It's 1985 and you've been dumped... what music?

[thekumquat]

Welcome back to little_details!
I'd actually tried to post this in May 2017, but the Dreamwidth version wasn't yet open. As it happens, while I finished the story in question (only really of interest to Antonia Forest fans), I'd still appreciate answers:

"I'm writing a story which for various reasons is between April and June 1985, in England. A 17-year-old boy who generally takes himself way too seriously and has just been dumped, wants to put on some loud music to express his feelings. Rock, punk, not disco - any song that would be available via reasonably mainstream means at that time.

If the timeframe were more flexible, the obvious song would be Joan Jett & the Blackhearts "I hate myself for Loving You", but that came out in 1988. Queen's "Friends will be Friends" would do, but again that's 1986. Ideas?

If anyone happens to know *when* in 1985 that Jimmy Somerville left Bronski Beat to join the Communards, that would also be helpful.

Hoping the DW version of this community takes off!"

Comments

[full_metal_ox]

The title track is a very angry and disillusioned take on the Vietnam war and treatment of veterans in its aftermath (though it famously gets trotted out as a rah-rah America song by people who don't listen to the words).

Another predictable item on my hometown’s Fourth of July fireworks playlist was “Young Americans”—you know, an expatriate Englishman’s musical snapshot of American post-Watergate anguish and malaise. There really needs to be a Time-Life compilation entitled “Pay Attention To The Damn Lyrics.”

[theladyscribe]

Oh my god, that's amazing. XD

[full_metal_ox]

Isn’t it? Apparently the chorus is sufficient cause to start hooting, “U!!! S!!! A!!!”