RIP, Dolly Parton.
Author Archives: Jedadiah Leland
Music Video of the Day: Everything Counts by Depeche Mode (1983, directed by Clive Richardson)
The video for this fan favorite was shot around what was then West Berlin. (This was before the wall came down.) Clive Richardson had also directed the video for Just Can’t Get Enough and the band turned to him, after previously working with Julian Temple, because they felt that Richardson could visually toughen up their image and help the band move away from the more self-consciously artsy style that Julian Temple had attempted to go with. The end result was a video that quickly went into regular rotation on MTV and a song that proved to be one of Depeche Mode’s most enduring hits.
Enjoy!
Music Video of the Day: Spirit of 76 by The Alarm (1985, directed by Nick Morris)
Today, we give a shoutout to Wales with the music video for Spirit of 76, which was written and performed by the Welsh band, The Alarm. In the 80s, The Alarm earned an international fanbase by opening for U2 and, later, Bob Dylan. Just as U2 will always be associated with Ireland, The Alarm will always be associated with Wales. The band is still together and still proudly Wlesh.
This video was directed by Nick Morris, who was one of the busiest music directors of the 80s and the 90s. He also did music videos for Cinderalla, Toto, The Rainmakers, Jennifer Rush, Europe, Eddie Money, Cliff Richard, Warren, and Radiohead among others.
Enjoy!
Music Video of the Day: Lightning Strikes by Aerosmith (1982, directed by Arnold Levine)
Lightning Strikes was one of Aerosmith’s first videos to be created for MTV. (It was also their only single to chart during the Jimmy Crespo years.) The video switches back and forth from Aerosmith performing in a club and Aerosmith in a hallway, about to go to battle with a bunch melons.
Director Arnold Levine also directed the video for Aerosmith’s Chiquita, as well as videos for Cheap Trick and REO Speedwagon.
Enjoy!
Music Video of the Day: Twist and Shout by Rodney Dangerfield (1987, directed by ????)
Twist and Shout is a song that has been a hit for a lot of artists. Rodney Dangerfield took a swing at it 1987, performing the song for the Back to School soundtrack. The video is largely made up of scenes from Back to School and introduced a whole generation of MTV viewers to not only Rodney Dangerfield but also Sally Kellerman, Burt Young, and Ned Beatty. They probably already knew Sam Kinison.
Enjoy!
Music Video of the Day: I’m The Man by Anthrax (1987, directed by ????)
One of the first rap/metal songs, I’m The Man was originally meant to be a collaboration between Beastie Boys and Anthrax. However, because the two bands could never work out their schedules, Anthrax ended up just doing the song on their own, with Frank Bello, Charlie Benante, and Scott Ian tying to do their best Beastie Boy impersonation. Even though the band viewed the song as just being a joke between friends, it went on to become one of Anthrax’s most unexpected hits.
Most listeners will recognize a sample of Sam Kinison as the source of the song’s primal screams.
Enjoy!
Music Video of the Day: Love of Life by Earth and Fire (1974, directed by ????)
With today’s music video of the day, the Dutch band Earth and Fire kept things simple as they performed a catchy song about Love of Life.
Enjoy!
Song of the Day: Gimme All Your Lovin by ZZ Top (RIP, Frank Beard)
In memory of Frank Beard, here’s another classic from ZZ Top.
I got to have a shot
Of what you got is, oh, so sweet
You gotta make it hot
Like a boomerang, I need a repeat
Gimme all your lovin’
All your hugs and kisses too
Gimme all your lovin’
Don’t let up until we’re through
You gotta whip it up
And hit me like a ton of lead
If I blow my top
Will you let it go to your head?
Gimme all your lovin’
All your hugs and kisses too
Gimme all your lovin’
Don’t let up until we’re through
You gotta move it up
And use it like a screwball would
You gotta pack it up
Work it like a new boy should
Gimme all your lovin’
All your hugs and kisses too
Gimme all your lovin’
Don’t let up until we’re through
Scenes That I Love: L.Q. Jones and Strother Martin Argue Over The Dead In The Wild Bunch
Today would have been L.Q. Jones’s birthday. Jones was one of the great character actors and a pretty good director as well. A favorite of Sam Peckinpah’s, Jones often played dangerous outlaws who teamed up with Strother Martin to keep the west wild.
In this scene from Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch, Jones and Martin play two greedy bounty hunters who arrive in a town after the Wild Bunch have already shot the place up. While their boss, Robert Ryan, watches in disgust, Jones and Martin loot the dead and argue over who gets what.
4 Shots From 4 Films: Happy Birthday, Jill St. John!
4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!
The beautiful Jill St. John, who did countless USO tours and was also the first American Bond girl in Diamonds are Forever, is 86 years old today. Happy birthday to the woman who tamed Frank Sinatra, changed the way people looked at Robin, helped to defeat Blofeld, and made every wedding special!
Batman (1966)
Tony Rome (1967)
Diamonds Are Forever (1970)
Seinfeld (1997)
Through the Shattered Lens 