TS: Loverboy v. a-ha

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alright, i'm raking the coals of my eighties childhood now and i've come to the conclusion that the epic battle wasn't the preps v. the burn-outs, or punk v. pop, or new wave/alternative/indie v. punk, or rock v. dance, or rock v. rap. it's the battle between these two bands -- the different processes and influences that produced them, and everything that they stood for -- that is the "whose side are you on?" of the eighties.

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 04:02 (9 years ago) Permalink

fundamental equations:

loverboy: led zeppelin + reo speedwagon + springsteen + rush. mulletheads with fat asses squeezed into too-tight jeans, cruising the 7-11s and the beer-and-a-shot joints.

a-ha: bowie + roxy music + duran duran + kajagoogoo. straight kids who looked like queers (and got more tail than you'd think).

or, if you prefer: south korea v. north korea.

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 04:06 (9 years ago) Permalink

gawd-DAMN! that's a tough one. it would be terribly easy to dismiss either band as embarrassing pap, but i DO recall owning (and loving) a-ha's 'hunting high and low'. a great pop album, full stop.

loverboy, on the other hand, i have a soft spot for too. maybe it's a canadian thing, but c'mon, if 'turn me loose' doesn't rock your world then i pity you. they did have some great 'hits' - 'hot girls in love', 'workin' for the weekend'... when i was in grade 7 (1982) we had to make these giant fake records for our big dance, and i worked on a loverboy one (i also worked on a shannon one, but i digress).

the final verdict is a tough call, because i don't really see a lot of merit in the overall arc of either career. a-ha's later albums were crap (that recent one was a real stinker), and loverboy, well... no comment. still, if i had to pick one group to listen to on a desert island (a horrible thought, actually - a cyanide pill would be a bonus), i'm going with our norwegian fellows...

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 09:25 (9 years ago) Permalink

without a doubt, A-Ha.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 10:44 (9 years ago) Permalink

or, if you prefer: south korea v. north korea.

bahahahaha

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 11:15 (9 years ago) Permalink

Well, I think A-Ha wins this. Witness the fact that they're still going (albeit their Stateside status has shrivelled significantly) and still selling records. Meanwhile, Loverboy are back on the State Fair/Tribute Band circuit, and lead singer Mike "Lovin' Every Minute of It" Reno is now three times the weight he was circa "Everybody's Workin' For the Weekend".

The modern equivalent of Loverboy vs. A-Ha?:

Third Eye Blind vs. The Postal Service

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 11:20 (9 years ago) Permalink

Loverboy vs. a-ha?

Modern Talking vs. The Beatles?

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 13:28 (9 years ago) Permalink

A-ha, of course. Any day of the week.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 14:15 (9 years ago) Permalink

i've recently been listening to more a-ha than i have since, oh, 1988? anyway, a very sadly underrated group -- hunting high and low and scoundrel days are gems, and there's enough after that for a respectable CDR-comp. and morten harket has one helluva voice!

i'm kinda interested in the fact that, except maybe for alex, no-one's picked up on the 80s culture-clash idea here. where's mr. eddy when you need him (plus i think loverboy could use some defense here, what with all the morten harket love hereabouts!)

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 14:22 (9 years ago) Permalink

Will someone yank the batteries out of the Geirbot or at least put him back on his slow setting?

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 14:23 (9 years ago) Permalink

Say something nice about Loverboy? Hmmmmmm......a bit of a tough task, that. "Turn Me Loose" wasn't a bad single, I suppose. Still, there are plenty of stinkers in their canon (remember "Hot Girls in Love"?) "Lucky Ones" and "When It's Over" aren't too horrible, I'll concede. They were basically just a poor Canuck's Journey, right? Not an especially photogenic ensemble either (especially when pitted against the angular cheekbones and Scandiweigan je ne sais quoi of the likes of A-ha).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 14:31 (9 years ago) Permalink

LOVERBOY, there is no question.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 15:02 (9 years ago) Permalink

(The part of Horace's post that got lost reads "A-HA mops the floor with you!")

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 15:05 (9 years ago) Permalink

A-Ha may have had better hair, but Loverboy had MORE hair.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 15:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

esp. on their nutsacks.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 15:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

A-Ha may have had better hair, but Loverboy had MORE hair.

Yeah, but it was CURLY hair....almost disquietingly PUBIC in nature....which renders it immediately uncool.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 15:10 (9 years ago) Permalink

A-Ha was but a blip on the radar of crap culture, Loverboy was a big freaking mothership!

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 15:15 (9 years ago) Permalink

Loverboy was a big freaking mothership!

....which has since crashlanded, whereas the A-Ha "blip" turned out to be just the mere tip of a vast juggernaut that continues to spread it's gargantuan layers like god-sized onion of Laplandian synthpoperatic domination.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 15:17 (9 years ago) Permalink

I AM DeROGATIS, YOU WILL SUBMIT!

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 15:22 (9 years ago) Permalink

You sound like the start of an Eon track, Horace.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 16:01 (9 years ago) Permalink

a-ha never had an album cover featuring morten harket's ass in tight red jeans.

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 16:06 (9 years ago) Permalink

and that's why Loverboy wins, right?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 16:10 (9 years ago) Permalink

it is, if yer already predisposed to loverboy in the first instance. which is kinda my point -- unfordable gulfs, north v. south korea, et. al.

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 16:21 (9 years ago) Permalink

GODDAMMIT TAD WHY DID YOU PUT "unfordable gulfs" SO CLOSE TO AN ALLUSION TO THAT LOVERBOY COVER??????

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 16:23 (9 years ago) Permalink

lets not forget that Morten has decided to market A-Ha breads.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 16:45 (9 years ago) Permalink

loverboy would win by their current associations (the ass-cover thread, that chris farley chippendales skit) but my heart belongs to a-ha in the end. but how would either fare against the juggernaut of Wangchung?

― Felcher (Felcher), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 19:44 (9 years ago) Permalink

HONOUR THE ASS!

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 19:53 (9 years ago) Permalink

I'll go with Loverboy, because it's far easier for us non-castratos to sing along to "The Kid Is Hot Tonite" than to "Take On Me."

― John Fredland (jfredland), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 20:14 (9 years ago) Permalink

I'll go with Loverboy, because it's far easier for us non-castratos to sing along to "The Kid Is Hot Tonite" than to "Take On Me."

it must've been one helluva trick for mike reno to pull off -- not singing castrato -- considering how tight those jeans look!

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 20:38 (9 years ago) Permalink

and the michael reno headband! let's not forget the headband!!

only mark knopfler could compete on the stupid-looking headband tip.

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 20:39 (9 years ago) Permalink

Dood, Everybody's Workin' For the Weekend p0wnz this thread.

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 22:54 (9 years ago) Permalink

Get Lucky is a tremendous album, something which I can't fathom A-ha actually having. Stop staring at the damn ass and LISTEN TO THE FUCKING THING!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 22:55 (9 years ago) Permalink

listening to the sounds that come outta mike reno's ass would be more enjoyable than listening to the sounds that come outta mike reno's ass.

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 22:58 (9 years ago) Permalink

mike reno's mouth.

mouth, ass, same difference. esp. wr2 mike reno.

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 22:59 (9 years ago) Permalink

Get Lucky is a tremendous album, something which I can't fathom A-ha actually having.

Are you HIGH? Buy _Hunting High and Low_ and _Scoundrel Days_ IMMEDIATELY.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 00:03 (9 years ago) Permalink

If I see 'em in the cheap racks...just for you, Dan.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 00:08 (9 years ago) Permalink

though I like the idea that not being able to imagine A-ha creating a classic album implies extreme chemical indulgence.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 00:11 (9 years ago) Permalink

I took the time to buy a keyboard and learn basic piano skills for the soul purpose of playing Take On Me. Listening to Loverboy makes children cry.

― David Allen, Wednesday, 22 October 2003 02:21 (9 years ago) Permalink

Hmm...classic album cover (see above)
versus wicked cool video when i was younger!

choices choices...

― Andrzej B. (Andrzej B.), Thursday, 23 October 2003 03:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

mr. miccio never ceases to amaze me wr2 the supreme wrongness of his musical tastes.

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Thursday, 23 October 2003 16:44 (9 years ago) Permalink

From my second book: "Truth is, the first Loverboy album was a very strange animal--as weird as, to pick a better-remembered example also from 1980, the Stones *Emotional Rescue.* The beat was hopped-up AOR-going-disco, often favoring synth over guitars; the vocals were tumbling suburban new wave. The words could be heard as so-what macho crotch-rock 'freedom' arias, to me they come off more like Flashdance-disco escape-from-working-class rut, with sexual preferences left open to interpretation: 'on my knees making kove to whoever i please' indeed. Minimalist Philip Glass whorls well into deep phallic funk, beats pogo around in a jumpy/hyper dance-oriented fashion, riffs work as rhythm, and there are incomparably sprightly stopoffs at Paul Rodgers AOR-blues muscle, Rush-like pomp, trash-organ garage rock, hiccupping Cheap Trick-gone-Elvis glamabilly, full-on goofily-snotnosed snide-nihilistic bubble-punk ('Teenage Overdose') not far from what Loverboy's fellow Vancouverites the Young Canadians and Pointed Sticks were doing at the time. After the last song seems to end, there's even a freebie Police-ska parody/tribute, complete with a Sting imitation and could-be-jazz sax solo."

Anthony Miccio claims their second album (which I haven't listened to for years, though I absolutely know I remember loving "Emotional" and of course "Working For The Weekend") is even better. The pre-Loverboy post-Nick Gilder Vancouver glam band Streetheart made really great records, too, especially *Under Heaven Over Hell,* which ranks with Foreigner's *Head Games* as one of 1979's finest hard-rock albums.

A-ha, on the other hand, had a fairly nifty video once.

― chuck, Thursday, 23 October 2003 16:58 (9 years ago) Permalink

fyi, a couple guys (matt frenette and paul dean, i think) were actually IN streetheart before they were in loverboy. (also, i honestly believe they made LOVE to whoever they pleased. not "kove.")

― chuck, Thursday, 23 October 2003 17:08 (9 years ago) Permalink

yes, Streetheart (who were just the first ever inductees into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame, right here in Regina) gave mf and pd to Loverboy...and NO ONE to A-Ha.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 23 October 2003 17:29 (9 years ago) Permalink

Chuck, you know Paul Dean was also in X-Ray Spex, right? I LOOOOOOVE telling that to folx around town.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 23 October 2003 17:31 (9 years ago) Permalink

And the reason I think Get Lucky is better is cuz side two is stronger. Unless you really DIG "Prissy Prissy."

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 23 October 2003 17:32 (9 years ago) Permalink

"Looking For The Whales" is better than every Loverboy song ever recorded, full stop.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 23 October 2003 17:33 (9 years ago) Permalink

I'm with Dan here.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 23 October 2003 17:35 (9 years ago) Permalink

see what i mean? it's eighties high school all over again! no reconciliation b/w the pro-a-ha and the pro-loverboy camps AT ALL.

(btw, thanks for posting mr. eddy -- i actually did have you in mind when i created this thread.)

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Thursday, 23 October 2003 17:37 (9 years ago) Permalink

oh, and you might not also agree cuz the first album is definitely a bit weirder (everybody should hear the outtanowhere Police imitation at the end of the album!) if less consistent. Loverboy to Get Lucky is kinda like Toys In The Attic to Rocks, and I think you prefered Toys. I'm a Rocks man myself.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 23 October 2003 17:37 (9 years ago) Permalink

"Looking For The Whales" is better than every Loverboy song ever recorded, full stop.

I agree. You can say the same thing about just about every single "Scoundrel Days" track though, "The Swing Of Things", "October", "The Weight Of The Wind", "Manhattan Skyline", "Scoundrel Days", "I've Been Losing You", "The Soft Rains Of April".... All brilliant...

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 24 October 2003 07:57 (9 years ago) Permalink

That album is pure genius.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 October 2003 12:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

Scoundrel Days...I agree, brilliant.

This should have been the Outfield vs. Loverboy, me i'd go for the Outfield. I have a soft spot for "Your Love"

― Chris V. (Chris V), Friday, 24 October 2003 13:50 (9 years ago) Permalink

i'd go for outfield, too -- and yes, on the strength of "your love." a song with such bad lyrics has to have something going for it.

but outfield v. loverboy isn't quite right, b/c they're both on the same team* -- both outfield and loverboy fans would be snarling at a-ha fans, and vice versa

(* = bad baseball puns are always inevitable wr2 the outfield, no?)

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Friday, 24 October 2003 18:21 (9 years ago) Permalink

The Outfield vs Kajagoogoo

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 October 2003 18:22 (9 years ago) Permalink

that's more like it!

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Friday, 24 October 2003 18:27 (9 years ago) Permalink

This is fun!

Winger vs Martika

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 October 2003 18:33 (9 years ago) Permalink

what would be the point of that one? who used more hairspray?

― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Friday, 24 October 2003 18:37 (9 years ago) Permalink

Hmm. You might be right.

Winger vs The System?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 October 2003 18:38 (9 years ago) Permalink

The System? Good god, Dan.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 24 October 2003 19:03 (9 years ago) Permalink

Ned, I'm on a roll; don't disturb this groove!

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 24 October 2003 19:12 (9 years ago) Permalink

3 months pass...

REVIVE!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Saturday, 24 January 2004 23:19 (9 years ago) Permalink

7 months pass...

THA SYSTEM?!?

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Friday, 27 August 2004 04:06 (8 years ago) Permalink

Robert Palmer vs Mariah Carey

― dave q, Friday, 27 August 2004 04:37 (8 years ago) Permalink

i'm kept up nights wondering what robert palmer woulda done had he covered "butterfly"

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Friday, 27 August 2004 04:51 (8 years ago) Permalink

This thread is classic. This is absolutely the funniest thread I've ever read here.

I feel as if someone has forced me to admit to choosing Loverboy over A-Ha against my will, when I would have chosen so many OTHER bands over Loverboy. But here I have been painted into Loverboy's corner. Forced to recall the names of early 80's singles I haven't heard since. Wondering what the ones I've forgotten about actually sounded like. Knowing I must not give in. I honestly don't think I ever bought a single Loverboy record.

next thread is:

TS: Rolling Stones vs. Pet Shop Boys

― Bimble (bimble), Friday, 27 August 2004 07:10 (8 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

Loverboy was ok, but my heart will always go out to a-ha!! Oh and A-ha's newer albums rock!!

― Penny, Saturday, 25 February 2006 11:59 (7 years ago) Permalink

I can't believe it, no one has been on this thread since 2004 (except for me!)

― Penny, Saturday, 25 February 2006 12:02 (7 years ago) Permalink

a-ha are still up there for "Scoundrel Days" alone. "Hunting High And Low" is patchy as an album, but the followup is certainly a forgotten gem that would have deserved to be part of the canon (and it usually performs better than "Hunting..." whenever there is a survey here of the best Norwegian albums ever, sitting alongside several albums by Dum Dum Boys, Jokke, DeLillos and Turbonegro.

― Geir Hongro, Saturday, 25 February 2006 14:28 (7 years ago) Permalink

Hmmm..Red leather vs high waisted stone wash denim . Too close to call.

― stu (stu), Saturday, 25 February 2006 16:19 (7 years ago) Permalink

oh the joys of high school circa early to mid eighties:
sad little limp-wristed nerdboys vs. dumb-as-shit blue collar dudes

whoever wins, we lose

― timmy tannin (pompous), Saturday, 25 February 2006 16:31 (7 years ago) Permalink

4 years pass...

oh the joys of high school circa early to mid eighties:
sad little limp-wristed nerdboys vs. dumb-as-shit blue collar dudes
whoever wins, we lose

― timmy tannin (pompous), Saturday, February 25, 2006 11:31 AM (4 years ago) Bookmark

yup!

― Jonsi's on a vacation far away (Eisbaer), Monday, 15 March 2010 04:56 (3 years ago) Permalink

2 years pass...

oh how i loved this thread. i wanna dip my balls in it.

― spicy bacon, bitch! (Eisbaer), Wednesday, 24 October 2012 03:33 (7 months ago) Permalink

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