"Do you know why I know you’re gay? You’ve got a poster of Asia on your wall.”
Now that wasn’t very nice.
I must admit I don’t have the most refined ear when it comes to rock. But there is something about the band Asia that I’ve always liked. John Wetton belted out these songs that were almost Barry Manilow-ish in their delivery. What made him less shmaltzy was his amazing backup band: Steve Howe from Yes, Carl Palmer from Emerson Lake and Palmer, and then Geoffrey Downes of Yes and the Buggles. Their songs may have sounded like corporate shlock to some, but they were still infusing it with what was left of the progressive rock vibe.
“Heat of the Moment” was their highest charting song, still being played on 80’s format radio stations and during flashback lunches and weekends. I think the song’s success shows that an opening line means everything. “I never meant to be so bad to you” is heard over a basic electric guitar 3 power chord with Ronnie Spector drum beat. That’s all it took (along with a video that featured a gimmick of an ever changing grid of quick edits) and the song took off.
I then jumped to their third album, Astra, and listened to that over and over even though the legendary Steve Howe was gone (on to his next Asia-like group GTR which stands for the word “guitar” with all the vowels removed). “Go” got some airplay and then the album vanished. I know that album backwards and forwards, though none of my friends have a clue about it.
Alpha was the second album and had the hit “Don’t Cry” that came with a zany pyramid Raiders of the Lost Ark video that featured all the band members doing their best video performances. I later enjoyed that one over and over.
Asia survived into the 90’s…well, the name did anyway. New members came in to replace the original four, then those members were replaced. Now there are two Asia’s, one with the orignal four and another that is filled with their original replacements. You don’t really see that too often in music. Journey’s touring now with all orignal members and one replacement for the lead singer. There’s usually at least one original member.
Original orignal Asia had a nice bit of exposure in Judd Apatow’s huge major success The 40 Year Old Virgin. The lead character, the virgin’s, favorite band is, who else? Asia. He has a poster up of the first album cover. He rides on his bike to win back his love while “Heat of the Moment” plays. Whenever any one quotes from that movie I make sure they take notice of that little band.
I may not be gay, or have a refined ear, but I do have every song from Astra memorized.
Yay, me.
