I'm all outta love ... but luckily Air Supply is coming to Tampa
I can say this with total honesty and a straight face: Nobody writes 'em like Air Supply anymore.
Soft-rockers Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock have been writing straight-to-the-point ballads since the late '70s and though their chart-topping days may have passed them by, they still hit the road every year and play to capacity crowds around the world.
That includes a stop on Aug. 21 at The Ritz Theatre in Tampa's Ybor City. Tickets will be between $55 and $125, but the top tier tickets reportedly include a bunch of VIP extras, including a meet-and-greet with the band. Sounds like a nice intimate venue for a show like this. (Check their official website for a gig closer to your home.)
Maybe we joke around about Air Supply a little too much these days. Exiled to adult contemporary radio in the mid-80s after a string of No. 1 hits, Air Supply and their franchise of plainly written but earnestly felt music wasn't in vogue anymore. They became an easy punchline, and wrongfully so. (The 2002 movie Van Wilder, with Ryan Reynolds, has a great Air Supply moment, and it's even funnier in Spanish -- it's the only version I could find. ) When did honesty and wearing your heart on your sleeve become a bad move? (Please. Don't answer that. I already know.)
So mock Air Supply if you want. Not me. I'm putting on their best-of CD (ummm ... and my headphones) and sulking in continued sorrow as the Saddest Week in Stuck in the '80s marches on.
TOP 5 SADDEST AIR SUPPLY SONGS:
5. WITHOUT YOU: "No, I can't forget this evening, or your face as you were leaving." [Video]
4. HERE I AM: "I've done everything I can to ease the pain. But only you can stop the rain." [Video]
3. THE ONE THAT YOU LOVE: "Must we end this way when so much here is hard to lose? Love is everywhere. I know it is." [Lyrics]
2. MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL: "I'm never gonna make it without you. Do you really want to see me crawl? And I'm never gonna make it like you do, making love out of nothing at all." [Video]
1. ALL OUT OF LOVE: "There's no easy way, it gets harder each day. Please love me or I'll be gone." [Video]
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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John Hays,
Air Supply covered Without You and it is on their greatest hits album. And Roy, I live in Germany and everything does not sound better in German, however a woman can really talk dirty in it.
Posted by: DerekT | June 28, 2009 at 02:19 PM
Am watching 'Mr and Mrs Smith' with my housemate and there's a car chase/shoot em up to the tune of...Nothing At All by Air Supply. Weird...
Posted by: Roy, UK | June 27, 2009 at 05:38 PM
Hold up!
Without You is NOT an Air Supply song!
It was written by Badfinger and made famous by Harry Nilsson!
Posted by: John Hays | June 24, 2009 at 04:51 PM
What about the sad, sad song "Goodbye" by Air Supply.
Posted by: Carol in Auburn | June 24, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Wow,
If you really like them, I can't think of a more cozy venue.
Very accessible...
Posted by: Crockett | June 24, 2009 at 08:36 AM
Steve, Are you OK? Two downer posts in a row...
Posted by: Marty | June 24, 2009 at 07:18 AM
Everything sounds better in German, and I should know having just spent six months there.
Oh yeah, Air Supply (soft) rocks! It's like the masculine version of Bonnie Tyler
Posted by: Roy, UK | June 24, 2009 at 04:21 AM
The mention of Air Supply always reminds me of the time my friend and I convinced a girl in a Mcdonals's drive-thru that we were Air Supply. We were driving from Denver to Kansas City and we stoped at a McDonalds in Kansas.We were playing Air Supply's greatest hits and began to sing "All out of love" to her. We asked if she had ever heard the song, she said "no". I quickly answered "that's us, we're Air Supply, we"re here to play the big venue in town."She named some hall and my friend quickly answered "yea, that one" Then he asked were the nearest electronic store was, because we needed equitment for our show. we got our food and before we left we sang our big hit "making love out of nothing at all" as we drove off.
Posted by: jezusdonkey | June 24, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Far be it from me to attempt to work Devo into any conversation, but if you are looking for foreign language versions of heartbreak, look no further that the Swedish version of Baby Doll (as performed by Cube Squared in the movie TapeHeads)...it features the line..."Girl of my dreams she don't love me, always the way it seems to be..."
Break ups always hurt no matter how old you are, but you've got a big support group here at SIT80's my friend, so don't sweat it, we got your back if you need it.
Music is always a good remedy!
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | June 23, 2009 at 08:53 PM
Spanish? Try German
Posted by: Gary in Gilroy | June 23, 2009 at 08:39 PM
I remember that I told a somewhat friend at the time that I liked Air Supply. She thought that meant that I was after her boyfriend (he would.."go after"..anything on two legs). We stopped associating not too long after.
Posted by: Sondra | June 23, 2009 at 08:08 PM
I got nothin'.
Posted by: Bassnote | June 23, 2009 at 06:25 PM
Steve, Steve, Steve - you can never joke too much about Air Supply. I'm sure the other Australains on the blog will agree. I can just see you at the show with your big box of tissues.
Posted by: Dave in Sydney | June 23, 2009 at 05:38 PM
Love 'em baby, love 'em,
Great mood music....long so love ma.....
All the love,
MinA
Posted by: MinA | June 23, 2009 at 04:59 PM