A (Small) History Listen

There are songs that help to define the musical identity of an era so, that when we look to categorize that particular time, some songs instantaneously come to mind. One of these eponymous songs was Yazoo's (Yaz in the US) "Situation". Bundled as a B-side with single "Only You", "Situation" offered italo disco synths sequenced with a hip hop loop by Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Erasure) and a songstress in Alice Moyet that carried the song with both angst and detachment, elements that are not only key in characterizing a sound for the decade, but that helped shape it and have been an influence for contemporary acts such as Hercules & Love Affair. In no short esteem I speak for myself and my blogrades in our acknowledgement of Yazoo's "Situation" as a pivotal song of electronic dance music and of the 80's.

Yazoo - Situation (alt)