80's Television New Year's Eve

We lost Dick Clark earlier this year at the age of 82, and of course New Year's Rockin' Eve just won't be the same tonight without him. Let's take a look back at the New Year's Eves from the 80's which feature Dick Clark in some of the countdowns...

80's Classic TV Weekend

Those ears!  Those ears!  Who can forget about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer helping Baby New Year?  New Year's Eve is just a few days away, and so I thought I'd bring you those big ol' Baby New Year ears for you so you could start practicing to have a happy, have a happy, have a happy New Year!

The World Drags Me Down

Known largely for their hit "Fire Woman," the UK band The Cult also had this top 20 UK hit that I'm a big fan of.  I'm also a big fan of the vest and all white look that lead singer Ian Astbury gives us in this video.  Here is The Cult with "She Sells Sanctuary"...




Lyrics | Cult lyrics - She Sells Sanctuary lyrics

"She Sells Sanctuary"
Single by The Cult
from the album Love
B-side	"No. 13" "She Sells Sanctuary (Long Version)" "The Snake" "She Sells Sanctuary (Howling Mix)" "Assault On Sanctuary"
Released	17 May 1985
Format	7" vinyl single, 12" vinyl single,cassingle
Genre	Gothic rock, Dark Wave
Length	4:23 6:57 (Long Version)
Label	Beggars Banquet
Writer(s)	Ian Astbury Billy Duffy
Producer	Steve Brown

UK peak:  #15

Can I Get Some Nasty Bass?

At first I thought "man, Billy Dee Williams is a good singer!"  Then, I realized it wasn't Billy Dee, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this video that quite honestly I don't remember from the 80's.  The cool dude in the black and white video is Mississippi-born Alexander O'Neal.  O'Neal was about 34 or 35 when today's song hit the airwaves shooting up to #25 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and hit #1 on the Hot Black Singles charts back in 1985.  Check him out as he disses those women that are "Fake"...




Lyrics | Alexander Oneal lyrics - Fake lyrics

"Fake"
Single by Alexander O'Neal
from the album Hearsay
Format	CD single, cassette single, 7" vinyl,12" vinyl
Recorded	June 1985
Genre	R&B
Length	3:57
Label	Tabu
Writer(s)	James Harris, Terry Lewis
Producer	James Harris, Terry Lewis

When I Needed A Hand and it Couldn't Be Found

With Alex Ligertwood on lead vocals and from the 11th studio album of Carlos Santana comes today's music video and hit song.  And if you all had a great Christmas yesterday, and if you got everything you wanted then this song will be appropriate for you today.  Here is Santana from 1981 with "Winning"...




Lyrics | Santana lyrics - Winning lyrics

"Winning"
Single by Santana
from the album Zebop!
Released	1981
Recorded	1981
Genre	Rock, pop
Length	3:29
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	Russ Ballard

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak:  #17

Merry Christmas! I Love You!

Next to Wham's "Last Christmas" song and video that I posted yesterday, I love today's in studio production  done at MTV with Billy Squier and all of the original MTV VJ's.  I love you Excellent 80's viewers and I love this video!  Here is "Chrismas is the Time to Say I Love You"...




Lyrics | Billy Squier lyrics - Christmas Is The Time To Say 'i Love You' lyrics

"Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You"

by Billy Squier
MTV studios, 1981

Last Christmas I Gave You This Video

As is tradition in the Excellent 80's every Christmas, I must bring you my favorite cheesy Christmas time video and song from 1984.  From the scenery to the awesome acting I just enjoy this song and video so much once a year.  The only thing that's really missing from this video should be some sort of a fist fight between Andrew and George.  I mean Andrew is there with George's apparent ex, right?  It seems like there should be some tension there.  Anyway, here is Wham! with "Last Christmas"...




Lyrics | Wham! lyrics - Last Christmas lyrics

"Last Christmas"
Single by Wham!
from the album Music from the Edge of Heaven
Released	20 December 1984
Format	12", 7", CD single
Recorded	1984
Genre	New Wave, synthpop, holiday
Length	4:27 6:45 (Pudding Mix)
Label	Columbia (US/Canada) Epic Records
Writer(s)	George Michael
Producer	George Michael

80's Movie Weekend

Christmas is almost here and if ever we needed anyone to save this most sacred of holidays then I'd have to go with... Ernest!  The late Jim Varney had a good run back in the 80's appearing and shooting to stardom in commercials for Braum's stores and then in a run of low budget movies including today's Christmas movie where "Ernest Saves Christmas."

Someone was brilliant enough to post the entire movie on youtube, but don't blame me if you waste an hour and a half of your life on this movie.  But, tis the season!

Ernest Saves Christmas
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	John R. Cherry III
Produced by	Joseph Akerman
Written by	Ed Turner (story) B. Kline (screenplay)
Starring	Jim Varney Douglas Seale Noëlle Parker Oliver Clark
Music by	Mark Snow
Cinematography	Peter Stein
Editing by	Ian D. Thomas
Studio	Silver Screen Partners III Emshell Producers
Distributed by	Touchstone Pictures
Release date(s)	November 11, 1988 (Theatrical)
Running time	95 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$6,000,000 (estimate)
Box office	$28,202,109

Mom's Cooking Chicken and Collard Greens

It's still the best Christmas rap song of all-time!  I hope Santa brings you a million dollars this Christmas.  It's "Christmas in Hollis"...




Lyrics | Run-d.m.c. lyrics - Christmas In Hollis lyrics

"Christmas in Hollis"
Single by Run–D.M.C.
from the album A Very Special Christmas
B-side	Peter Piper
Released	November 25, 1987
Format	Vinyl, Cassette
Recorded	1987
Genre	Hip hop
Length	2:59
Label	A&M
Writer(s)	Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels,Jason Mizell
Producer	Rick Rubin, Run–D.M.C.

Feed the World!

Watching today's annual video that The Excellent 80's posts this time of year, I realized that on the line in the song that says:  "Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears," that it's being sung by Sting.  Very clever.  It's that classic feed the world and save Africa song from 1984 called "Do They Know It's Christmas?"...




Lyrics | Band Aid lyrics - Do They Know It's Christmas lyrics

And, in case you were wondering who all participated in this project, here is a list via the wiki page:

• Adam Clayton (U2)
• Phil Collins (Genesis)
• Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats)
• Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)
• Chris Cross (Ultravox)
• John Taylor (Duran Duran)
• Paul Young
• Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)
• Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17)
• Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
• Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats)
• Marilyn
• Keren Woodward (Bananarama)
• Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
• Jody Watley (Shalamar)
• Bono (U2)
• Paul Weller (The Style Council)
• James "J.T." Taylor (Kool & the Gang)
• George Michael (Wham!)
• Midge Ure (Ultravox)
• Martyn Ware (Heaven 17)
• John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)
• Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
• Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)
• Sara Dallin (Bananarama)
• Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)
• Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats)
• Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
• Robert 'Kool' Bell (Kool & the Gang)
• Dennis J. T. Thomas (Kool & the Gang)
• Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)
• Jon Moss (Culture Club)
• Sting (The Police)
• Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
• Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)
• Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats)
• David Bowie
• Boy George (Culture Club)
• Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)
• Paul McCartney
• Stuart Adamson (Big Country)
• Bruce Watson (Big Country)
• Tony Butler (Big Country)
• Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)

And if you feel like watching the making of, there are 3 parts.  Here is part 1.  Check out youtube for parts 2 & 3...

"Do They Know It's Christmas?"
Cover art for the original release (artist Peter Blake)
Single by Band Aid
B-side	"Feed the World"
Released	28 November 1984
Format	7" 12"
Recorded	25 November 1984
Genre	Pop rock, New Wave, Synthpop,Christmas
Length	3:48
Label	Phonogram, Columbia
Writer(s)	Bob Geldof, Midge Ure
Producer	Midge Ure

All is Calm, All is Bright

Anytime I can get Stevie Nicks on here it's a good thing.  A couple of observations from today's 80's rendition of "Silent Night, Holy Night" by Stevie Nicks.  One, she has some sweet, big 80's hair for this shoot.  Two, why did she include Robbie Nevil?  Me thinks Robbie over-acted just a tad with his performance.  Anyway, here they are with "Silent Night, Holy Night"...




Lyrics | Christmas Carols lyrics - Silent Night lyrics

The Moon is Right, The Spirit's Up

It's simply one of the most annoying Christmas time songs going.  Just before the clock turned from 1979 to 1980, Paul McCartney recorded this holiday staple.  If you can stomach it another time, here is "Wonderful Christmastime"...




Lyrics | Paul McCartney lyrics - Wonderful Christmas Time lyrics

"Wonderful Christmastime"
Single by Paul McCartney
B-side	"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae"
Released	16 November 1979
Format	7"
Recorded	June – July 1979
Genre	Rock, Synthpop
Length	3:45
Label	Parlophone, Columbia
Writer(s)	Paul McCartney
Producer	Paul McCartney

UK peak:  #6

Snowing and Blowing Up Bushels of Fun

Of course I have to post the horribly bad "Jingle Bell Rock" video from the 1980's as performed by Hall and Oates.  It's just Christmas tradition here in The Excellent 80's!  There's a couple of bonus lyrical performances at the bottom for your enjoyment as well.  Here is the Christmas classic first performed in 1957 by Bobby Helms, "Jingle Bell Rock"...




Lyrics | Christmas Songs lyrics - Jingle Bell Rock lyrics


If you enjoyed the real Hall and Oates version, then you might get a kick out of these two versions with different lyrics...

80's Yuletide Special Weekend

Surely you'd love to see the Magic Kingdom's Yuletide Special from the 1980's.  All three parts right here for you in The Excellent 80's...

Part 1...



Part 2...



Part 3...

Miss Cristina Drives a 944

A happy Friday to you!  I probably hadn't thought about today's song nor heard it in 25 years until it came on the radio the other day while I was driving.  This Los Angeles based duo of musicians David Baerwald and David Ricketts only had one album and it produced today's video and song which cracked the top 40 in 1986.  They are no Hall and Oates by any means, but David the lead singer reminds me of a cross between Darryl Hall and Bruce Springsteen with maybe a little John Cafferty thrown in.  This is a solid song, and one that I enjoy hearing all these many years later.  All that money still makes such a succulent sound.  Here is David and David with "Welcome to the Boomtown"...




Lyrics | David And David lyrics - Welcome To The Boomtown lyrics

"Welcome to the Boomtown"

by David and David
from the album:  Boomtown
released:  1986

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak:  #37

No Matter When Or Where Or Who

Today's five minute video features a song that went to #1 in the UK and was a top 10 hit in the U.S. in 1987.  There's some unintentional comedy going on in this "dark" video featuring the ultra successful Pet Shop Boys.  Check out the scary monk, the messy eating woman, and the rest of the gang with "It's a Sin"...




Lyrics | Pet Shop Boys lyrics - It's A Sin lyrics

"It's a Sin"
Single by Pet Shop Boys
from the album Actually
B-side	"You Know Where You Went Wrong"
Released	15 June 1987
Format	7", 12", cassette, CD
Recorded	1987
Genre	Synthpop
Length	4:59
Label	Parlophone / EMI
Writer(s)	Neil Tennant, Chris Lowe
Producer	Julian Mendelsohn, Stephen Hague

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak:  #9
UK peak:  #1

That You Give Me No, That You Give Me No

Today's video and the sound in general are so 80's you can't help but think of what you were doing when this song was playing on the airwaves in 1988 and 1989.  It's the British synthpop duo of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clark and singer Andy Bell.  Clark was a founding member of Depeche Mode before leaving in 1981 to form the group known as Yaz in the U.S.  He then teamed up with Bell to form the group for today's video known as Erasure.

Though today's song was a dance club hit (#2) and a top 15 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, the video is a mess as someone played too much with the fade button in and out of various obvious objects to correspond to the lyrics.  Anyway, I still like the beat and the song in general.  Here is "A Little Respect"...




Lyrics | Erasure lyrics - A Little Respect lyrics

"A Little Respect"
Single by Erasure
from the album The Innocents
B-side	"Like Zsa Zsa Zsa Gabor", "Love Is Colder Than Death"
Released	September 19, 1988
Format	12", 7", CD
Recorded	1988
Genre	New Wave, synthpop
Length	3:33
Label	Mute (UK) Sire (U.S.)
Writer(s)	Vince Clarke, Andy Bell
Producer	Stephen Hague

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak:  #14
UK peak:  #4