Category Archives: Music Review

Music Video of the Day: Wild Night by John Mellencamp, featuring Me’shell Ndegeocello (1994, directed by Jonathan Kaplan)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

Today’s music video of the day is for John Mellencamp’s cover of Van Morrison’s Wild Night.

In 1994, the opening of this video was the most popular 40 seconds on MTV.  I have traveled in a lot of taxi cabs and Ubers.  I’ve been lucky enough to have some very good drivers but none of them appeared in the 1992 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.  The driver, in this video, is played by Shana Zadrick, a model who was often compared to Cindy Crawford.

Back in 1994, if you enjoyed this video, you could go down to your friendly neighborhood Musicland (or Suncoast Motion Picture Company) and, for just $19.98, you could see even more of Shana in this commemorative video:

The other good thing about this video is that bassline, which was provided by Me’shell Ndegeocello.  Wild Night was released at the same time that Ndegeocello had her biggest solo hit, If That’s Your Boyfriend (He Wasn’t Last Night).

This video was directed by Jonathan Kaplan.  A former film school classmate of Martin Scorsese’s, Kaplan got his start directing films like Night Call Nurses and The Student Teachers for Roger Corman.  He eventually became a mainstream film and television director.  His most highly regarded film is probably 1988’s The Accused, for which Jodie Foster won her first Oscar.

Song of the Day: Revenge of the Ninja by Robert J. Walsh

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today’s song of the day comes to us from the soundtrack of the 1983 film, Revenge of the Ninja.  Composed by Robert J. Walsh, this soundtrack will definitely leave you prepared to defeat all of your enemies, ninja-style!

(Actually, don’t try to do that without getting some training once.  I speak with the experience who sprained her ankle multiple times as a result of trying to duplicated Kate Beckinsale’s Underworld moves.)

Music Video of the Day: Connected by Stereo MC’s (1992, directed by Matthew Amos)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

This was one of the first songs to define the decade that the 90s would be.  Of course, within a few years of the song being released, the idea of being “connected” would have a totally different meaning for a lot of listeners.

This is another video directed by Matthew Amos.  He also did yesterday’s video, I’m Free.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: I’m Free by The Soup Dragons (1990, directed by Matthew Amos)

Posted on by Jedadiah Leland

I’m Free was originally recorded by The Rolling Stones in 1965 and was the last track on the Out Of Our Heads album.  To quote Rolling Stone Magazine, the original song was a “folk rocker.”  The version by the Soup Dragons was much more psychedelic and featured a verse from Jamaican reggae performer, Junior Reid.  I’m Free became the band’s biggest hit, reaching the number 2 spot on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart.

Director Matthew Amos has also directed videos for Stereo MCs, Jesus Jones, Slipknot, and Blur.  He’s also film several awards shows and stage productions for the BBC.

Song of the Day: Two Mules For Sister Sara by Ennio Morricone

Posted on by Lisa Marie Bowman

This 1970 film, which was heavily influenced by Clint Eastwood’s Spaghetti westerns, featured a soundtrack from Ennio Morricone.  It only seems appropriate that his excellent work should also provide us with our song of the day.