Listening to 1984: June Deep Cuts

Our first installment for paid subscribers features musings on Sheila E., "Neuromancer," "Gremlins," Milan Kundera, and... "Bachelor Party." These aren't leftovers; these are the _deep cuts_.

Everyone reading this probably knows the drill by now, but just in case:

The story so far: Sometime in 2019, I had a premonition that 2020 was going to suck. So— I decided to spend the year re-experiencing my favorite year from my childhood: 1984. By "re-experiencing" I mean listening to the music, watching the TV shows and movies, reading the news magazines and books, and listening to "American Top 40" and "Newsweek on Air" week-in, week-out, in chronological order. Weirdness ensued. I kept a journal.

(Note: If you just came onboard and are thoroughly confused, start with Part 1.)

June 5, 1984 / June 5, 2020

The Richter scale is picking up some Puple Rain pre-quake tremors in the form of Sheila E.’s The Glamorous Life, out on June 5, 1984. Sheila E. is a monster talent in her own right—a badass drummer, fine singer, great dancer. But it’s the fusion of that talent with Prince’s songwriting and arranging that has resulted in the soon-to-be-a-mega-hit title track as well as the hugely underrated album opener “The Belle of St. Mark.” Although Sheila hails from Oakland, this is the pure, uncut Minneapolis sound. There is something decade-defining on the way, and no one will get sick of it—ever. Sheila is the front wave, but you can hear Prince’s Linn drum machine and punchy keyboards interweaving with her organic percussion.