There are a few classic song choices that I didn’t appreciate when they were released. A handful of 80s chart-toppers that didn’t fully resonate with me until years later. Interestingly, they all appear to share a common feature: minimal instrumental’s.
The funny thing about music is that our tastes change, and some songs that we used to love might become tired, while others might become popular again with us.
For the singles featured on this list, I always liked the artists involved and I would listen to their other releases at the time. Nowadays, I love listening to all these particular hits and I can finally appreciate them. A particular favourite is this first track.
Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush – “Don’t Give Up”
During the mid to late eighties, I was a fan of Kate Bush. I didn’t initially get this release, but I must say, the video is simple yet amazing to watch. Both artists are holding each other in an embrace and slowly moving into view as they sing while rotating 360. It’s now a firm favourite and a classic track that I can always make time to listen to.
The Human League – “Human”
I’m a massive Human League fan and I have seen them perform live about seven times. This is now a favourite track of mine, but when it was released, I didn’t fully appreciate the more basic backing. The track was released from their not-so-well-received “Jam and Lewis” produced album, “Crash”. The style of the album felt like a departure from their usual material at the time, but now it sounds like typical League material.
George Michael – “A Different Corner”
This was a George Michael number one hit for 10 weeks, alongside a simple video of George in a white room. While I had really liked Wham!, these early solo hits were a departure from the more upbeat tracks on the Wham albums. Over time, I’ve come to appreciate this track as it was likely not a hit a young (at the time) teenage boy would want to listen to. I’ve certainly listened to a lot of George Michael’s music over the years, but it wasn’t until a little later in the mid 90’s that I started to appreciate and enjoy some of these early solo hits.
It’s strange how some songs grow on you gradually before becoming permanent favourites. These days, if these examples ever come on a playlist or the radio, they’re must-listen songs for me.
With George sadly passed away, I wish I had been able to see him perform live. However, I was fortunate enough to see him in person during his Faith stage at a Madonna concert in 1986. He was stood in the VIP area just rows behind me watching the same gig.
Do you have any favourite song choices that you enjoy listening to, but didn’t necessarily connect with immediately? Share your thoughts below.
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