Writing the lead-in for today’s flashback, I was going to say that the ’80s were a time when music didn’t take itself too seriously, but then I did a quick brain survey of the current pop landscape, and the earlier decade was positively David Frostian by comparison.

Taking a different tack, the ’80s also welcomed several singers that weren’t originally so by trade. Perhaps most famously, former Laker Girl and choreographer Paula Abdul, who turned her fancy footwork into multi-platinum success. Again though, a career switch to music isn’t so indicative of a particular decade, especially considering today’s explosion of televised talent competitions, in which many hopefuls never considered singing for a living (e.g. Susan Boyle).

Getting on with it, the occasion of all of this wondering about “serious” music and pre-music employment is that today is Samantha Fox‘s birthday. The model-turned-singer turns 45, a number that’s perfect for giving her biggest U.S. single another spin.

This week in 1988, “Naughty Girls (Need Love Too),” was at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100, climbing to its early June peak of #3. Written and produced by Full Force, the hip-hop group also also appeared in the music video. “This groove is much too naughty, can’t you see? I want you just for me.”

Huh. Where have I recently witnessed similar lackadaisical “dancing”? Oh, right. In the newly released choreography cut of Britney Spears’ “Till The World Ends.” S-S-S-Samantha Fox was ahead of her time with such minimal hand-and-foot motions.

Fox, a favorite celebrity guest on UK reality shows, continues to sing here and there, recently recording a cover of The Beatles’ “I Should Have Known Better” for a ukulele-centric tribute album. Interestingly, it’s not as awful as that combination might have you believe. Kudos to Fox, a partnered gay woman (something I confess not knowing until today) for singing Lennon’s female-centric lyrics as originally written. Naughty girl.

Purchase Samantha Fox – “Naughty Girls (Need Love Too) via iTunes, Amazon MP3.