Turn back the clock with a little bit of bubblegum 80s pop from the American all-female rock band The Go-Go’s. Vacation was one of their biggest hit singles, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard, and it was the lead single and title track from their 1982 album (inset). It contains that buoyant, untainted 80s charm I still like to listen to now and again.
It’s hard not to enjoy the irrepressibly 80s video below, with its summer and beach theme running throughout – complete with some very fake-looking waterskiing close-ups. They’re even seen blowing bubbles -who doesn’t enjoy that? But don’t let that sweet, cutesy innocence fool you. Around this time, several members of the band were struggling with drug use, and tensions were beginning to rise over creative differences.
During the one-day, $50,000 shoot for the video, Jane Wiedlin recalled, “After seven or eight hours we sent out someone to sneak in booze.” Kathy Valentine said they drank “lots of champagne.” Wiedlin later added that the effects are obvious in the final close-ups: “If you look at our eyes, we’re all so drunk. We didn’t even try to make it look like we were really waterskiing.” (Wikipedia)
The band broke up in 1985, but have reunited on several occasions since, including touring in recent years. On October 30, 2021, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by longtime fan Drew Barrymore.
You might also remember lead vocalist Belinda Carlisle, who went on to have a successful solo career with hits like “Leave a Light On,” “Summer Rain,” and “Heaven Is a Place on Earth.”
[Verse 1]
Can’t seem to get my mind off of you
Back here at home, there’s nothin’ to do, ooh
Now that I’m away, I wish I’d stayed
Tomorrow’s a day of mine that you won’t be in
[Verse 2]
When you looked at me, I should have run
But I thought it was just for fun
I see I was wrong, and I’m not so strong
I should have known, I know that time would tell
[Pre-Chorus]
A week without you
Thought I’d forget
Two weeks without you
And I still haven’t gotten over you yet
[Chorus]
Vacation, all I ever wanted
Vacation, had to get away
Vacation, meant to be spent alone
Vacation, all I ever wanted
Vacation, had to get away
Vacation, meant to be spent alone
References:
1. Vacation (The Go-Go’s song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
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