Rock of the ‘80s

I am fed up with Calendar’s ‘80s-bashing (Pop Eye, Jan. 31). The slap at the release of an ‘80s new-wave compilation is ignorant of the current mini-revolution against the pop of the ‘90s. Notice the huge success of KROQ or the birth of ‘80s-influenced STAR-FM. Observe the recent radio stampede to the ‘80s: KIIS, KPWR, even KBIG is playing Tears for Fears.

Pop music in the ‘80s was melodic, danceable and creative. From the romanticism of Eurythmics and Bryan Ferry to the dance pop of Duran Duran and INXS, the ‘80s were a cultural Renaissance compared to the voiceless beats, borrowed tunes and thumping nonsense of the ‘90s.

The ‘80s sound, which you mock, revived the record industry, brought millions of blacks, whites, gays and straights together at dance clubs and gave us such artists as Prince, U2 and, of course, Madonna, who owes her career to dance clubs.

So before you take a swipe at the ‘80s again, remember, most of us will take its pop over rap, techno or grunge any day. And, yes, we may also yearn for “those long-gone days when Republicans were in the White House.”

SCOTT M. HOLLERAN

Glendale