2000 Great Songs #1317: Love Plus One

I'm not what you'd call a big fan of British new wave-era band Haircut One Hundred (though I really enjoy some of frontman Nick Heyward's post-80s solo work). Nor can I say a totally love 1982 single "Love Plus One," which I frankly find a little grating in parts.

But, still, it's on the shortlist of 80s new wave hits I totally associate with high school and college, just a failsafe nostalgia bomb. Now, as with a lot of the songs under that umbrella, I'm not sure if I'm remembering actually hearing the song on the radio/MTV at the time (I didn't own the record), or just remember it from Sixteen Candles, and the John Hughes association is enough to make it forever feel like a high school song for me. (At least I think it was played in that movie; not positive.)

Whatever the origins, it's one of those tunes I can't quite shake, instant flashbacks whenever I hear it. And, ok, grating bits aside, it is rather catchy, its unique blend of xylophone and sax making it a pretty distinctive pop song even if it doesn't make you feel like you're at a high school kegger while your buddy's parents are out of town.

2023 reunion performance (with orchestra):

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