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Scotsman
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
15 famous Scottish musicians of the 1980s: From new wave to jangle-pop
Time for another trip down memory lane - or a history lesson if you were a child of the 90s and beyond. While we've taken a look at some of those memorable Scottish acts that permeated the airwaves and our eardrums during the decade of the 90s, we have heard you all loud and clear - what about something a little earlier? Well, how about the 1980s? A formative year for music, with the rise of new wave, post-punk, hip-hop and the tail end of the punk movement, a rather large number of musicians who cut their teeth as part of various local scenes in Scotland would go on to form several acts that we still herald to this day; from Shirley Manson's early musical escapades before Garbage, through to the bands that ended up joining together to form Teenage Fanclub. Here's our 15 picks of bands from Scotland that formed or gained prominence throughout the 1980s, from old favourites to some even we had forgotten about. 1 . Eurythmics (Glasgow/London/Sunderland) Okay, let's get this one out of the way first. While Annie Lennox, the powerful and iconic vocalist, is famously Scottish, her co-founder, Dave Stewart, is from Sunderland, England. But you can't talk about '80s pop without mentioning the duo. With their innovative synth-pop sound, striking visuals, and genre-defining hits like 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),' they became a global phenomenon and set a new standard for electronic music and style. | Getty Images Photo Sales 2 . Goodbye Mr Mackenzie (Bathgate) Formed in the late 1980s in Bathgate, West Lothian, Goodbye Mr Mackenzie was a post-punk and alternative rock band known for their dark, theatrical sound and energetic live shows. Their music, blending gothic undertones with catchy pop hooks, earned them a dedicated cult following. The band's legacy is perhaps most famously defined by the role of their backing vocalist, Shirley Manson, who would later achieve global success as the frontwoman for the band Garbage. | Kate Garner Photo Sales 3 . The Boy Hairdressers (Glasgow) Formed in Glasgow in 1987, The Boy Hairdressers were a key part of the city's burgeoning indie pop scene. The band's lineup included future members of Teenage Fanclub and The Vaselines, with Francis Macdonald and Gerard Love at its core. Though their time together was short, releasing just one EP, their jangly guitars and melodic songwriting are seen as a direct precursor to the sound that would define Teenage Fanclub's later work. | Discogs Photo Sales 4 . The Bluebells (Glasgow) This Glasgow-based band was a key part of the Scottish jangle-pop scene in the early 1980s. Known for their infectious melodies and bright, guitar-driven sound, The Bluebells are best remembered for their enduring hit single 'Young at Heart,' which reached the UK charts in 1984. Though their career was relatively short-lived, their blend of classic songwriting and upbeat pop sensibilities left a lasting impression on the decade. | Discogs Photo Sales Related topics: BoostMusicArtistsScotlandNostalgia
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
15 famous Scottish musicians of the 1980s: From new wave to jangle-pop
Time for another trip down memory lane - or a history lesson if you were a child of the 90s and beyond. While we've taken a look at some of those memorable Scottish acts that permeated the airwaves and our eardrums during the decade of the 90s, we have heard you all loud and clear - what about something a little earlier? Well, how about the 1980s? A formative year for music, with the rise of new wave, post-punk, hip-hop and the tail end of the punk movement, a rather large number of musicians who cut their teeth as part of various local scenes in Scotland would go on to form several acts that we still herald to this day; from Shirley Manson's early musical escapades before Garbage, through to the bands that ended up joining together to form Teenage Fanclub. Here's our 15 picks of bands from Scotland that formed or gained prominence throughout the 1980s, from old favourites to some even we had forgotten about. 1 . Eurythmics (Glasgow/London/Sunderland) Okay, let's get this one out of the way first. While Annie Lennox, the powerful and iconic vocalist, is famously Scottish, her co-founder, Dave Stewart, is from Sunderland, England. But you can't talk about '80s pop without mentioning the duo. With their innovative synth-pop sound, striking visuals, and genre-defining hits like 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),' they became a global phenomenon and set a new standard for electronic music and style. | Getty Images Photo Sales 2 . Goodbye Mr Mackenzie (Bathgate) Formed in the late 1980s in Bathgate, West Lothian, Goodbye Mr Mackenzie was a post-punk and alternative rock band known for their dark, theatrical sound and energetic live shows. Their music, blending gothic undertones with catchy pop hooks, earned them a dedicated cult following. The band's legacy is perhaps most famously defined by the role of their backing vocalist, Shirley Manson, who would later achieve global success as the frontwoman for the band Garbage. | Kate Garner Photo Sales 3 . The Boy Hairdressers (Glasgow) Formed in Glasgow in 1987, The Boy Hairdressers were a key part of the city's burgeoning indie pop scene. The band's lineup included future members of Teenage Fanclub and The Vaselines, with Francis Macdonald and Gerard Love at its core. Though their time together was short, releasing just one EP, their jangly guitars and melodic songwriting are seen as a direct precursor to the sound that would define Teenage Fanclub's later work. | Discogs Photo Sales 4 . The Bluebells (Glasgow) This Glasgow-based band was a key part of the Scottish jangle-pop scene in the early 1980s. Known for their infectious melodies and bright, guitar-driven sound, The Bluebells are best remembered for their enduring hit single 'Young at Heart,' which reached the UK charts in 1984. Though their career was relatively short-lived, their blend of classic songwriting and upbeat pop sensibilities left a lasting impression on the decade. | Discogs Photo Sales Related topics: BoostMusicArtistsScotlandNostalgia
Tom's Guide
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
If I started playing guitar from scratch again this is the electo-acoustic guitar I'd buy right now — and it's 10% off at Guitar Center
My first memory of playing a guitar was sat on some steps near school trying (and failing) to learn the synth line from the Eurythmics classic Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This). I fumbled about and hit the strings in a way that made some kind of sound. Fortunately, you don't have to make the same public embarrassment of yourself as I did, because the Lava Music Me Play acoustic guitar has a small smart display that acts as a tuner, tutor and recording studio and it's down to just $359 at Guitar Center. It looks like a slightly quirkier version of an electro-acoustic guitar (since that's what it is), so you don't need an amp to get started, but can plug it in if you want to turn up the volume. This is handy, since the body has an all-weather design so you can play it outside in summer sun without lugging equipment around. The Lava Music Me Play is easily one of the greatest guitars for beginners. It's portable, has a built-in digital tuner and metronome, and has effects, drum loops and a recorder all easily accessible, even when unplugged. It's aimed at new players, but also makes an excellent travel companion for all guitarists. As much as I'd normally say 'smart' things are usually a way to make you spend more on a product you'd need to upgrade pretty quickly (a standard acoustic guitar from 50 years ago can still play just as well today if taken care of, for example), I think there's a good reason to still put the Lava Music Me Play in your basket. The touchscreen display gives you access to a built-in digital tuner — I really hate needing to tune the guitar, so anything to make it easier is a plus in my book. But there are plenty of cheap tuners you can buy, so the real reason to pick up the Me Play is the effects and recording tools. The Lava Music Me Play uses the rear of the guitar as a speaker, so it can add effects even when you're playing on the go without any amplification. You can program drum loops, start a metronome so you can keep time, but the most interesting is the effects. Normally, you'd need a separate powered effects peddle, which means no interesting sounds while playing unplugged (plus, extra expense to buy the effects pedal). The Lava Music Me Play uses the rear of the guitar as a speaker, so it can add effects even when you're playing on the go without any amplification. It's an impressive feature, and means that you can loop parts, add effects and create beats to play a song, even when all you have is your acoustic guitar. GuitarZero2Hero described it as a "travel guitar" in their review, so if you're after something you can take around with you without compromising on sound and effects, you'll definitely want to check out the Lava Me Play, especially if you want to celebrate the reunion of 90s heroes Oasis by screaming your heart out playing Wonderwall.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sheffield homeless choir perform first concert in city cathedral
A new choir made up of people impacted by homelessness have performed their first concert in South is the latest UK city to host a branch of The Choir With No Name, an organisation set up for people who have experienced rough concert took place in front of an audience of hundreds of people at Sheffield Cathedral, which has hosted weekly rehearsals since the choir started in January."We have a diverse choir, some are still going through a really tough time but we know that being part of this community is a huge support for them on a deep level," said choir director Oli Kluczewski. The choir performed a number of crowd-pleasing anthems including Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by The Eurythmics and One Day Like This by Choir With No Name national charity has seven choirs around the UK, with others in London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Brighton, Cardiff and of the Sheffield choir have received support from the Cathedral Archer Project on Campo Lane, including Joyce Cook. Ms Cook, who found herself homeless after a family dispute, said she wore her favourite Disney glasses and her nan's "lucky necklace" to give her confidence on stage."She gave me a motto to keep on smiling - that's my favourite motto," she said."I love this, belting out classics, singing makes me feel good." Last year, Sheffield City Council confirmed the number of people registered as being homeless within the city had reached an all-time Whitham-Lees, a choir member who joined four weeks ago, said the group already had made "an impact" on him. "I've spent the last six years in and out of hostels, tents, street homeless," he said."You learn to deal with it and put up a front."Mr Whitham-Lees said the choir had helped to introduce him to "safe people"."They understand me, it's so nice they get me," he seven UK choirs meet once a week "for a cuppa and a catch up", sing for 90 minutes then share a free hot meal cooked by the success of their first concert, Mr Kluczewski believes the members are now ready for more."We know being a part of this choir is a huge support for our members," he said."I think music can affect social change, as long as people come and bring a sense of fun and community." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘I'd dress as Judy Garland and scare my parents': Rufus Wainwright's honest playlist
The song I do at karaoke My daughter is a typical teenager. She's 13 and not interested in much that I do, but the other day I was singing Begin the Beguine by Cole Porter and she actually came down and asked: 'What the hell was that?' So that song has some magic to it. It always elevates the world around me. The song I can no longer listen to Stephen Sondheim is brilliant, but I can't stand Send in the Clowns. It just gets on my tits. Yes, I know that's a very British expression. I'm pandering to you guys. The first single I bought Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics, on 45, from this great record store in Montreal called Phantasmagoria, when I was 10. I'd seen Annie Lennox on television and felt as if I was witnessing a celestial being. The best song to play at a party The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson. I find pre-Thriller Michael Jackson is less overt. The song that changed my life I was about four or five when I first saw The Wizard of Oz on television. When I heard Judy Garland sing Over the Rainbow, it instantly became my anthem, and I subsequently started dressing up like Judy and scaring my parents. The song I inexplicably know every lyric to Hotel California by the Eagles has been hammered into me inexplicably. I'm always drawn to the story and melody through morbid curiosity. The song I secretly like, but tell everyone I hate I hate all of the pro-American, crazy flag-waving crap, but The Star-Spangled Banner, the American national anthem, is a hell of a lot of fun to sing. It's got a real payoff. The Whitney Houston version deserves to be the most famous version. Have I ever been asked to sing it? Not yet. I'm not sure if I would. The song that gets me up in the morning Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen is one of the great energising songs. It acknowledges the sadness, but gets you going. The song that makes me cry I covered Heading for Home by Peggy Seeger on my Folkocracy record. What I love is that it's about accepting age and embracing death. The song I want played at my funeral I would have a viola piece called Offertorium from my new classical album. I've always loved classical music, but now that I'm a classical artist, it doesn't come up if you put 'Rufus Wainwright'. It only comes up if you put 'Wainwright'. So now I'm officially mononymous, like Mozart and Madonna. Rufus Wainwright's new classical album, Dream Requiem, is out now.
