17 posts tagged “rock”

I've been trying to come up with a video for how I feel about having the flu this week.  The one that Immediately came to mind was "Jeopardy" by Greg Kihn Band, but that video is notably absent from YouTube at present. 

Instead, I'll take inspiration from wearing an "I've got the creeping crud" surgical mask at the doctor's office today to keep my cooties from getting to anyone else.  It reminded me of the gas masks that are present in the following video (which I really should have posted on Valentine's Day, as it pretty much sums up how I feel about that particular holiday):

I just dearly adore this song:

I just watched the movie "Less Than Zero" for the first time since it same out in 1987.  I didn't like it then, but I was much more impressed by it this time, probably because it was a little too mature for me when I was 16.  And I don't generally hate Andrew McCarthy as much as I used to, although he still strikes me as a smarmy slime-ball.  *ahem* Anyways...

I'd forgotten about this version of this song, but it was featured prominently in the opening credits:

So many of these posts are of the "because it popped into my head" variety that I think they need their own category:  Brain Radio.  I'm not sure what it is about our brains that allow them to do more than one thing at a time, or why many people find that they provide their own life soundtrack.  Maybe the right hemisphere is keeping busy or something, or maybe it's closer to a waking dream state. 

Anyways, here's what's on my brain radio this morning, the bass part to which I always liked:

It's been a long time since the last update, so we should probably change our name to monthlyeighties.  But our excuse is that we've both been really slammed, since this is our busy season in University IT land, and we're gearing up for the fall semester to start.  Which may have been the reason for this band to have gotten stuck in my head - my brain is fried and therefore quite simple at the moment. 

Okay, that was a lame association.  Sue me.

In any case, the following videos are from the fantastic 1985 album "Once Upon a Time", which I highly recommend.  I wish they had made a video for Oh Jungleland.  The entire album is great.  Enjoy.

I heard this song on the radio a couple of days ago, and realized yet again how much I love it.  It's sultry and full of longing, with lyrics that provoke some very blatant images, but are couched in poetic enough terms that there doesn't seem to be anything lewd about them. 

Bruce Springsteen-I'm On Fire

The wavering synth in the song is an interesting thing - sometimes it seems like the tape is warped.  But to me it adds something to the tune, something about blurred lines and fuzzy edges, wavering willpower.  In the end, though, Bruce does the right thing in the video, and walks away.  Just because he didn't succumb doesn't mean he wasn't sorely tempted.

My only complaint with this song is that it's far too short and leaves me wanting more.  Maybe that's the point of it.

Year:  1985
Posted by:  Celeste
Credit:  sonybmg

Also off of "The Nylon Curtain", the video for Pressure is probably the best video Billy Joel ever released:

Billy Joel-Pressure

Alas, the timing of this post right after the events at Virginia Tech yesterday is unfortunate. :(

             But you will come to a place
             Where the only thing you feel
             Are loaded guns in your face
             And you'll have to deal with
             Pressure

This is the first good video that Billy Joel did, in my estimation.  I remember my 6th grade Social Studies teacher playing this in class and asking us questions about what the song was about.  Good old Mr. Crispiano.

Billy Joel-Allentown

Billy Joel experienced a lot of success in the 1970's, and built upon it significantly in the 1980's.  His first album of the 80's was Glass Houses, which had a harder rock feel than his previous albums.  The album was terrific, but 1980 was still early days for rock videos, so the associated videos aren't very good.  Still, here's one from that album:

Billy Joel "It's Still Rock n' Roll To Me"

Gotta love the early 80's fashion sense, which is part of what the song is about.  Unfortunately, Billy's boozin' it up out in the open on this one.  Of course, there was much less awareness in those days about the disease of alcoholism, or that Billy might have it.

More to come this week...

Year:  1980
Posted by:  Celeste
Credit:  VaultVid

My friend Mitch's birthday is today, so in his honor, I'd like to play a couple of good cover songs from one of his favorite femme fatales - Joan Jett.

Joan Jett-Do You Wanna Touch

Joan Jett - Crimson & Clover