Comments on: CHART ATTACK! #34: 6/4/88 http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/ The Music That Taste Forgot Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:13:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Richard Brandt http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-12072 Richard Brandt Wed, 06 Jun 2007 21:57:01 +0000 http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-12072 Say what you will about Samantha Fox...wait, that's pretty redundant advice. Anyway, at least Samy didn't wait until she was in her thirties and washed up before strutting her stuff on Page 3.   Brenda Russell's AMG bio includes typical AMG boilerplate: "After the couple's divorce, Brenda embarked on a solo career." Well, duh.   Screw "Superman" and "Raiders"..."Star Wars" is actually the theme from "Lawrence of Arabia."   I detested Foreigner's first hit, which seemed to be a compendium of cliches. If opening with "I'd climb any mountain" wasn't trite enough, the singer goes on to assure us he'd also "sail across the stormy sea." I had almost warmed up to them by the time they were washed up. (For some reason it took me less time to forgive The Cars for that "flowers in your hair" crap.)   National Lampoon had a mock news story in which Rick Astley successfully sued himself for plagiarism, slightly bettering Rolling Stone's succinct review of Boston's second album: "Boston figured if they waited three years and released their first album again, no one would notice." Say what you will about Samantha Fox…wait, that’s pretty redundant advice. Anyway, at least Samy didn’t wait until she was in her thirties and washed up before strutting her stuff on Page 3.
 
Brenda Russell’s AMG bio includes typical AMG boilerplate: "After the couple’s divorce, Brenda embarked on a solo career." Well, duh.
 
Screw "Superman" and "Raiders"…"Star Wars" is actually the theme from "Lawrence of Arabia."
 
I detested Foreigner’s first hit, which seemed to be a compendium of cliches. If opening with "I’d climb any mountain" wasn’t trite enough, the singer goes on to assure us he’d also "sail across the stormy sea." I had almost warmed up to them by the time they were washed up. (For some reason it took me less time to forgive The Cars for that "flowers in your hair" crap.)
 
National Lampoon had a mock news story in which Rick Astley successfully sued himself for plagiarism, slightly bettering Rolling Stone’s succinct review of Boston’s second album: "Boston figured if they waited three years and released their first album again, no one would notice."

]]> By: Jason http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11889 Jason Wed, 06 Jun 2007 03:18:45 +0000 http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11889 Bruce, I guess I should have been a bit more specific and said "successful" before "comeback."  I'm saying that they'll never have a Top 40 hit again.  I can't wait to be proved wrong on that one!<br /><br />(BTW, I checked out your site and am totally with you on the Contour iPod case.) Bruce, I guess I should have been a bit more specific and said "successful" before "comeback."  I’m saying that they’ll never have a Top 40 hit again.  I can’t wait to be proved wrong on that one!

(BTW, I checked out your site and am totally with you on the Contour iPod case.)

]]> By: Bruce http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11878 Bruce Wed, 06 Jun 2007 02:19:08 +0000 http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11878 well as much as I <em>wish </em>your Foreigner comeback embargo was true for all time, it appears that it took them about 13 hours to make a liar out of you - <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070605/music_nm/foreigner_dc;_ylt=AiveSX5q_K77zg62fFXlYEFxFb8C" rel="nofollow">Foreigner plotting new album, live DVD</a>.    also, i don't really have anything substantial to add about the debbie gibson/circle jerks story, but i was doing publicity for the Circle Jerks when that album came out and was at the show.  just as bizarre then as it seems now. well as much as I wish your Foreigner comeback embargo was true for all time, it appears that it took them about 13 hours to make a liar out of you - Foreigner plotting new album, live DVD.    also, i don’t really have anything substantial to add about the debbie gibson/circle jerks story, but i was doing publicity for the Circle Jerks when that album came out and was at the show.  just as bizarre then as it seems now.

]]> By: Beau http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11610 Beau Mon, 04 Jun 2007 23:02:35 +0000 http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11610 Wow -- woodblock and now bass clarinet. Add string bass, clarinet and the rest of the percussion family, and you'll have everything I ever played in band. Wow — woodblock and now bass clarinet. Add string bass, clarinet and the rest of the percussion family, and you’ll have everything I ever played in band.

]]> By: Rebecca http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11547 Rebecca Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:33:16 +0000 http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11547 For me, the difference between Rick Astley's two hits is that I played "Together Forever" in band. Junior high school band! You better believe that I can still rock that bass line on bass clarinet, even today. Wasn't as good as the bass line to the B section from the Top Gun theme but what is really? I've sung "Never Gonna Give You Up" for karaoke once at about 3 in the morning. My impression was perfection (and included the backups); alas, it was lost on the ears of drunken family members. No one sees my genius. *sniff* For me, the difference between Rick Astley’s two hits is that I played “Together Forever” in band. Junior high school band! You better believe that I can still rock that bass line on bass clarinet, even today. Wasn’t as good as the bass line to the B section from the Top Gun theme but what is really?

I’ve sung “Never Gonna Give You Up” for karaoke once at about 3 in the morning. My impression was perfection (and included the backups); alas, it was lost on the ears of drunken family members. No one sees my genius. *sniff*

]]> By: Jeremy http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11419 Jeremy Mon, 04 Jun 2007 02:19:32 +0000 http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11419 Its like you were in my head during that time. Awesome post. George Michael, Rick Astley, and Estefan ballads are still as good today as they were back then. In 20 years, when people are posting about todays music, we will be even more thankful for what we had in 88 even if it wasnt as good as what our parents had in the 60s. Its like you were in my head during that time. Awesome post. George Michael, Rick Astley, and Estefan ballads are still as good today as they were back then. In 20 years, when people are posting about todays music, we will be even more thankful for what we had in 88 even if it wasnt as good as what our parents had in the 60s.

]]> By: Candy http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11361 Candy Sun, 03 Jun 2007 20:33:15 +0000 http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11361 Sheesh...I went to the Stacy Q/Jermaine Stewart/Jets concert too! I was 21 at the time and brought my little sister and her friends as my "cover"/excuse. I always thought Eugene was adopted. I know that the family was devoutly Mormon and there were about 5 more babies younger than Moana (the youngest performer). It's embarassing how much I know about the Jets. I remember buying their Christmas album and playing "Christmas in My Heart" ad naseum. I hear that many cousins and maybe 2 or 3 original members occasionally tour as The Jets. I've seen them listed at some of the local Indian casinos every so often. Sheesh…I went to the Stacy Q/Jermaine Stewart/Jets concert too! I was 21 at the time and brought my little sister and her friends as my "cover"/excuse.
I always thought Eugene was adopted. I know that the family was devoutly Mormon and there were about 5 more babies younger than Moana (the youngest performer). It’s embarassing how much I know about the Jets. I remember buying their Christmas album and playing "Christmas in My Heart" ad naseum.
I hear that many cousins and maybe 2 or 3 original members occasionally tour as The Jets. I’ve seen them listed at some of the local Indian casinos every so often.

]]> By: Dw Dunphy http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11161 Dw Dunphy Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:23:23 +0000 http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11161 I still refuse to believe that voice came out of Clay Aiken Sr... Uh, er... Rick Astley (Would have taken an immaculate conception to make THAT scenario happen!) I still refuse to believe that voice came out of Clay Aiken Sr… Uh, er… Rick Astley (Would have taken an immaculate conception to make THAT scenario happen!)

]]> By: Robert http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11139 Robert Sat, 02 Jun 2007 17:30:23 +0000 http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11139 Michael, I can't defend my preference of "Never Gonna Give You Up" over "Together Forever." You got me there. But to me, the former is better. "Together Forever" almost gets sing-songy at points, whereas "Never" is a bit more soulful to me. Michael, I can’t defend my preference of “Never Gonna Give You Up” over “Together Forever.” You got me there. But to me, the former is better. “Together Forever” almost gets sing-songy at points, whereas “Never” is a bit more soulful to me.

]]> By: David http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11131 David Sat, 02 Jun 2007 16:29:08 +0000 http://jasonhare.com/2007/06/01/chart-attack-34/#comment-11131 It was charts like this that drove me into the arms of Ratt and Dokken. A better place to be? Hardly. I know that now. But at least I'd discovered a whole new set of clichés to sink into. It was charts like this that drove me into the arms of Ratt and Dokken.

A better place to be? Hardly. I know that now. But at least I’d discovered a whole new set of clichés to sink into.

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