3 One-Hit Wonder Lyrics From 1980 That Every 80s Kid Remembers
Three songs released in 1980 remain memorable for their lyrics: Devo’s “Whip It”, The Vapors’ “Turning Japanese” and Robbie Dupree’s “Steal Away”. The article revisits how each song’s words and sound helped make it distinctive.
Devo’s Jerry Casale drew inspiration for “Whip It” from the poetry in Thomas Pynchon’s novel *Gravity’s Rainbow*. David Fenton said “Turning Japanese” began with a line that came to him in the night and could just as easily have named another nationality. Dupree described “Steal Away” as a simple song whose words and melody fitted together, rather than one intended to carry a deep message.
In short
- Three memorable songs from 1980 get a lyrical look back.
- “Whip It” drew inspiration from Thomas Pynchon.
- “Turning Japanese” nearly became “Turning Portuguese”.