the charts in 1982, proving the song’s universal appeal came packaged with its inherent quirks.

Even as critics label it among the “worst” Christmas number ones of all time, its enduring pop-culture resonance invites both nostalgia and irony, solidifying its status as an eccentric hallmark of 1980s music excess.

Featured on the 1983 album “Just One…”.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Wikipedia

5 . Waterfront – Nature Of Love

“Nature of Love” by Waterfront lands squarely in the glossy expanse of late-’80s pop rock and synth-pop, with a vibe that’s equal parts wistful and polished.

Released in 1989, the track comes from the duo’s self-titled debut album, which saw middling chart success but managed to encapsulate the decade’s slick production trends.

While the song doesn’t have the staying power of their breakout hit “Cry,” it serves as a snapshot of the band’s knack for blending emotive lyrics with studio precision.

The British pair, Phil Cilia and Chris Duffy, operate within familiar musical tropes, layering their sentimental delivery over airy arrangements that evoke neon nights and shoulder-padded contemplation.

The track never quite breaches top-tier territory, with its moderate performances on the UK Singles Chart (#63) and the US Billboard Hot 100 (#70) reflecting its fate as a somewhat forgettable offering, even by synth-pop standards.

Still, “Nature of Love” crystallizes a fleeting moment when soulful hooks met the sheen of electronic instrumentation, not quite groundbreaking but undeniably characteristic of its era.

Featured on the 1989 album “Waterfront”.

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6 . Lionel Richie – You Are

Released in 1983 as part of Lionel Richie’s debut solo album, “You Are” is an upbeat and effortlessly catchy mix of pop, R&B, and adult contemporary influences, co-penned by Richie and Brenda Harvey Richie.

The track opens with a vibrant horn section that sets a celebratory tone, blending seamlessly with Richie’s smooth vocals and the polished production typical of his early solo efforts.

As if custom-built for Top 40 radio of the era, the song climbed to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and dominated the Adult Contemporary chart for six weeks, an almost mandatory pit stop for Richie’s chart-toppers at the time.

While the track sings of romantic euphoria, there’s no denying its formulaic structure and saccharine sweetness, though that’s arguably part of its charm—Richie’s knack for making even the cheesiest sentiments feel genuine and heartfelt is on full display.

Interestingly, Richard Marx offers backing vocals here, an early sign of his eventual rise as a pop hitmaker, though his contribution is mostly a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo.

The song was later re-imagined in 2012 as a duet with Blake Shelton for Richie’s *Tuskegee* album, though some argue the original remains definitive, with its ’80s gloss and Richie’s youthful energy capturing an era of unrestrained optimism.

Commercial success aside, “You Are” also serves as a bridge from Richie’s Commodores days, continuing his fascination with D-flat major, a signature key he used in previous hits like “Still” and “Truly.”

The accompanying music video is an unmistakable product of its time: think pastel everything, soft-focus lighting, and Richie’s ever-charismatic demeanor playing directly to the camera, practically daring viewers not to smile.

Critics often peg “You Are” as lightweight compared to Richie’s ballads, yet its staying power in his live sets suggests otherwise, proving that not all pop nostalgia has to come with an ironic wink.

Featured on the 1982 album “Lionel Richie“.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

7 . Climie Fisher – Love Like a River

“Love Like a River” by Climie Fisher swims through the late ’80s pop landscape with a glossy, synth-laden sheen that feels both of its time and oddly timeless.

While not originally on the duo’s 1987 album *Everything*, it found its spotlight in the album’s 2009 re-release, a peculiar posthumous boost for a track that didn’t make the initial cut when the band mattered most.

The collaboration between Simon Climie and Rob Fisher thrives on a soft-focus narrative of heartbreak and longing, set to a lush production helmed by Steve Lillywhite and Stephen Hague—names that practically scream “polished pop opulence.”

The song charted moderately well in the UK and mainland Europe, adding a respectable epilogue to the duo’s run before they disbanded in 1990.

Its lack of an original music video or any concert-infused legend only adds to its slightly strange existence, a pop relic destined to live in the liner notes of nostalgia rather than onstage glory.

That said, the track captures a shimmering moment in time: not a groundbreaking shift in pop history, but a ripple worth revisiting, if only to remind us of a band that often played second fiddle to acts like the Pet Shop Boys but still gave us pockets of melodic sweetness.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Wikipedia

8 . The Housemartins – Caravan Of Love

“Caravan of Love” by The Housemartins arrives as an a cappella rendering of Isley-Jasper-Isley’s 1985 original, a track that once ruled the Billboard R&B chart.

The Housemartins’ version, released in November 1986, became an outlier in their discography, abandoning their indie-pop roots for vocal harmonies steeped in spiritual undertones.

This cover shot to prominence, claiming the top position on the UK Singles Chart but falling short of the coveted Christmas No. 1, held instead by Jackie Wilson’s reissued “Reet Petite.”

The song also resonated internationally, topping charts in Ireland and Sweden while making notable dents in other European territories and beyond.

Though broadly labeled as a message of love and unity, its Christian motifs stand just beneath the surface, adding an element for divided interpretations.

Not tied to any of the band’s studio offerings, the track found a home in their 1988 compilation, *Now That’s What I Call Quite Good.*

Its stripped-down production, courtesy of John Williams, highlights the vocal quartet’s precision, led by Paul Heaton with Norman Cook (later Fatboy Slim) contributing harmonies instead of beats.

A curious inclusion lies in the B-side featuring four unembellished gospel pieces, reaching toward what some might label sincerity, though others might sniff out a sense of calculated eclecticism.

Far from a career-defining move, “Caravan of Love” remains a curious detour that gave The Housemartins their sole UK No. 1, quietly disrupting the season’s musical landscape with its barer-than-bare arrangement.

Featured on the 1988 album “Now That’s What I Call Quite Good”.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Wikipedia

9 . Chicago – You’re the Inspiration

“You’re the Inspiration” exudes precision-engineered sentimentality, wrapped in Chicago’s glossy soft rock veneer.

Produced during the band’s adult contemporary revival, the song’s immaculate arrangement, led by David Foster’s ever-slick touch, is a quintessential product of its mid-’80s era.

The ballad’s syrupy strings, shimmering keyboards, and polished production underscore Peter Cetera’s velvety vocal delivery, which glides over the track with calculated emotion.

Originally earmarked for Kenny Rogers, the song pivots from its country-tinged origins to a full-blown arena-ready anthem, a shift that reflects the band’s knack for reshaping their sound for mass appeal.

Lyrically, its earnest declarations of eternal devotion are as unabashedly universal as they are blatantly saccharine, aimed directly at deep-pocketed wedding playlists and sentimental mixtapes of yore.

Critics may raise eyebrows at its predictability, but the chart success tells a different story, marking it as a defining hit of Chicago’s image-makeover era.

The accompanying music video, offering melodrama-laden vignettes, complements the song’s unabashed bid for mainstream adoration.

Regardless of how many times its silky chorus loops in your head, the track remains a fascinating artifact of Chicago’s mid-career reinvention, where heartfelt melodies meet shameless commercial ambition.

Featured on the 1984 album “Chicago 17“.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

10 . Prefab Sprout – When Love Breaks Down

Prefab Sprout’s “When Love Breaks Down” arrives draped in the shimmering polish of 1980s sophisti-pop, a genre that often fused heartache with a sense of urbane detachment.

Written by Paddy McAloon, the band’s literary craftsman with a penchant for complex emotions, the track navigates the spaces between romantic fracture and wistful longing, delivering its pain in soothing pastels rather than fiery reds.

The production, handled partly by Phil Thornalley and later refined under Thomas Dolby’s touch, leans heavily on glossy instrumentation—silky synths, lightly plucked guitars, and a rhythm section that almost lazily nudges the track forward.

Despite its initial lukewarm reception, the song found a more welcoming audience following a reissue in 1985, climbing to No. 25 on the UK Singles Chart, aided by the band’s newfound visibility via music television and live performances.

Its accompanying video, directed by Steve Barron of “Take on Me” fame, places the group in a stylized autumnal setting, where falling leaves and stark surroundings parallel the song’s emotional drift into melancholy.

One curious detail is the B-side, “Diana,” a track that would later be reborn on the lesser-publicized *Protest Songs* album, a move perhaps reflective of the band’s tendency to recycle but also refine discarded gems.

The song lives in a register of contradictions—it’s both polished and vulnerable, intimate yet distant, standing as an understated entry in a decade often accused of overindulgence.

Prefab Sprout’s genius lies not just in their technical precision but in McAloon’s understanding of how an aching heart can sound almost elegant in its desolation.

Featured on the 1985 album “Steve McQueen“.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

11 . Natalie Cole – I Live For Your Love

Released in 1987 as part of Natalie Cole’s *Everlasting* album, “I Live for Your Love” is a polished slice of late-’80s R&B-pop that finds Cole wrapped in velvety arrangements and romantic longing.

The track sits in a sonic space between glossy adult contemporary ballads and radio-friendly R&B, leaning into its layered production courtesy of Dennis Lambert.

If Natalie’s goal here was to channel every inch of yearning into an accessible love song, mission accomplished, though it borders on safe when stacked against her earlier jazz-inflected work or later experiments in vocal phrasing.

The songwriting team of Gerry Goffin, Michael Masser, and Linda Creed churns out a melody that’s as smooth as it is calculated, hitting all the right emotional cues without ever venturing into uncharted waters.

Commercially, the song struck gold on the U.S. charts, becoming an enduring presence for over five months, and won over even the Adult Contemporary crowd, reaching the No. 2 spot.

Yet, when dropped next to the kinetic energy of “Pink Cadillac,” another *Everlasting* single, this track feels like the quiet sibling, too mannered to grab you by the collar but pleasant enough as background fare.

Its accompanying music video, with Natalie crooning in an elegant setting, added visual flair but stayed in lockstep with the song’s polished and non-disruptive vibe.

It’s hard to deny the professionalism and genuine warmth Cole brings to the track, though the stakes feel notably low compared to the grit and dynamism of many of her contemporaries on the R&B scene.

More than just a hit single, “I Live for Your Love” cemented Cole’s return trajectory in the ’80s pop industrial complex but does so with a muted self-assurance that lets the mechanics of the song overshadow deeper risks or raw emotive depth.

Featured on the 1987 album “Everlasting”.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

12 . Billy Ocean – Love Is Forever

Billy Ocean’s “Love Is Forever” sits snugly in the glossy sheen of mid-1980s production, a time when synths and drum machines were as significant a fixture in pop as Ocean’s velvety vocals.

A cut from his *Love Zone* album—certified double platinum—this song represents the era’s love affair with earnest balladry, dripping with an almost cinematic attempt to make romance sound eternal.

With Barry Eastmond and Wayne Brathwaite at the production helm, the track balances its melodrama with a smooth arrangement that showcases Ocean’s ability to glide effortlessly over R&B, pop, and adult contemporary sensibilities.

While its chart performance was respectable—No. 10 in the UK and No. 16 in the U.S.—“Love Is Forever” feels like the sibling content to stand in the shadows of its flashier family, namely “When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going.”

Though lacking the hooks to make it unforgettable, it thrives on sentimentality, its lyrical promise of love’s permanence appealing to wedding playlists and quiet car rides in equal measure.

The accompanying music video outlines the track’s intention: restrained, romantic, and laser-focused on sincerity, a hallmark of Ocean’s output during his peak.

Is it groundbreaking? Hardly. But it’s this very predictability that secures its place as an emblem of the earnestness that defined 1980s pop ballads.

Featured on the 1986 album “Love Zone”.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site