Michelle Pfeiffer not only starred in Dangerous Minds but she also appeared in the subsequent music video for Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise. It looks like she found an even worse school than the one from the movie. How many schools have people lifting weights in the middle of the hallways?
For a while, in 1995, this song was everywhere. It never recovered from being parodied as Amish Paradise. Director Antoine Fuqua has gone on to have a notable career as feature film director.
Enjoy!
Today’s music video of the day comes from the two less annoying members of U2, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen. Their re-interpretation of the Mission: Impossible theme was recorded for the first film in the series, bringing the franchise into the 90s. I am old enough that I can remember when the first Mission: Impossible film was released. I don’t think anyone expected the series to become what it currently is.
This video was directed by Kevin Godley, who has also worked with Fine Young Cannibals, Bryan Adams, Blur, and Hozier.
Enjoy!
Today, as Beck celebrates his 53rd birthday, we celebrate his video for Where It’s At. Directed by Steven Hanft, this video shows the many sides of Beck. He’s a rebel picking up trash for community service. He’s a country line dancer. He’s a robot that bears a resemblance to MST 3K’s Tom Servo. And finally, he’s William Shatner performing at the Saturn Awards.
Director Steve Hanft has also worked with the Cure, Primal Scream, and Delinquent Habits. Before this video, he directed the video for Loser, which introduced Beck to the world.
Enjoy!
Today, we we wish a happy birthday to everyone’s favorite Beatle, Ringo Starr.
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In 1994, a film about the early days of the Beatles in Hamburg was released. The film was called Backbeat and it starred Ian Hart as John Lennon, Stephen Dorff as Stu Sutcliffe, and Sheryl Lee as Astrid Kirchherr. In order to promote the film, a supergroup called The Backbeat Band recorded covers of several of the songs that the Beatles performed while in Germany.
The members of the Backbeat Band were:
Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum): vocals (Paul McCartney)
Greg Dulli (The Afghan Whigs): vocals (John Lennon)
Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth): guitar
Don Fleming (Gumball): guitar
Mike Mills (R.E.M.): bass guitar
Dave Grohl (Nirvana): drums
Henry Rollins (Black Flag): vocals (Stuart Sutcliffe)
The video for Money features clips from the film, along with Stephen Dorff, Ian Hart, and Scott Williams (as Pete Best) pretending to perform the song. The video was directed by Nick Egan, who went on to do videos for Duran Duran, Oasis, and Alanis Morrissette.
Enjoy!
Doubleback was the lead single off of ZZ Top’s tenth studio album, Recycler. It also appeared in the film Back To The Future Part III, where it was played over the end credits. ZZ Top had a cameo in the film, performing a country music version of the song.
The music video features both Christopher Lloyd and scenes from Back to the Future Part III and was nominated for the Video Music Award for Best Video From A Film. It lost to Billy Idol’s Cradle of Love, which was featured in The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. The Adventures of Ford Fairlane also cleaned up at the Razzies that year.
Enjoy!
And that’s how you sing the National Anthem!
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Would? was originally written in 1990 as a tribute to Andrew Wood, the lead singer of Mother Love Bone, after Wood’s death from a heroin overdose. The song first appeared on the soundtrack to 1992’s Singles and the subsequent music video was released to coincide with the release of the film. Singles director Cameron Crowe co-directed this video but the only direct reference to Singles is a quick shot of the film’s poster.
Would? went on to win Best Video From A Film at the 1993 VMAs.
Enjoy!
The anthem for dissatisfied 80s kids everywhere, We’re Not Gonna Take It has been co-opted by so many products and campaigns and political candidates that it might be easier to try to keep track of who hasn’t used it at some point. Dee Snider has always come out against anyone trying to claim the song’s message as their own.
The kid in the video is played by Dax Callner, the son of the video’s director. The kid’s father is played by Mark Metcalf, best-known for playing Douglas C. Neidermeyer in National Lampoon’s Animal House.
Enjoy!
In honor of Canada Day, today’s music video of the day comes from Rush.
Circumstances was an autobiographical song, written by Neil Peart, about how he came to be disillusioned with pursuing a musical career in England. (It was in England where Peart reportedly first came across the writings of Ayn Rand.) Realizing that stardom waited for him not in London but instead back home, Peart returned to Canada, where he was eventually recruited to play drums in Rush.
Enjoy and Happy Canada Day!
Through the Shattered Lens