Some might find it difficult to believe that
this was the video to a 1984 number one hit, although it's not surprising to learn that the video was banned (as was the song, leaving the BBC in the uncomfortable position of being unable to broadcast their country's biggest hit on any of its radio or television programs). The
G rated version was directed by
Brian De Palma and, oddly, appeared (in slightly altered form) in
Body Double as a porno film within the movie.
Although
the band had other hits, notably
Two Tribes which was rivaled only by
Land of Confusion for most over-the-top Reagan representation in a music video, they have been beset with problems, primarily relating to
who owns their
name, but rest assured that lead singer
Holly Johnson is doing well in his new calling as a painter.
This astrological chart nicely (?) sums up his entire career.
Incidentally,
Katherine Hamnett, who designed the hugely popular
Frankie Say Relax t-shirts (along with Wham's
Choose Life tees which, ironically, birthed an anti-abortion moto) is still a successful designer, who continues to be active in environmental, HIV eradication, and anti-war efforts.
Anyhow, check out the wacky Relax video. But beware of naked, shaving Roman Emperors.
posted by serazin
on Jun 2, 2007 -
91 comments
Anime Music Videos. Yet another
remixing web subculture, they're usually a source of amateurishly produced angst. From the
competitive perfectionists, though, come
well lipsynched,
action packed,
meta-mashuped, and occasionally just
filthy stuff for cartoon nerds. Besides the usual metal, ballads, and pop rock, there's some
Daft Punk,
club,
and downtempo accompaniment. Or you can just go to
hell. Wear headphones and no-one will know.
posted by anthill
on May 28, 2007 -
22 comments
Charles Nelson Reilly (1931-2007) If, in 1940, you had a lobotomized aunt, an institutionalized father, a racist mother, and were the only gay kid on the block, what do you think the odds would be that you'd end up a Tony winner, a staple of television, and a generational icon? (contains YouTube links)
posted by LinusMines
on May 27, 2007 -
90 comments
"Someone in a Tree" -- an incedibly rare video from the original, 1976 production of "Pacific Overtures." I grew up listening to an L.P. of these same people perform this same song, but I've never before seen them perform it. I grew up in Southern Indiana, so actually seeing a Broadway show was out of the question. But I loved this song, and -- years later -- I read that it was Stephen Sondheim's favorite of all the songs he ever wrote. Today, I found this video on YouTube and it was like finally seeing someone after being blind for years. I still have chills running up and down my spine. Also: Sondheim
forum, online
journal, and various gems (and bombs) on
youtube -- including
the man himself teaching a master class and
this 12-year-old's spirited performance!
posted by grumblebee
on Apr 28, 2007 -
14 comments
(Spoilers in most links). So an SNL digital short,
Dear Sister spoofs the second season
finale of the OC. Now the internets just don't know when to stop, with parodies (of the parody) playing on everything from the obvious like
The Departed,
LOST,
Snatch,
The Matrix,
Reservoir Dogs, and
Predator to the not-so-obvious like
Lord of the Rings,
Raging Bull,
Monty Python,
Duck Hunt (my favorite),
Looney Toons,
LazyTown,
Smash Brothers,
Office Space, and
Bio-Ooze Super Soakers.
posted by ztdavis
on Apr 28, 2007 -
65 comments
Joseph Frank Keaton Jr. was born into vaudeville. He quickly became a popular and controversial part of his family's stage act; an act that had his father violently hurling the "disobedient" child across the stage into scenery, the orchestra pit, or even into the audience, only to see him emerge amazingly unharmed. After the boy took an unplanned and particularly clamorous fall down a hotel stairwell, an astonished
Harry Houdini cried out to the parents, "
What a buster your kid took!" And thus, as legend has it, did little Joseph Frank Keaton Jr. become
Buster Keaton.
At 22, Keaton made his
cinematic debut with mentor Fatty Arbuckle. Afterward, he immediately founded Buster Keaton Studios, releasing a series of brilliant short (and later longer) comedies.
Dozens of these are freely available to stream or download at the
Internet Archive, including
Steamboat Bill Jr,
Convict 13,
The Electric House, and his seminal
The General (alt), which, despite
completely failing at the box office, would be later hailed by many as one of the
greatest
films
of
all
time.
[more inside]
posted by churl
on Apr 25, 2007 -
58 comments
