Old-Time Rock ‘n’ Roll:
How The 1980s Embraced 1950s and 1960s Oldies Music
Violins Play When He Sings
Photo: "20161115SM520.jpg" by Library of Congress Life is licensed under CC0 1.0
Motown acts greatly influenced musicians from around the world. As previously mentioned, Billy Joel’s An Innocent Man pays tribute to Motown. In 1987, the English pop band ABC released When Smokey Sings.
Music critic Mike Curtin felt the song depicts the feelings of baby boomers that music allows people to escape their problems, especially Smokey Robinson’s tunes. The song’s lyrics pay tribute to Smokey, as does the music, with horns and an upbeat tempo similar to Robinson’s 1970 hit Tears of a Clown.
ABCs homage flattered Smokey Robinson.