Search

Showy, impractical to play, and looks like the 1980s: why we keep falling for the keytar

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-mac-mcdermott-1439419">Paul (Mac) McDermott</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> This year, Perth synth-metal band Voyager finally succeeded in their long-running dream of representing Australia at Eurovision. After multiple attempts, they were directly chosen by the post-Australia Decides <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/australias-voyager-though-to-eurovision-grand-final-how-did-they-get-into-the-contest/wancd9kyf">“committious mysterious”</a> and hopped on the long haul to Liverpool. They did not disappoint, making it through to the final. Their song, Promise, was voted ninth by an adoring fanbase. Not bad indeed! But what even is synth-metal? Traditionally, synths in metal, particularly onstage, were generally frowned upon and seen as a sign of inauthenticity. In the 1990s, I swore allegiance to baggy clothes, instrumental techno and synthesisers. The black t-shirt-wearing grunge fans worshipped guitar riffs, screamo lyrics and mosh pits. We kept in our lanes and followed the rules. Voyager’s proud embrace of synthesisers reject this rather 1990s separation and return metal to the melodic pomp of Van Halen’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwYN7mTi6HM">Jump</a> or Europe’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw">The Final Countdown</a>. The band can still rock hard, but like the taco ad says, “Why not both?” If you were coming to the finals fresh, Promise followed the classic Eurovision three-act strategy to maximum effect. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GSoy_mJMlMY?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Beginning with synthesised staccato pulses playing rich harmonic progressions, it feels like a classic Euro-trance anthem, not unlike the Swedish winner, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE2Fj0W4jP4">Tattoo</a>. We find lead singer Daniel Estrin onstage driving his 1980s convertible, hair half-shaved and half in luscious locks. His mysterious passenger, bathed in neon – a red keytar. <h2>A what? I haven’t seen one of those in ages!</h2> The word “keytar” is a portmanteau of keyboard and guitar. It looks like a keyboard but is hung around the neck and played like a guitar. The first verse of Voyager’s song begins its ascent, “if you haven’t ever done anything like this before then you haven’t been alive”. I suppose not – I really need to get out with my keytar more often, this looks like fun. The keytar stays in its seat as the band rolls through stadium rock, synchronised guitar swings, hard drum hits and distorted guitar stabs. In the second act, Voyager are now death metal. It’s deep growls, drop-tuned power riffs, and scattergun kick drums. The audience’s collective mind explodes. After one more melodic pre-chorus, it’s time for the third and final act. With one boot threatening to scratch the duco of the car, the lead guitar solo lifts us up to melodic rock heaven. But wait. For the second half, Estrin grabs the red keytar and joins in. He throttles its neck and finishes with a lightning-fast arpeggiated flourish that ELO’s Jeff Lynne would be proud of. The finale repeats and ascends until we all rise to metal nirvana. A quick, traditional pyro-pop ends it all. That was truly genius! The power of the keytar is restored. <h2>An instrument of mixed feelings</h2> The keytar tends to be loved or loathed. Created in the late 1970s and popularised throughout the 1980s, it looks like a product of its time. Made of shiny plastic, shaped like the future, it’s showy and rather impractical to play. If you want to play chords, it is easier to play them on a horizontal keyboard, like a traditional synthesiser. The primary advantage of the keytar is portability and pose-striking. Like its distant ancestor, the piano accordion, a player is free to move around, finally free of the horizontal grip of gravity. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6TltAi_XbHY?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Most guitarists thought of it as a joke, whereas new-wave synth players saw it as a cool accessory to their modern sound and fashion-forward hair. This was the future, as viewed from 1980. One early adoptor was Edgar Winter. His instrumental track <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8f-Qb-bwlU">Frankenstein</a> topped the Billboard chart in 1973. A multi-instrumentalist who played guitar, sax, percussion and keyboards, he took conventional synths and simply added shoulder straps to wear them like a guitar. While this is a cool look, it is not great for the spine. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P8f-Qb-bwlU?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> The first manufactured keytars were released in the late 1970s, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mattson_(synthesizer_inventor)#The_Syntar">PMS Syntar</a> (see what they did there?) being exhibited at Atlanta’s 1979 NAMM show (National Association of Music Merchants). It was a time of extremely contrasting genres that nevertheless all had synthesisers at the core of their sound. More traditional progressive rock acts such as Yes vied with the new vision of electropunk by Devo. Glam metal bands adopted its look, while synth-driven electrofunk artists could overturn conventional rock theatrics. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j_QLzthSkfM?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>The fall and the rise</h2> The new, standardised MIDI language created an ecosystem that allowed musos to access any synth from any manufacturer, rather than being beholden to one. This quickly resulted in cheaper, easier-to-use synthesisers becoming more widely accessible, leading to the home recording boom we all enjoy today. This bastion of the future soon became as passe as the flat-tops, mohawks and mullets of the people who played them. As we moved into the 1990s, the joyous excesses of 1980s pop bands would soon be seen as daggy. Replaced by faceless DJs, flannel-wearing rockers and choreographed dancers, it was time to sell your keytar or put it into storage. But after a couple of decades of respectful silence, the humble keytar slowly began to re-emerge. Lady Gaga led the charge on her Fame Ball Tour in 2009. The keytar does make sense for such a look-driven, 1980s-influenced artist. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PecJgs75RxQ?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> So all hail the keytarists of the world. Thank you Thomas Dolby, A-Ha and Dave Stewart. Respect to Chick Korea, Herbie Hancock and Prince. To Muse, Arcade Fire, John Paul Jones and Lady Gaga, may you shred in space, without a hair in place. Thank you Voyager!<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/205640/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paul-mac-mcdermott-1439419">Paul (Mac) McDermott</a>, Lecturer in Contemporary Music, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/showy-impractical-to-play-and-looks-like-the-1980s-why-we-keep-falling-for-the-keytar-205640">original article</a>.

Music

Why Queen Elizabeth apologised to Paul Hogan during their 1980 meeting

Paul Hogan has reflected on his 1980 meeting with Queen Elizabeth, and what caused the late monarch to apologise to the actor. The Crocodile Dundee icon spoke with Tracy Grimshaw on A Current Affair, her last interview before leaving the program after 17 years, and recalled the moment he got a lot of "flack" for his choice of outfit to meet the royals. Grimshaw brought up a photo from the book of Hogan meeting the Queen after he performed in the Royal Charity Concert at Sydney Opera House in 1980. When they met, Hogan donned a cut off flannel shirt, stubby shorts and footy socks. "I love that shot," the actor said. "I got a lot of flack over that but the Queen didn't mind." Hogan has said in previous interviews that "everyone was horrified" by what he wore that night when he met the royals, with the exception of Queen Elizabeth. Hogan told Grimshaw that the late Queen had apologised to him during their brief meeting after she "won" a prize to have dinner at his home. "The show we did at the Opera House for entertaining her, part of the thing I did was to pretend to draw the lucky seat prize," he said. "I drew two names out, which obviously was the Queen and Philip, and said the prize that they'd won was dinner at my place, and told them how to get there, what bus to catch and all that kind of stuff - was all funny." "But when I met her, she then leaned over and said, 'I'm sorry dear, I don't think we'll be able to make dinner', which is great, she's got a sense of humour." Hogan also shared an update on his health battle, telling Grimshaw that he'd lost a lot of weight and was being "held together with string". "I had a problem on the aorta and the kidney and the treatment fixed it but it shrunk me," he said. "I'd still take out most 40-year-olds then I turned 80 and there's a saying that turning 80's not for sissies because things start to fall apart but, no, I can't complain." Image credits: A Current Affair

"He never asked me how old I was": Actress claims she slept with Mick Jagger at 15

Actress Rae Dawn, the daughter of American comedian Tommy Chong, has claimed she spent a “fabulous” two days with Mick Jagger when she was just 15 years old in 1977. Dawn, who played prominent roles in the 1985 films The Colour Purple and Commando, shared her underage fling with the Rolling Stones legend to the Daily Mail. Dawn’s admission came after she claimed to have accidentally blurted out the news while taping a forthcoming podcast from The Hollywood Reporter. “He wasn’t that much older than me in my brain. He was 33 and young and gorgeous with a nice body,” she described to the outlet in a quick attempt to get ahead of the story. “It wasn’t a bad thing; it was fabulous. Totally rock ‘n’ roll. He didn’t make me do anything I didn’t want to do, but he was very vain, always looking in the mirror.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7834290/mick-jagger-rae-dawn.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/53dc25bbdd6b48dcaea59030b1a622f5" /> Mick Jagger and Rae Dawn Chong in the 1985 Rolling Stones video, Just Another Night. Now 58-years-old, Dawn says she slept with the famous superstar while he was still married to his first wife after meeting him at a friend’s home. The actress was friends with the daughter of John Phillips, the singer of The Mamas & the Papas, and introduced herself to Jagger when they were both visiting Phillips’ home. “He never asked me how old I was and I never told him,” she told the Daily Mail. “It never came up. I remember thinking he was really cute. He had tousled hair. I thought, ‘Oh man, he is beautiful.’” The pair ended up spending two days together in New York, according to the Daily Mail. She insisted that any relations between the two was completely consensual and worried that the revelation would land Jagger in deep water. “He did nothing wrong,” said Dawn. “He didn’t make me do anything I didn’t want to do.” Dawn bumped into Jagger a number of times after the romance occurred. Years later he casted her for an appearance in the video for the Rolling Stones’ song, Just Another Night. However, it seems their relationship as friends turned sour when Dawn publicly complained about Jagger’s “licky” behaviour on set. “In real life, he was a great kisser, but in the film, he did lots of ‘licky’ things,’ she said. “I talked about that in an interview. He has a fragile ego. He hasn’t spoken to me since.”

Legal

Everything about air travel in the 1980s that's different now

Few things have changed quite as much in the last few decades as air travel. Back in the day, it was a glamorous affair. These days, you’re more likely to see people wearing track pants and jandals than suits and polished black shoes. <a href="http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/travel/world-travel/everything-about-flying-in-the-1980s-thats-totally-different-now-11364189733854" target="_blank">BT</a> spoke to workers from two of the UK’s biggest airlines, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, to reminisce about how flying used to be back in the '80s. It wasn’t cheap And it still isn’t! But back in the day, a return flight with BA from the UK to Barbados would set you back around $2117 in today’s money – and that’s per person. By contrast, today, you could expect to pay as little as $812. “People sometimes saved up for years to go on a flight. It really was a luxury,” said Josephine Hart, who joined BA in 1988 as a flight attendant. “I think I'd only ever been on an aeroplane once before I became an air hostess.” There weren’t many options When it first launched in 1984, Virgin Atlantic flew just one route – London to New York. These days, it offers more than 30 long-haul destinations. On the other hand, BA had 140 routes on offer in 1985 – a number which has since grown to 200. “We used to go away for up to 21 days, and stop here, there and everywhere, because aircraft couldn't fly as far as today,” said Hart. "We used to get four or five days off afterwards I think, but it was more of a lifestyle.” Security was pretty lax X-ray scanners were used occasionally, but most of the security checks were in the hands (literally) of humans. “There were always regulations on what you could bring on – we would have posters behind the check-in desk saying you can’t take dynamite on, for example,” said Paul Jarvis of the BA Heritage Centre. “Nowadays, you can't take on nail clippers or even too much liquid.” You were able to pop in and visit the pilots, and metal cutlery was perfectly normal. The on-board experience was very different Smoking? Go ahead. In the '80s, planes were split into smoking and non-smoking sections, and you could even buy a pack of ciggies from cabin crew. It was also not unusual to see people dressed in their Sunday best. “In the 1980s, you wouldn't think of getting on board without wearing a suit jacket, trousers and a shirt,” Jarvis recalled. “Nowadays, businessmen are often scruffy on aircraft.” What are your memories of air travel in the '80s? Share them with us in the comments below.

International Travel

See what the “Karate Kid” looks like today

He was the star of one of the biggest films in the 80s, but we haven’t seen much of Ralph Macchio since his Karate Kid days – that is, until now. The now-55-year-old actor recently walked the red carpet at the premiere of Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, and we have to say, he’s aged very well indeed. <img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/36354/image__498x245.jpg" alt="ralph macchio" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> Three years ago, Macchio revisited his time playing Daniel LaRusso in the hit film and its two sequels to mark its 30th anniversary. “It reminds me of the impact the film has had for three decades and that it continues to resonate across generations [...] and that I am getting seriously much older.” And to what does he owe his youthful appearance? “We are entering the ‘Stay Golden Years’ but looking damn good. I blame my parents — good genes.”

Movies

15 fashion trends from the 80s that are making a comeback

Everything old is new again! While you may have been glad to see some trends from the 1980s disappear – big hair, clashing colours and legwarmers, to name a few – it looks like a few have slipped through the cracks and are making a big comeback in today’s fashion! <ol> <li>Shoulder pads</li> <li>Animal print</li> <li>Crop tops</li> <li>Power suits</li> <li>Denim jackets</li> <li>Dropped-crotch pants</li> <li>Bum bags</li> <li>Coloured faux fur</li> <li>Low-cut gowns with high slits</li> <li>All-white outfits</li> <li>Glittery evening wear</li> <li>Off-the-shoulder dresses</li> <li>Spandex</li> <li>Metallic material</li> <li>Scrunchies</li> </ol> Flip through the gallery above and let us know in the comments, how many of these trends did you rock in the ‘80s? Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/06/princes-purple-rain-jacket-up-for-auction/">Prince's Purple Rain jacket up for auction</a> <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/06/favourite-royal-wedding-dresses/">Our favourite royal wedding dresses</a> <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/05/james-bond-suits/">James Bond’s suits throughout the decades</a>

Beauty & Style

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information