Around The World In Eighties Songs

Ever thought that your eighties playlist could take you on a trip around the world? Crank up the headphones and fasten your seatbelt; we’re visiting six continents and listening to a whole lot of groovy tunes on the way! Before booking any trip overseas, (around the world or not!) be sure to take out comprehensive travel insurance. Also keep up to date with live travel updates via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on their webpage, Facebook or Twitter.

Europe- The Final Countdown

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The first continent on our list is Europe which coincidently also happens to be the name of a popular eighties rock band! Europe’s hit “The Final Countdown” has guitar riffs as big as the bandmates’ hair. However, Europe isn’t a monolithic area of land, as its different countries and cultures are amongst some of the most diverse in the world. The band were themselves from Sweden, and we’ll be visiting their Nordic neighbour for the first stop on our list…

AHA- Take on Me- Norway

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Everyone knows the eighties classic “Take on Me”, with its iconic keyboard riff and melodic falsetto vocals. Fewer people realise that the band behind the song, Aha, originate from Norway. The north of the country is located above the Arctic Circle, where you can nip over to visit Santa at his home in Lapland. Be sure to make contingency arrangements before heading there; emergency services won’t be able to reach you easily if you run into trouble! In addition, the Norwegian fjords – narrow mountain passages created by glaciers – often appear at the top of traveller’s bucket lists. The most popular and perhaps safest way to see the fjords in by cruise ship. However, always check the operating history of your cruise company before booking, to ensure they have a good safety record.

Almost as famous as the song “Take on Me” is its music video, in which the lead singer of Aha comes to life out of a comic book. The video was actually directed by an Irishman, which brings us to our next destination…

U2- Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For- Ireland

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U2 are one of the most successful Irish music acts of all time. Their career has spanned decades, but it began in the 1980s with hits such as “Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”. The band hails from Ireland’s capital city, Dublin. Head to Dublin to see the famous Temple Bar pub district, the Georgian parks such as St Stephens Green and Merrion Square, and the Guinness storehouse, from where another of Ireland’s most famous exports is shipped across the world!

Outside of Dublin, the country becomes far more rural. On the west coast, the Wild Atlantic Way offers stunning coastlines, starting in County Cork and finishing in County Donegal. Be sure to make a stop in the vast mountain ranges of County Kerry, which was voted the most beautiful Irish county in 2012!

Nena- 99 Luftballoons- Germany

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Despite being something of a one-hit wonder outside, Nena were much more successful in their home nation of Germany. “99 Luftballoons” – a song readers will probably be more familiar with knowing as “99 Red Balloons”— is an essential on any eighties playlist. When Nena released the song, Germany was split into two countries, East Germany and West Germany. You can still see remnants of that past in the capital city of Berlin, where parts of the Berlin Wall can still be found. Head into Southern Germany to see the state of Bavaria, where distinctive architecture, local beer, and castles can be found nestled amongst vast forests.

It’s now time to take a “luftballoon” (hot air balloon) to another continent! Hang on!

Toto-Africa

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This continent is lucky enough to have a song named after it! Toto’s “Africa” has gained a resurgence as an internet meme in recent years. However, it’s also a song that brings nostalgia and excitement to anyone who hears it. Like Europe, Africa is not a monolithic continent. It contains countries and cultures that completely vary depending on where they are found geographically. The north of the continent is dominated by Arabic culture, in countries such as Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. Below the Saharan Desert, you’ll find vast savannah plains and mountain ranges. Toto sings about this specifically in their song, as they reference “Mount Kilimanjaro” and “The Serengeti”. The Serengeti is a huge area of ecosystem where, through official tour companies, you can see famous African wildlife in their natural habitat. The area is spread across the countries of Kenya and Tanzania, which is lucky because the latter is our next destination…

Queen- Another One Bites the Dust- Tanzania

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But wait, I hear you say, weren’t Queen British? The classic rock band, who had a string of hits in the 70s and 80s, were indeed formed in the United Kingdom. However, flamboyant frontman Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar, a region of Tanzania that is spread across different islands in the Indian Ocean. Though a semi-autonomous region, it is considered part of the country of Tanzania. The region is extremely diverse, as ethnic Swahili African people live amongst Arab and Indian residents. A large proportion of the population is Muslim and as such, you should be mindful of local laws and customs if you travel to see the Queen frontman’s birthplace. Women are advised to avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless tops, particularly around Stone Town, the old part of Zanzibar City. In addition, homosexuality is illegal in Zanzibar and the rest of Tanzania; public displays of homosexuality such as kissing and holding hands can lead to arrest and imprisonment.

Zanzibar and Tanzania have a long history of immigration from the Arab and Indian world. Mercury’s parents were themselves immigrants from the Gujarat region of India. Which is just as well because we’re leaving Africa and heading to a new continent and country…

Duran Duran- Hungry Like the Wolf- Sri Lanka

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What do Duran Duran, a band formed in Birmingham, have to do with India’s small island neighbor, Sri Lanka? In 1982, EMI Music spent no less than $200,000 sending the band there to film their music video for “Hungry Like the Wolf”. The video sees frontman Simon Le Bon stalking a beautiful model through the Sri Lankan jungle. You can visit the lush rainforest in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve yourself on a guided ecotour. Be sure, however, to carry a form of photo ID with you at all times; you risk being detained if you can’t prove who you are! Also, consult the Sri Lankan Tourist Board website for comprehensive updates on impacts upon tourist travel; until recently, the government issued a ban on WhatsApp and Facebook use!

United States

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Unsurprisingly, a large number of the most famous eighties stars hailed from the United States. That’s not to say that they or the places they came from were all the same, however! Laws and customs vary from state to state.

Let’s take marijuana use for example. In California, the home of eighties one-hit wonder Tiffany whose song “I Think We’re Alone Now” ensures her place in eighties music history is never forgotten, it’s legal to smoke marijuana recreationally. It’s completely different however if you were to travel to New York – the birthplace of Cindy Lauper whose hit “Girls Wanna Have Fun” is a true eighties classic. Girls may very well want to have fun, but they won’t be able to smoke marijuana for fun; it’s only legalised for medicinal use in New York state. Still, be sure to head to New York City, a place that needs no introduction. Climb to the top of the Empire State building, get a boat to the Statue of Liberty and then take the Subway (where Lauper filmed her music video) to Central Park!

Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine- Conga- Cuba

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The Latin dance-pop tune “Conga” is timeless – much like the country of Cuba itself! Singer Gloria Estefan moved to Miami, Florida at a young age but she was born in Havana, Cuba’s capital city. Often thought of as a country time forgot, expect to see rows of colourful buildings and fifties motor vehicles. One of the world’s few communist nations, the country operates on a dual currency system, with a different currency for tourists and locals. Make sure you get the right one; the local currency is worth a lot less! Also check with your bank to see if your debit, credit or ATM card will work in Cuba. Hop on a plane or put “Conga” on your record player to experience that fiery Latin feel!

We’re now heading to our final continent and country; get ready to go “down under”…

Men at Work- Down Under- Australia

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What better way to end our trip than with an eighties novelty. Men at Work pay tribute to their home country in the hit “Down Under”. The song’s subject deals with an Australian guy traveling the globe, who runs into people asking him stereotypical questions about the “land down under […] where beer flows and men chunder”, before being offered a “Vegemite sandwich” in Brussels. There is so much more to appreciate in Australia than that, however. The ancient Uluru is found in the outback, along with the beautiful Alice Springs. There are rainforests in Queensland, no shortage of beaches, and the vibrant and diverse cities of Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are just waiting to be explored!