B-52s - Rock Lobster
Released in 1978 by the band
from Athens, Georgia. I
remember clearly being at a
high school party and watching
them perform this song on
"Saturday Night Live". We had
never seen anything like it
before, so weird and so fun at
the same time. Finally, being
different and quirky was also
cool.
Released in 1978 by the band
from Athens, Georgia. I
remember clearly being at a
high school party and watching
them perform this song on
"Saturday Night Live". We had
never seen anything like it
before, so weird and so fun at
the same time. Finally, being
different and quirky was also
cool.
Shaking up my world - Iconic early New Wave
My Planet on YouTube
My high school years of 1979-1982 corresponded with a new major shift in pop culture and music style. Disco
was dying, to be replaced in the US mainly by rock bands. But in London and New York and Tokyo and even
Akron, Ohio and Athens, Georgia something new was happening: the Punk movement. The music and visuals
were like nothing that had ever been seen before, and served as the front-runners of the New Wave styles of
the 80s that would once again mainly invade America from Britain. In the US, comedy shows like "Saturday
Night Live" and the Canadian "SCTV" often served as platforms to introduce new cutting-edge acts. The
following videos made deep impressions on my memory in the very late 70s/early 80s, significantly influencing
my taste in music, and possibly even my career!
was dying, to be replaced in the US mainly by rock bands. But in London and New York and Tokyo and even
Akron, Ohio and Athens, Georgia something new was happening: the Punk movement. The music and visuals
were like nothing that had ever been seen before, and served as the front-runners of the New Wave styles of
the 80s that would once again mainly invade America from Britain. In the US, comedy shows like "Saturday
Night Live" and the Canadian "SCTV" often served as platforms to introduce new cutting-edge acts. The
following videos made deep impressions on my memory in the very late 70s/early 80s, significantly influencing
my taste in music, and possibly even my career!
Blondie - Heart of Glass
The poster girl of (what
seemed to us in Bellingham,
Washington) the underground
hip New York scene. They took
a lot of flack for this song at the
time since it was so "disco", but
to us it sounded new and fresh,
sexy and exciting.
The poster girl of (what
seemed to us in Bellingham,
Washington) the underground
hip New York scene. They took
a lot of flack for this song at the
time since it was so "disco", but
to us it sounded new and fresh,
sexy and exciting.
Talking Heads - Once in
a Lifetime
Released as a single in 1980.
One of the very first videos on
MTV. I first heard the song and
saw the video on the Canadian
SCTV comedy show, where it
was presented as being a
competition of new culture
between the USA and Japan.
Incredibly, the choreography of
this video was done by Toni
Basil, best known for her song
"Mickey".
a Lifetime
Released as a single in 1980.
One of the very first videos on
MTV. I first heard the song and
saw the video on the Canadian
SCTV comedy show, where it
was presented as being a
competition of new culture
between the USA and Japan.
Incredibly, the choreography of
this video was done by Toni
Basil, best known for her song
"Mickey".
Cars - Gary Numan
With the Japanese "Plastics"
video now removed from
YouTube, here is "Cars". Out
in 1980, many confused the
song with the all-American rock
band of the same name. But
the electronics, dark tone and
eye makeup and accent of
Gary Numan showed
immediately that this was a
different breed. One of the
earliest songs that started the
transition towards the wave of
new British music that would
arrive in 1983-1985.
With the Japanese "Plastics"
video now removed from
YouTube, here is "Cars". Out
in 1980, many confused the
song with the all-American rock
band of the same name. But
the electronics, dark tone and
eye makeup and accent of
Gary Numan showed
immediately that this was a
different breed. One of the
earliest songs that started the
transition towards the wave of
new British music that would
arrive in 1983-1985.
Devo - Beautiful World
From the amazing "New
Traditionalists" album of 1981.
Typical Devo irony, which made
a perfect fit with my frustrated
adolescent angst. I actually
saw them perform this song
live, at a concert in...Bellingham.
It's...not...for...me!
From the amazing "New
Traditionalists" album of 1981.
Typical Devo irony, which made
a perfect fit with my frustrated
adolescent angst. I actually
saw them perform this song
live, at a concert in...Bellingham.
It's...not...for...me!
Devo - Through with
Being Cool
Also from "New Traditionalists".
Many of my friends took this
video at face value and were
shocked by the "attacks on
upstanding senior citizens". In
my view the whole "New
Traditionalists" concept was a
reaction to freshly-elected
president Ronald Reagan. I
saw Devo making the
connection between the new
fads of populist conservatism
(enshrined in my mind in "The
Preppy Handbook") and the
risks of fascism and brutishness
that could all too easily come
along for the ride.
Being Cool
Also from "New Traditionalists".
Many of my friends took this
video at face value and were
shocked by the "attacks on
upstanding senior citizens". In
my view the whole "New
Traditionalists" concept was a
reaction to freshly-elected
president Ronald Reagan. I
saw Devo making the
connection between the new
fads of populist conservatism
(enshrined in my mind in "The
Preppy Handbook") and the
risks of fascism and brutishness
that could all too easily come
along for the ride.
Moon Unit Zappa -
Valley Girl
Frank Zappa and his daughter
Moon Unit team up to poke fun
at the dialect and shallow
values of the San Fernando
Valley of Los Angeles. Origin
for most people of such useful
phrases as "like, totally", "fer
sure!", "bag your face" and
"gag me with a spoon". Classic.
Valley Girl
Frank Zappa and his daughter
Moon Unit team up to poke fun
at the dialect and shallow
values of the San Fernando
Valley of Los Angeles. Origin
for most people of such useful
phrases as "like, totally", "fer
sure!", "bag your face" and
"gag me with a spoon". Classic.
