My apologies for dipping out on last week's Gen X Files column -- I did have a good reason for being away, though! I had the rare privilege of seeing RedState's fearless leaders, Jennifer Van Laar and Susie Moore, in person as they blew into DC for CPAC (and brought some mighty cold weather with them). Once the conference got underway, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Ward Clark, Jennifer Oliver O'Connell, Becky Noble, and RedState's GOAT, streiff.
Ward, Jennifer and Becky did a phenomenal job covering the event; those three fought the crappy hotel WiFi like champs in order to make sure you all had the latest.
JD Vance ROCKS CPAC Straw Poll for 2028 Presidential Nomination
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CPAC is definitely a different animal than it used to be back in the Reagan years, but, boy, did they have a powerhouse lineup. I mean, Elon Musk AND Donald Trump? The best part, of course, was getting face time with the RedState crew, and I think it's okay to tease out that JVL and Susie have some pretty big plans for the RedState audience. Stay tuned for more on that front!
This week's column is all about 1985. Reagan began his second term that year, Mikhail Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union, Live Aid happened during the summer, and real Coke was for some reason replaced with "new" Coke. That was dumb.
And, somehow, all of that was FORTY YEARS AGO. The best way to remember old times is through music, right? So let's look at some songs that are now well and truly middle-aged. These are in no particular order, but are roughly in the position they landed on Billboard's Hot 100 for that year, top to bottom.
Just to spice things up, I'm including videos for four of the acts I saw in concert around that time. If you keep in mind that my first-ever concert was Shaun Cassidy, my concert list will make more sense (AKA, I liked the dreamboats). But, Van Halen WITH David Lee Roth was my second concert, so don't judge too harshly.
40 Songs Turning 40 in 2025
"I Want to Know What Love Is" – Foreigner
"I Feel for You" – Chaka Khan
"Money for Nothing" – Dire Straits
"Easy Lover" – Philip Bailey and Phil Collins
"Can't Fight This Feeling" – REO Speedwagon
"We Built This City" – Starship
"The Power of Love" – Huey Lewis and the News
"Don't You (Forget About Me)" – Simple Minds
"The Heat Is On" – Glenn Frey
"We Are the World" – USA for Africa
“Shout" – Tears for Fears
"Cool It Now" – New Edition
"You Belong to the City" – Glenn Frey
"Sea of Love" – The Honeydrippers
"Things Can Only Get Better" – Howard Jones
"All I Need" – Jack Wagner
"Never Surrender" – Corey Hart
"Sussudio" – Phil Collins
"Strut" – Sheena Easton
"Raspberry Beret" – Prince & the Revolution
"The Boys of Summer" – Don Henley
"One Night in Bangkok" – Murray Head
"Obsession" – Animotion
"Material Girl" – Madonna
"Better Be Good to Me" – Tina Turner
"Axel F" – Harold Faltermeyer
"Smooth Operator" – Sade
"Glory Days" – Bruce Springsteen
"Voices Carry" – 'Til Tuesday
"Would I Lie to You?" – Eurythmics
"Be Near Me" – ABC
"Summer of '69" – Bryan Adams
"Walking on Sunshine" – Katrina and the Waves
"Some Like It Hot" – The Power Station
"California Girls” – David Lee Roth
"Jungle Love" – The Time
"Too Late for Goodbyes" – Julian Lennon
Notes: Yes, I saw Julian Lennon in concert in March of 1985 at Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. What I remember most is that he had a clown/magician as his opening act, and, well, that's just not my thing. But Julian put on a good show, seems like a very nice guy. And we both have birthdays on April 8!
"A View to a Kill" – Duran Duran
Notes: Theme song for the James Bond film of the same name. I saw DD in 1984 at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, VA, which had festival seating at the time. We lined up for hours and are lucky to be alive. Fun fact: Simon LeBon hit an epically bum note while singing this song at Live Aid.
"Everytime You Go Away" – Paul Young
Notes: I went to this one under duress, having been dragged there by my high school best friend, Heather. Saw him at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD, probably the summer of 1985. That's all I've got.
"Take On Me" – a-ha
Notes: I really don't remember a thing from this concert other than it took place at Scope Arena in Norfolk, VA, sometime in the Fall of 1986. Could be wrong on this, but I think the Canadian group 54-40 was the opening act. This video, of course, is iconic and has over two billion views on YouTube.
Gen X Headlines
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- Gen Xers are moving south to retirement hot spots — they don't always love it when they get there
Gen X Meme of the Week
My Gen X meme of the week.
— Teri (@TeriChristoph) February 26, 2025
Yup. pic.twitter.com/4AONUaG0wL
