Decade Playlist with Jana and Erin: The Ladies of the Eighties

We (Jana and Erin) told you last month, as we looked at the music from the Men of the '80s, that we are unable to come up with any kind of sensible length of a playlist in the '80s unless we broke it down for you.  There will be more to come because we will take a look at groups, and hairbands will probably get their own list too.  So, you've probably figured out what today is all about...well, the title kinda gave it away...that's right...it's time for "The Ladies of the Eighties!"

Awwwww the '80s...when the ladies (and the guys) used Aquanet so our bangs could reach heights never seen before.  Spandex was king.  So were shoulder pads and blue eyeliner.  We saw Janet Jackson step out from behind the shadows of her famous brothers.  We saw her choreographer, Paula Abdul, step out from Janet's shadow and become a pop star too.  Cyndi Lauper just wanted us to have fun.  Madonna wanted to feel like a virgin.  We had artists with established careers shine on the radio and in the movies (Dolly and Cher.)  The ladies danced, they sang, some yielded guitars, and most of them kicked ass. 

Erin's note:  Before we hit you with our list, I have to give Jana props.  She came up with this ultimate playlist.  I just added a few touches to finesse it.  I wouldn't have picked all the songs that she did, but as I looked at the total list, I thought she pretty much nailed it.

As always, some of our picks are obvious ones and others are hidden gems.  We hope you enjoy!

Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Madonna - Dress You Up
Stevie Nicks - Edge of Seventeen
Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time
Janet Jackson - What Have You Done for Me Lately
Paula Abdul - Cold Hearted
Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot AND Invincible (okay, yes, we normally try to limit ourselves to only one song per artist, but Jana felt strongly about her choice, and Erin did as well, and Pat Benatar is awesome, so, yes, she gets two.)

Dolly Parton - 9 to 5 (our mutual love of Dolly continues to shine)
Irene Cara - Flashdance...What a Feeling
Alannah Myles - Black Velvet
Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart (always reminding Jana of "Old School")
Toni Basil - Mickey
Juice Newton - Angel of the Morning
Kim Wilde - You Keep Me Hangin' On

Donna Summer - She Works Hard for the Money (Jana's love for Donna almost rivals her love for Dolly...almost.)
Belinda Carlisle - Heaven is a Place on Earth (don't worry, the Go-Go's will be represented in our groups post)
Taylor Dayne - Tell It to My Heart (the original Taylor)
Joan Jett - I Hate Myself for Loving You
Cher - If I Could Turn Back Time

Lita Ford - Kiss Me Deadly
Sheena Easton - Morning Train
Debbie Gibson - Electric Youth
Tiffany - Could've Been (fun fact: Jana's first concert ever was Tiffany and New Kids on the Block.......another fun fact: Erin forgot this song existed, but when listening to it for this playlist sang almost every lyric.  How do our minds remember song lyrics like that?!)
Laura Branigan - Solitaire
Tracy Chapman - Fast Car

Now, it's your turn.  Tell us your favorite song(s) by The Ladies of the Eighties!

Thoughts #25 - Voice

Charles M. Schulz

In the crazy world of time differences, Thursday mornings in Australia mean it is Wednesday afternoons in America.  On top of my dresser, I had a stack of old photos that I've been meaning to share with some family members.  The one on top was of my brother,  my cousins (who are also siblings), and me.  Of this mighty foursome, my brother was the oldest, then my cousin Brad is a year younger.  Then, I came along, and Brad's sister Janna is a year younger than me.  Before the age of 10, the four of us would regularly get together at family events, play hide & seek or tag, run through the sprinklers (which is probably what Janna and I were doing in this picture), or the boys would just pick on and aggravate us girls.  Initial response when seeing this picture?  Oh, I need to post that for the others to see and walk down memory lane like I just did.  So, I posted it for a #TBT (Throwback Thursday for you kids that aren't 'in the know') while most of my friends and family were still enjoying their Wednesday.

Me, Cousin Janna, Cousin Brad, Brother Brian

After I posted it, that inner-critic voice crept into my head.  That voice that starts analyzing and criticizing and breaking myself apart.  I thought to myself things like:

 Well, there's evidence right there that I've never had, nor will I ever have a 'thigh gap'.
My gut was big.
Is one thigh trying to overlap the other thigh?
Look how skinny my arms were compared to my legs.

And more.......

My brother had a thigh gap, but I couldn't even have a thigh gap.
Why did my brother luck out and get the skinny genes?

Yes, these were my thoughts.  Yes, they were upsetting me.  The other side of my brain was telling that voice to "Stop!", but it wasn't listening.  The other part of my brain asked these questions:

How old were you here?  8 or 9?  
Why in the world are you criticizing the body of an 8 or 9 year old?  
Why in the world are you picking yourself apart in a picture that should be a cute family photo?  

And that ugly voice retaliated with:

Why in the world did your mother buy that bathing suit for you?  Those colors and stripes only exaggerate your chubbiness.

Seriously, people.  There is a constant battle in my brain with beating myself up over dumb things and trying to talk some sense into myself.  I am not sharing this for you to tell me I was a cute kid.  I know this.  I really do.  It is just that damn voice that I still carry to this day (when I'm at the biggest/heaviest I've ever been) criticizing and tearing myself apart.

I feel strongly about body image and girl power and loving yourself as you are.  And, I was reminded of this message when I needed to hear it.  You know that "a picture says a thousand words" saying?  Well, a friend of mine posted a picture of her daughter a few hours after I posted my picture (above).  It spoke a thousand words that I needed to hear at that time.  The caption read:

"(Daughter's name) in her new gamer girl t-shirt.

I love her spirit."

I saw the picture, and my inner voice was saying:

There's a girl with spunk!
There's a girl with spirit!
There's a girl who is happy and comfortable and confident.
She exudes self-assuredness (which is the comment I made on the picture as well as admitting that I maybe made up a word).
She looks bright and healthy; She looks sassy and fun.
This is one cool kid.

Isn't that what we want an 8 or 9 year old to feel like?  Isn't that the voice that she should be hearing?  I hope she believes every word about herself that her picture portrays...and that her inner critic doesn't live in her head the way mine does.