80's Hair Bands - Nuff Said!

Music Wed - Part 4 of our musical trip through the 80's, and I am psyched up, because I have cracked the code! I have solved the riddle. I feel like Robert Langdon in the Dan Brown novels when he realizes the painting he has been staring at holds the key to resolving his problems. My dilemma in this case was how to address Hair Metal bands from the 80's without having any sarcasm, even derision, I feel for this genre of 80's music leak through and dilute songs and bands I wanted to share.  My solution? I will be giving out my first (and only) Hair Metal Band Awards in various categories that I hope you find as amusing as I do as I have been thinking about this post once I had my "Da Vinci Code" aha moment. The first award is in the category of "Sure-that-girl-is-good-looking-but-that-lead-singer-is-way-hotter." And the winner is David Coverdale of Whitesnake. Yes, Tawny Kataen was hot and sexy rolling around on those luxury cars, but check out David's flowing, golden locks; his flawless skin; his crazy outfits. Any way you look at it, he (like many hair metal lead singers) was just plain hotter than the former strippers and groupies that were featured in their videos. Here's a little proof -  http://youtu.be/me_n5uhjQvU - Whitesnake/Tawny Kataen tribute video. Next award is in the category of "Well-they-may-not-have-any-discernible-talent-as-songwriters/performers-but-they-sure-are-having-so-much-fun-that-you-can't-stop-from-joining-in." The winner, of course, is Poison. Could they write an intelligible lyric? Was there any evidence they could do more than play up to five notes on any instrument? But, when their songs came on, could you resist the urge to bang your head (at least a little), tap your feet and sing along? Here's the evidence to support their award - http://youtu.be/xCChxBSRo1Y - "Talk Dirty to Me". Our next award is, "You-can-bitch-all-you-want-about-the-burdens-of-life-on-the-road-but-your-videos-sure-make-it-look-like-you-are-having-more-legal and illegal-fun-than-anyone-should-expect-from-this-life." We have co-winners with Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive" http://youtu.be/SRvCvsRp5ho and Mötley Crüe's "Home Sweet Home" http://youtu.be/3WAZ60xA9wo.  I have a Lifetime Achievement Award for the band who proved you can spend more on drugs even if you are given a few million dollars to make a video, and this honor goes to none other than Guns N Roses for "November Rain" http://youtu.be/8SbUC-UaAxE. I would like to give honorable mention for those brave performers who never let the idiotic fashion or hair style trends stop them from rockin' - bands like Loverboy http://youtu.be/oUuSvJhZXfQ, Damn Yankees http://youtu.be/k0Wf1u5At4k, White Lion  http://youtu.be/pk2U41uvOlI, and Skid Row  http://youtu.be/ivFYVAntpw0. As fun as this has been (at least for me), all things must come to an end, so my final award goes to the "D-Bag Rocker of the 80's", which coveted recognition goes to none other than Kip Winger of the band he creatively named Winger. Watch this and tell me I'm wrong -   http://youtu.be/GlN3oEjMpUQ.  Honorable mention for a "group-that-defies-any-category" is given to Twisted Sister. What the hell were they thinking - http://youtu.be/V9AbeALNVkk.  Enjoy!