10, 9, 8, 7,...

Want to see what the New Year's Eve celebration looked like 30 years ago tonight? In lieu of an 80's movie flashback, today's short 2:40 clip takes us back to 1981 and we get to watch the ball drop to take us into 1982. There's no Dick Clark. It's actress Donna Mills and some of Mr. Donny Osmond involved. And, the ball doesn't drop quite as smooth as it does these days. If you ask me, it looks a little shaky, like it might fall at any moment crushing hundreds below! Thankfully it doesn't. Have a safe New Year's Eve, and The Excellent 80's will see you in 2012!

When I Come Home, You Telephone

I'm a sucker for any video that features an old-school phone booth. There's just something so nostalgic and strange about them in today's modern world where even third graders have cell phones. The year was 1986 and red berets and pink shirts were in vogue. Trust me.

I also like how lead singer Alan Frew said screw it, I know I have a microphone to sing into in this video, but I'm not going to. I'm going to dance my way over to the two hot back-up singers and sing with them while they sing into their microphones. It's just a little peculiar to me. Either everyone should sing into their microphones or no one. It's not up for debate. Choose one! Anyway, here is the Canadian band Glass Tiger with their top 10 hit "Someday"...




Lyrics | Glass Tiger lyrics - Someday lyrics

"Someday"

by Glass Tiger
from the album: The Thin Red Line
released: 1986

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #7

She Was a Be-Bop Baby on A Hard Day's Night

I challenge you to find another classic 80's tune that opens with a mandolin and some sort of flute-like keyboard contraption being played together. That's what happens though when you get a crazy rock band from Philadelphia and combine that with some crazy teen agers hiding in car trunks and heading out to an old drive in movie theater for some fun. Here is the band known as The Hooters with "And We Danced"...




Lyrics | Hooters lyrics - And We Danced lyrics

"And We Danced"
Single by The Hooters
from the album Nervous Night
Released 1985
Format 7", 12", 12" promo
Genre Hard rock, Pop rock, Roots rock
Length 3:48
Label Columbia (1985)
Writer(s) Eric Bazilian, Rob Hyman
Producer Rick Chertoff

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #21

One Hubcap Cause Three Got Stolen

When Anthony Ray burst onto the rap scene with 1988's "Swass" album, I loved "My Posse's On Broadway." Then when he came out with his 1989 album "Seminar," I was hooked especially when he released this gem. Check out the rapper better known as Sir Mix-a-lot with "My Hooptie"...


Sir Mix A Lot - My Hooptie by DaDDy_sHug_1972


Lyrics | Sir Mix-a-lot lyrics - My Hooptie lyrics

"My Hooptie"

by Sir Mix-A-Lot
from the album: "Seminar"
released: 1989

I'm Under A Spell Again

Well if you're susceptible to seizures you may want to skip today's pop hit from 1987. It's a whirlwind of flashing lights and bright colors and quick cutaways. Here is the Brooklyn-born, now 41 year old Debbie Gibson from when she was about 17 with "Shake Your Love"...




Lyrics | Debbie Gibson lyrics - Shake Your Love lyrics

"Shake Your Love"

Single by Deborah Gibson
from the album Out Of The Blue
A-side Vocal (3:46)
B-side Bad Dubb Version (5:03) (U.S., 89187)
"Wake Up to Love" (Vocal/3:42) (U.K., A9187)
Released September 1987
Recorded March 1987
Genre Dance-pop, teen pop, freestyle, R&B
Length Album Version 3:38
Single Version 3:32
Label Atlantic
Writer(s) Deborah Gibson
Producer Fred Zarr

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 peak: #4

People Talking

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas yesterday and you are enjoying your day off today! From 1982 comes an early solo hit for the former front man of the band known as The Babys. He also went on to front the supergroup known as Bad English. In between those two gigs he was a solo artist best known for the hit "Missing You." Today's tricky video features John saving a coked out porn star from jumping off a ledge... or did he? or is she? It's all very confusing at the end.




"Change"

by John Waite
from the album: Ignition
released: 1982

80's Movie Weekend

Happy Christmas Eve everyone! With the triumphant return of the Muppets to the big screen this holiday season, The Excellent 80's takes you back to just a few years outside of the 1980's (it happens every once in a while). In 1992, the Muppets put on their own production of A Christmas Carol with "The Muppet Christmas Carol"... enjoy and Merry Christmas from The Excellent 80's!

the trailer...



The Muppet Christmas Carol

by Drew Struzan
Directed by Brian Henson
Produced by Brian Henson
Martin G. Baker
Jerry Juhl
Frank Oz
David Barron
Screenplay by Jerry Juhl
Based on A Christmas Carol by
Charles Dickens
Starring Michael Caine
Steven Mackintosh
Muppet Performers:
Dave Goelz
Jerry Nelson
Frank Oz
David Rudman
Steve Whitmire
Music by Miles Goodman (score)
Paul Williams (songs)
Cinematography John Fenner
Editing by Michael Jablow
Studio Jim Henson Productions
Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures
Release date(s) December 11, 1992 (1992-12-11)
Running time 86 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $12,000,000
Box office $27,281,507

Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You

There's something so Christmasly 80's about this in-studio video performance by Billy Squier as he's joined by the MTV cast. It's just a very happy, very jolly performance that takes me back to a simpler place in time. I always enjoy whomever the woman is who dressed up like Santa. I would like to know who that is someday. Until then, enjoy the MTV gang from 1981 and Billy Squier, and Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones from The Excellent 80's! Here is "Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You"...




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

Christmas In the Stars

We love you R2D2! From the 1980 Star Wars Christmas Album, this is actually a recording by none other than Jon Bon Jovi. It was apparently his first professional recording under his birth name John Bongiovi. What a gem this song is!



"R2D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

album: Christmas in the Stars
Studio album by Meco Monardo
Released November, 1980
Recorded 1980
Genre Christmas music
Length 33:52
Label RSO Records
Producer Meco Monardo

Track listing

1. "Christmas in the Stars" – 3:17
2. "Bells, Bells, Bells" – 3:15
3. "The Odds Against Christmas" – 3:04
4. "What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb?)" – 3:24
5. "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas" – 3:16
6. "Sleigh Ride" – 3:36
7. "Merry, Merry Christmas" – 2:09
8. "A Christmas Sighting ('Twas the Night Before Christmas)" – 3:43
9. "The Meaning of Christmas" – 8:08

80's Christmas Toys

With Christmas fast approaching I hope you get some of the following 80's toys from Santa this year...

For those of you trying to win the national spelling bee still...



for you G.I. Joe fans out there...



For you little pony lovers out there...



For those of you in need of a post-Christmas dinner game to argue with your family relatives at...



And finally, those of you that are still master or your domain... or is it master of your universe... I have the power!!!

Last Christmas I Gave You My Heart (and the Christmas before that and the one before that...)

There are always a select few videos I love playing around Christmas time here in The Excellent 80's, and to me it's just not Christmas without George and Andrew and some ski lodge somewhere with a snowball fight, and some lost love out there. Here is Wham! with "Last Christmas"...




Lyrics | George Michael lyrics - Wham! / Last Christmas lyrics

There's No Need to Be Afraid

Just remember to feed the world everyone and you'll be just fine. Of course you knew that line was going to lead you into Europe's version of USA For Africa. Here are a lot of your favorite 80's European stars in the group known as Band Aid in "Do They Know It's Christmas"...




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