Well then PopJustice! You couldn’t even let the 80s enjoy their top 3 for even one elimination, could you? I was so shocked by this result when I closed voting – not even the top 20 and only two 80s songs remaining! Will the decade even make it to the top 20 at all at this rate? Well, you’ll have to find out #soon! The good news though, from my perspective this track is definitely the deserving bronze medallist of that 80s top 3!
Our Lips Are Sealed is a fabulous number that packs a great heap of punch in its short 2.45 time-frame as an unrelenting beat, great personality in the vocals, a dreamy middle 8 and lyrics with bite can all be found here. It really speaks to the quality of this top 3 if a song like this still feels like it doesn’t belong in the top 2 of its decade (to me)!
Our Lips Are Sealed was written by
The Go-Go’s guitarist
Jane Wieldin with
Fun Boy Three’s
Terry Hall (remember him? You kicked him out early in the rate with
Bananarama grrrrrr). It featured on
The Go-Go’s first album
Beauty And The Beat and was their debut single in 1981. It reached #2 in Australia and #20 in the US while stalling at #47 in the UK. The song came to be and was written as Jane and Terry had a brief affair while touring in the US (Terry had a girlfriend at the time in the UK).
Fun Boy Three also do a version of the song and it is definitely a bit gloomier as the lyrics have an guiltier impact with the subject matter –
check it out too if you can (this version was also the bigger hit in the UK, making #7)!
Let’s discuss
The Go-Go’s themselves too. they were formed in 1978 and initially featured
Belinda Carlisle on vocals,
Jane Wieldin on guitars and vocals,
Margot Olavarria on bass and
Elisa Bello on drums. They formed as a punk band belonging to the L.A punk scene. After a year or two and a few line-up changes (more on that drama on their
Wikipedia page) the band moved towards more of a power pop sound and truly launched in 1981 with the aforementioned album and single. Highly decorated for their strong debut, the album
Beauty And The Beat was named #413 of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time and
Our Lips Are Sealed was named one of the 100 Greatest Pop Songs of all time by them also.
The Go-Go’s have had quite a few break-ups and reunions over the years, but are technically still active to this day. It will be interesting picking an entry for part 2 from these girls that will come close to being as iconic… over to you, PopJustice!
Zar-Unity (7)
has a 7 for this one too, I wonder how much Hilary and Hailey would get… - Hmm, so this is the original? Think I prefer Hilary Duff's version. Sorry!! This is such a catchy, high energy pop song. Tech: 4 Taste: 3 = 7 points.
Kermit_The_frog (5)
is happy to get the following off his chest - Unpopular Pop Opinion - I’ve never really “got” either The Go-Gos or Belinda Carlisle. That out of the way, this is alright but doesn’t exactly have me rushing to explore further.
ComeOnGloria (5)
doesn’t mince her words - Bit bland
Saviodxl (5.9)
doesn’t seem too impressed - I only got to know who they are because one of their songs was in a Guitar Hero game. But I had heard them before. They never really caught my attention tough.
Spillett (8.5)
likes a lot (Where is he by the way?) - (it's pop, it's effortlessly cool but also very easy listening.)
Filippa (5)
gives us some more insight to go with her villainous ways - Hmm I like their style. A bit rockier, no more disco. But I don’t know if it’s the song or the arrangement, to me it’s weak. This is Belinda Carlisle? So sorry, this should be a song I love but somehow, I don’t. Fun Fact for you berserkboy: The song was co-written with a guy from Fun Boy Three and they recorded the song as well. Don’t like this version better by them by the way.
Trouble In Paradise (9)
only has positives - This is 80’s girl group pop done right.
Empty Shoebox (3)
has constructive criticisms - Something sounds off with the vocals here. Perhaps it's the pitch. Otherwise, it's just a bit too basic and forgettable for me.
Untouchable Ace (10) t
hinks the girls have brought their best along, PopJustice is mildly in agreement - One of the only songs in this rate where the artist got it right from their beginning and thus their essential hit is representing the Go-Go's
LondonRain (5.5)
foreshadows an upcoming moment - Great song. Questionable vocals. (Has
@DJHazey mentioned the Hilary and Haylie Duff cover yet?)
Baby Clyde (7)
is all #TeamFilippa - (Fun Boy Three's version is far superior)
DominoDancing (6.5)
sees potential here - The Go-Go's are band that I could love, but it just consistently feels like their songwriting is missing that little extra spark. This is no different. It's okay, but the chorus should be...better.
Unnameable (10)
taps into his OhNostalgia – remember a time when an all-female group playing songs they wrote could be reach no.1 in the US album charts? Yes, that was last millenium rather than now.
DJHazey (8)
obliges, as requested by LondonRain and drops a bombshell about his potential 11! - Flop fact: I knew and loved Hilary and Haylie's version of this long before I ever knew it was cover. Then I heard this in a store one day and went "oh hey Hilary got it from someone!" I'm also a flop because I enjoy the Duff sister's voices on the song more, but that's probably just because of all the time I've spent with it. Still I can't deny it completely for obvious reasons. If the Duff Sisters counted as a girl group then it would be my 11.