CHART ATTACK! #26: 4/8/89
Hey, everybody! It’s Friday, and time for CHART ATTACK! Before I get started, I need to give another huge thanks to the amazing writers who covered my ass during the month of March. Give it up for Matthew, Kurt, Robert, Carlos and Jeff, who all did an unbelievable job (and, frankly, made me wish I had never given away those weeks!). Be sure to check out their sites for more examples of excellent writing. And now, it’s time for me to get back into the swing of things – apologies in advance if I’m a bit rusty, it’s been over a month – and let’s attack April 8, 1989!
10. Funky Cold Medina – Tone-Loc Amazon iTunes
9. Walk The Dinosaur – Was (Not Was) Amazon iTunes
8. Dreamin’ – Vanessa Williams Amazon iTunes
7. My Heart Can’t Tell You No – Rod Stewart Amazon iTunes
6. Stand – R.E.M. Amazon iTunes
5. Like A Prayer – Madonna Amazon iTunes
4. She Drives Me Crazy – Fine Young Cannibals Amazon iTunes
3. Girl You Know It’s True – Milli Vanilli Amazon
2. Eternal Flame – Bangles Amazon iTunes
1. The Look – Roxette Amazon iTunes
10. Funky Cold Medina – Tone-Loc (download)
So, readers, which of the two incredibly similar Tone-Loc songs do you prefer – this one or "Wild Thing?" My guess is that most people will go with "Wild Thing," but as I mentioned back in Chart Attack! #18, "Funky Cold Medina" name-checked Spuds Mackenzie, which I find impressive. (It also name-checks "Alex from Stroh’s," but we all know Alex was nothing but a Spuds ripoff, so I award Mr. Loc no points for that one, and also mentions Mick Jagger, who’s humped more legs than the other two combined.) Plus, while "Wild Thing" samples Van Halen’s "Jamie’s Cryin’," this song – penned by Young MC, by the way – samples five tunes: "All Right Now" by Free, "Hot Blooded" by Foreigner, "Christine Sixteen" by Kiss, "You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman Turner Overdrive, and "Get Off Your Ass And Jam" by Funkadelic. I’d be willing to bet that none of these artists saw a penny from the success of this song, which is probably a good thing since Loc probably needs all he can get. Unless he’s still getting residuals from Ace Ventura: Pet Detective?
Still, you gotta love this song. That Funky Cold Medina can be blamed for everything – bestiality, homosexuality, and bethrothals! Loc knew what he was saying when he stated "that medina’s a monster, y’all." Word, Loc. Word.
9. Walk The Dinosaur – Was (Not Was)
Bless you, Was and Was, stealing our hearts with a mere "Boom boom, acka lacka lacka boom." David Was (née Weiss) and Don Was (née Fagenson) were – and are – talented musicians, producers and consultants. You may know Don from his work directing and producing the Brian Wilson documentary I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times. There’s even a Mellow Gold connection: Don co-wrote, with Paul Reiser, the theme song for Mad About You – sung by Andrew Gold!
However, if you decide to judge them by their impact on the pop charts, all you really have to go by is this song and "Spy In The House Of Love," both from their album What Up, Dog? It should be noted that this album was released at a time when most people would have seen that title and thought someone made a spelling error.
I actually was familiar with Was (Not Was) back in 1986. As a 9 year-old Wham! fan at the time, I had studiously poured over their liner notes (which, it should be noted, were virtually nonexistent) and found that a song from Music From The Edge Of Heaven, "Where Did Your Heart Go," was penned by the, er, Wasses.
Here’s the stupid video. Please note that the two lead singers are not Wasses. (I mean, they don’t even look Wassish!) The one who looks like the maitre’d at Red Lobster is Sir Harry Bowens, and the one who looks like Arsenio Hall is Sweet Pea Atkinson.
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I think it’s pretty clear why "The Dinosaur" didn’t necessarily catch on as the next big dance craze, don’t you think? Do you think the Wassholes closely studied videos of the Electric Slide and tried to figure out what worked? And do you think they sent flaming bags of poo to the jackoffs who invented the Macarena?
8. Dreamin’ – Vanessa Williams
I really don’t know what to say about "Dreamin’." When I don’t know what to say about a song, I have three choices. I can ramble about chart position and other similar facts; I can just say "I don’t know what to say" and move on; or I can make shit up.
I’ll take choice #3.
So "Dreamin’" was written by Willie Nelson, who was backstage at Farm Aid in 1987 when an old issue of Penthouse fell out of a roadie’s backpack – and, as luck would have it – the issue opened right up to Vanessa Williams’ spread. Nelson took one look at her and dropped his bong, shattering it into a million pieces. "I’m gonna write a song for that there lady," Willie announced to nobody in particular, and put pen to hemp-based paper. His initial version, though, was entitled "Creamin’," which was deemed to be inappropriate for a woman who would appear in the esteemed pages of Penthouse. One letter-change later, a hit was born.
I like "Dreamin’." It’s a pleasant song. I feel bad that I totally pulled the above paragraph out of my ass. Oh well. Next time, Vanessa, come up with something interesting. I’m glad Robert already covered our Vanessa Williams bases a few weeks ago in Chart Attack! #23. (Is there anybody on the Internet who links to himself as much as I do? Jeez.)
7. My Heart Can’t Tell You No – Rod Stewart (download)
I’m only a little ashamed to admit that I actually like this song. I think the chords are pretty, and Rod’s voice is a perfect fit for it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like the song is timeless by any means; its sound is locked into the late ’80s with overbearing synthesizers and that drum machine sound that leaves you wondering why they didn’t just, y’know, hire an actual drummer. You can send your thanks to Andy Taylor of Duran Duran and Bernard Edwards of Chic, perhaps one of the stranger musical combinations, who produced Stewart’s highly successful Out Of Order.
The video is also straight out of the ’80s, with an overdramatic romantic soap opera featuring two hotties, interspersed with shots of Rod singing on a projection screen. While there’s no excuse for Rod’s polka-dotted tie, let’s just be thankful he left the make-out scenes to models, instead of subjecting us to a reprise of the tonsil hockey from "D’Ya Think I’m Sexy."
6. Stand – R.E.M.
While "The One I Love" was R.E.M.’s first hit single in the U.S., "Stand" was the number that most likely led to scores of college kids mourning over the loss of their favorite secret. The song reached #6 and remains the band’s second-biggest single, behind "Losing My Religion." It figures that one of their most successful hits was a song that Stipe felt was one of his most inane from a lyrical standpoint. I’ve always loved this song. And according to the wiki, "Stand" has not one, but two "truck driver’s gear changes" – in which a song abruptly modulates up a semitone without any transition between the two keys.
5. Like A Prayer – Madonna
It’s not like I’ve spent a great deal of time listening to Madonna albums from start to finish. However, Like A Prayer – the album – is a damn fine cohesive piece of work. Not to mention that my copy of the CD still smells like patchouli. The title track is a phenomenal opener – a perfect blend of pop and dance with a touch of rock (it’s easy to miss the crunchy electric guitar, courtesy of Prince, which is buried in the mix). Love the choir. Love the bassline, courtesy of Randy Jackson. And I prefer the album version to the equally popular version from The Immaculate Collection, which is a dance remix.
I thought this cover (from the 12" single) was interesting:
A drawing by a fourth grader Madonna’s brother Christopher, the "MLVC" represents Madonna’s full name – Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone and my god, why do I know that without looking it up – and the falling "P" represents her divorce from Penn (comma Sean), which had only recently been finalized. (For a more blatant reference to Penn, listen to the fantastic "’Til Death Do Us Part" from the same album.)
How many of you heard "Like A Prayer" for the first time during The Cosby Show? I know I did. Although my favorite incarnation of NBC’s Thursday night lineup had just ended (I still miss you, Family Ties), I remember still being interested enough to make it through the 8:00 hour. I’m sure many of you recall Pepsi making a huge deal about the debut of the song via their two-minute commercial. It aired at 8:12 PM on March 2nd, and was promptly yanked from the air after Pepsi execs saw her proper music video (you know, that whole cross-burning thing). The commercial was, of course, completely innocuous, but Pepsi never aired it in the U.S. again.
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No big deal for Madonna, of course, who got to keep her $5 million endorsement fee without having to fulfill her contractual obligation to three more commercials. And, of course, the Madonna controversy only helped the single, which went platinum and reached #1 mid-April.
4. She Drives Me Crazy – Fine Young Cannibals
Fuck this song. Fuck this overplayed song and its stupid video and Roland Gift’s stupid voice. Here’s the best thing I can say about "She Drives Me Crazy:" at least it’s not "Good Thing," which is just god-awful. I don’t understand the vocal, which sounds like some kind of warped muppet who ingested too much crack. (The funny thing, of course, is that Kermit The Frog later covered "She Drives Me Crazy" on the Kermit Unpigged album and my god, why do I know that without looking it up.)
Sorry. I just never understood why this song was really a hit in the first place, and why it’s remained a staple on what is now "oldies" radio. I guess it’s clearly the vocal I have a problem with, as the music itself isn’t really that bad. Anybody want to enlighten me?
3. Girl You Know It’s True – Milli Vanilli
Okay, what can I really say about Milli Vanilli that hasn’t already been said a million times? Not a hell of a lot. Here’s all I can bring to the conversation: probably the best thing that came out of Milli Vanilli was the kick-ass inaugural episode of VH-1’s Behind The Music which – combined with Pop-Up Video – was the best thing to come out of the channel, ever. And if that wasn’t good enough, stay tuned for – I’m not kidding – Milli Vanilli, The Movie.
There are some nifty YouTube clips of Milli Vanilli, although at first glance, I couldn’t find the two I was looking for: the Connecticut performance where the record skipped, and their attempt to win the crowd over on Arsenio after the news broke. (Both clips, by the way, are on Behind The Music. Damn, I should have taped every single one of those episodes. Along with Pop-Up Video.) Anyway, here are my favorites: their awesome Carefree gum commercial (great PR, but unfortunately didn’t help them much), a great commercial about the class-action lawsuit following the scandal, and – the weirdest – Super Mario and the gang going to see Milli Vanilli. Oh, and if you never thought you’d see Milli Vanilli appear in the same music video as Bob Dylan, Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Petty, George Harrison, Eric Idle, John Candy and Placido Domingo, think again.
2. Eternal Flame – Bangles
Ahh, the Bangles’ biggest-selling single, reaching #1 in five countries, including the U.S. "Eternal Flame" was another hit from the powerful songwriting duo Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg – we discussed them back in Chart Attack! #17, concerning their awkward journey writing "Like A Virgin." Susanna Hoffs, who’s also listed as a co-writer , requested that Kelly and Steinberg assist her in creating a tune similar to one entitled "Unconditional Love" that the duo penned for Cyndi Lauper. (Anybody heard it? Not me, but I’m humming the Donna Summer song of the same name now.)
Steinberg has said that the song was inspired by two eternal flames: one in Graceland, and one in his synagogue growing up, which leads me to wonder: how have the Jews not picked up on this?? Why didn’t they capitalize on the song’s success back in 1989 and recognize the Bangles for bridging the wide (wiiiiiide) gap between the Jewish culture and pop music? What a wasted opportunity! This is worse than the time we completely glossed over Bob Dylan’s appearance on the "L’Chaim/To Life" telethon the same year. Oy!
"Eternal Flame" is an interesting song. From a musical standpoint, Steinberg points out that it’s similar to a number of Beatles songs in that it doesn’t have a chorus: the verse kind of becomes the chorus by the last line, and then the bridge is repeated twice to make a short song longer. (He likens this to "We Can Work It Out.") But I also think it’s interesting because it’s definitely not universally loved. I mentioned it to Jessica and Jeff yesterday and heard two very distinct reactions:
Jessica: I love this song!
Jeff: This song suuuuuuuuuuuucks! SUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKS!
I don’t hate the song by any means; I just think that if I have a choice of listening to a Bangles tune, I’m going to go for at least five other ones before listening to "Eternal Flame." I do enjoy when people sing it at karaoke, though. Why? Because every girl in the world thinks she can sing it, based on the opening verse. However, every girl forgets that Hoffs eventually hits a batshit-high note at least twice near the end of the song – and the first time, she frickin’ belts it. There’s nothing like the look of terror on a girl’s face – not to mention her fellow karaoke mates – when that note comes a-callin’. Hell, I think even Susanna was freaked out by it – why else would she go for falsetto the second time? Because it’s suddenly a sensitive moment? I’m not buying it.
1. The Look – Roxette
Na na na na na, na na na na na, na na na na na na, na na na na na, na na na na na na na na, I’m stalling while I think of what to say about this song.
(Go ahead and count. I got ’em all, beeyotches!)
I’ll hand it to Roxette, though; they did a pretty good job at writing pop tunes. If I had to pick one, I suppose I’d go with this one over "Joyride" (which I think is pretty much the same song), "Listen To Your Heart" or "It Must Have Been Love" (although I do have a soft spot in my heart for the Pretty Woman soundtrack – first CD I ever owned).
"The Look" was Roxette’s U.S. breakthrough. Legend has it that an American exchange student heard Roxette in Sweden, and when he got back to his home city of Minneapolis, he bombarded station KDWB with requests for "The Look." The song was added to the playlist – pause while all of our jockey readers shed tears – and, since the response was positive, it was added to other stations. (This tale is apparently known as the "Dean Cushman story" and is probably not exactly true – the wiki states that EMI was preparing for a big Roxette push in the States anyway – but it sounds good in interviews.)
And look at that – we’re at the end of another entry! Thanks again for being so patient as I got my act back together – and we’ll see you next week for another edition of CHART ATTACK!
April 6th, 2007 at 9:15 am
Was (Not Was) RULE! Sir Harry and Sweet Pea are now part of Lyle Lovett’s Large Band (and they cover ‘Walk The Dinosaur’ to great effect, too!).
My best W(NW) moment, by Woofpop..
I was an assistant manager at Peaches Records & Tapes (the Southeast’s answer to Tower) when What Up, Dog? was new. We had a female customer shoplift a cassette, and set the alarm off. The whole shoplifting prosecution process peaked as she was being escorted out of the store by the police officer. One of the other managers had put the Was’ track "Dad, I’m in Jail" on the overhead stereo. This track is just a spoken word over a sample that repeats the phrase "Hello Dad, I’m in jail" – she was obviously not amused, but you’ve got to admire quick thinking like that..
April 6th, 2007 at 9:39 am
I have always loved that Rod Stewart song! It was written by the songwriting duo of Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan. If you remember, Simon was one half of CLIMIE FISHER who had a few hits in the UK.
April 6th, 2007 at 10:14 am
So much to say about this week. So many memories of the thick of high school.
The first time I heard "She Drives Me Crazy", I thought (I sh*t you not) I thought it was by Ronnie Milsap. This was only a couple of year’s after Milsap had his last cross-over hit with "She Loves My Car", and I could still recall his distinctive voice when I heard this FYC tune. I agree with you Jason-while I can still tolerate the song occasionally, I have know idea why (1) Critics thought Roland Gift had a great voice, (2) People thought Roland Gift was sexy, and (3) Those two other dudes were still doing that ridiculous ska dancing, even though they now were in an electro pop band. I’ll stop here, or else I’ll go into a rant about why these two Akbar & Jeff lookin’ mofos piss me off because its 20 years later and they still won’t make-up with Wakeling and Roger and AAAAGHH!! I hate it when good bands break up.
I also remember that "The Look" debuted at #40 on the Hot 100, which was an astounding thing for a debut single at the time (pre-Soundscan, pre-AI, pre-new era of Payola). My favorite Roxette song is far and away "Listen to Your Heart". The thing that really put it over the top for me is the fact that they wrote it while constantly listening to Tom Petty’s Southern Accents album (and esp. the title track and "The Best of Everything", you can hear it). I always got a bit of the creeps from the fact that the girl looked way too much like Susan Powter.
You have good taste in Madonna albums, Jason. Like a Prrayer is really outstanding. I once wrote an article after VH1 had come out with their list of 100 Greatest Rock Acts of all time, and Madonna was in the 30s, and Bowie was in the top 10. Basically, I compared Madonna to Bowie as being female and male equivilants (both with the changes in image and career paths, as well as the acting thing). Anyway (I have a point here) I stated in it that Like a Prayer was better than any album that Bowie ever did (the Thin White Duke highly overrated in terms of his music catalog, IMO).
Finally, the best Vanessa Williams hit is now the one which hasn’t been covered "The Sweetest Days", which is slightly like "Saved the Best…" but 10x superior in every way. It came from a very experimental album of the same name, I believe, which included some nice jazz-influenced songs with just her and an accoustic guitarist. Needless to say, it didn’t do as well as her AOR work, so back to the middle of the road for her next album, then to Broadway, then marrying Rick Fox….I’m sorry, I can’t go on.
April 6th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Woofpop and/or Jason, do you know who the scratchy-voiced guy was who did the "Elvis landed in a rocketship" part of "Walk the Dinosaur"? I think he’s also the guy who spoke/sang "Dad, I’m in Jail." I didn’t like that guy’s voice at all in 7th grade, which is when I received What Up, Dog? for Christmas. I still llike the cover of Otis Redding’s "I Can’t Turn You Loose" from that album.
I didn’t expect the outpouring of hate toward "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing," but to each his own, of course. I still love both of those songs, and The Raw and the Cooked is a great album, even if it cheats a little by including songs like "Good Thing" that were recorded two years prior to the album’s release. It’s too bad Fine Young Cannibals never made a follow-up, but I remember hearing in ’89 or so that Roland Gift wanted to pursue an acting career. Well, he was in Scandal and an episode of the Highlander TV series, but that’s all I ever heard about. He should’ve stuck with singing, in my opinion. I really like his voice. I recently read that the English Beat were reuniting for a tour, so I thought the two ex-Beat guys who were in FYC were going to be part of it, but it looks like it’s just another we-need-some-quick-cash "Dave Wakeling featuring the English Beat" tour. Is Ranking Roger even part of this one? I didn’t see his name.
I remember someone bringing up "truck-driver gear change" songs four years ago. I believe "Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi was another one in that category. "Stand," of course, was also the theme song for Chris Elliott’s sitcom Get a Life, one of my favorite shows.
I think I liked "My Heart Can’t Tell You No" briefly in seventh grade. What was the Rod Stewart video from the summer of ’88 that was set in a strip club? Or am I thinking of someone else’s video from the same time period? Let me mention once again how much I like "Love Touch." GREAT song. I’m covering my ears now so I can’t hear any of your attacks on this POP MASTERPIECE. (Okay, even I think that’s taking it too far, but still …)
April 6th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that your story about girls trying to sing "Eternal Flame" at karaoke bars is great (I find practically every song impossible to sing when it comes to karaoke, although I should get more practice — well, maybe "should" is too strong of a word). Also, good job bringing up the Pretty Woman soundtrack again. Keep hope alive!
April 6th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Yes, Robert, "ooh, you’re gonna get a.. big love touch" – that’s a pinnacle in modern pop..
However, I do agree, that "Get A Life" was a great show – I hadn’t thought of that in years
I think that voice on the Was songs is probably Don Was, but I’m not sure. That would be a scary voice for a 7th grader!
’89 – a good year!
April 6th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
It’s not about the words, Woofpop! Don’t you get it, man? It’s about the … uh … the steel drums? Yeah, I’ll go with that. "Love Touch" fits in perfectly with other songs from the summer of 1986 that I still love.
April 6th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
"Love Touch" in the 1980s presaged Michael Jackson, George Michael, Jackie McGeorge and Michael St. Michaelson’s scandals via manos, respectively (which is odd because the previous statement shows reckless disregard for respect entirely). ((It also shows a blatant penchant for making crap up…)) As for Roxette, they were fatally cursed with Swede’s Disease, meaning that their music sounded alright at first pass, but further experiences prove they had NO FRICKING CLUE what the hot, buttery HELL they were singing. Swede’s Disease has been known to make some of the most dire and evil-sounding metal music into unintentionally hilarious tuneage. …And I should know – Nothing I’ve ever done in my life has been intentional (take THAT, Dr. Wayne Dyer!!). DwD
April 6th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
That FYC song was HUGE when I was working as the news director at a small station in Northern Missouri. We had a lot of fun aping the vocals and ripping on how bad the song was. After about the 1000th time it got played, the afternoon jock stopped it in the middle of the song, opened the mic and just said "Okay, that’s enough of that" and went into some classic Zep. I thought SDMC was the absolute worst song of the year…at least until "Good Thing" came out. Geesh. I like the Bangles tune, it’s a great love song/ballad thing. Plus, Susannah Hoffs is such a hottie!! The REM track is also very cool and "Like A Prayer" is about the only Madonna song I can stomach all the way through. That Roxette cut is prolly their best song, and the rest of the tunes on the chart should just fade away. (I did enjoy the made-up story about Vanessa and Willie! It’s probably bucketloads more interesting than the actual story behind this syrupy piece of dreck.)
April 6th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Not to beat a point into the ground like I always do, but, I was sorely tempted to blog an internet CD much like those classic old K-Tel Records (remember them, old timers?). Mine would have the oh-so-clever moniker Damn Wankees and would contain your favorite hits subtly or not-so-subtly celebrating the act of pulling an all-nighter on one’s self. Of course, "Walk The Dinosaur" would be on there, Divinyl’s obligatory "I Touch Myself", XTC’s "Pink Thing", Billy Idol’s "Dancing With Myself", Cyndi Lauper’s "She Bop" and, of course, President Bush’s most recent press conference.
April 7th, 2007 at 7:53 am
DW — I believe "Pink Thing" was actually written for Andy Partridge’s baby. They come out pink, after they’re cleaned up a bit. This was back before the "every song will be about my divorce — Colin, shut up and play the bass" phase of XTC. But I love the Damn Wankees concept, particularly because it might shut up all the people who get strangely defensive when I tell them "She Bop" is about masturbation. Dang it, I covered the "Walk the Dinosaur" video yesterday, too! Specifically the one-stick percussionist. My association with "Eternal Flame" is a bit by comedian Zach Galifianakis in which he flips through some things on an easel while a choir of women belts out this song in perfect harmony. The lead singer was just impossibly beautiful and sweet.
April 7th, 2007 at 9:06 am
DW – you need to act on your concept. Don’t forget "Turning Japanese" on there..
Ahh, yes, the Big Hair Bangles phase – there were still good songs under all of the big production, although almost all of the people who loved them in ’84 had jumped ship by then. Always loved them, through thick and thin; then and now…
April 7th, 2007 at 9:47 am
I was never a big Bangles fan, but I must say I had a minor crush on every member of the band EXCEPT for Susannah Hoffs. Odd, that. Maybe it was how she was just too much a front-person for the band, that other members seemed overshadowed by her and I empathized with them / wanted to know what love was and wanted them to show meeee. Oh, and big 80s hair definitely needs a major comeback.
April 8th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
The remix of like a prayer on the immaculate collection really is not as good as the album version. It’s really a shame because it’s a really good comp otherwise. On the other hand I think all music lovers should have both the compilation and the like a prayer album as there are some songs from that album you shouldn’t miss.Anyways… nice to read and the comments are interesting and funny as always, which is not something you can say of the average blog. Note that I don’t include myself in that statement.
April 9th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
The Rod Stewart video set in a strip club was “Lost in You,” if anyone cares. Check it out at http://youtube.com/watch?v=PHtkS3RuCHo …
April 9th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Thanks, Dave! I’d forgotten that title completely, but I was 12 when the song came out, so of course the strip-club-set video stuck in my mind.<br><br>I still can’t believe the outpouring of bile for Fine Young Cannibals, yet no trashing of Milli Vanilli? I wouldn’t care about their eternal status as impostors if their bubblegum pop tasted any good, but it doesn’t taste good, not even with light sprinkling of nostalgia. The most memorable thing about them was their chest bumping and running-in-place dance in the "Girl You Know It’s True" video. (Or was that the "Baby Don’t Forget My Number" video?)<br><br>The three Madonna songs I like the most are from the Like a Prayer/Dick Tracy era: "Express Yourself," "Cherish" (I’ve been given grief for putting that one near the top), and "Vogue."
April 10th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Just wanted to point out that Pop Up Video is apparently still being shown on VH1 Classic because I saw it on Sunday when I was visiting my parents house for easter (unfortunately don’t have Classic on my satellite). Also, that Traveling Wilburys video really made me nostalgic for music videos. Yes, I realize they’re still around, but just barely, and back then EVERYONE had one and it was almost guaranteed VH1 or MTV or at the very least The Box was going to show it.Also, am I the only one who starts singing the lyrics to Funky Cold Medina when I should be singing the Wild Thing lyrics and vice versa?
April 10th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
milli vanilli is the best. I would have loved to see Pilatus on the Surreal Life go at it with Vanilla Ice. He should not have killed himself.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
You hate "Woman" by John Lennon and "Somebody’s Knockin’" by Terri Gibb, but you love Milli Vanilli — Jeremy, you’re a complicated man, and God bless you for it!
April 12th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
Hey Robert, the Dave Wakeling Experience (aka English Beat, but without Roger) has been touring since right after that VH-1 show Bands Reunited tried to put them back together. I saw them play last year in California. It was a surprisingly fun show. They have great energy, the crowd really digs them, and of course the songs are good (mostly).
Also, I like “Cherish” as well. Isn’t that the song which they held a contest for music videos from unknown directors? I liked the winning amateur video far more than the one she shot!
April 13th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Thanks for another great post and insightful comments from readers. After reading this, I had to dig out my "What Up, Dog" album. (I will admit to still having it but I haven’t listened to it for a long time. But I remember liking it.)
Robert, there is nothing on it or the incredibly detailed liner notes to identify who did those voices. And the cover of Otis Redding’s "I Can’t Turn You Loose"? It’s not on there. (Maybe a bonus track on cassette?) But neither is their cover of "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" — it must have been on their follow-up album.
The album says one of the songs was co-written by Marshall Crenshaw and another by Elvis Costello! Now my head is hurting. But any album that includes Sir Harry and Sweetpea can’t be all bad. As I remember, not long after this album, Bonnie Raitt had them sing on her album. Great voices.
April 15th, 2007 at 10:50 am
I saw the end of that “Bands Reunited” episode, Elaine (even that show is probably too classy for VH1 these days); all I remember is Wakeling and whoever reunited with him aside from Roger and the FYC guys playing in a nearly empty club. It was a little sad, so I’m glad they’re playing to bigger crowds now.
I think “True Blue” was the song that spawned the MTV video contest in 1986, and yes, the winner’s video got more praise than Madonna’s official video from what I remember. “Cherish” was the video with the mermaids and mermen and Madonna’s wet cleavage. Herb Ritts directed it, I think, but I could be wrong, and no, I’m not gonna look it up.
I think Sir Harry and Sweetpea appeared on “SNL” with Bonnie Raitt in 1990, but again, I could be wrong, etc. “I Can’t Turn You Loose” was definitely on the cassette of “What Up, Dog?”
May 8th, 2009 at 8:30 am
[…] actually covered this song in a previous CHART ATTACK!, so I won’t go into too much redundant detail here. I’ll just say that I truly love […]