Hi guys.
OK.....I have a question.....and first, forgive me it this is directed at the wrong place on this particular forum, but I did not find what I was looking for at the General Discussion & 80s music forum topic, so I thought I try asking about it here first....
Here goes.....
Let me first say that I really really (as well as many others) appreciate the way Obscure Central has been functioning.....especially with fantastic contributions from members like - first and foremost Paul & Rissan (with their long running series) and lately bosnark and others who have started their own series and people who regularly actively contribute like Uvox & AJWave to share obscure / rare music from the decade we truly call our own......but that is not what I wanted to talk about.
Maybe I am mistaken, but I get the impression that there is really not that much of a discussion going on......not only here on Obscure Central, but also on General New Wave & 80s Discussions topic where I was originally hoping I could direct my enquiry....and thats basically it what I wanted to say.
Maybe its just me, but I really want to discuss 80s music at length with like-minded people, but when I took a closer look at the General topic over the last few years or so, there have really been very very few longer discussions over there. The average topic is open and practically closed - or laying dormant for a long time - after only a couple of replies. Since that part of the forum was opened in 2003, looks like there have been very few topics active for a longer period of time with periods of increased activity.
For example, a topic that has been started a couple of months ago and which I personally thought that was very well presented and thought out - with a deceptively simple title - What Is An Instrumental - from Passing Stranger, has unfortunately has only a few replies......which is a real shame and in the end - although someone initially might feel encouraged to add their personal perspective with a few examples thrown it - its very easy to be discouraged when faced with such a poor reply quota.
But really.....from my perspective.....it doesnt have to be anything specific.
Even at my age, I am still very curious about various aspects of 80s music and even the tiniest details / curiosities on specifics topics might bring a spark of joy to my heart.
So......if there are others out there - at this point in time - who feel they would like to discuss more......even, on first look about silly things like - why was no.68 the highest UK singles chart position that David Austins brilliant single Turn to Gold has ever managed to conquer in 1984. The same question could apply to classic ballads (IMHO) like Storm Of Light from Working Week (only reached no.88 in 1984) and generally speaking.....why some of those New Wave Classics - as we call them these days - never charted at all.....
How come Wayne Hussey changed three bands in the period from 1984-1986 and Robert Smith has done all three just in 1983/1984 ?
How come some of the people destined for greatness at first glance, like the Liverpudlian Paul Simpson never actually made it big ?
How come Andrew the lord Eldritch is still out there performing live after all these years (is he really ??), but still not managing (or wanting ?) to release a single new studio song in almost 30 years ?
How come some relatively obscure artists were so big during the 80s in the Phillippines (I found out about it relatively recently) and still have a cult following out there in certain cirles nowadays ?
I am a 50 year old single guy and music is truly the one great passion in my life that keeps me going, especially in these modern troubled times we live in.......actually, some people......like the late great Adrian Borland have called it the New Dark Age a long long time ago......maybe I am misinterpreting his lyrics, but it sure feels very familar ("too close to home....too near the bone") where I read those words written on paper.....40 years ago....
Final thought.......song lyrics.......is there a topic we can discuss those and those alone ?