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The 1967 Frank and Nancy Sinatra duet “Something Stupid” reached #1 in the U.S. Since then it has been covered countless times. I enjoy it because it seems to stand out as retro even at the time of its release. That, and I just like Ol’ Blue Eyes.
As for poptastic, well, I think it says something when a song is covered so many times by so many easy listening, jazz, folk and world singers, groups and bands. In fact, while searching for some interesting covers, it occurred to me that either musicians in certain genres don’t appreciate “Something Stupid” or Sinatra or, alternatively, “Something Stupid” is just the type of Poptastic Day song that’s best left altered as little as possible.
Something Stupid - Original by Frank & Nancy Sinatra (Old School)
Something Stupid - Covered by Ashley Slater (Hip-N-Jazzy)
Something Stupid - Covered by Global Kryner (Folksy)
Something Stupid - Covered by Rich Little (as John Wayne & Clint Eastwood)
Did you know that “Jump” was Van Halen’s only #1 hit? And that, according to some stories, it was the catalyst for their split with David Lee Roth? (Who was supposedly against the new synth-pop direction the band took with this single.) The wikipedia explains that this story is unlikely, for various reasons. But if it’s true, it must be water under the bridge and all that, because the wikipedia also says that’s it’s been the encore song every night on their reunion tour with David Lee Roth. Yup, at some point you’ve got to just embrace what the people love and go with it.
A real Van Halen fan probably already knows all of this stuff, but I’m not that. Pretty much all I know about Van Halen is this one song. I’m just a big fun pop song fan, and this is one of the best.
Van Halen - Jump
Every time I listen to “Tighten Up”, I wish I was a Drell and Archie Bell would yell out, ‘Come on Tamboosh, tighten up on that kazoo!’. Then I’d play a wicked little solo that would make him do that badass Archie Bell chuckle and say ‘Aww yeah, sock it to me now!’. Hmm, a girl can dream, right?
Archie Bell & The Drells have had more hits but this cooler than cool, soul single from 1968 probably still lines their pockets. The Tighten Up was a dance and a call on friends to play some tunes and feel the funk. Yo La Tengo has covered it on their 2006 covers album Yo La Tengo Is Murdering The Classics and managed to make this supafly song sound adorable.
Archie Bell & The Drells - Tighten Up
Yo La Tengo - Tighten Up
If you’re a fan, I’m sorry. But, Barry White is one of the poster boys for Poptastic Day. However, as we have said in the past poptastic doesn’t equate to crap. In fact, quite often, it’s just the opposite. Yes, it may, just as often, be corny or cheesy as hell. That just makes it better.
“You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” may be best known to Generation X as the Biscuit’s theme in Ally McBeal. When I hear it I see that goofball pumping himself up with confidence in the unisex bathroom mirror. Which is why the song is so effective - only a poptastic song would do. And it did. It’s forever burned into my brain because of those scenes.
What is poptastic to one is frequently a hit to many others. “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” was on Can’t Get Enough (1974), an album that featured a #1 (”Can’t Get Enough”), a #2 (the subject of today’s Poptastic Day) and was selected as #281 on the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time. ALL TIME.
Now, that is The Power of the Poptastic.
Barry White - You’re The First, The Last, My Everything
Postscript - The photo accompanying this post was specifically selected because I couldn’t help wondering who the Special Agent was in the background. Does he not look out of place? I imagine him wondering “How did I end up here?” Perhaps what he’s really thinking is … “That Barry White is one cool cat. I wish I could be more like him.”
To celebrate the big weekend 100b had, thanks to all you Manic Street Preachers fans, and our first time on the top of The Hype Machine’s Popular Tracks List (well, we’ve been bumped now, but I swear we were #1 for a while there), I’m going to have a look at another great cover song.
Generally speaking, things are most Poptastic when they’re not taken too seriously. A very earnest song that’s really crappy is usually just a crappy song. But when taken with a with a sense of humor, that crappy song can sometimes go so far that it’s good. Absurdity + A Giggle = Poptasticism. If you listened to Styx’s “Come Sail Away” (possibly my all-time Poptastic favorite) literally, it would be one of the dumbest things you’d ever heard. But the ability to laugh with it makes it fantastically fun.
Many moons ago, aDawgg and I referred to this as the Fugly Scale - though it’s really more of a cycle - and it works with all kinds of different things. Jokes can be so dumb they’re funny - this applies to almost anything in the “yo’ momma” or “that’s what she said” areas. Movies can be so horrendously bad they’re hilarious (see also: The Wiz). If you don’t enjoy the dumbassness of them, they’re just crap.
So, following that totally half-baked theory through a little further: if something that isn’t Poptastic (because it takes itself too seriously) is then refurnished by someone who can have a giggle, does it then become Poptastic? Inverse Poptasticism, if you will.
I downloaded this live cover from a blog at least three years ago (I have no idea who, so I apologize for not giving proper credit), and it at least doesn’t disprove this nonsense. On its own, Avril Lavigne’s “Complicated” is just an annoyingly catchy, big dumb pop song. Ben Gibbard has a laugh with it and turns it into an awesome cover version, thus embracing Poptasticism.
Ben Gibbard - Complicated (Live)
The Flamingos’ version of “I Only Have Eyes For You” from 1959 has an immediate romantic impact. Even before the vocals chime in, the music magically transports you to a warm, fuzzy place, so it’s not surprising it can be found on a long list of soundtracks. From the Sopranos to My Girl (the sugary sweet movie in which Macaulay Culkin suffers a death by bees), this is the love ballad used to underscore romantic moments. When I first heard it in full, I couldn’t remember it beyond the first chorus, even though I’d heard it a thousand times. See, that’s where it normally cuts to the next scene, or where the Time-Life advertisement switches to the next classic hit from the Lifetime Of Romance Box Set.
This song has transformed into an icon of romance. You know when you hear it there are candles, googoo eyes, and slow dances in the near future. That’s why I think it’s Poptastic, not because it’s so bad it’s good, as is usually the case, but because it’s enough already! I’m sure there are plenty of other songs that are fit to take over the torch of love. How about giving The Moonglows’ “Most Of All” a go? Or, instead of a Doo-Wop ballad, how about Bright Eyes’ “First Day Of My Life”? Judge for yourself, could these songs carry a romantic scene just as well as “I Only Have Eyes For You”? I think they do, but what do I know, I think cheese is a romantic gift.
The Moonglows - Most Of All
Bright Eyes - First Day Of My Life
To be fair, this song could be filed under Classics. However, it’ll forever be ever so slightly flawed and poptasticized for many Americans of a particular generation thanks (sarcasm) to the California Raisin Advisory Board and the claymation California Raisins. The CALRAB closed up shop in 1994 but their painful legacy lives on in our social memory. Bastards.
Thankfully, the original two releases are still amazing songs, even if played so often you may think they’ve lost their punch. They haven’t. The California Raisins studio version was a dry and drained Poptastic nightmare, but Gladys Night & The Pips and Marvin Gaye turned in #2 and #1 chart performances in 1967 and 1968, respectively, with Gaye’s widely considered an All Time Classic.
Gladys Night & The Pips - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Have you all heard about the upcoming Austrian movie about Falco? (Watch the trailer - with no subtitles, sadly - here.) You have to ask - does Falco need a whole movie, really? Well, I can’t be sure until I see what is sure to be an awesomely Poptastic movie for myself, but after reading his wikipedia entry, it seems his achievements are a little more interesting than I expected.
But this song is still pretty silly.
Falco - Rock Me Amadeus
My all-time favorite nineties movie soundtrack is from the movie Panther. It was directed by Mario Van Peebles in 1995 and it chronicled the story of The Black Panther movement … or so I’ve been told. I have to admit that erm, to this day I still haven’t seen the movie, but the line-up for the soundtrack was so spectacular I just had to buy it. The movie’s theme “Freedom” is incredible, it’s anthemic and empowering and I always get goosebumps when the chorus kicks in. Though I haven’t seen the movie yet, I can’t imagine its impact can be more powerful than this song. The list of contributing artist is a who’s who of popular female artists from the nineties, some I’ve never even heard of:
Aaliyah, Felicia Adams, May May Ali, MC Lyte, Amel Larrieux, Az-Iz, Blackgirl, Mary J. Blige, Tanya Blount, Brownstone, Casserine, Changing Faces, Tyler Collins, N’Dea Davenport, Da 5 Footaz, E.V.E., Emage, En Vogue, Eshe & Laurena of Arrested Development, Female, For Real, Penny Ford, Lalah Hathaway, Jade, Jamecia, Jazzyfatnastees, Billy Lawrence, Joi, Brigette McWilliams, Milira, Miss Jones, Cindy Mizelle, Monica, Me’Shell NdegéOcello, Natasha, Nefertiti, Patra, Pebbles, Pure Soul, Raja-Nee, Brenda Russell, SWV, Chantay Savage, Sonja Marie, Tracie Spencer, Sweet Sable, TLC, Terri & Monica, Vybe, Crystal Waters, Caron Wheeler, Karyn White, Vanessa Williams, Xscape, Y?N-Vee, Zhané.
Oh man, I totally forgot about the Jazzyfatnastees and Y?N-Vee! What great band names. Anyway, I’m not sure this song belongs on Poptastic Day, now that I think about it. It definitely suits the Classics better because it’s just too good and I love it so very much, but once I listened to the song again I couldn’t wait to do this post, so here it is:
Various Artists - Freedom (Theme From Panther)
The video shows all these amazing artists in action:
Now you know this shiznit is gonna slam when the emcee is Kevie ‘Waterbed’ Kev (a.k.a. Kevin Strong) from The Fantastic Five. He’s a ladies man and that’s all there is to it.
Don’t believe me? Check this 1983 track out …
Kevie Kev - All Night Long (Waterbed)
Touch it, why don’tcha.
When I was around ten I would run home right after school to catch my favorite zany high school sit-com, Saved By The Bell. Now, I’m talking about the original series, not the lame new class/college crap that came after it. Zack, Kelly, Slater, Jessie, Lisa and everybody’s Top Two, token nineties nerd Screech, would get into crazy adventures, which all took place either on school property or at their local diner, The Max.
The best episodes, which goes for any show, are always the ones that amuse and educate. My favorite edutainment episode is called “Jessie’s Song”. It’s the one where Jessie gets hooked on caffeine pills, because she has to cram for an exam and star in an aerobics-inspired music video with her two girlfriends, while singing their own catchy pop song. Understandably, the pressure is too much and after a good 25 minutes she finally cracks in Zack’s arms singing “I’m so excited” over and over again, but ends with a tearful “I’m so scared”. It was and still is one of the most heartbreaking moments in TV history. It taught my generation to just say no to caffeine and that spandex looks good on everybody.
To my utter disappointment I can’t find Jessie, Kelly and Lisa’s song anywhere, which is a pity because it is a stunning piece of Poptasticity. I did come across the video, so here is “Go For It!” by Jessie And The Hot Sundaes. I think it really is sung by the actors and I’m sure it would have launched their Pop careers if it weren’t for that poor, brainy, crackhead Jessie. It looks like a high school version of “Let’s Get Physical” and shows a dim spark of Elizabeth Berkley’s later role as scantily clad, gyrating showgirl in Showgirls:
Not too long ago the Macarena came up in a recent post and the subject of dance fads brought along the Soulja Boy Dance craze that’s been sweeping the world lately. I didn’t know it was as popular as it is until I saw a ten minute segment on a BBC show about it the other day, which involved a man, who probably is a bit more mature than Soulja Boy’s target audience, doing the dance in a Flashdance type outfit. It was special. Anyway, it got me thinking about all the Hip Hop hits that came out lately that had some sort of dance especially designed for it.
Fear of looking like MC Hammer, or worse, a teeny bopper and consequently losing their hood membership card, made the head-nod and the C-Walk the only approved moves among serious rap artists of the early and mid-nineties. Hip Hop purists, who look back fondly at that time when ‘Hip Hop had something to say’, are less than amused with the new wave of fun, flighty rap songs who encourage all the zany dancing. Especially, Hip Hop from the South of the US has been accused of “killing” the industry with the introduction of Crunk and Snap. Their songs are said to be low in quality and lyrical content, but why can’t there be a serious, deep side as well as a simple, booty shaking side to Hip Hop and everything in between? Such a versatile medium surely can contain the full spectrum of entertainment? I like that many recent artists just want to see their audience dance to their music. It’s part of a grand tradition of songs that set off dance crazes. The Twist, the Jerk, the Mashed Potato were all great songs with great dances and I’m glad that our generation will have some dances to look back on as well to mark the time other than that darn Macarena.
I’m gonna try to list most of the biggest songs that sparked dance crazes from the last three years. Most of these dances are mixed and matched, and combined with the dancer’s own personal styles. Now, I’m sure I’ll miss a lot of the dances around but I’m no dance expert so don’t take it personally if I don’t mention your favorite song or dance. Alright, here they are with either a link to the video or an mp3:
Huey - Pop, Lock & Drop It (video)
I suspect that Pop, Lock & Drop It from the summer of 2006 like “Laffy Taffy” and “Salt Shaker”, is just another way to have girls shake their stuff, but cleverly disguised as a fun dance move. The dance is not that complicated, but it is hard on the thighs.
DJ Webstar & Young B - Chicken Noodle Soup
The Chicken Noodle Soup dance, originally from Harlem, inspired this song and it became last year’s summer hit. It sounds a bit like a cross between The Buckwheat Boyz’ “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” and anything by Fatman Scoop, but both the song and the frantic dance are soso catchy.
Terror Squad ft. Fat Joe & Remy Ma - Lean Back (video)
Released in the summer of 2004 “Lean Back” fast became HUGE, and one of the few moves here that everybody can do, all you gotta do is lean back and rock away with some attitude.
Jason Foxx & The Hood Presidents - Aunt Jackie
A hit from earlier this year and my absolute FAVORITE song and dance in this list. It has an old skool flow, it’s funky and contagious and it makes me yearn for those days when I was little and we used to have block parties just for us kids in the summer in my neighborhood. Growing up sucks.
Dem Franchize Boys - Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It
This group from Atlanta popularized The Snap Dance. I’m not sure this song counts as a dance fad song, since the Snap Dance came first, but it fast became so popular when the song first came out in 2005 that the move is now also known as the Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It.
Lil’ Mama - G-Slide (Tour Bus) (video)
I loved the strong beats of Lil’ Mama’s poppy, high school themed hit “Lipgloss” from this summer, which also had a dance of the same name, but “G-Slide” actually calls on the people to do the dance. A beat is set to the children’s nursery rhyme “The Wheels On The Bus” and in a cute, fashion Lil’ Mama tells us how to do The G-Slide.
Crime Mob ft. Little Scrappy - Rock Yo Hips (video)
This song has the familiar booty glorifying lyrics, but it has a really cute dance for the ladies and those brave men in touch with their feminine side.
Unk - Walk It Out
Yet another Atlanta native who came out with a catchy song and dance at the end of the summer of 2006. The basics of the Walk It Out steps are fairly simple, but once people add their personal touches it can become a pretty spectacular dance.
The Cupid Shuffle came out at the start of this year and actually looks a lot like the Electric Slide when danced with a bunch of people. It’s pretty easy to follow, just let your feet do what the lyrics tell you and you’re there.
Down aka Kilo - Lean Like A Cholo (video)
Leaning like a cholo looks an awful lot like leaning back and doing the rockaway, except with your elbows out. But far be it for me to criticize a cholo, so lookin’ good and keep on leaning!
Young Dro - Shoulder Lean (video)
Yet another way to look cool while leaning and swaying.
3rd FLO aka Heizman Boiz - Do The Heizman (video)
The Heizman uses an American football move and is named after John Heisman, a famous American college football player and coach who also lends his name to a trophy that looks like a little bronze guy doing that move. This dance should be used when the person you’re hitting on has a bad case of halitosis if you go by the lyrics. I couldn’t find out a whole lot more about 3rd Flo, but I did learn that they’ve been signed to J Million Records and are working on their debut album.
Luch Millions - Bunny Hop
I’m almost scared to talk about Da Bunny Hop, not to be confused with the wedding dance from the fifties by the way. People seem to be very territorial when it comes to the origin of dances. Anyway, I hope I got this right, this dance originated in New Orleans, but other cities including Atlanta have put their own twist on the move as well. Luch Millions’ “Bunny Hop” is the more popular song, but it should be noted that Da Entourage from Louisiana also recorded a song with the same name. Luch Millions’ version uses the Oompa Loompa melody, which sounds weird but it works as a dance song. Though this is a big local hit the man hasn’t been signed yet, but I’m sure that’s only a matter of time.
Soulja Boy - Crank Dat
And finally the song that started me thinking about this post. Since its release in April this year, it’s been taking over the globe and it has the potential to become as cemented in popular culture as the term Bling, to the point where your great-aunt Esther knows how to ’superman that ho’. Yuch. That’s not gonna be a pretty image, but in the meantime enjoy it. And all you party poopers out there stop your moaning and get dancing. Hip Hop isn’t dead, it’s too busy having fun to care about dying.
Normally, for Poptastic Day we post something closer to the cheezy side of the musical spectrum or something so popular it’s buried itself in our musical memory. However, today, I have someone many of you may not have heard before or realized who you were listening to.
Better known as Dr. John, The Night Tripper or just Dr. John, Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr. has released more than 25 albums since the late-60s, sung commercial jingles and the theme to the television show Blossom, and worked tirelessly as an ambassador of New Orleans’ rich musical heritage.
Rebennack is, at least for me, most poptastic when exuding the the quasi-voodoo persona that more or less made his name in the pyscho-funka-delic late-60s and early-70s. His work is simply superb and, at his best, is mesmerizing.
If you don’t believe me, have a listen to the Poptastic Day sampling - in chronological order no less!
Dr. John - Iko Iko off Gumbo (1972)
Dr. John - Right Place, Wrong Time off In The Right Place (1973)
Dr. John - Litanie Des Saints off Goin’ Back To New Orleans (1992)
Listen to “Iko Iko” and tell me you don’t want to get up and dance, that “Right Place, Wrong Time” isn’t funky as hell, and “Litanie Des Saints” doesn’t haunt you already.
Go on, do it!
“Hey Mickey”, a pillar of Poptastic society. There’s nothing quite like this song - its wonderful combination of pure pop genius and absurd silliness is breathtaking. Definitely a classic.
But other than that, what can we say about “Hey Mickey”, Toni Basil’s much loved one-hit-wonder? Well, rumor has it that it was the inspiration for Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback” video. But we already knew that Gwen has awesome taste. According to the Wikipedia, “Hey Mickey” has been used in Disney ads, with the song referring to Mickey Mouse, of course. I can’t be the only one that finds that vaguely disturbing. “You’re so fine you blow my mind” should not be used to describe a character loved by children worldwide and that’s all there is to it.
That’s not the only factoid the Wikipedia has to share. Like a lot of things in my life, it all comes down to The Monkees in the end. Apparently, “Hey Mickey” was originally written in 1979 as “Kitty”. When Toni Basil recorded it in 1982, she changed it to “Mickey” to celebrate the crush she had on The Monkees’ Mickey Dolenz while working on their movie Head in 1968. Ah, a gal after my own heart.
Toni Basil - Hey Mickey
100b is back, baby! But don’t call it a comeback, we been here for years, rockin our peers and puttin’ suckas in fear… Ahem sorry, I got a little carried away, but you gotta love LL Cool J. Anyway, we’re glad to be back after our much needed two week break, but 2007 has been the year for long gone bands to come back and dust off their banjos after years and years away from the limelight. Here’s a little look at the bands - some more Poptastic than others - that have rediscovered their love of performing together and - in most cases - money up to now. There are many more bands who reunited this year according to the wikipedia, but I’ve only listed the names that ring a bell to me.
First up the Grrrl Bands:
In February, to much surprise All Saints got back together. So much surprise that everyone was wondering why? After years of not so saintly cat fights, tell-all books putting each other down and Elton John-type hissyfits, they all of sudden announced they kissed and made up and hello world they’re back! Sadly nobody believed or bought any of it and the comeback was a big, sad flopsy flop just like 5ive and East 17’s comebacks last year. Yeah, that happened. I actually used to like All Saints’ songs, but I too was utterly indifferent to the whole reformation.
The Spice Girls’ reunion in June stirred way more people, even though most find it hard to not cringe whenever they say the Girls part. There’s massive interest in their big tour, which is gonna start in December and they have a Greatest Hits album out soon featuring three new songs.
Spice Girls - Wannabe
Big in the Nineties:
Rage Against The Machine came together this year for some concerts and are said to have a couple more gigs in store for us. It’s pretty exciting, because nobody explodes on stage like they do and there’s never a dull moment with such an outspoken collective. They’ve only been back together a minute and Ann Coulter already had some venomy things to say about the band, their music, and their fans. Man, she must be a hoot at parties.
Rage Against The Machine - Take The Power Back
The Smashing Pumpkins are also back together. I sort of feel like this is just a consolation prize for Billy Corgan, because all his other musical ventures couldn’t touch the success the Pumpkins had, but at least their back in full nineties glory.
Smashing Pumpkins - Blissed And Gone
In June, The Verve said they’re getting back for the joy of the music. A more cynical person would scoff at this, but in this case I want to believe it enough to love the sentiment and I’m genuinely glad they are giving it another go. They’re touring in November, they’ve already recorded some new songs and you can download a 14 minute free jam session of the band over on NME.com. It’s only available for a week so hurry!
The Verve - History
I always get this old man rock vibe from the newly reunited Crowded House. I’m no fan but I’m sure a lot of people (read: old man rockers) are itching to see their favorite Aussie band rip up the stage with hits like “Don’t Dream It’s Over” once again.
After a four year hiatus The Mighty Mighty Bosstones announced that they were back together earlier this month. They came into the spotlight in 1995 thanks to the popular movie Clueless starring Alicia Silverstone, but they had been together for a decade by then. They’re said to have contributed to the creation of something called ska-core, which is a mix of hardcore punk and ska. I’m sorry I don’t know much else about them, nor have I paid enough attention to the band before to really care about this reunion.
For the Indie kids:
At the beginning of the year James let the world know they are also back together for a comeback tour. I never really liked their biggest hit “Sit Down”, but it’s nice to see those guys are still rockin’.
I’m curious to see what happens for Manchester band Shed Seven now that they got back together. They were never a very popular band outside the UK to begin with so maybe their work will get a bit more airplay, because they’re such sweet, surprisingly poppy, songs.
Shed Seven - She Left Me On Friday
Holy Moses, The Jesus And Mary Chain are back together. I’m never sure what to expect from a comeback, but all I know is that I haven’t been this excited about a reunion since them Pixies took the stage again a few years ago. Themselves influenced by 60’s bands like The Stooges and Velvet Underground and great big walls of sound, this feedback-driven band has spawned a plethora of new bands.
The Jesus And Mary Chain - Surfin’ USA
Ye olde big bands of yore:
The Police have reunited, though this is actually their third reunion since their split in 1986. Their last one was not so long ago, only four years ago to be exact, so what keeps people fascinated by this band? They have produced some wonderful pop songs, but I think the thing that really has people coming back is the mandatory eighties dancing that comes with their songs.
Ah, Genesis. Yep, they have reformed as well. I enjoy the occasional Genesis song on the radio, but I have no strong feelings about this reunion either way. I do wonder what Peter Gabriel looks like now, because he will always look the way he did in the “Sledge Hammer” video to me.
You gotta appreciate the Sex Pistols if not for their legendary status in music history, then for the blatant honesty of the reason they got back together. John Lydon just came out and said that the common cause that got them back together in 1996 was money. Alright I’m biased, but that makes me love him even more. I don’t give a flying monkey butt why these bands get together anyway so you might as well admit that there are huge sums of money involved with these reunions, so fake BFF stories like All Saint’s miraculously rekindled love saga are wasted on me. Anyway, The Sex Pistols are once again ready to spread some of their patented filth and fury and all that comes with it.
Sex Pistols - Submission
The lone (former) kid’s rap group:
Oh my god, Kriss Kross are reuniting too, everybody! Apparently Mac Daddy and Daddy Mac, the once popular underaged rap duo are going to release a comeback album this month. I haven’t really heard anything about this mystery album yet, but it’s still early so let’s give it some time. Even with the wiggity wiggity whack Spice Girls in the same line up this is still the most poptastic band mentioned here. This one makes me smile, after I get over the rush of backward clothing nostalgia, I can’t help but wonder who was petitioning for these guys to get back together? I’m not saying there’s no place for them in this ever growing list of reforming bands in 2007, but it’s totally out of the blue. I only know this one hit from 1992, but I think it still sounds as excellent as when I first heard it at eleven.
Kriss Kross - Jump
Well, that’s it for now, but the year is not over, so I’m sure this list is not done growing. I don’t know what it is about 2007 that caused this wave of reunions, but it’s been overwhelming. There have also been some rumours about a My Bloody Valentines and Smiths comeback. I don’t know what’s gonna happen with My Bloody Valentine, so keep your fingers crossed, but I think it’s safe to say that the latter band at least will sadly not be seen together anytime soon, since Morrissey famously said that he would rather eat his “own testicles than reform The Smiths and that’s saying something for a vegetarian”.
Hmm, I’m not sure if you could call Orange Juice and Edwyn Collins poptastic in the strictest sense of the term. These three songs aren’t knock-your-socks off cheesy. You know, the kind either so poptastic you can’t help but smile or so cringe-worthy they deserve a place in the Poptastic Pantheon. On the other hand, “Rip It Up” - Orange Juice’s only bonafide charter - does push the needle a bit with the blurp-blurps and sax when they take it to the bridge.
Orange Juice - Rip It Up (Intermediate Edit)
And, if cheesy pop songs are those that, once heard, bury themselves deep in your brain like that slug-worm thing in the Star Trek: Wrath of Khan, well, then Collins’ 1994 beats-bells-guitar hit “A Girl Like You” is a wicked one. I listened to it a few times while preparing for Poptastic Day and I almost regret it. And regret it. And regret it. Oh, the torture of the poptastic!
Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You
Finally, few things approach popasticism like Austin Powers and Collins’ contribute to the 1997 Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery soundtrack - “The Magic Piper (Of Love)” - features many classicly poptastic accouterments. Flute jams almost always garner a few poptastic points. But, when horns, slightly oddball lyrics, and a light-hearted feel are added to the mix a strong case is made for Poptasitc Day qualification.
Edwyn Collins - The Magic Piper (Of Love)
Well, once again, I’ve walked up to the precipice of rule-breaking here at 100b. I’m not sure if these selections completely meet our stringent poptastic criteria. I can only hope our readers will forgive me and enjoy the music!
The Jackson 5 are one of those rare groups that perfectly balance that line between Classic and Poptastic. Few will deny that they made some of the best pop music of all time - all peppy melodies, funky 70s beats, and the catchiest damn tunes around. And no matter how depressing today’s Michael Jackson gets, the Michael Jackson that existed back then was one of pop history’s greatest performers. Music that makes people feel this good will never go out of style.
On the other hand, the Jackson 5 was just a tiny bit silly - the outrageous outfits, the choreographed dance steps, and lyrics like:
Reading, writing and arithmetic
Are the branches of the learning tree.
But without the roots of love every day, girl,
Your education ain’t complete.
Teacher’s gonna show you how to get an A!
(”ABC”, 1970)
Oh, dang! That’s some skillful writing right there. And I never really thought about it before today, but is there anyone else that finds it a little odd to have a 12-year-old boy warning his girl about being trampy or else “someday [she'll] be all alone” (”The Love You Save”, 1970)? Boy, kids sure do grow up fast.
Jackson 5 - ABC
Jackson 5 - The Love You Save
OK, so early 90’s proto-nu-metal band Dog Eat Dog helped open up the floodgates to scary rap/hardcore/metal bands, but as many things the idea started out as a breath of fresh air. They managed to blend in some ska and big band influences in there as well, which kept the mood light and gave us the idea that they didn’t take themselves too seriously, unlike most nu-metal bands. Needless to say, I loved Dog Eat Dog and their 1996 hit “Isms” is about the most inspiring anti-ism song I know. In fact, it’s the only anti-ism song I know. It’s so handy too! If you want the person next to you in traffic to know what you stand for, instead of sticking on numerous bumper stickers that list all the isms you are against, just crank up this song and they’ll get the message.
My favorite part of the song is the chorus, I love that the big important isms are used in the first few lines, then they totally run out of good isms and end with Fakeism … I don’t think that’s a word, but darnit, I’m against it!
Dog Eat Dog - Isms
You’d be forgiven if you thought the photo above was Slash. It’s actually Caetano Veloso, a prominent member of the Brazilian tropicalia musical movement of late 1960s.
Tropicalia had its roots in Portuguese fado, African rhythms, rock (of the 1960s variety), and, obviously, various latin styles, all swirled together and often delivered with a political message. If you haven’t had the chance to tuck into any tropicalia before, then start with Tropicália: A Brazilian Revolution In Sound. The 20-track album serves as a superb introduction and is the source of today’s three tracks. In addition to two tracks from Veloso, have a listen to another of tropicalia’s more prominent groups, Os Mutantes.
Under the thumb of the Brazilian military junta, the movement faded as quickly as it blossomed. It should by no means be forgotten. It’s some of the most unusually blended and poptastic music out there. And, has the added plus of actually being incredibly fun to listen to.
Caetano Veloso - Alfomega
Caetano Veloso - Lost In The Paradise
Os Mutantes - Bat Macumba
Can you people believe that Tamboosh has never heard “The Humpty Dance”, Digital Underground’s 1989 #11 hit? This is for her…
According to the Wikipedia, Digital Underground supposedly started as a black power-y group, but took “a more whimsical direction, that of an updated Parliament-Funkadelic for the hip-hop audience” after Public Enemy became popular. Humpty Hump was the stage name of Edward G. Humphreys, a rapper who had suffered severe burns in a kitchen fire and wore that fake nose to cover it up. Except that he was really just Shock-G in disguise and on-stage diversions would allow him to switch from one to the other during performances.
“The Humpty Dance” isn’t really Digital Underground’s best song (”Doowutchyalike”, “Same Song”, and “Kiss You Back” are all classics), but featuring the classic lines “I get stoopid, I shoot an arrow like Cupid / I use a word that don’t mean nothin’, like looptid”, it sure is the silliest.
Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance
We heard that some really awesome people in the States are hosting Buffy The Vampire Slayer Once More With Feeling singalongs, like they do with The Rocky Horror Picture Show. We love Buffy. And we really love the Buffy musical. Pretty please, awesome people, bring your event across the pond.
Grr, arg.
Cast Of Buffy - Walk Through The Fire
Cast Of Buffy - I’ve Got A Theory / Bunnies / If We’re Together
Find out more about the tour and those behind it at Buffy Musical On The Big Screen.
Individually, the 30-year-old DJ Yoda (aka Duncan Beiny and pictured above) and Mr. David Viner are excellent artists. The former is a DMC DJ of the Year (2001). The latter an indie-folksy-bluesman guitar player reminiscent of Eric Clapton and Leon Redbone.
The magic begins when you put these two goofy-looking London-based musicians together. They almost work better than peanut butter and jelly with bananas. And, hot damn, if they aren’t poptastic as all get out for their collaborative track on the 2006 album The Amazing Adventures of DJ Yoda. Just the right amount of hipness and cheese.
DJ Yoda - Pussy Cat (ft Mr. David Viner)
For comparison by those unfamiliar with Mr. David Viner, here’s the title track from his 2004 This Boy Don’t Care, which has the added zest of flute-jams.
Mr. David Viner - This Boy Don’t Care
Check out DJ Yoda and Mr. David Viner on the Intertubes.
Most people just know The Knack from “My Sharona”, as do I. It was a hit in 1979 and then again in 1994 thanks to Reality Bites and it has been covered by numerous bands. I love that the girl on the cover with the hair and the nipples is the actual Sharona who inspired Doug Fiedler to write the song! This and John Lennon’s “Oh Yoko” are my favorite ‘tribute to my girlfriend’ songs. It must be so cool to have such a fan-friggin’-tastic song, with that ridiculously hot riff written for you. I mean Barry Manilow’s “Mandy” is sweet and all, but you know she had to have been supa dupa fly to inspire a song like “My Sharona”.
The Knack - My Sharona
Ever since I first saw Reality Bites I’ve wanted to dance eighties stylee at a gas station. Check out the clip here:
This post goes out to Bean, may there be no more big boxes in her future … except the ones filled with presents. Here’s another song for ya, B. See you soon!
Herman Dune - I Wish That I Could See You Soon
This song is so cool that it has been covered by everyone from The Beatles to The Smashing Pumpkins. Barrett Strong first released the single in 1959 and it climbed all the way up to the number 2 spot in America. He became a prolific lyricist for Motown and the song became so popular among other artists that it probably has its own manager.
Barrett Strong - Money (That’s What I Want)
I listened to most of the other artists versions listed on the song’s Wikipedia page and more and here are my three favorites topped by The Sonics:
1. The Sonics - Money (That’s What I Want) (1965)
2. The Beatles - Money (That’s What I Want) (1964)
The Sonics probably took their lead from the earlier Beatles’ version. In fact, you can clearly hear a progression from the original soul version of Barrett Strong, to The Beatles, who still kept the piano intro and the steady rhythm, to the uninhibited choppy garage rocking version of The Sonics. John Lennon’s raspy voice gave the song a rawer edge, but then The Sonics totally went wild with it and took the song to all new stomping heights.
3. The Flying Lizards - Money (That’s What I Want) (1979)
This one is just really fun and so different from the original. I especially like the woman’s very proper, bored-with-life voice.
Shaggy has had many many hits since he burst onto the pop scene with “Oh Carolina” in 1993, but in my opinion none of them come close to that song. Nope not even “Boombastic”. I never really wondered where the awesome old skool intro and beat came from, but it turns out there’s an interesting history behind this seemingly simple catchy song.
“Oh Carolina” was a hit by the The Folkes Brothers thirty years before Shaggy’s souped-up version. Apparently, it is widely recognized as the most important single in Reggae, Ska and Rocksteady history! Before “Oh Carolina” Jamaican radio was filled with exact imitations of American Rhythm & Blues songs by Jamaican artists who seemed to have abandoned their culture in music. Until The Folkes Brothers, accompanied by legendary Rastafari drummer Count Ossie, unprecendeted use of the local singing style and African beats established a distinctively Jamaican sound. Artists started to combine their roots with the R & B elements and suddenly the tiny island became a significant influence in music. Three decades later Shaggy’s rendition of the song broke another musical barrier and became the first underground New York Dancehall single to make it onto the mainstream charts.
That blows my mind, I never thought that the tune that I danced to at every single kid’s party when I was twelve had such a big impact in music history. Find out more about the song, including the original lyrics here.
Phew, I had a hard time finding it, but here is the wonderful original Folkes Brother’s version urging girls not to cry. You can clearly hear that it stands at the cradle of the musical styles we now associate with Jamaica:
The Folkes Brothers - Oh Carolina
And here’s Shaggy urging girls to wind their body. Oh, how times have changed:
Shaggy - Oh Carolina
Yesterday an article I read some time ago rolled out off the bed inside my noggin and got naked busy. The article was about the history of “Apache”, which, unless you’ve been wandering the musical wilderness for more than two decades, you probably know as the Sugarhill Gang’s semi-classic.
But, do you know where it evolved from and where it went to?
If not, this is your chance to sample some of that evolution.
From guitarist Bert Weedon’s 1960 original to the …
Incredible Bongo Band cut, progenitor of hip-hop bombs, to the …
homages in The Roots’ “Thought @ Work” and NaS’ “Made You Look”.
And you’d be a fool not to school yourself on this bit of musical history by heading to Soul Sides and reading the complete “All Roads Lead To Apache” by Michaelangelo Matos .
Bert Weedon - Apache (1960) Your Pop Pop’s Poptastic
Incredible Bongo Band - Apache (1973) Your Daddy’s Poptastic
Sugarhill Gang - Apache (1981) Your Poptastic
The Roots - Thought @ Work (2002)
NaS - Made You Look (2003)
And for those that just can’t get enough of the ever-poptastic “Apache”, here is the longer than a frickin block party Grand Master Flash remix:
Incredible Bongo Band - Apache (Grand Master Flash Remix) (2003)
In hip-hop circles Skull Snaps is best known for the 1973 funk protest cut “It’s A New Day” appearing on their one and only album. While they, almost literally, disappeared from the musical scene after their debut, the opening beat of “It’s A New Day” lived on through sampling by Gang Starr, Mr. Lif, Peanut Butter Wolf, Hieroglyphics, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, The Pharcyde, Camp Lo, Lords of the Underground, and Diamond D. to name but a few later artists. Prior to the 21st century re-release of Skull Snaps by the original artists on their own label (Ten12 Records) the, by then, legendary album was selling for upwards of $300.
But “It’s A New Day” tis not the focus here. Another track on the album, “I’m Your Pimp”, drew my attention on the weekend. It’s so straight funkified and has such ridiculous lyrics you can’t help but crack a smile. I mean, come on, how can you not consider Poptastic a song with these opening lyrics? “I’m your pimp. I wear my hat to the side and walk with a limp.” And for good measure, “Dontcha dare talk back to me. You better listen when I speak.”
Considering the affirmative message in “It’s A New Day”, holding up “I’m Your Pimp” as supremely Poptastic probably does it a disservice. To be fair, upon closer listening there is a message beyond how to be the best pimp you can be. I can’t help it, though. It’s funny! At least I didn’t post this for Soundtrack Day. If this was the soundtrack to my life, then we’d have problems.
This track - combined with the historic “It’s A New Day” - makes the re-release well worth a purchase for hip-hop aficionados and the casual fan of funk.
Skull Snaps - I’m Your Pimp
The Oranges (not to be confused with The Oranges Band, apparently), are a Japanese band of extreme goodness. Their album Young Now! (originally only released in Japan but given a US release in 2002 by Smile Records as Young Now! USA, technically) It is, from what I’ve heard so far, a wonderfully insane mix of Japanese pop and 60’s British Invasion influence. Here’s what Smile Records has to say about them:
“[The Oranges] have stumbled upon a fantastic formula with their shameless love of late ’60s/early ’70s rock via the Bay City Rollers, Hanoi Rocks, Beatles, and most importantly, The Monkees. They wear these lovely influences on their sleeves, which is fine by me, as they emulate them with such flair one can’t help but gladly go along for the ride.”
Ah, The Monkees - The Oranges are clearly a band after my own heart.
I think my very favorite thing about Young Now! USA is that all of the song titles are in English (”Miracle Child”, “Little Child”, and “White Rabbit”, for example) but the songs themselves are in Japanese, leaving me seriously wondering what these songs might be about. (I also wonder if the titles were in English on the Japanese release, but I haven’t been able to find that out.) I think not knowing makes them even better, I hope I never find out.
The Oranges - Hot Chocolate
I was watching Christina Aguilera’s video for “Candyman” and both the song and the video are a really nice, sexed up tribute to The Andrews Sisters. I was never a big Christina Aguilera ehm enthusiast, but lately she’s been making some great pop songs and it’s wonderful that she put the popular trio from the forties in the spotlight like that. Check out The Andrews Sisters performing “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (From Company B)” the song that inspired the pop diva’s sugary hit here.
When I was little I loved one of The Andrews Sisters’ biggest hits from 1945 called “Rum & Coca Cola”. Ironically, the original lyrics by a Trinidadian artist were about how the Yankees came to Trinidad and the local girls prostituted themselves to the soldiers who were very generous. Not exactly the soldier friendly stuff The Andrews Sisters were known for. It gives new meaning to the lyrics “Both mother and daughter workin’ for the Yankee dollar”, I thought it meant that they were selling drinks to American tourists.
The Andrews Sisters - Rum & Coca Cola
The Boy Least Likely To, like me, enjoys a good corny pop song. They also happen to be one of my favorite bands - just the thought of them makes me happy. And George Michael’s “Faith” is one my favorite cheesy 80s songs. To me, this cover is a match made in heaven.
I’ve been saving this for a new covers mix CD that I’m planning on making any day now, but it’s too good to keep to myself. Plus, The Boy Least Likely To are working on a new album right now, so it seemed like a good time for us to remind ourselves why we love them so very much.
The Boy Least Likely To - Faith
The BBC had yet another very successful Red Nose Day. Over £40,000,000 has been raised this year! Not too shabby, but it’s not over yet. Today the charity version of The Proclaimers’ hit “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” featuring Peter Kay and Matt Lucas as Brian Potter and Andy Pipkin is available in the shops. It has been available as a download which shot it to #3 in the charts already, but the CD single has the celebrity filled video on it, so pick up your own copy. You can still download the song here.
I don’t even know why, but I absolutely love Comic Relief and Red Nose Day. I’m sorry it’s probably not cool enough for a lot of people, but I especially love Celebrity Fame Academy and try to watch it every night. I just read a reader’s comment on a prestigious newspaper’s website saying that Comic Relief is disgusting because it just proves the excessiveness of the West. Geez, lighten up - it’s a charity and a lot of people have a lot of fun doing it. I have to wonder if comments like that are made by people who need to justify not donating any money themselves.
Anyway, this year’s Comic Relief single, as you no doubt already know, is Sugababes Vs. Girls Aloud, covering the classic “Walk This Way”. I have to admit I’ve never actually heard a Girls Aloud song, at least not that I know of, and even though I love Sugababes, I really thought this song was going to be a horrible disaster. In theory, it seems like a terrible idea - “Walk This Way” is a classic that I thought shouldn’t be messed with. But it’s turned out to be a pretty great pop single. It’s out today - you can get it here and give just a tiny bit of your money to charity. If you’re too cheap, watch the video and know that you could’ve done your bit to help for only £2.99.
This might be the best Poptastic song I’ll ever pick AND it’s by a legendary artist. I almost feel bad that I’m putting him in between 2Unlimited and Cleopatra. Yes, Poptastic Day is supposed to be about all things cheesy, but this was a huge pop hit twice. I know this Jackie Wilson song from the Claymation video in the early eighties, but it had already been a hit in 1957. I was six and I thought the video was one of the most amazing things I had ever seen. I had no idea who Jackie Wilson was, but I loved that little clay man belting out “She’s soooooooo fine”.
“Reet Petite” was used in a jeans add in 1986, which generated new interest in it. People who remembered the single from the first time around bought it out of nostalgia and the rest just couldn’t ignore something so fun and swinging. Combine the clever video with the mindblowing song and it’s easy to see why it was number one in the UK, Ireland and The Netherlands thirty years after the original release and two years after Jackie Wilson passed away. It’s pretty amazing that without touching it, it took over all those popular eighties groups in a heartbeat.
There are versions by a number of fantastic artists, but “Three Cool Cats” may be the silliest song of all time. I never knew the song was originally done by The Coasters, but that makes perfect sense. It’s a song that speaks for itself, so I’ll just leave you with these two very different, but equally wonderful, covers of this Poptastic classic.
The Beatles - Three Cool Cats
The 5.6.7.8’s - Three Cool Chicks
Hello world! I’m finally back in the world of digitalia, I won’t even start to tell you how crazy like a Bald Britney certain helpdesks and internet providers have made me this last month, but damn them all to the fiery pits of hell, is all I’m saying. Ok, now that that’s out of the way I want to say how impressed I am at how The Great And Powerful Bean has managed to move from the wretched blogger and keep up 100b so beautifully for so long.
On to greener and poppier pastures! Remember the wonderful year of 1982? Yeah me either, but I do remember this excellent song by the two Brummie sets of brothers of Musical Youth. I always wondered what a dutchie was, and apparently it’s a Dutch oven. Why then do we have to “pass it from the left hand side”?
Well, the boys and their target audience were too young to be singing about weed or ganja or mary jane or grass or whatever we’re calling it now, so they changed the words of The Mighty Diamonds’s song “Pass The Kouchie” - which happens to be about sharing a blunt with your friends, to something less intoxicating and more kid friendly. Since it’s a true Poptastic song it doesn’t matter that it doesn’t make much sense, it’s all about squeezing the most out of a catchy tune and a cute bunch of kids.
Oh and yes, kouchie means marijuana … if you, like me, thought it meant something more naughty then get your head out of the gutter you dirty, dirty, gutter head.
I’m always so excited to find out that a now established actor released some crappy album in the past. So just imagine how happy I was to see that one of emusic’s recently ripped albums is John Travolta’s Can’t Let You Go from 1977! I guess it makes sense that John Travolta would have released some albums around the whole Grease period, but I never thought about it before. Anyway, I picked this track because it sounded really ridiculous and it was definitely the right choice. I think I might have to download this whole album, this is the awesomest thing ever.
But did you know that (according to the wikipedia) John Travolta also released an album called The Road to Freedom in 1986, which is apparently a Scientology album. I have to wonder what makes an album Scientological exactly…
John Travolta - Easy Evil
1. Spending all day watching the original Star Wars trilogy (no fancy new graphics or edits, the old-school theatrical release) and doing nothing but that is Good. You should try it.
2. Princess Leia has a very dodgy accent (perhaps trying to sound posh, maybe English, it’s hard to say exactly what she was going for) through about half of A New Hope. It never resurfaces throughout the rest of the series, or at least not that I noticed. How did the people in charge not notice that?
3. Non-human creatures rarely speak English, but they all seem to understand it.
4. While many people think the Ewoks are crap, at least they have spears and stuff and helped beat down the Storm Troopers. That alone makes them at least ten thousand times more acceptable than Jar-Jar Binks.
5. It’s totally un-cool that I gave my Ewok Village Action Playset away when I was too old for it. That thing was badass and I would display it proudly if I still had it now. When aDawgg and I would play together when I was little, the G.I. Joes would come attack the treehouse, but the Ewoks were crafty and would always win. Or at least, that’s how I remember it.
6. The Darth Vader theme will be stuck in your head for days:
Star Wars - The Imperial March (Darth Vader Theme)
Because Blogger has been making me so crazy recently, and because I just don’t have the courage to deal with it today, I’m going to take a page from Badminton Stamps‘ book and do here what they call “The Pony Track”. Some might call that stealing, but I’m going to call it a sign of respect, since we love them so much. Plus, this is an act of desperation, not thievery.
So here’s one of my all-time favorite Poptastic songs which is so obviously Poptastic, you don’t need me to explain a thing.
We do not train to be merciful here. Mercy is for the weak. Here, in the streets, in competition. A man confronts you he is the enemy. An enemy deserves no mercy.
— John Kreese (Cobra Kai Sensei)
— John Kreese (Cobra Kai Sensei)
Anything involving Karate Kid Poptastic. How I know? Simple. Use science from high school. Here equation:
Music2 + Multiple Karate Kid References2 = Poptastic2
Poptastic with small number two very poptastic. See, not difficult. Understand? This science only good when use original Karate Kid. Not sequel. If you not believe, check out excellent poptastic song from No More Kings called “Sweep The Leg”. Many good references to original Karate Kid. Watch closely or you miss many thing. Video directed by Johnny Lawrence (actor William Zabka) from Karate Kid. This give you hint of what to expect.
I not vouch for anything else from No More Kings. Only poptastic video you watch on YouTube. Beware. Full video 7:44 long. But worth it if you enjoy Karate Kid when young!
The No More Kings official site
Am I the only one who wakes up with really random songs stuck in their head? I’m talking about songs that I haven’t heard in months or years, it’s totally bizarre. Where do they come from? I sometimes wonder if my dreams have soundtracks, I can’t think of any other explanation.
So I woke up this morning, just like every other morning, and the first thing that ran through my head was the chorus from Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On A Prayer”. I’ve been walking around the house humming it ever since. It’s oddly appropriate today though, because I’ve been having the same posting problem that aDawgg had not long ago, meaning I can’t get my Best of 2006 list to publish. I would explain the problem if it made any sense (it doesn’t), but it looks like I’ll have to re-type the whole thing. So I’m Halfway There: it’s written, just not actually on blogger. Expect it sometime today and enjoy this in meantime.
Bon Jovi - Livin’ On A Prayer
It may seem a bit ridiculous now that little girls are singing about their humps, their humps, their lovely lady lumps, but the Lambada’s sensual moves caused quite a stir. Two years earlier Dirty Dancing came out and it gave our generation a fascination with forbidden dances, but the Lambada is a bit dirtier than any dance Johnny Castle ever taught. I think Baby would have happily stayed in her corner for this one.
The Lambada had boys and girls grinding away on the dance floor in the eighties. It became really Macarena-popular when the French band Kaoma - who sing in Portuguese - put out a song in 1989 of the same name, accompanied by a cheesy yet sizzling Romeo & Juliet type video. Now it is still one of the most popular accordion requests on metros all over the world.
As you may have noticed, 100b had a little vacation from our regularly scheduled programming for the holidays. We all had a lovely holiday season and hope you did, too. But we’re ready to get back to business now, and we’ll be doing some end-of-the-year lists and posts soon as well.
Anyway, I wanted to post something appropriate for New Year’s, but I had no idea what. A quick Google search gives me only three songs about New Year’s: two that I’ve never even heard by The Walkmen and Death Cab For Cutie, and U2’s “New Year’s Day”. I just couldn’t bring myself to post “New Year’s Day”. Not that I have a problem with it, it just seemed too obvious and besides, am I the only one that actually finds it a little depressing? So I decided to go for my very favorite party song - it is Poptastic Day after all. A little disco always brings the year in right.
Michael Jackson - Blame It On The Boogie
Mr.Roboto is not just a song it’s part of the epic story of Robert Orin Charles Kilroy (or R.O.C.K, clever eh?) who hides in a robot to escape the Japanese Roboto prison. To thank the robot who literally gave his body to save R.O.C.K, he sings this song. Domo Arigato Styx, for the years and years of pleasure Mr.Roboto has given the world.