"All we need is music - Sweet music - There's no music anywhere"
August 30, 2016 1:10 PM Subscribe
It was an unfortunate time.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 1:17 PM on August 30, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by Sing Or Swim at 1:17 PM on August 30, 2016 [13 favorites]
That was amazing and also strangely reminiscent of Flight of the Conchords.
posted by lollymccatburglar at 1:17 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by lollymccatburglar at 1:17 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
A thousand times more interesting than the original.
posted by Monkeymoo at 1:20 PM on August 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Monkeymoo at 1:20 PM on August 30, 2016 [2 favorites]
Hilarious - and what's with Jagger's Jerry Seinfeld outfit?
posted by carter at 1:22 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by carter at 1:22 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Needs more cowbell.
No, wait - the other thing...
Cow...
Co.....
dammit, what am I thinking of......
posted by yhbc at 1:27 PM on August 30, 2016
No, wait - the other thing...
Cow...
Co.....
dammit, what am I thinking of......
posted by yhbc at 1:27 PM on August 30, 2016
oh, lord - now, i know this isn't martha reeves and the vandellas, but it's the grateful dead 5/2/70 (not the disco version, either)
on preview -
Needs more cowbell.
mickey hart is your man
posted by pyramid termite at 1:30 PM on August 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
on preview -
Needs more cowbell.
mickey hart is your man
posted by pyramid termite at 1:30 PM on August 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
We've pointed it out before but we might as well say it again, cocaine is a powerful drug.
posted by Ber at 1:31 PM on August 30, 2016 [8 favorites]
posted by Ber at 1:31 PM on August 30, 2016 [8 favorites]
Speaking of music video remakes, I just saw this impressive effort to recreate the video for Journey's "Separate Ways"
posted by exogenous at 1:32 PM on August 30, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by exogenous at 1:32 PM on August 30, 2016 [11 favorites]
I am only slightly sorry to report that this is something of a double.
Quite alright, as it's an amazing post. Everyone go there, instead.
posted by Atom Eyes at 1:37 PM on August 30, 2016
Quite alright, as it's an amazing post. Everyone go there, instead.
posted by Atom Eyes at 1:37 PM on August 30, 2016
Did either Bowie or Jagger ever explain exactly what they were doing here? It's always been a puzzling blip of weird, dadlike uncoolness for a couple of guys who could teach a masterclass in staying hip after your thirties.
posted by Strange Interlude at 1:42 PM on August 30, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Strange Interlude at 1:42 PM on August 30, 2016 [7 favorites]
Even if it's a double thanks for posting it. As someone born in 1984 my first exposure to people now lauded as geniuses was goofy drug-fueled shit like this and it always made me feel like an alien for not understanding.
posted by bleep at 1:43 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by bleep at 1:43 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
Eddie keeps working on that Iron Man riff....
(Has Santeri Ojala ever made it up here on the blue?)
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:44 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
(Has Santeri Ojala ever made it up here on the blue?)
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:44 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
Yeah, I hadn't seen the original post either and this gives me the opportunity to share the equally awkward/hilarious "original audio version" of Bitch I'm Madonna.
I think I died the first time I saw her slooowly walking up the stairs (at about 1:09).
posted by psoas at 1:46 PM on August 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
I think I died the first time I saw her slooowly walking up the stairs (at about 1:09).
posted by psoas at 1:46 PM on August 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
The version in this post is a much longer one than in the original post. More dancing! More streets!
posted by yhbc at 1:50 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by yhbc at 1:50 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Did either Bowie or Jagger ever explain exactly what they were doing here? It's always been a puzzling blip of weird, dadlike uncoolness for a couple of guys who could teach a masterclass in staying hip after your thirties.
It was part of the Live Aid charity concert. The initial idea was somehow they would do a live duet with Bowie in London and Jagger in Philadelphia, but the tech logistics didn't work out so they would've had to mime it and they didn't want to. So they just recorded the single and made a quickie video to premiere during the concert.
posted by dnash at 1:52 PM on August 30, 2016 [10 favorites]
It was part of the Live Aid charity concert. The initial idea was somehow they would do a live duet with Bowie in London and Jagger in Philadelphia, but the tech logistics didn't work out so they would've had to mime it and they didn't want to. So they just recorded the single and made a quickie video to premiere during the concert.
posted by dnash at 1:52 PM on August 30, 2016 [10 favorites]
I don't like this. As seen here previously, Mario Wienerroither, a Viennese sound designer, did this first and did this much better. This video simply steals his idea.
posted by Mothlight at 1:55 PM on August 30, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by Mothlight at 1:55 PM on August 30, 2016 [12 favorites]
Blaming it on drugs was me being charitable.
posted by bleep at 1:59 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by bleep at 1:59 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
So they just recorded the single and made a quickie video to premiere during the concert.
Possibly the quickiest video of all time:
Possibly the quickiest video of all time:
Around 6 p.m., I think, David announced that we were to stop working on “Absolute Beginners” because at 7 p.m. Mick Jagger was coming to the studio and they were going to record the Martha and the Vandellas hit song “Dancing in the Street” for Live Aid — and they would only have three hours to finish it, because he and Jagger would be going straight off to shoot the video for the song, which would have to be finished before sunrise!posted by Iridic at 2:06 PM on August 30, 2016 [9 favorites]
> Did either Bowie or Jagger ever explain exactly what they were doing here? It's always been a puzzling blip of weird, dadlike uncoolness for a couple of guys who could teach a masterclass in staying hip after your thirties.
Neither of them were putting out their best work in the mid-'80s. Bowie eventually rebounded somewhat, but Jagger hasn't recorded much of anything worth hearing since 1980.
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:19 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Neither of them were putting out their best work in the mid-'80s. Bowie eventually rebounded somewhat, but Jagger hasn't recorded much of anything worth hearing since 1980.
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:19 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Mothlight: "I don't like this. As seen here previously, Mario Wienerroither, a Viennese sound designer, did this first and did this much better . This video simply steals his idea."
David Bowie was amused:
David Bowie was amused:
I remember us watching this thing…somebody did a series of music videos without the music. Somebody did one of those for the video he did with Mick Jagger for “Dancing in the Streets.” But there’s no music, there’s just footsteps and grunts and burps and stuff like that. He thought that was hilarious and would just have us watch the whole thingposted by exogenous at 2:27 PM on August 30, 2016 [16 favorites]
"I don't know how many times someone has come up to me and said, Hey, 'Let's Dance!' I hate dancing. God, it's stupid."-Attributed to David Bowie, who released nine songs with the words "dance" or "dancing" in the title.
posted by Iridic at 2:33 PM on August 30, 2016
David Bowie was amused:
Yeah, but Bowie was talking about the original version by Wienerroither, not the (inferior, IMO) knock-off linked here.
posted by Mothlight at 2:33 PM on August 30, 2016
Yeah, but Bowie was talking about the original version by Wienerroither, not the (inferior, IMO) knock-off linked here.
posted by Mothlight at 2:33 PM on August 30, 2016
oh, lord - now, i know this isn't martha reeves and the vandellas, but it's the grateful dead 5/2/70 yt (not the disco version, either)
Thank God! I've recently been finding myself (much to my own surprise) becoming a bit of a Deadhead over the past several months and I have to skip over that disco Dancing every single time.
posted by downtohisturtles at 2:41 PM on August 30, 2016
Thank God! I've recently been finding myself (much to my own surprise) becoming a bit of a Deadhead over the past several months and I have to skip over that disco Dancing every single time.
posted by downtohisturtles at 2:41 PM on August 30, 2016
Wienerroither : La Jetée :: FPP link : 12 Monkeys
posted by Lyme Drop at 2:46 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Lyme Drop at 2:46 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
To be fair, it's pretty clear both men were deliberately taking the piss out of themselves in at least some of the moves here. I've always loved that "WTF?" sideways glance Bowie gives Jagger at 2:19.
posted by Paul Slade at 2:50 PM on August 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Paul Slade at 2:50 PM on August 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yeah, but Bowie was talking about the original version by Wienerroither
Uh yeah, that's why I quoted your comment
posted by exogenous at 2:53 PM on August 30, 2016
Uh yeah, that's why I quoted your comment
posted by exogenous at 2:53 PM on August 30, 2016
Uh yeah, that's why I quoted your comment
I misunderstood. I thought you were responding to my, "I don't like it" by saying, "Well, David Bowie was amused!"
But I am certainly happy to know that Bowie got to see it, and that he had a laugh. It's the kind of thing I'd like to think he would have found hilarious. Now I wonder if anyone's shown it to Jagger ...
posted by Mothlight at 2:56 PM on August 30, 2016
I misunderstood. I thought you were responding to my, "I don't like it" by saying, "Well, David Bowie was amused!"
But I am certainly happy to know that Bowie got to see it, and that he had a laugh. It's the kind of thing I'd like to think he would have found hilarious. Now I wonder if anyone's shown it to Jagger ...
posted by Mothlight at 2:56 PM on August 30, 2016
I've never gotten the hate for the original. They recorded the song for charity and made a quick video where they're dancing, goofing off, and having a bit of a lark. What the heck is the big problem? It's not like they're wearing clown suits and shitting themselves or something.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 3:10 PM on August 30, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 3:10 PM on August 30, 2016 [11 favorites]
Um...I liked it. Thank you. Can't stop giggling.
posted by sara is disenchanted at 3:18 PM on August 30, 2016
posted by sara is disenchanted at 3:18 PM on August 30, 2016
Oh my god, the real winner here is Weinerroither's Hello
posted by phooky at 3:20 PM on August 30, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by phooky at 3:20 PM on August 30, 2016 [14 favorites]
It's not like they're wearing clown suits and shitting themselves or something.
"That was incredible! What do you call it?"
posted by yhbc at 3:20 PM on August 30, 2016 [9 favorites]
"That was incredible! What do you call it?"
posted by yhbc at 3:20 PM on August 30, 2016 [9 favorites]
I've never gotten the hate for the original.
you probably don't get the hate for phil collins' "you can't hurry love", either
david bowie should have known better - mick jagger does know better
you do motown you'd better do it great
posted by pyramid termite at 3:25 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
you probably don't get the hate for phil collins' "you can't hurry love", either
david bowie should have known better - mick jagger does know better
you do motown you'd better do it great
posted by pyramid termite at 3:25 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
The Card Cheat: "... Jagger hasn't recorded much of anything worth hearing since 1980."
Welll, except for:
Welll, except for:
- Hang Fire
- Start Me Up
- Undercover Of The Night
- Mixed Emotions
- Rock and a Hard Place
you do motown you'd better do it great
That's part of it, definitely. I also think the sight of 40-ish rock stars doing a less-than-timeless update of a song from their youth just made a lot of people feel old.
Still like it better than the Van Halen version (shudders).
posted by ducky l'orange at 3:56 PM on August 30, 2016
That's part of it, definitely. I also think the sight of 40-ish rock stars doing a less-than-timeless update of a song from their youth just made a lot of people feel old.
Still like it better than the Van Halen version (shudders).
posted by ducky l'orange at 3:56 PM on August 30, 2016
It's not like they're wearing clown suits and shitting themselves or something.
Actually, that version topped the charts in Germany for twelve straight weeks.
posted by rocket88 at 4:02 PM on August 30, 2016 [13 favorites]
Actually, that version topped the charts in Germany for twelve straight weeks.
posted by rocket88 at 4:02 PM on August 30, 2016 [13 favorites]
Original un-doctored music video
Did anyone else notice that this video includes a reeanactment by two random guys?
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:04 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
Did anyone else notice that this video includes a reeanactment by two random guys?
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 4:04 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
They recorded the song for charity and made a quick video where they're dancing, goofing off, and having a bit of a lark. What the heck is the big problem?
I'm kinda with you. Although even at the time it came out I thought the video was pretty bad, it was obviously a rush job, but the overall cause of the event, and the joining together of two legends like Bowie and Jagger. Has it aged well? No, not at all, but it's hardly the worst thing to come from the 80s. And it gives me memories of watching Live Aid, which was a huge, huge deal to me at the time - like, I had to fight Mom and assorted family to prevent any channel changing all day.
posted by dnash at 4:15 PM on August 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
I'm kinda with you. Although even at the time it came out I thought the video was pretty bad, it was obviously a rush job, but the overall cause of the event, and the joining together of two legends like Bowie and Jagger. Has it aged well? No, not at all, but it's hardly the worst thing to come from the 80s. And it gives me memories of watching Live Aid, which was a huge, huge deal to me at the time - like, I had to fight Mom and assorted family to prevent any channel changing all day.
posted by dnash at 4:15 PM on August 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
Did anyone else notice that this video includes a reeanactment by two random guys.
Well, I for one did not. This post has been a bigger disaster than Freejack.
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:15 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
Well, I for one did not. This post has been a bigger disaster than Freejack.
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:15 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
I misunderstood. I thought you were responding to my, "I don't like it" by saying, "Well, David Bowie was amused!"
My mistake; I should have omitted that line.
posted by exogenous at 4:18 PM on August 30, 2016
My mistake; I should have omitted that line.
posted by exogenous at 4:18 PM on August 30, 2016
"... Jagger hasn't recorded much of anything worth hearing since 1980."
Wandering Spirit is an A- solo album, so good.
posted by Cosine at 4:19 PM on August 30, 2016
Wandering Spirit is an A- solo album, so good.
posted by Cosine at 4:19 PM on August 30, 2016
I've never gotten the hate for the original. They recorded the song for charity and made a quick video where they're dancing, goofing off, and having a bit of a lark. What the heck is the big problem? It's not like they're wearing clown suits and shitting themselves or something.
posted by The Underpants Monster
Setting aside the eponysterical for the moment...
To really get my hate, we have to go back to the delightful Martha and the Vandellas version of the song. Its a soulful, unpretentious mid-tempo song that makes you want to get your groove on.
The Bowie/Jagger version messes with the tempo. Is it to make the song sound more upbeat? To match the dance needs of people in the 80's? Did any of you ever dance to this song, even by accident? The song, in my opinion, is less appealing at this tempo.
Second, the production and instrumentation. You can almost tell the very hour this was produced just based on the gloss. It sounded overproduced and a little square then and sounds like an unfortunate relic of 80's pop now. Plus, there is no soul in this song. The soul has been sucked out.
Third, it feels cynical as all get out. From the shout-outs to different countries at the beginning to the pairing of artists to the song choice, this song was specifically chosen to sell units. Now, in this case, it is attempting to sell units towards a noble cause, so good for them. It sort of demonstrates to me that Bowie knew exactly how to sell out if he wanted to and that his 80's albums - far from being sell-outs - were more examples of him just having lost his way for a while (and he did release dozens of good songs in the 80's - the production murdered some of them, but the songs themselves are great). Anyhow, cynicism in the service of a noble (?) cause is not a bad thing.
Fourth, ok, they thought they were serving a noble cause, but Live Aid was sort of a disaster, as Spin reported . Bowie and Jagger did not know this, but it certainly has tainted my view of all Live-Aid related products.
Fifth, and this is sort of personal, but it made teenage me think Bowie was washed up and over. I even embraced Let's Dance and half-heartedly worked with Tonight (I love "Loving the Alien," though I thought the production was lame even then). After this song, I was able to write him off and wasn't really able to take him seriously again until ...hours by which time I'd wasted more than ten years of my life not listening to enough Bowie while he was alive. That's on me, not on them, but I still resent the hell out of this song for that.
"... Jagger hasn't recorded much of anything worth hearing since 1980."
I will fight you.
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:27 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster
Setting aside the eponysterical for the moment...
To really get my hate, we have to go back to the delightful Martha and the Vandellas version of the song. Its a soulful, unpretentious mid-tempo song that makes you want to get your groove on.
The Bowie/Jagger version messes with the tempo. Is it to make the song sound more upbeat? To match the dance needs of people in the 80's? Did any of you ever dance to this song, even by accident? The song, in my opinion, is less appealing at this tempo.
Second, the production and instrumentation. You can almost tell the very hour this was produced just based on the gloss. It sounded overproduced and a little square then and sounds like an unfortunate relic of 80's pop now. Plus, there is no soul in this song. The soul has been sucked out.
Third, it feels cynical as all get out. From the shout-outs to different countries at the beginning to the pairing of artists to the song choice, this song was specifically chosen to sell units. Now, in this case, it is attempting to sell units towards a noble cause, so good for them. It sort of demonstrates to me that Bowie knew exactly how to sell out if he wanted to and that his 80's albums - far from being sell-outs - were more examples of him just having lost his way for a while (and he did release dozens of good songs in the 80's - the production murdered some of them, but the songs themselves are great). Anyhow, cynicism in the service of a noble (?) cause is not a bad thing.
Fourth, ok, they thought they were serving a noble cause, but Live Aid was sort of a disaster, as Spin reported . Bowie and Jagger did not know this, but it certainly has tainted my view of all Live-Aid related products.
Fifth, and this is sort of personal, but it made teenage me think Bowie was washed up and over. I even embraced Let's Dance and half-heartedly worked with Tonight (I love "Loving the Alien," though I thought the production was lame even then). After this song, I was able to write him off and wasn't really able to take him seriously again until ...hours by which time I'd wasted more than ten years of my life not listening to enough Bowie while he was alive. That's on me, not on them, but I still resent the hell out of this song for that.
"... Jagger hasn't recorded much of anything worth hearing since 1980."
I will fight you.
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:27 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
Out Of Tears wasn't bad, Hang Fire and Start Me Up were on Tattoo You (which I will go to bat for, but was released in 1980 and largely recorded before that)...but overall I feel like my point stands.
posted by The Card Cheat at 4:48 PM on August 30, 2016
posted by The Card Cheat at 4:48 PM on August 30, 2016
Did any of you ever dance to this song, even by accident?
Yes, at a dance in a Lutheran church basement in Pasadena in 1998. It was perfect for that very specific ambiance.
posted by blnkfrnk at 4:54 PM on August 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
Yes, at a dance in a Lutheran church basement in Pasadena in 1998. It was perfect for that very specific ambiance.
posted by blnkfrnk at 4:54 PM on August 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
Oops, Tattoo You was '81. Details!
posted by The Card Cheat at 4:57 PM on August 30, 2016
posted by The Card Cheat at 4:57 PM on August 30, 2016
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
This applies to both videos.
Oh, lord, the 80s. Very, very few pop stars weren't embarrassing themselves back then. Shoot, most adults seemed to be doing a lot of stupid, grandiose things in those days.
posted by droplet at 5:04 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
This applies to both videos.
Oh, lord, the 80s. Very, very few pop stars weren't embarrassing themselves back then. Shoot, most adults seemed to be doing a lot of stupid, grandiose things in those days.
posted by droplet at 5:04 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Bowie eventually rebounded somewhat
Somewhat? Blackstar is fucking amazing. I'm not saying it's his best, but within the top 5.
The Next Day rocks pretty hard too.
posted by brevator at 5:04 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
Somewhat? Blackstar is fucking amazing. I'm not saying it's his best, but within the top 5.
The Next Day rocks pretty hard too.
posted by brevator at 5:04 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
I not only like the damn thing but I like Blondie's Rapture too. I guess I suck.
posted by Splunge at 5:07 PM on August 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Splunge at 5:07 PM on August 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
I could make a lengthy case for Blondie's "Rapture" as being a genuinely excellent song (both in spite of and because of the content of the rap). I am half with you. Also, I don't think anyone who likes this song sucks just because they like it. Love of music is a very personal thing and I'm sure there's a convincing case to be made for why this Bowie/Jagger thing might be worthwhile. I doubt I'll be persuaded, but I would listen to the case in favor of it with an open mind.
Bowie eventually rebounded somewhat
Bowie started rebounding on certain Tin Machine tracks and had pretty much completed the rebound by 1993 when he released the excellent Black Tie White Noise. I am prepared to offer a lengthy primer on the topic of all of Bowie's most worthwhile (IMO) tracks from 1993 through 2003 for those of you who only returned to the fold with The Next Day. This topic brings out the music bore in me, but I'm always happy to bore.
Happy for myself.
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:36 PM on August 30, 2016 [7 favorites]
Bowie eventually rebounded somewhat
Bowie started rebounding on certain Tin Machine tracks and had pretty much completed the rebound by 1993 when he released the excellent Black Tie White Noise. I am prepared to offer a lengthy primer on the topic of all of Bowie's most worthwhile (IMO) tracks from 1993 through 2003 for those of you who only returned to the fold with The Next Day. This topic brings out the music bore in me, but I'm always happy to bore.
Happy for myself.
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:36 PM on August 30, 2016 [7 favorites]
The major failing of the music video is that Bowie and Jagger did not deep-tongue-kiss each other during it
they were SO CLOSE
posted by gusandrews at 6:00 PM on August 30, 2016 [10 favorites]
they were SO CLOSE
posted by gusandrews at 6:00 PM on August 30, 2016 [10 favorites]
the excellent Black Tie White Noise.
nonononono, can't agree (though I really wish I could, I wanted to like it). I remember a Cream cover (not because it was good), and Jump They Say (decent for 1993).
posted by cotton dress sock at 6:06 PM on August 30, 2016
nonononono, can't agree (though I really wish I could, I wanted to like it). I remember a Cream cover (not because it was good), and Jump They Say (decent for 1993).
posted by cotton dress sock at 6:06 PM on August 30, 2016
Oh, lord, the 80s. Very, very few pop stars weren't embarrassing themselves back then.
This was a regular topic at the record store when I worked there. And while there were obviously those that trainwrecked worse than others, It was especially, especially bad for any of the canonical classic rock artists that came to prominence in the 60s/70s. It's some grim consolation that I never had to hear whatever John Lennon would have put out in 1986.
posted by thivaia at 6:37 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
This was a regular topic at the record store when I worked there. And while there were obviously those that trainwrecked worse than others, It was especially, especially bad for any of the canonical classic rock artists that came to prominence in the 60s/70s. It's some grim consolation that I never had to hear whatever John Lennon would have put out in 1986.
posted by thivaia at 6:37 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]
The Bowie/Jagger version messes with the tempo. Is it to make the song sound more upbeat? To match the dance needs of people in the 80's? Did any of you ever dance to this song, even by accident?
There are reports that during the Live Aid broadcast, there were places where people all realized that they were all up and down the block all watching the same thing, and so during this song they cranked the volume on their TVs, opened the windows, and had a neighborhood dance party.
I too think the Martha Reeves version is superior, but music - and cover versions - are not a zero-sum game, and this is a perfectly serviceable cover that made people happy, so deal with it.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:55 PM on August 30, 2016 [7 favorites]
EmpressC beat me to it by a few minutes, but yes, there were rumours in 1985 that people in the UK were indeed dancing in the street for three minutes or so when this aired during Live Aid. And I also find it somewhat anemic after the iconic version by MR and the V, but this song was more exciting in its original context.
I have seen this video both in its original form and in a couple of different, er, re-foleyed versions at least a dozen times since July 13, 1985. I honestly never noticed until just now that around the two-minute mark Bowie dodges back in the door on the right side of the screen and a couple seconds later pops up next to Jagger on the left side. There are no cuts, so it means that by the mid-eighties the guy behind Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, and The Thin White Duke must have dropped to his hands and knees and crawled quickly across the floor for a few seconds to make the shot work.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:22 PM on August 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
I have seen this video both in its original form and in a couple of different, er, re-foleyed versions at least a dozen times since July 13, 1985. I honestly never noticed until just now that around the two-minute mark Bowie dodges back in the door on the right side of the screen and a couple seconds later pops up next to Jagger on the left side. There are no cuts, so it means that by the mid-eighties the guy behind Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, and The Thin White Duke must have dropped to his hands and knees and crawled quickly across the floor for a few seconds to make the shot work.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:22 PM on August 30, 2016 [5 favorites]
There was some good pop/rock stuff going on in the 80s - Julian Cope, XTC, The Stone Roses, Human League, OMD, the early days of techno and acid, Prince - but it's easy to get lost in the sheer quantity of mass-market banal, the feeling that a lot of good things that promised so much n the mid-late 70s (I Feel Love! Trans-Europe Express! Unknown Pleasures!) didn't have the legs they deserved, and the sense that things really picked up again in the 90s with the kids who remembered the good bits of the decade but weren't having it with the dross.
And I think we got a better deal in the UK, too. But a decade that started with the death of Ian Curtis was always going to have... issues.
posted by Devonian at 7:54 PM on August 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
And I think we got a better deal in the UK, too. But a decade that started with the death of Ian Curtis was always going to have... issues.
posted by Devonian at 7:54 PM on August 30, 2016 [3 favorites]
There are no cuts, so it means that by the mid-eighties the guy behind Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, and The Thin White Duke must have dropped to his hands and knees and crawled quickly across the floor for a few seconds to make the shot work.
This assumes facts not in evidence—mainly that Bowie wasn't gifted with the power of either bilocation or teleportation.
posted by Atom Eyes at 8:27 PM on August 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
This assumes facts not in evidence—mainly that Bowie wasn't gifted with the power of either bilocation or teleportation.
posted by Atom Eyes at 8:27 PM on August 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
item: "That "people were actually dancing in the streets" claim has about the same amount of weight as the "Muslims were celebrating in NJ on 9/11" claim.
I wouldn't be surprised if Trump made up both stories."
Easy there, Satan.
posted by Splunge at 10:21 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
I wouldn't be surprised if Trump made up both stories."
Easy there, Satan.
posted by Splunge at 10:21 PM on August 30, 2016 [1 favorite]
Have I ever told the story of how I insulted Debbie Harry and lost the chance for an autograph?
I was working as a bouncer at the now defunct Kenny's Castaways. And in walks Debbie Harry. My first thought was that she was a lot shorter than I thought. But there I was, totally star struck. I said, "Hey, I really loved you in Videodrome."
And she was like, "Hey thanks. I really enjoyed making that movie."
And so, I said, "You have really lost a lot of weight recently."
Which she actually had. But anyway...
She turned and walked out of the bar. And my life.
Lesson learned.
posted by Splunge at 10:36 PM on August 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
I was working as a bouncer at the now defunct Kenny's Castaways. And in walks Debbie Harry. My first thought was that she was a lot shorter than I thought. But there I was, totally star struck. I said, "Hey, I really loved you in Videodrome."
And she was like, "Hey thanks. I really enjoyed making that movie."
And so, I said, "You have really lost a lot of weight recently."
Which she actually had. But anyway...
She turned and walked out of the bar. And my life.
Lesson learned.
posted by Splunge at 10:36 PM on August 30, 2016 [6 favorites]
Thank you for posting this. Apparently I'm an outlier here because I've loved this video from day one because I always thought it looked like they were having a whee of a time.
And although I loved most of Bowie, I haven't liked anything from Jagger since Some Girls.
posted by she's not there at 2:16 AM on August 31, 2016 [3 favorites]
And although I loved most of Bowie, I haven't liked anything from Jagger since Some Girls.
posted by she's not there at 2:16 AM on August 31, 2016 [3 favorites]
Bowie wasn't gifted with the power of [...] bilocation
Sure, Bowie claimed that he was a bi-locator in that interview in the 70s, but he later walked that back by saying that he had always been "a closet hetero-locator".
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:11 AM on August 31, 2016 [4 favorites]
Sure, Bowie claimed that he was a bi-locator in that interview in the 70s, but he later walked that back by saying that he had always been "a closet hetero-locator".
posted by Strange Interlude at 6:11 AM on August 31, 2016 [4 favorites]
Oh, lord, the 80s. Very, very few pop stars weren't embarrassing themselves back then.
It's no surprise, considering it's arguably the most revolutionary decade in pop music since the fifties. The boomers came of age and rock is no longer the upstart rebel, but the established order other genres rebel against, you got the computer revolution making possible new instruments (synthesisers etc), new music (electronica, rap, metal, hip-hop, dance), new media (Walkman, videoclips, CGI), all of which granted did have their roots in the seventies or even earlier, but which hit critical mass after 1980. No wonder established artists went a bit nuts, considering how the pre-1980 ways of doing things went obsolete seemingly overnight. Not to mention that everybody basically had to reinvent from the ground up how pop music works.
And really, "The Eighties" as symbolised by this particular video only started a few years before, 1984 at the earliest. My pet theory about the decadence and peacockery of the mid to late eighties is that it was caused by the lifting of that heavy collective psychic burden of nuclear war that hung over the world from the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to roughly the rise of Gorbachev as Reagan dialed down the rhetoric and the Soviet leaders their paranoia. Look at pop culture in 1981-83 and it really did seem we were preparing for armageddon.
posted by MartinWisse at 9:17 AM on August 31, 2016 [5 favorites]
It's no surprise, considering it's arguably the most revolutionary decade in pop music since the fifties. The boomers came of age and rock is no longer the upstart rebel, but the established order other genres rebel against, you got the computer revolution making possible new instruments (synthesisers etc), new music (electronica, rap, metal, hip-hop, dance), new media (Walkman, videoclips, CGI), all of which granted did have their roots in the seventies or even earlier, but which hit critical mass after 1980. No wonder established artists went a bit nuts, considering how the pre-1980 ways of doing things went obsolete seemingly overnight. Not to mention that everybody basically had to reinvent from the ground up how pop music works.
And really, "The Eighties" as symbolised by this particular video only started a few years before, 1984 at the earliest. My pet theory about the decadence and peacockery of the mid to late eighties is that it was caused by the lifting of that heavy collective psychic burden of nuclear war that hung over the world from the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to roughly the rise of Gorbachev as Reagan dialed down the rhetoric and the Soviet leaders their paranoia. Look at pop culture in 1981-83 and it really did seem we were preparing for armageddon.
posted by MartinWisse at 9:17 AM on August 31, 2016 [5 favorites]
It's obviously not a musical masterpiece, nor the best work either Bowie or Jagger put their names to, or as good as the original. But, unlike the Phil Collins cover mentioned above, they sang it with gusto and a sincere sense of fun and spontaneity without (IMO) coming off as mocking. And I agree with she's not there; they look like they're having fun in the video, too. Maybe a little punchy from fatigue, but that's what a lot of people doing stuff for Live Aid looked like that day.
As far as danceability goes, it was a staple at school dances where I grew up for years after it came out, and I don't remember anyone having any trouble with it. And my friends and I *did* dance in the street to it once. Okay, it was technically a sidewalk and parking lot, but I got brittle bones, man.
The Martha and the Vandellas version is still the recognized classic, with no danger of being supplanted.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:25 AM on August 31, 2016 [2 favorites]
As far as danceability goes, it was a staple at school dances where I grew up for years after it came out, and I don't remember anyone having any trouble with it. And my friends and I *did* dance in the street to it once. Okay, it was technically a sidewalk and parking lot, but I got brittle bones, man.
The Martha and the Vandellas version is still the recognized classic, with no danger of being supplanted.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:25 AM on August 31, 2016 [2 favorites]
they look like they're having fun in the video, too
I say the same thing every time I see a viral video of Neil Young on the Jimmy Fallon show having a water balloon fight with Mark E. Smith, or whatever. But it sure as shit ain't cool.
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:46 AM on August 31, 2016
I say the same thing every time I see a viral video of Neil Young on the Jimmy Fallon show having a water balloon fight with Mark E. Smith, or whatever. But it sure as shit ain't cool.
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:46 AM on August 31, 2016
I say the same thing every time I see a viral video of Neil Young on the Jimmy Fallon show having a water balloon fight with Mark E. Smith, or whatever. But it sure as shit ain't cool.
Homer: So, I realized that being with my family is more important than being cool.
Bart: Dad, what you just said was powerfully uncool.
Homer: You know what the song says: "It's hip to be square."
Lisa: That song is so lame.
Homer: So lame that it's...cool?
Bart and Lisa: No.
Marge: Am I cool, kids?
Bart and Lisa: No.
Marge: Good. I'm glad. And that's what makes me cool, not caring, right?
Bart and Lisa: No.
Marge: Well, how the hell do you be cool? I feel like we've tried everything here.
Homer: Wait, Marge. Maybe if you're truly cool, you don't need to be told you're cool.
Bart: Well, sure you do.
Lisa: How else would you know?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:55 AM on August 31, 2016 [9 favorites]
Homer: So, I realized that being with my family is more important than being cool.
Bart: Dad, what you just said was powerfully uncool.
Homer: You know what the song says: "It's hip to be square."
Lisa: That song is so lame.
Homer: So lame that it's...cool?
Bart and Lisa: No.
Marge: Am I cool, kids?
Bart and Lisa: No.
Marge: Good. I'm glad. And that's what makes me cool, not caring, right?
Bart and Lisa: No.
Marge: Well, how the hell do you be cool? I feel like we've tried everything here.
Homer: Wait, Marge. Maybe if you're truly cool, you don't need to be told you're cool.
Bart: Well, sure you do.
Lisa: How else would you know?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:55 AM on August 31, 2016 [9 favorites]
From a Jagger bio by Christopher Andersen: "That same year, 'Dancing in the Street' was such a hit that they considered donning dresses to film a remake of Some Like It Hot."
Utter and complete sacrilege, but I would have paid CASH MONEY to see that.
posted by blucevalo at 7:00 AM on September 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
Utter and complete sacrilege, but I would have paid CASH MONEY to see that.
posted by blucevalo at 7:00 AM on September 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
Without this post I wouldn't have even known about these musicless music videos, so for that I thank you, Atom Eyes! Quite possibly my new favorite hilarious thing.
posted by bologna on wry at 8:37 AM on September 1, 2016
posted by bologna on wry at 8:37 AM on September 1, 2016
A foley artiste need to work their magic Hall and Oates' Say It Isn't So. I would love to hear what happens to all the feet, especially to Daryl's when he does that dance on the roof of wherever they are in NYC. Or maybe Method of Modern Love! Hall and Oates made some weird videos that mostly seemed to star Daryl's hair. Their mid-80s video oeuvre is just right for this sort of treatment, is what I'm saying.
If they did want to stay with "80s Bowie" stuff, Blue Jean would be good, or maybe Time Will Crawl; though not a song in my Bowie Top 40, that one has a video where he's being tossed around like a rag doll, among other things. Plus, Bowie gave in to the hair excesses of the decade, and sports a Daryl Hall-level mullet. Can I say as an aside that the man always had an impressive head of hair? You could literally do anything to it and it'd look amazing on him, no matter the color or style. If such beings were real, and it turned out that Bowie was half-fae, I wouldn't be at all surprised.
posted by droplet at 9:40 PM on September 3, 2016
If they did want to stay with "80s Bowie" stuff, Blue Jean would be good, or maybe Time Will Crawl; though not a song in my Bowie Top 40, that one has a video where he's being tossed around like a rag doll, among other things. Plus, Bowie gave in to the hair excesses of the decade, and sports a Daryl Hall-level mullet. Can I say as an aside that the man always had an impressive head of hair? You could literally do anything to it and it'd look amazing on him, no matter the color or style. If such beings were real, and it turned out that Bowie was half-fae, I wouldn't be at all surprised.
posted by droplet at 9:40 PM on September 3, 2016
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posted by Joey Michaels at 1:16 PM on August 30, 2016 [4 favorites]