# 4 Out-Of-This-World Hits From 1981 That Are Perfect for Escaping Reality

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/4-out-of-this-world-hits-from-1981-that-are-perfect-for-escaping-reality/
- Published: 2026-11-11T00:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T00:20:36+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/4-out-of-this-world-hits-from-1981-that-are-perfect-for-escaping-reality/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music, TV

## Key points

- Four quirky 1981 songs offer a break from daily life.
- “One in Ten” addresses unemployment in the West Midlands.
- Bowie covered Iggy Pop’s “Bang Bang” in 1987.

## Summary

The article picks out four unusual songs from 1981 as escapist listening, though it notes that some pair playful pop sounds with darker or more existential themes. It highlights how the songs can distract from everyday life while also reflecting on unemployment, ageing and the future.

Ultravox’s “One in Ten” refers to unemployment in the West Midlands and gives voice to hardship against a pop backdrop. Electric Light Orchestra’s “21st Century Man” follows a time traveller from 1981 to 2095, while “22,000 Days” reflects on time as a limited resource. Iggy Pop’s “Bang Bang” was later covered by David Bowie in 1987; Bowie praised it as one of Pop’s best songs.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.