I was shocked this morning when I heard that Laura Branigan had died. She was young - just 47. I dug out her "Self Control" cassette and played it during the drive to church.
Most of us forty-somethings will never forget her mega-hit "Gloria". I don't need a show of hands, but I'm pretty sure we all danced to "Gloria" while we wore our parachute pants and our Flashdance cut-off sweatshirts. Gen X-ers probably heard of "Gloria" thanks to flashback 80's shows on VH-1. There wasn't a top 40 band in the U.S. in the early 80's that didn't have that song on their set lists. Some lounge bands still probably play it today. The song was a staple at skating rinks, and when karaoke started becoming popular, the women (and a few men) wanted to belt out "Gloria." The song was played at wedding receptions as often as "The Duck Dance."
Some might call Laura Branigan a one-hit wonder, but she was far from it. Her version of "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" was a big hit for her, and for Michael Bolton in the 90's. She even had enough hits for a Greatest Hits album, too. "Gloria" was almost anthem-like for us post-baby-boomers who graduated in the early 80's. Disco was dead, but Laura Branigan gave something to dance to.
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