Crossing streams in the '80s

September 3, 2012 3:35 PM

What do the '80s, Michael Jackson, The Greg Kihn Band and Orcs have a in common? A video.
posted by Brandon Blatcher (17 comments total)

Because they are Italian?
posted by Cosine at 3:41 PM on September 3, 2012

Is the answer Ghostbusters 2?
posted by Strange Interlude at 3:53 PM on September 3, 2012 [2 favorites]

But seriously, this is amazing. It's like finding the missing transitional species between KISS and Lordi, and discovering that they also apparently invented the modern pop music mash-up.
posted by Strange Interlude at 3:56 PM on September 3, 2012

This is...well...I mean...obviously...this is...well...I mean...obviously...um...
posted by davejay at 4:30 PM on September 3, 2012

They don't write 'em like that anymore.
No they don't.
posted by chavenet at 4:31 PM on September 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

It somehow reminded me of this.
posted by various at 4:39 PM on September 3, 2012 [3 favorites]

Some interesting early Shane MacGowan there.
posted by hal9k at 4:48 PM on September 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

various, you are so right. Everything was first done on The Gong Show.

Except The Gong Show itself; Chuck Barris admitted stealing the idea from an L.A. Radio Personality I worked for, then offering him the job of hosting it - good thing he declined the offer; a competent host would've ruined the show.
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:22 PM on September 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

Those are Yeti and they are plying their craft in a way that you Pinks are merely seeing a shadow of the interference patterns created by their true performance. The costumes are merely to throw the Illuminati off.
posted by sourwookie at 5:42 PM on September 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

Shadowrun: The Music Video
posted by Faint of Butt at 5:53 PM on September 3, 2012 [2 favorites]

I listened to the Floyd/Parsons mashup first and thought wait, that just sounds like the original. Yes, for sure, I remember hearing this exact same song before. 'Cept it was the 80s and there were a lot of drugs. Um, so maybe not.
posted by kinnakeet at 5:56 PM on September 3, 2012

Greg Kihn's mother lived in the Baltimore rowhouse next door to my grandmother. As a result, I have a lot of Greg Kihn records and other obscure Kihnorabilia.

Apropos of nothing, of course.

I'll be sharing this video extra hard.
posted by sonascope at 5:57 PM on September 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

Needs moar KLF.
posted by arcticseal at 6:03 PM on September 3, 2012

Of course, Greg Kihn is also famous (or should I say, not famous) as one of the earliest victims of the Weird Al Effect.
posted by jonp72 at 6:11 PM on September 3, 2012

In the late sixties, before he moved to LA, Greg Kihn was a modestly big deal in Baltimore. He was no John Waters, but who is? Greg played acoustic 12-string and cultivated a sensitive singer-songwriter image. Nevertheless, and despite himself, he was always a better rocker than folkie.

A friend of mine, as Orange Juice Jake, fronted one of Greg’s bands when they pissed on their shot at the local big time with The Buddy Deane Show, Baltimore’s version of American Bandstand with Dick Clark. The show aired live, and it featured cool teens dancing to the hits in tight skirts and pants with slicked back hair and floofy bouffants . John Waters did a spot on parody of the thing, as The Corny Collins Show, in Hairspray


After they finished their song Buddy Deane tried to launch the obligatory interview. Buddy walked over, the applause died down and Jake said, “This is for all you people out there in TV land.” Then they all gave the finger. That was the heroic last stand of Orange Juice Jake and The Jug Band. Not long after, under pressure to desegregate, Buddy Deane gave up the show rather than let Black kids share the stage with White kids.
posted by Huplescat at 6:37 PM on September 3, 2012 [3 favorites]

I am so glad this was posted, as I am in a D&D thread where the topic of Orc Bards has just come up.
posted by The otter lady at 6:49 PM on September 3, 2012 [2 favorites]

Wait. Am I supposed to experience this on shrooms, LSD, weed, or Benadryl?
posted by stormpooper at 9:42 AM on September 4, 2012