by Bananarama (1983)I never associate the Bananarama hit Cruel Summer with The Karate Kid, but it was the movie that put the song on the top ten. Not sure why the video for the lonely heartbroken pop song was about the girls working at a mechanics garage until the coppers chase them down, but it sure makes for early eighties, naive music video fun. Relive it just in time for your own, hopefully less cruel summer days.
by Dio (1983)Green screen demons (in this case a demon named Murray, the bad’s mascot), two handed swords, battle axes, Barbarians, rats and cat eyed monks – yes, Dio’s Holy Diver has many things to comend it as one of the greatest metal videos of all time.
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by The Dixie Cups (1965), The Bell Stars (1989), James Sugar Boy Crawford (1953)Wow, between Beetlejuice, Keanu Reeves, Frazetta and the Smiths, I really seem to be revisiting the mid to late eighties with all my heart this week. The trend continues with Iko Iko, a song introduced to me via the Bell Stars rendition in Rainman. Something about the kite festival got it in my head and it’s been pleasantly rattling there ever since. I’ve learned that the Dixie Cups 1965 version is even better (and probably my favorite if I had to pick) and that among many people The Grateful Dead and Cyndi Lauper also have versions. The very first original though, is pretty rocking and fab and comes from James Sugar Boy Crawford. See videos for all these after the jump.
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by Next (1998)I love that the late ninties dance hit Too Close by Next is an ode to getting a boner while grinding a girl. It brings me back to my Jr. High years where my class had the dubious distinction to be the first to cause a scene with the lude dance craze. Like the girls singing in this undeniably catchy tune, “Step back, your dancing kind of close, feel a little poke come through, on you” we weren’t ever more than slightly giggly, grossed out and pitiful of the constant occurrence. I was about to write that the R&B trio had no other hits, but wikipedia informed me of the inferior “Wifey” which has nothing to do with the Judy Blume novel.
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by Chris Kenner (1961)There’s probably no way to get around the dorkiness of getting reacquainted with a song through the local Starbucks. I should probably lie for street cred and say I heard this long forgotten song again at some boutique you’ve never heard of but no. It was me and a really loud off duty firemen, both getting excited about the 1961 Chris Kenner hit, I Like It Like That, a song that reminds me of my pre-teen 1950’s obsession. Stand By Me had just come out, my sister (who had converse with “I Love River Phoenix” doodles on them) and I nearly wore through the tape of the white cassette soundtrack and almost like an answer to my little girl prayers, a glorious place called Fuddruckers had opened at a local strip mall.
by Tanya Tucker (1972)The Southern Gothic tale of Delta Dawn is a sad one, and even sadder as it was based on a real lady. Once stood up my a suitor, she became obsessed with his return to her and aimlessly walked the town growing more and more mentally ill. Doesn’t make it any less catchy and engaging as an old timey country hit though in the hands of Miss Tanya Tucker. It calls to mind the memorable Faulkner short story A Rose for Emily.
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by Tyrese (1998)Sweet Lady, won’t you be my sweet love for a life time? I have no idea why I know this song so well, but when it popped up on the radio while I was dining the other night, I was instantly singing along.
I’m more familiar with Tyrese from his modeling, VJ-ing talents, but if this late nineties single is any indication, he should quit his day job.
by Malcolm McLaren (1983)Malcolm McLaren, punk pioneer and provocateur, passed away this week at the age of 64. Let us all remember his hit single, Buffalo Gals, which (ever on the cuting edge) introduced American hip hop’s art of scratching to the UK. Only McLaren would think to combine hip hop and square dance chanting.
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David Bowie (1981)Quentin Tarantino recently plucked this gothy Bowie gem from Paul Scrader’s remake of Cat People, putting it back on the cinematic map by powering the big eyeliner application scene with its eerie slow build and dramatic tempo shift. Despite its rather anachronistic inclusion in Inglourious Basterds (which boasts an otherwise era-appropriate score), it’s definitely the only thing salvageable from the 1981 dud.
I’m a fan of the original Cat People, so it was with high hopes that we began Schrader’s interpretation the other night; hopes that were quickly dashed. Even a singularly creepy (even for him) Malcolm McDowell, a dopey young Ed Begley Jr, a bra-less Natasha Kinski and an atmospheric Egyptian sex ritual sequence couldn’t save this drag.
Even though Bowie lends his unique vocal stylings, it’s producer Giorgio Moroder that gets the credit for the song’s unique spooky synth mood, as the music was written before Bowie’s involvement.
Corky & Siegel-Schwall (1971)Before purchasing an original concert poster of the band Siegel-Schwall (from this week’s website pick, Wolfgang’s Vault) I was curious to know more about the unfamiliar band.
I found this phenomenal youtube clip where classical chamber music meets the blues and love it! Sadly it’s not exemplary of all their musical releases which (from a quick browse through iTunes catalog) seem more traditionally blues.