music friday: 1989

Madonna, "Like a Prayer". Probably my favorite Madonna song.

The B-52s, "Love Shack". Formed in 1976, first album in 1979, were a popular cult band for a decade. Guitarist Ricky Wilson had a unique style that was an important part of the band's sound, and when he died of AIDS in 1985, his bandmates were crushed. In 1989, they bounced back with Cosmic Thing, which went 4x Platinum in the States ... you couldn't really call them a cult band by that point. "Love Shack" is for many the band's signature tune. I saw them live sometime around 1980.

Neneh Cherry, "Buffalo Stance". Cherry was 25 when she released her debut album, Raw Like Sushi, which included this international hit. She did it on Top of the Pops when she was seven months pregnant ... asked if that was safe, she said, "It's not an illness!"

Bonuses: I saw GG Allin in 1989 at a club that closed for good after the concert. I've never experienced anything like that show. Here's a news story explaining one of GG's gigs:

I saw The Feelies twice, the first time in 1989 when they opened for Lou Reed. This is my favorite of their songs: