What a lovely tribute! I was living in West Berlin in 86, and synthpop was pretty popular, especially in the gay clubs I (surreptitiously) frequented. Thanks for the trip down memory lane with "Oh, L'amour," which touched me in maybe a similar way to how it did you.

I didn't move to Manhattan until 1990, just in time for the wave of funerals and memorial services that eventually claimed more than 40% of my husband's extensive address book. (Remember physical address books?)

My personal soundtrack from those years, which features some Erasure and other Eurofag fabulosity, is also one of euphoria and devastation.

So your story hit me hard, for which I thank you. It's easier to remember now, and I'm glad you offered up a soundtrack for it.