Don't Be Ridiculous

It's America or Burst for Balki Bartokomous as he meets up with his cousin Larry Appleton in this sitcom that originated in 1986... I watched the early seasons of this sitcom, but I think it went downhill when the cousins started getting married... This show also produced a spinoff called "Family Matters" (remember Urkel?)... check out some stuff from "Perfect Strangers"...

the intro



and who could forget "the dance of joy"...



and check the pair out with a pretty good MC Hammer imitation for white dudes...



Perfect Strangers

Format Sitcom
Created by Dale McRaven
Starring Bronson Pinchot
Mark Linn-Baker
Melanie Wilson
Rebeca Arthur
Opening theme "Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now" by David Pomeranz
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 8
No. of episodes 150 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive
producer(s) Thomas L. Miller
Robert L. Boyett
William Bickley
Michael Warren (seasons 6-8)
Howard Adler
Robert Griffard (season 6)
Paula A. Roth (seasons 7-8)
Running time 24 minutes 30 seconds

Ah! Donnie Iris!

What can I possibly say about this video that would do it justice... the hair, the sweet yellow tux, the high tech camera tricks... do yourself a favor and flash back to the greatness of 1981 and the greatness of Donnie Iris today with "Ah! Leah!"




Lyrics | Ah! Leah! lyrics

"Ah! Leah!"

by Donnie Iris
from the album: Back on the Streets
released: 1981

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #29

80's Movie Weekend

A woman, a geek, and Edgar, the evil home computer! What to do, what to do! Today's classic 80s movie takes us back to a simpler time of computers when no one knew anything about them, but if you weren't careful, they could destroy you and your life... "Electric Dreams"



The trailer...



the duel scene...



the ending... what great acting! Oscar! Oscar!




Electric Dreams

Directed by Steven Barron
Produced by Larry de Waay
Rusty Lemorande
Written by Rusty Lemorande
Starring Lenny Von Dohlen
Virginia Madsen
Bud Cort
Don Fellows
Music by Giorgio Moroder
Philip Oakey
George O'Dowd
Cinematography Alex Thomson
Editing by Peter Honess
Distributed by MGM
United Artists
Release date(s) 1984
Running time 95 min.
Country UK / U.S.A.
Language English



I had long forgotten about this movie until I ran across a post over at Stuck in the 80's and so I just had to take a look at the video "Electric Dreams" by Human League lead singer Philip Oakey and producer Giorgio Moroder... from the very forgettable movie "Electric Dreams," here is Moroder and Oakey with "Together in Electric Dreams"...




Lyrics | Together In Electric Dreams (Extended) lyrics

“Together in Electric Dreams”

Single by Giorgio Moroder and Philip Oakey
from the album Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder and Electric Dreams soundtrack
Released 1984
Format Single
Recorded 1984
Genre Synthpop Electronica
Length 3:45
Label Virgin Records
Producer Giorgio Moroder

Like A Honeybee You Took the Best of Me

OK, this is the fourth week of my "Fraud Fridays" theme, and I am going to put you out of your misery by announcing this will be the final Fraud Friday video until further notice... Milli Vanilli slowing it down for us today with "Girl, I'm Gonna Miss You"... it's a tragedy for me that "Fraud Fridays" are over with (but I'm reserving the right to bring it back at anytime in the future)...




Lyrics | I'm Gonna Miss You lyrics


“Girl I'm Gonna Miss You”

Single by Milli Vanilli
from the album Girl You Know It's True
B-side "All or Nothing" (remix)
Released 1989
Format CD maxi
7" single
12" maxi
Length 4:20
Label Arista
Writer(s) Frank Farian, P. Bishoph, D. Kawohl
Producer Frank Farian

Charts
Chart (1989-1990) Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #1
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks #21
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs #20
UK Singles Chart #2

P.S. I wish someone would upload the video of them at the MTV event where the song started skipping while they were performing...

Give Your Free Will A Chance

For strange videos, this one ranks right up there... it's from the band known as Yes and if I would have been in this band and someone suggested that we should all turn into animals of some sort in the video, I would have had to say no... formed in London in the late 1960's, here is Yes with "Owner of a Lonely Heart"...

Yes - Owner Of A Lonely Heart
Uploaded by Dan_of_the_Land

Lyrics | Owner Of A Lonely Heart lyrics

“Owner of a Lonely Heart”

Single by Yes
from the album 90125
B-side Our Song
Released October 1983
Recorded 1983
Genre Neo-progressive rock
Length 4:25
Label Atco Records
Producer Trevor Horn

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1

Slow Motion Weekdays Stare Me Down

How much did this video cost, a hundred bucks? Regardless, it is another classic from the band that originated in Worcester, Mass., in the late 1960's. With Peter Wolf providing lead vocals, here is J. Geils Band with "Freeze Frame"...

J.Geils Band - Freeze Frame
Uploaded by hushhush112

Lyrics | Freeze Frame lyrics

"Freeze Frame"

by J. Geils Band
from the album: Freeze Frame
released: 1982

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #4

80's Video Games Commercials

It's still September and it's definitely Tuesday, and that means more classic tv ads of your favorite Atari games back in the day...

Asteroids...



who would have thought that someone could have come up with a jingle for Yars Revenge...



help E.T. get home...



Mario Brothers...

You're Not Shy, You Get Around

The interesting thing about this video today from the group Foreigner is that they chose to put the drummer at the front of the stage kind of spot-lighting him. Interesting choice for an other-wise boring video, but a cool song... from 1981, make it fast, make it "Urgent"...




Lyrics | Urgent lyrics

“Urgent”

Single by Foreigner
from the album 4
A-side "Urgent"
B-side "Girl on the Moon" [7"][1]
"Head Games" (Live) / "Hot Blooded" (Live) [12"][2]
Released July 2, 1981
Format 7" vinyl, 12" vinyl promo
Recorded 1980–1981
Genre Rock
Length 3:29 [7" (single edit)]
4:27 [12" (album version)]
Label Atlantic
Writer(s) Mick Jones
Producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #4

80s Movie Weekend

Another John Hughes classic for this weekend's movie flashback... Molly Ringwold, Andrew McCarthy, James Spader, and.... Duckie! That's right, time for a little look back to 1986 and "Pretty in Pink"...

the trailer...



check out these ancient computers...




Pretty in Pink

North American Movie Poster
Directed by Howard Deutch
Produced by Lauren Shuler
Written by John Hughes
Starring Molly Ringwald
Andrew McCarthy
Jon Cryer
Harry Dean Stanton
Annie Potts
James Spader
Cinematography Tak Fujimoto
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date(s) February 28, 1986
Running time 96 min.
Country United States
Language English



of course, the big hit from the soundtrack, here is the british synthpop group known as Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark or OMD with "If You Leave"




Lyrics | If You Leave lyrics

“If You Leave”

Single by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
from the album Pretty in Pink soundtrack
Released 28th April, 1986
Format 7", 12"
Genre Synthpop
Length 4:30
Label Virgin Records
Producer Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Tom Lord Alge

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #4
UK Peak: #48

Together We Are One, Seperated We Are Two

It's friday, and you know you are loving this "Fraud Fridays" theme that I have going on, because you're checking back in to see a group that you really liked at one time, but would never admit to in a hundred years... on with the video... the acting at the beginning of the video and the leaping chest bump to begin the song are horrendously awesome... "Girl You Know It's True" ooh, ooh, ooh, Milli Vanilli, we still love you... get those feet pumping!




Lyrics | Girl You Know It S True lyrics

Girl You Know It's True

Studio album by Milli Vanilli
Released 1989
Recorded 1988
Genre Dance, Pop
Length 41:01
Label Arista Records
Producer Frank Farian

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1

Somebody...

Formed in Philly in 1982, this band rocked the glam metal world as well as any other band in the mid to late 80s... making their debut on The Excellent 80s, it's Cinderella doing an awesome acting job at the end when the girls end up with members of that "other" popular rock band... check out "Somebody Save Me"...

Cinderella - Somebody Save Me
Uploaded by jpdc11

Lyrics | Somebody Save Me lyrics

“Somebody Save Me”

Single by Cinderella
from the album Night Songs
Released February 10, 1987
Format 7", 12"
Genre Glam metal
Length 3:16
Label Mercury

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #66

How Can I Forget You, Girl?

In today's case, how can I forget these guys? I just can't. It's the english group known as Naked Eyes with a double shot in the Excellent 80's today... first up, a video with some phone booths and pay phones in it, which reminds me of the days prior to cell phones... here is their biggest hit - "Always Something There To Remind Me"...




Lyrics | There's Always Something There To Remind Me lyrics

“(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me”

Single by Lou Johnson
Released 1964
Genre Pop
Writer(s) Burt Bacharach, Hal David

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #8


Naked Eyes followed up that hit with this one - "Promises Promises"...




Lyrics | Promises Promises lyrics

"Promises Promises"

by Naked Eyes
from the album: "Burning Bridges"
released: 1983

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #11

80's Video Games Commercials

This is the third post this month (the previous two Tuesdays were the first ones) I've had just finding old school commercials for games that came out mostly for the Atari 2600 back in the day...



Real Sports baseball...



check out the late great Phil Hartman in this classic spot for Ice Hockey by Activision...



take that, Turkey! Berzerk...

Show Me Show Me Show Me

How you do that trick... ahhh, dark and gothic they were/are... how many thousands of kids wore all black because of The Cure? I never did, but that's beside the point... here is The Cure and with probably their most successful commercial song in the U.S.... from 1987, it's "Just Like Heaven"...

The Cure - Just Like Heaven



Lyrics | Just Like Heaven lyrics

“Just Like Heaven”

Single by The Cure
from the album Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
B-side "Snow in Summer"/"Breathe"/"Sugar Girl"/"A Chain of Flowers"
Released October 1987
Format 7", 12"
Recorded Studio Miraval, France, 1987
Genre Alternative rock
Length 3:32
Label Fiction
Writer(s) Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Porl Thompson, Boris Williams, Lol Tolhurst
Producer Robert Smith, Dave Allen

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #40

80s Movie Weekend Fer Sure

She's cool. He's hot. She's from the Valley. He's not. Yes, it is the one-time actor known as Nicolas Coppola, now known as Nicolas Cage in the lead role in this 1983 romantic comedy known as "Valley Girl"...

the trailer...



I forgot my comb...



Valley Girl

Directed by Martha Coolidge
Produced by Wayne Crawford
Andrew Lane
Written by Wayne Crawford
Andrew Lane
Starring Nicolas Cage
Deborah Foreman
E.G. Daily
Music by Richard Butler
The Plimsouls
The Payolas
Peter Case
Josie Cotton
Scott Wilk
Cinematography Frederick Elmes
Editing by Éva Gárdos
Distributed by Atlantic Releasing
Release date(s) April 8, 1983
Running time 99 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget $350,000 (estimated)


with this movie, I had to see what I could find in the way of the 1982 song by the same name "sung" by Moon Zappa, and I dug up this bitchin' video, oh my god...




Lyrics | Valley Girl lyrics

“Valley Girl”

Single by Frank Zappa
from the album 'Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch'
B-side "You Are What You Is"
Released 1982
Format 12"
Recorded 1982
Genre Rock
Length 4:50
Label Barking Pumpkin Records
Writer(s) Frank Zappa
Moon Zappa
Producer Frank Zappa

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #32

and of course, one of my favorites from the 80's, and the most well known song from "Valley Girl"... Modern English with "I Melt With You"




Lyrics | I Melt With You lyrics

“I Melt with You”

Single by Modern English
from the album After the Snow
Released 1982
Format CD Single
Genre Rock, New Wave
Length 3:52
Label 4AD Records
Producer Hugh Jones

Ba Ba Ba Ba Baby

First off, a happy birthday to one of the original 5 VJs on MTV - Nina Blackwood.


Now, onward as our "Fraud Fridays" roll on with another big hit from Milli and his sidekick Vanilli... "Baby Don't Forget My Number"... Rob and Fab, we might forget your number, but we will never forget you...




Lyrics | Baby Don't Forget My Number lyrics

“Baby Don't Forget My Number”

Single by Milli Vanilli
from the album Girl You Know It's True
Released 1988
Format CD Single
7" single
12" maxi
Genre Pop
Length 4:16
Label Arista
Writer(s) Frank Farian
B. Nail
Producer Frank Farian

Charts
Chart (1988-1989) Peak position

UK Singles Chart #16
US Billboard Hot 100 #1
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #12
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs #9
US Hot Dance Club Play #10

In My Arms Baby, Yeah!

Bubbles! Pretty pretty bubbles! And the sand and the ocean and children and ice cream... with all the cheesiness they could muster back in 1988, here is the duo of George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, better known as the group Boy Meets Girl with "Waiting For a Star to Fall"...




Lyrics | Waiting For A Star To Fall lyrics

“Waiting For A star To Fall”

Single by Boy Meets Girl
from the album Reel Life
Released 1988

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #5
US Billboard Adult Contemporary Peak: #1

I'm Looking For a Heartbeat - Beating Like Mine

Today's artist is obviously best remembered as the stylish star of "Miami Vice" and later "Nash Bridges," but at one time he was Don Johnson - rock star! OK, that may be stretching it a little bit, but Johnson did crack the top 20 with this song... Here is a video that I still can't quite follow to this day... a good looking girl, lots of explosions, and great acting from DJ... oh, and for those of you that don't remember, that's Dweezil Zappa (Frank's son) playing the green guitar in today's Excellent 80's video... "Heartbeat"...




Lyrics | Heartbeat lyrics

Heartbeat

Studio album by Don Johnson
Released 1986
Genre Rock
Label Epic/CBS

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #5

80's Video Games Commercials

The Atari 2600 was obviously the greatest gaming system of all time, right? Well, here are some more of the classic arcade games and their corresponding commercials...

Chopper Command...



Demon Attack...



Barnstorming...



It's only a game... or is it? Grand Prix...

Take Me Home Tonight

I caught the aging Eddie Money in concert recently, and he did perform today's featured video song, but instead of Ronnie Spector singing the "Be my little baby" line, Eddie's 20 year old daughter Jesse, who has some nice pipes and is easy on the eyes sang along with Eddie. Eddie performed all of his classics for the fans saving "Shakin'" for the one song encore. He was twirling his tamborine from time to time and can still play a mean sax.

He also let Jesse (one of his five children) sing about three songs that I think will be on her soon to be released album. Anyway, before Eddie was old and flabby, here is the man born Edward Mahoney some 59 years ago as I choose to remember him as along with Ronnie Spector (of the old girl group The Ronnettes) in "Take Me Home Tonight"




Lyrics | Take Me Home Tonight lyrics

“Take Me Home Tonight”

Single by Eddie Money
from the album Can't Hold Back
B-side "Calm Before the Storm"
Released 1986
Format 7" single
Genre Rock
Label Columbia

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #4
US Mainstream Rock Tracks: #1

80s Movie Weekend

A staple of the 80's, actor Andrew McCarthy stars in this weekend's 80s movie flashback, but his co-star is more known these days as one of the four women in Sex and the City - back in 1987, everyone's favorite "Mannequin" was none other than Kim Catrall...

the trailer...



you knew Christopher Columbus?



and of course, the hit song from the movie by Starship - "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"...




Lyrics | Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now lyrics

“Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now”

Single by Starship
from the album No Protection
B-side "Layin' It on the Line"
Released 1987
Format 7" single
Recorded 1986
Genre Pop/Rock
Length 4:29
Label Grunt
Writer(s) Albert Hammond/Diane Warren
Producer Narada Michael Walden

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1


Mannequin

Directed by Michael Gottlieb
Produced by Art Levinson
Edward Rugoff (executive)
Written by Michael Gottlieb
Edward Rugoff
Starring Andrew McCarthy
Kim Cattrall
Estelle Getty
James Spader
G. W. Bailey
Steve Vinovich
Music by Sylvester Levay
Cinematography Tim Suhrstedt
Editing by Richard Halsey
Frank E. Jimenez
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) February 13, 1987 (USA)
Running time 90 min.
Country United States
Language English
Gross revenue $42,700,000
Followed by Mannequin: On the Move

Gotta Blame It On Something

Whatever you do, don't put the blame on you... "Blame It On the Rain"... that's what you do... this video is kicking off the first in a theme of what I'm going to call "Fraud Fridays"... it's Rob and Fab with my favorite lip-synced song by the pop phenomenon known once as Milli Vanilli... I'm not ashamed to admit that this song is a guilty pleasure of mine... just so dang catchy...




Lyrics | Blame It On The Rain lyrics


“Blame It on the Rain”

Single by Milli Vanilli
from the album Girl You Know It's True
B-side "Dance with a Devil"
Released 1989
Format CD maxi
7" single
12" maxi
Length 4:26
Label Arista
Writer(s) Frank Farian, Diane Warren
Producer Frank Farian

Chart (1989) Peak position

UK Singles Chart #52
US Billboard Hot 100 #1
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #13
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs #14
US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks #27

Angel Smile On Your Lips

Blood red nails on your fingertips...

There's no where to run, no one can save me, the damage is done... you know the rest, baby! "You Give Love a Bad Name"...

Bon Jovi - You Give Love a Bad Name
Uploaded by darkcoman. - See the latest featured music videos.

Lyrics | You Give Love A Bad Name lyrics

“You Give Love a Bad Name”

Single by Bon Jovi
from the album Slippery When Wet
B-side "Let It Rock"
Released 1986
Format CD Single
Recorded 1986
Genre Hard rock
Glam metal
Length 3:42
Label Mercury Records
Writer(s) Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child
Producer Bruce Fairbairn

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #1

The Boy With the Cold Hard Cash is Always Mister Right

So sayeth the biggest female recording star ever... I'm not sure if that's 100% accurate or not, but I can't be too far off if it is... once again, The Excellent 80's brings you the one and only Madonna immitating Marilyn Monroe with "Material Girl"...


Madonna - Material Girl
Uploaded by bebepanda. - Explore more music videos.


Lyrics | Material Girl lyrics

“Material Girl”

Single by Madonna
from the album Like a Virgin
B-side "Pretender"
Released January 30, 1985
Format 12" maxi single, 5" CD single
Recorded 1984
Genre Pop
Label Sire, Warner Bros.
Writer(s) Peter Brown, Robert Rans
Producer Nile Rodgers

Chart (1985) Peak Position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Airplay #2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales #3
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1

80's Video Games Commercials

Every Tuesday throughout the month of September, I'm going to bring you some sweet video games commercials from the 80s... I don't know about you, but video games were a big part of my formative years growing up... it was a simpler, less complicated time with a few buttons, maybe a knob or two, or a joystick... now days, you have 37 different buttons with 96 different options to choose from in 237 different modes... I'm trying to keep up! Anyway, hope you enjoy the flashback to some of these great games... here are some of my favorite video games on the Atari 2600 from back in the day... I had all of these games at one time...

Ms. Pac-Man was a definite step up from Pac-Man on the Atari 2600...



Mario sure has come a long way over the years...



Frogger and The Empire Strikes Back video games...



I loved Pitfall...

Nobody on the Road, Nobody on the Beach

I feel it in the air, the summer's out of reach...
Happy Labor Day to everyone! The pools are closing, school is back in session, and summer is winding down, and no better song or video that I can think of personifies this type of feeling more than this black and white classic from my man Don Henley today... here is MTV's Video of the Year in 1985 - "The Boys of Summer"...

Don Henley - The Boys Of Summer
Uploaded by rvdgu2006

Lyrics | The Boys Of Summer lyrics

“The Boys of Summer”

Single by Don Henley
from the album Building the Perfect Beast
B-side "A Month of Sundays"
Released December 1984
Format 7-inch
Recorded 1984
Genre Rock
Length 04:47
Label Geffen Records
Writer(s) Don Henley, Mike Campbell
Producer Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, Greg Ladanyi, Mike Campbell

US Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #5
UK Peak: #12