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“Santa Baby” is my all-time favorite Christmas song, and nobody can do it like Eartha Kitt did. Many have tried, but I’ve never heard a version that can even touch the original. The wonderful Ms. Kitt strikes the most perfect balance between sweet and girly and totally slutty - something young female pop artists are still trying to do today. Recorded in 1953, “Santa Baby” is both a pop and a Christmas classic.
In honor of the return of 100bells, my favorite time of the year, here is the painfully funky, “Funky Funky Christmas” from the New Kids On The Block’s multi-platinum Merry Merry Christmas album. If you’ve never heard this song before, I should warn you that, ehm, there’s rapping. By the New Kids. Which is neither funky, nor good, or christmassy, but I do sort of enjoy Joey’s faux-British accent in the style of Slick Rick and Dana Dane (Oh my god, remember Dana Dane?! He was from Brooklyn, for pete’s sake.).
It probably won’t grace any respectable Christmas Mix, but how would you recognize a really good christmas song - like the one posted below - if there weren’t hideous little gems like these? My absolute favorite line is: Funky, dope jam top on your christmas list, do you dig this?. Oh and, what on earth does ‘we’re gonna kick the ballistics off our christmas wishes’ mean!?
New Kids On The Block - Funky Funky Christmas
For a live performance of this song with awesome early nineties dance moves - check out the video. As a special bonus Arsenio Hall raps along in the end. Hooo boy, I still cannot believe I came across this highly significant moment in music!
There is no one particularly Poptastic thing about the Fun Lovin’ Criminals. Their being alone simply captures the essence of the concept. Produce good songs? Check. Don’t seem yourself too seriously? Check. Have a goofy take on a Pope of Greenwhich Village vibe? Check. Not afraid to look a bit silly now and then? Check.
They’re like a Poptastic Frankenstein, stitched together from some of the best and most Poptastic aspects of different decades since the 1970s.
The Fun Lovin’ Criminals are the Ambassadors of Poptastic Plenipotentiary.
Fun Lovin’ Criminals - King Of New York (Cooley High Remix)
Ok, so I’ve posted about The Sweet before, but I can’t help it - they’re just a fountain of bubbly pop absurdity. Don’t get me wrong, I love The Sweet, but not for their deep and meaningful lyrics. Who thought it was a good idea to write a pop song about Alexander Graham Bell?! It’s not like this song is new to me, but I was recently struck by exactly how ridiculous it is. My favorite part? The rhyming of “Alexander Graham Bell / Well, he knew darned well”, of course.
Now I must be off to write a #1 hit about Ben Franklin. It’s going to rock.
The Sweet - Alexander Graham Bell
Listening to “Open Sesame”, Leila K’s massive nineties dance hit soon put me in a haze of giddy nostalgia. It brought me back to school parties and holding hands with the second cutest boy in class. (The first cutest boy had a hand-holding relationship with some other stoopid girl.) But the Moroccan via Sweden ragga-rap-europop songstress life’s story is so sad, the giddiness soon turned into a sad, droopy pool of pity. It starts out nice and promising, not a cloud on the horizon. She was discovered in 1988 by musical duo Rob’n'Razz but found out she didn’t need them to score hits, as “Open Sesame” proved in 1993. Her raw voice and the catchy chorus could be heard in clubs all across Europe and the UK. She had one last hit two years later, but since then it got very quiet.
Then five years ago, there were disturbing reports that the former chart topper was living on the streets and supposedly prostituting herself to finance her drug habit. That’s as rock bottom as anybody can get, whether you used to be a pop star or a sewer inspector. Yet recently there was a rumor going around she was planning a comeback by the end of last summer, but I don’t know how that worked out. The latest tidbit is that she’s a lifeguard at her local pool, which is a whole heap of steps up from homeless-junkie-street walker. Well, whatever else happens to Leila K and her music career, I hope she’s safe and doing well.
LeilaK-OpenSesame.mp3″>Leila K - Open Sesame
In the annals of Crap Rap, 2 Live Crew hold a very special place. Not only is their brand of hip hop just painfully mediocre, it’s the sort that, for all intents and purposes, is designed simply to provide controversy. And, damned if it didn’t generate enough controversy and scandal to propel it to the top of the Billboard Rap Chart and into the Top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989.
That said, everytime I hear “Me So Horny” I start to crack up. I get the giggles listening to the Full Metal Jacket clip played over and over and, of course, in the past had to say it over and over to get on the nerves of the Bean. Ah, good times.
Someday we here at 100b will make a graphic of the Poptastic Wheel so everyone can see how the good-to-bad-to-good continuum works for this sort of stuff. It’s a scientific thing. Like physics or even chemistry. Put enough bad into a song and, at some point, it becomes good again.
2 Live Crew - Me So Horny
Released in 1981 and an instant hit pretty much everywhere, Kim Wilde’s “Kids In America” is an 80s Poptastic classic. I don’t have any weird facts to share about this one, this pop masterpiece doesn’t need it (and I’m not even being sarcastic). However, I actually listened to the lyrics today, probably for the first time ever, and I’m not entirely sure I understand what this song is about. (Don’t say ‘kids in America’, you smartasses.) It’s an oddly surreal portrait of a dirty town and, um, dancing, I guess - but, assuming it’s what she’s actually singing, what does “everybody live for the music-go-round” even mean? Is that what the kids in America were doing, living for the music-go-round? Hmm.
Kim Wilde - Kids In America
Nobody, I mean nobody, does Poptastic like Quentin Tarantino. From Reservoir Dogs to Death Proof, fans of the quirky director look forward to the music providing the sonic supporting cast almost as much as the film itself. And we’re never disappointed.
Some months ago, the Bean and I watched Death Proof, Tarantino’s 2007 homage to the muscle car replete with hot rods and hotter chicks. Among the many fine selections on the Death Proof OST is “Chick Habit” by April March (also known as Elinor Blake). A cover of a 1964 France Gall song, “Chick Habit” is one of those Tarantino selections so catchy you can’t help but stop what you’re doing and listen to it.
Absolutely perfect for the movie and 100% Grade A Poptastic:
April March - Chick Habit
The Lemonheads’ It’s A Shame About Ray is one of my very favorite albums of the 90s and one day I’ll write all about it for a Classics entry. But today we celebrate cheesiness, something The Lemonheads - apparently - understand very well.
The Favorite Spanish Dishes EP was released in the UK in June 1990 but then re-released in the States almost a year later. The US release had a couple of additional songs, one of which was a cover of New Kids On The Block’s “Step By Step”. Keep in mind, this was before it was a requirement for bands to have a few ironic covers up their sleeve. Also noteworthy is that the original “Step By Step” was released the same month as Favorite Spanish Dishes‘ UK release - meaning that The Lemonheads must’ve recorded the cover pretty much right as it became was becoming the New Kids’ biggest selling single. For some reason, this knowledge makes me love them even more.
The Lemonheads - Step By Step
I don’t get the whole lolcats phenomenon and I was so sure the love for humorous cat pics would die down, but it’s still going strong. So in the spirit of ‘if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em’, this one goes out to I Can Has Cheezburger enthusiasts. For some reason, cats were big in the eighties, even without hilarious captions. I only had a platonic love for ThunderCats, but our favorite pop icons were really getting it on with some cool cats, if you believe their videos.
The first one that comes to mind when I think ‘cat love’ is Paula Abdul’s biggest hit, “Opposites Attract” from 1989. She has a great dance sequence with MC Skat Kat, an animated, rapping, rebellious, streetwise kitty who knows how to bust a move. Paula and Kat have the obvious different species obstacle working against them, but to make matters worse she’s also neat and he’s messy, she’s got money he’s always broke, she likes it quiet he likes to shout, but when they get together it all works out. Ain’t cat love grand?
Paula Abdul isn’t the only one who had a feline fling in her videos back in the eighties, Gloria Estefan had her share of cat love as well. Miami Sound Machine has two videos for their 1985 hit “Bad Boy”, but I only remember the one they taped with the cast of Cats, for obvious reasons. I’m not a big fan of the musical; large groups of grown-ups singing while dressed up as cats creep me out, but I love the video. Of course the song is pure pop heaven, but the video made it even more memorable. It begins with Gloria Estefan coming home after a date with a preppy guy, then she starts singing that she’d really rather go slummin’ in back alleys with bad-bad-bad-bad-boy … cats. It features some awesome cat humor, like one cat drooling over a kitty centerfold in Playcat and a back street brass band playing for fishies. On top of that, it has a surprise ending M. Night Shyamalan would kill for!
This weekend I was watching Waitress with the Bean and heard the theme song from one of the more charming McG productions evar, Chuck.
Of course, this made me realize the Chuck theme wasn’t just a tv show theme. But, who was it? Well, if you don’t already know, it’s called “Short Skirt, Long Jacket” and can be found on the Cake B-Sides And Rarities album. Quicksnap, I bought Cake: B-Sides And Rarities, which lead directly to this Poptastic Day selection.
You have to love when a popular band is willing to release a cover of a song made popular by the Muppets. That’s class. Then again, Cake have always been somewhat cheeky. This version of “Mahna, Mahna” is a little bit country, a little bit Nintendo and 100% Poptastic.
Cake - Mahna, Mahna
I have to make this relatively quick today, so it’s a good thing that this travesty pretty much speaks for itself. From the BBC:
A remix of Singin’ in the Rain that was used by Britain’s Got Talent winner George Sampson has shot to number one in the UK singles chart. The song, best known as the title track in Gene Kelly’s 1952 film, was reworked by Manchester dance act Mint Royale.
Oh. Dear. God.
No, I will not give them anymore attention by posting that nonsense here. Is this a sign that Poptasticism is going over to the dark side? I’m sure you can find the Mint Royale version if you want to offend your ears badly enough. But come back here when you’re done and listen to the original. You’ll need it to cleanse your soul.
Gene Kelly - Singin’ In The Rain
Musically, Canada’s super popular eighties band, Loverboy is somewhere between The New Kids On The Block and Bon Jovi. When I think of the cheesiest of cheesy eighties sound, I think of their biggest hit “Working For The Weekend” from 1981. I actually really like it, it embraces every eighties cliché with such infectious enthousiasm. Even though it celebrates not working, I imagine it to have been the anthem to cocaine-fueled yuppie, workaholic, “Greed Is Good’, Patrick Bateman-types, who lived fast and partied hard.
Loverboy - Working For The Weekend
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 con