My 80s Playlist: talkSPORT’s Jim White picks his favourite 80s songs from Bowie to The B-52's

Virgin Radio

2 Jun 2023, 08:56

talkSPORT icon Jim White is swapping footy for floor-fillers on My 80s Playlist. 

The Scottish presenter is best known for his time on Sky Sports and as half of the mid-morning team on talkSPORT’s mid-morning show White & Jordan. 

This week on Virgin Radio 80s Plus, Jim popped along to the Virgin Radio studios to chat about his favourite songs of the decade and what they mean to him. 

Everything Breath You Take - The Police 

The Police topped the UK chart for four weeks with their 1983 classic, Every Breath You Take. 

Singer and songwriter Sting received the Ivor Novello prize for Best Song Musically and Lyrically that year, and it was also nominated for three Grammy Awards. 

Jim reminisced about his time interviewing Sting, telling host Steve: “He was fantastic to me. He was delightful. He helped me through the interview. You know what it's like, you've been doing this for years, you've met these guys, you know how the experience is to be opposite them. You're reliant on them to help you with information with little backstories. He was great, I must say and it's still fresh in my mind. Whenever I hear on your show, on Virgin, on any other show on the radio, if I hear a Police track, it takes me back to me sitting opposite Sting in conversation.”

China Girl - David Bowie

David Bowie re-released Iggy Pop’s 1977 single China Girl as part of his 1983 album Let’s Dance.

It became the better-known version of the track and was co-produced with Chic legend Nile Rodgers. China Girl landed at number two in the UK but in the top 10 in the US.

Explaining his love for the track, Jim shared: “The video stands out to me. It's so fresh in my mind. When I first saw it, I thought it was incredible. Bowie for a start, facially his image, it was unique. I was fascinated by it, I'm still fascinated by him.

"That bit in China girl when they go into the instrumental parts in the middle and the heavy guitar comes in. He and the girl have a passionate clinch and kiss and the camera is going around them. It was masterful in terms of the direction of the video, but it was brilliant the way they pulled her off the two of them. It was phenomenal.”

Hold Me Now - Thompson Twins

British band the Thompson Twins found themselves in the top 5 of the UK charts with their 1983 hit Hold Me Now. 

It became their biggest-selling single, and according to Jim, he found the new wave group a rather curious one. 

He said: “The three of them, they were all different. The way they danced their way. They were just so cooler than cool. His voice, the tone of his voice intrigued me. And it just felt good. It's like, why do you like anything? Do you like the sound of them? I like both when it comes to them. They nailed it for me. I really loved it. Whenever I hear it now. It still resonates with me.”

Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Synth-pop band Frankie Goes To Hollywood certainly had everyone talking with their 1983 classic, Relax. 

The raunchy song, and its music video, was the subject of a lot of attention, even after being banned by the BBC. Relax stayed in the UK Top 40 for 37 consecutive weeks and re-entered the charts after the release of follow-up track Two Tribes a year later. 

Jim explained:  “I don't know what you thought when you first heard this. Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Relax. The worst thing the BBC could ever do was ban, wasn't it? When anyone or anything is banned, you want more of it. Of course that played right into the hands of Frankie Goes to Hollywood. If any band came crashing onto the scene, it was them.”

Love Shack - The B-52's

The B-52’s released their now-signature song, Love Shack, in 1989, becoming a massive hit in the UK, US, Australia and Irealnd. 

It was the last track recorded for their debut album, Cosmic Thing, but it almost never made it as producer Don Was wasn’t satisfied with how the chorus sounded. 

Of the high-energy track, Jim told host Steve: “The B-52's fascinated me a bit like the Thompson Twins did, because of their stage appearance, because of the way they went about it. I just thought they were so different with the girls, and the way that Fred the singer, wonderful presence. The lyrics, the music, the drummer was brilliant. Love Shack was just a fabulous track, again, the first time I heard that, I thought ‘who is that?’”

Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads

1980 classic Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads saw the US band try their hand at the new wave genre dominating the decade. 

The sermon-inspired track reached number 14 in the UK charts and has since been listed as one of the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Speaking about the Talking Heads’ Scottish frontman, Jim said: “I've never met David Byrne. I've spoken to him. I'd love to have met him. He spent almost all of his life in North America. I think he went over there at a very young age. I think he's 70, but he was born in Dumbartonshire, not that far from Glasgow. 

“My late father Robbie was born in Dumbarton and I always used to think of Robbie when I listen to David Byrne, I thought of Dumbarton. To me, again, this onstage presence, and the dancing that would go on with his backing singers is incredible.”

Tell Me Why - Texas 

Another great Scottish act is Texas, and Jim decided to share his favourite song from 1989’s Southside album - Tell Me Why. 

It was the second track on the debut record, and for Jim, there’s no other voice that can compete with lead singer Sharleen Spiteri. 

He explained: “Tell me why. I love the drumming in it. I love the drive of it. But you know why I love it, Steve and you're probably the same Sharleen Spiteri. I mean, what a voice. She has the voice of an angel. It's unbelievable."

You can listen to Virgin Radio 80 Plus HERE. You can also listen on DAB+ in London and Central Scotland and on smart speakers across the UK, as well as via the Virgin Radio UK app.