#94 - Spies Like Us

Artist: Paul McCartney

Album: Spies Like Us Soundtrack

Video: From YouTube.

 

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 7

MTV Top 20 Peak: 1

MTV Top 20 Weeks: 5

The dark side of becoming a music fan in 1985 was that it took years to learn that Paul McCartney was one of the most amazing musicians of all-time.  In 1986, all I knew was that he was the guy who sang "Spies Like Us".  And I was not impressed, because the song is nonsense.  Particularly when contrasted with Sir Paul’s brilliant body of work. 

"Spies Like Us" is the title song to the movie of the same name.  The movie stars Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase, who were hilarious years before on Saturday Night Live, and then later in "Blues Brothers" and "Caddyshack", respectively.  It’s sad that the collaboration of these three world-class entertainers was wasted in this movie and song.

I will admit, I didn’t see the movie.  I don’t need to.  I have formed my opinion based on the song and the video.  Besides, Rotten Tomatoes agrees with me on the movie…35% on the Tomatometer.

However, many disagreed with my opinion on the video in early 1986, as it reached #1 on the MTV weekly countdown in January.  The video spent less time on the top 20 chart than any other that reached #1 in 1986.  The short chart run is partially due to timing, as the video debuted at #7 on the first countdown of the year on January 17 after the countdown took a three week break.

The five best things about this video:

1) It ends with an homage to the Beatles’ famous Abbey Road album cover. 
2) Aykroyd, Chase and McCartney all wear disguises, but Paul’s ridiculously heavy mustache and eyebrows are the best, especially combined with the old “pulling off the face mask” gag.
3) General nutty Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd antics.  Dodging gunfire in a tar pit is unique.
4) A bunch of snow scenes.  Looks cold.
5) Only someone as cool as Paul McCartney can pull off that ludicrous sweatshirt (a purple, green and pink stripey getup).


 

#95 - Everything In My Heart

Artist: Corey Hart

Album: Boy In The Box

Video: From YouTube.

 

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 30

MTV Top 20 Peak: 5

MTV Top 20 Weeks: 4

When this video was on MTV, it made absolutely no impression on me.  It wasn’t so much that I disliked it, but rather a near complete absence of any reaction.  That is also how it strikes me today.  However, it should be noted that this song did very well in Canada.

I prefer to focus on the great things Corey Hart did, like one of the 80’s true great songs, Never Surrender.  I was also impressed when he re-invented himself as a major league baseball player. 

"Everything In My Heart" had a unique tenure on the weekly countdown.  After rocketing from #17 to #9 to #5 in its first three weeks, it seemed that the video was poised to claim the top spot.  But the next week it sunk to #11, and the following week it was off the countdown entirely.

Stevie Nicks' "Talk To Me" video had a parallel life on the countdown, peaking at #5 after three weeks and then tumbling down and out.  It didn’t make the top 100.  I wish it had, in place of this video.

There are five things about this video.  I wouldn’t say they are awesome, so let’s just call them five things:

1) Sitting with head down and elbows on knees is his patented move.  The “Never Surrender” video starts the exact same way.
2) Also like in “Never Surrender”, he does a lot sulking through the streets.
3) Corey Hart is a master of staring intensely into the camera while thrusting his head forward in a rhythmic fashion.
4) Whole lot of fist pumping action on stage.
5) The crowd seems way more enthused than they ought to be.
 

Digging Your Scene (Unranked)

Artist: The Blow Monkeys

Album: Animal Magic

Video: From Vimeo.  (That's right, Vimeo!)

 

Billboard Hot 100 Peak: 14

MTV Top 20 Peak: did not chart

MTV Top 20 Weeks: 0

If your only experience of 1986 music was watching every single MTV weekly top 20 countdown, followed by the top 100 countdown on New Year's Eve, then you would never be aware that this song existed.  That is just wrong.

For you see, the Blow Monkeys were a British New Wave group that released over a dozen singles during the 80's.  After their 1990 breakup they reformed in 2007 and released another four albums.  But we wouldn't care about any of that if not for "Digging Your Scene", a classic from the opening notes with its bright, up-tempo beat and nuanced harmonies.  But as the song ignited the airwaves and climbed the pop charts, all the while accompanied by an amazing video, MTV couldn't be bothered to acknowledge it with a ranking of any kind. 

Look, in all honesty they probably got it right.  The single didn't make the top ten and plenty of other great songs missed the countdown (although a lot of junk made it as you will see).  Still, it's a personal fave and since I’m the one with a blog devoted exclusively to 1986 music videos, “Digging Your Scene" gets its due here. 

I always thought this song was easy breezy, the perfect tune to see performed live in a dinner theater lounge.  But reading deeper into the lyrics it turns out to be a dark exploration of shame, loneliness and the terrors of HIV.  Who knew?

But we're not going to let that bring us down!  Because a song this awesome deserves an equally awesome video, and it has one.  The five coolest things about it, in chronological order:

1) All that amazing stuff on the stage.  That gold glittery curtain, my god.  The fake plants.
2) Tipsy couples involved in all sorts of hi-jinks, sipping elaborate fruity drinks and blowing paper party horns.
3) The lounge staff getting into the act at several key moments.  First, the bartender supplies lead singer Dr. Robert with his guitar with a nifty forward pass at 1:30.  Then, during the bridge, the same bartender and a bored waitress join the band for a dance routine…and still return to work in time to fill drink orders!
4) An epic food fight.  If you’re keeping score, and why wouldn’t you be, the action starts at 3:24 with a patron flinging a lime at the stage, where the drummer deftly catches it in his mouth.  The drummer counters by flipping a drumstick with deadly accuracy directly into the fruity cocktail of said patron’s date.  As the nervous bartender looks on, the first guy hurls the tiny drink umbrella onto the stage, where it blooms into full flower as Dr. Robert’s parasol.  You can’t make this stuff up.
5) The club owner slamming a wad of bills into Dr. Robert’s hand as he departs.