Quarterflash – Harden My Heart
#quotefromthe80s
But it's time you got the news
I'm gonna harden my heart
I'm gonna swallow my tears
I'm gonna turn and leave you here
#Quarterflash #HardenMyHeart
The 80s marked an era of musical innovation, standing out as a hallmark. The 70s were also musically significant and distinct from the 60s. So why does one decade overshadow the previous one? Is it merely generational change or turnover?
Musical preferences definitely evolve across generations, and it’s understood that a part of us will always be connected to the music we were exposed to between the ages of twelve/thirteen and twenty-two/twenty-three. This phase functions as a kind of musical imprinting — our brains are especially receptive to sensory experiences from the adult world during this time, including music.
Naturally, we will mature and age, yet we will incessantly seek our youth within ourselves, searching for it in memories, emotions, and sensations — essentially, in music, old photographs, and perhaps vintage films. This pursuit, however, does not quite address another question: why do typical musical preferences shift drastically from one decade to another? I believe the explanation is more straightforward than anticipated and is closely linked to technological advancements.
Beginning in the 1960s, electronics began to significantly influence the music industry. This evolution allowed successive generations to uncover the electric guitars of the 60s, the electronic keyboards and synthesizers of the 70s, the electronic percussion instruments of the 80s, the sampling techniques and effects of the 90s, leading up to modern autotune and future innovations.
The 1980s inherited the electric guitars characteristic of the increasingly progressive rock from the 70s and the ethereal electronic sounds popularized by Kraftwerk, seamlessly integrating them with ever more advanced electronic drums and keyboards.
Despite the many changes, there was one purely analog instrument that wasn’t altered, always stayed consistent, and uniquely defined the pop music of the 80s. This instrument conjured up feelings of sensuality, night-time escapades, emotions, and perhaps neon lights. I am referring, naturally, to the saxophone — a pure, authentic, and highly evocative instrument.
Listing every iconic 80s song featuring a saxophone solo is a daunting task. Bands with dedicated saxophonists, such as Steve Norman of Spandau Ballet, certainly had an edge when it came to this. Consider tracks like True or Through the Barricades. Andy Hamilton crafted an incredible solo for Duran Duran’s Rio, and Steve Gregory’s performance in George Michael’s Careless Whisper became unforgettable.
Additionally, consider iconic tracks like Sade’s Smooth Operator, Glenn Frey’s The Heat Is On, Supertramp’s The Logical Song, and Men at Work’s Who Can It Be Now?, along with numerous other songs featuring memorable solos.
One song, however, in September 1981, truly paved the way for saxophonists throughout the 80s. It was a track by a relatively unknown group from Portland, Oregon — the same city as Nu Shooz — formed mainly by the husband and wife duo Marv and Rindy Ross. While Marv wrote the song, it was Rindy’s voice and particularly her saxophone that turned Harden My Heart into a defining piece of the 80s and the pinnacle of Quarterflash’s career. It’s worth noting that before settling on the name Quarterflash, the band experimented with different names and members, performing as Seafood Mama or Chance.
Author Marv Ross remembers that the song essentially stemmed from the title, which a friend suggested to him. Starting with the title, the song came together in just a few hours. Typically, Marv would compose the song first and then come up with the title, but this instance was different. Shortly after, Rindy added the saxophone solo. Thus, one of the tracks that defined the sound of the 80s was created.
The song narrates the desperation of a girl who, after enduring a turbulent love affair, ultimately chooses to part ways with her partner. Although she is aware that this decision will bring about sorrowful and challenging moments, she is resolute in her choice.
The song was accompanied by a video, which is notable given that MTV had only started broadcasting a month earlier. The video embodies an 80s vibe with a collection of seemingly disconnected yet highly evocative images, featuring the presence and allure of Mindy Ross, prominently along with her saxophone. She appears among acrobats, in eerie hotels reminiscent of the one in Shining, or even on the rear seat of a motorcycle in the desert.
In essence, while Mindy Ross may not be one of the most recognisable names from that decade, and recalling Quarterflash or the song title might take some effort, the moment Rindy’s saxophone solo kicks off Harden My Heart, it is undeniably clear we are transported back to the 80s, proving that really the 80s never end.
Quarterflash on Wikipedia
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