A pop-cultural journey through time with ‘Italo-Disco in San Francisco’
Last year, Extize paid tribute to the highlights of that decade with “80s Were Better”, and now Purwien & Kowa are following suit with their track “Italo-Disco in San Francisco”. Their song takes a noticeably lighter, wonderfully radio-friendly electro pop direction. For me, that’s not a criticism, but simply an accurate observation. A driving beat and a massively catchy chorus provide the perfect backdrop to the track.
The real highlight, however, remains the lyrics. Anyone who lived through the golden ’80s will instantly recognise all the iconic references here, from Lady Di and Gorbachev right through to Madonna, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Phil Collins and his distinctive ‘gated snare’. Purwien & Kowa deliver a global parade of references that completely sweeps me away with their unmistakable attention to detail and charming sense of humour.
Listen to "Purwien & Kowa – Italo-Disco in San Francisco (English Version)" on Spotify
Listen to "Purwien & Kowa – Italo-Disco in San Francisco (English Version)" on Spotify
Lyrics of "Purwien & Kowa – Italo-Disco in San Francisco (English Version)"
Lady Di and Gorbachev,
Blue Mondays with your Tainted love,
I'm like a virgin, take on me,
Dolce Vita in Italy.
Calling Blondie, she's not there,
Phil Collins and his gated snare,
Arnie goes to Hollywood,
Berlin wall went kaputt.
Italo Disco in San Francisco,
Synthie-Pop in Vladivostok,
New German wave on a grave,
And a Punk drunk as a skunk.
EBM in Birmingham,
Industrial in Radolfzell,
New Romantic on the Atlantic,
Gothic Rock with kazachoc.
Ninety-nine red balloons
Flying to a blue lagoon
Hooked-up with Sydney and with Rome,
Welcome to the pleasuredome.
Forever young and Da da da,
Falco and the Kommissar.
Freddy wants to break free
with Michael Jackson's chimpanzee.
Italo Disco in San Francisco,
Synthie-Pop in Vladivostok,
New German wave on a grave,
And a Punk drunk as a skunk.
EBM in Birmingham,
Industrial in Radolfzell,
New Romantic on the Atlantic,
Gothic Rock with kazachoc.
