"The Guy Under the Seats"
Hello there, Shady. I'm sure you never thought you'd
be seeing me again. I'll bet you were hoping I'd stay
hidden away in my little cubby-hole forever so that
you could sit up there in your ivory tower as the
self proclamed ruler of the blog world.
Let me ask you this, Shady. Do you happen to know how long
it's been since you ran an Eighties Greaties post? I'll tell you
how long. The last post ran in 2012. Do the math. That's
something like 20 years ago. Tell me, Shady, how does
it feel to play God year after year, foisting heavy metal
thunder, sugar-coated disco ditties and your granddaddy's
lame Hit Parade tunes from the 50s upon your readers?
Well I'm back and things are gonna change around here pronto. You see, Shady,
the vast silent majority of my fellow Americans agree with me that the 80s
was the last great decade for music. Therefore, I am staging a coup.
Effective immediately, I am taking over as host of your sorely neglected
Eighties Greaties. My first order of business will be to change the name
of the series to... Jennifer Jason Leigh Bridget Fonda Phoebe Cates
Christie Brinkley Bo Derek Morgan Fairchild Heather Locklear...
and, try as you may, there is absolutely nothing you can do
to stop me, mister smarty pants!
DEBBIE HARRY
Debbie Harry will turn age 74 this year, folks. Anybody feeling old?
In 1981, after a highly successful five year run as front woman of
the new wave band Blondie, Debbie began a solo career. Her debut
single, "Backfired," from her debut solo album KooKoo, backfired.
It didn't exactly burn up the charts in the U.S. or the UK. Blondie
fans were surprised and perhaps a little put off when they saw
the transformation in Debbie's appearance in the music video.
Check out her darker hair and sci-fi inspired look.
fans were surprised and perhaps a little put off when they saw
the transformation in Debbie's appearance in the music video.
Check out her darker hair and sci-fi inspired look.
"Backfired" - Debbie Harry
(Sept. 1981, highest chart pos. #43 Hot 100,
#39 Cash Box, #32 UK, from July 1981 album KooKoo)
(Sept. 1981, highest chart pos. #43 Hot 100,
#39 Cash Box, #32 UK, from July 1981 album KooKoo)
START PLAYING VIDEO
AT 25 SEC. MARK!
EDDIE MURPHY
In the early 80s actor and comedian Eddie Murphy began to try his luck as a
recording artist with varying degrees of success ever since. In 1985 Murphy
entered the Buffalo, New York, home studio of record producer Rick James
and recorded "Party All The Time," a danceworthy single that features
Rick on backing vocals. Eddie's party platter spent three weeks at #2,
bumping its head on Lionel Richie's chart-topper "Say You, Say Me."
recording artist with varying degrees of success ever since. In 1985 Murphy
entered the Buffalo, New York, home studio of record producer Rick James
and recorded "Party All The Time," a danceworthy single that features
Rick on backing vocals. Eddie's party platter spent three weeks at #2,
bumping its head on Lionel Richie's chart-topper "Say You, Say Me."
Watch and listen as Eddie Murphy and Rick James lay down the
sound on their collaborative hit-- "Party All The Time!"
sound on their collaborative hit-- "Party All The Time!"
"Party All The Time" - Eddie Murphy
(Dec. 1985, highest chart pos. #2 Hot 100/#8 R&B)
START PLAYING VIDEO
AT 45 SEC. MARK!
CATHY DENNIS
Since the mid 1990s, Britain's Cathy Dennis has enjoyed a very successful career
as a songwriter. Cathy has penned hit songs for Kelly Clarkson, Kylie Minogue and
Britney Spears. Cathy's greatest success came in 2008 as co-writer of Katy Perry's
monster international hit "I Kissed a Girl", one of the best-selling digital singles
in history. In the late 80s, before she started focusing primarily on songwriting,
Cathy made a name for herself as a pop/dance recording artist. In November
1989, Cathy's dance single "Just Another Dream" was released in the UK
but failed to chart. In the year that followed, the record was re-issued in
the UK and reached #13. The slab was also released in the U.S. where,
in the early weeks of 1991, it caught fire, finishing in the top 10
on the pop chart and top 3 on the dance chart. Here now is
Cathy Dennis on Oprah with "Just Another Dream."
"Just Another Dream" - Cathy Dennis
(first released Nov. 1989, charted in U.S. Jan. 1991,
highest chart pos. #9 Hot 100/#2 Dance Club/#13 UK)
TEARS FOR FEARS
In 1985 the English new wave pop rock band Tears For Fears achieved
back-to-back #1 hits in the U.S. with "Shout" and "Everybody Wants
To Rule The World." That same year Tears For Fears extended their
American winning streak with a third single, "Head Over Heels,"
which cracked the top 3 that summer and turned up in
the soundtrack of the 2001 sci-fi film Donnie Darko.
back-to-back #1 hits in the U.S. with "Shout" and "Everybody Wants
To Rule The World." That same year Tears For Fears extended their
American winning streak with a third single, "Head Over Heels,"
which cracked the top 3 that summer and turned up in
the soundtrack of the 2001 sci-fi film Donnie Darko.
"Head over Heels" - Tears For Fears
(Oct./Nov. 1985, highest chart pos. #3,
from Feb. 1985 album Songs from the Big Chair)
(Oct./Nov. 1985, highest chart pos. #3,
from Feb. 1985 album Songs from the Big Chair)
START PLAYING VIDEO
AT 30 SEC. MARK!
YAZOO
Yazoo (known as Yaz in North America because lawyers say so) was an English
synthpop duo, consisting of vocalist Alison Moyet and former Depeche Mode
keyboardist Vince Clarke. Yazoo enjoyed worldwide success in the New Wave
80s and their songs have been used in numerous movies and television shows.
In March 1982 the song "Situation" was released in the UK on the B side of
Yazoo's debut single "Only You" and therefore failed to chart. It was a much
different story stateside where "Situation" made the Hot 100 and topped
the Dance Club chart for four weeks. In this cool clip, Yaz performs their
U.S. club hit "Situation," better known to some as-- "Move Out!"
U.S. club hit "Situation," better known to some as-- "Move Out!"
"Situation" - Yazoo aka Yaz
(Aug 1982, highest chart pos. #1 Hot Dance Club Play)
FUN BOY THREE
Fun Boy Three was an English New Wave pop group made up of Terry Hall and
two other vocalists who broke off from the popular late 70s British ska revival
band The Specials. Hall, together with Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go's, penned
"Our Lips Are Sealed" which became a hit for Jane's girl group in 1981 and
was named by Rolling Stone mag as one of the 100 Greatest Pop Songs
Of All Time. In 1983 Fun Boy Three released their own rendition of
"Our Lips Are Sealed" and it made the top 10 in the UK. I like
this version better than the Go-Go's original!
this version better than the Go-Go's original!
"Our Lips Are Sealed" - Fun Boy Three
(April 1983, highest chart position #7 UK,
live perf. on Top of the Pops)
(April 1983, highest chart position #7 UK,
live perf. on Top of the Pops)
lines contemplating your navel while I hosted my new series
Cates Christie Brinkley Bo Derek Morgan Fairchild Heather
Locklear. Tell me, Shady... how does it feel to be cut down
to size? How does it feel to have somebody else up here
on your throne while you're way down there groveling
in he dirt and crying like a little girl? Knowing you, it
wouldn't surprise me one little bit if you pulled the
plug on this series just to get rid of me.
Do what you must, my friend, but remember, what goes around
comes around. One of these days, instant karma's gonna get you,
gonna knock you off your feet, better get yourself together,
darlin'.. Billy Bob Thornton you're gonna meet.
But, until that day, I'm gonna be right here
making your life... a living HELL!
I love, love, love this post, friend Shady ... The 80s to me represent freedom ... Making love, making kids, making money ... I listen to Sunny 94 Lacombe every day ... smiles ... Always, cat.
ReplyDeleteHi, cat!
DeleteHow are you, dear friend? Thank you for being the early bird this week!
Wow, cat, I am excited to know that you enjoyed my Eighties Greaties post and that these songs brought back memories of one of the happiest and most prosperous decades of your life. To me the 80s represent the last great decade.
Thanks again for your early visit and comment, dear friend cat, and have a wonderful weekend!
That dude is a trip. Sorry, the 80's were not the greatest. The greatest is right now.
ReplyDeleteWe tend to forget Eddie Murphy did have a hit song.
Hi, Alex!
DeleteThanks for coming over, good buddy! I'm glad you got a kick out of "The Guy Under the Seats," one of my favorite bits from the old Letterman show. I'm sorry you don't share my view that the 80s was the last great decade for music and a lot of other things.
Thanks again for your visit and comment, good buddy Alex!
I had no idea Eddie Murphy had a chart-topping song! As a former tv producer, I can't help but to remark upon that terrible green screen in the Debbie Harry video. I don't know that I agree with you about the 80s being the last great decade for music, but it certainly did produce a lot of good ones.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Hi, Ashton!
DeleteHow are you, dear friend? 2019 going well for your family?
Thanks for coming to check out this long overdue volume of Shady's Eighties Greaties hosted by "The Guy Under the Seats." Don't take my word for it. The vast silent majority of Americans believes the 80s was the last great decade for music. :)
I'm wondering if that terrible green screen on Debbie Harry's video was done on purpose, just as the opening titles of Better Call Saul are deliberately primitive and tacky looking for effect in keeping with the character.
Yessum, Eddie Murphy's "Party All The Time" was a big hit that played often in clubs I frequented during my second stint as a bachelor. I owned the 12-inch single and blasted that thang.
Thank you again for joining the fun, dear friend Ashton, and have a great weekend!
Hi Shady! This post brought back the 80's where I was neck deep in raising 4 boys, working, and trying to get "big hair". Let's face it, that was one of the craziest things about that decade...the hair baby! Well, Ok , the songs weren't too bad but mostly I was hearing them on the car radio going from kid things to OB/GYN visits! Have a great weekend! I'm going to fluff up my hair now!
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteThank you very much for coming to visit during your birthday celebration, dear friend!
Thanks for sharing your personal recollections of the 80s. If raising four boys and running them around in the car caused you to miss some of these new wave goodies, then I am happy to fill in some of the gaps with this series. Yessum, big hair was a popular look back then. Just ask your husband Jack. :)
Thank you again for coming by and listening to these Eighties Greaties, YaYa and, one more time, happy birthday to you, dear friend!
By the time the 80s moved into the 90s, I had lost touch with a lot of popular music. (too busy raising small children), but I do like several of the artists you have featured here - my favorite being Tears For Fears.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a good weekend, Shady.
Hi, Kelly!
DeleteHow are you, dear friend? Thanks a lot for dropping in!
Same here, Kelly. Around 1990 I stopped following current music, but it wasn't because I was raising children. (I was raising Cain :) Mainly I bailed on 90s music because I started getting interested in oldies again. I went back to review the songs I remembered and discover some that I had missed. To this day I am still finding more great songs of the past that are new to my ears.
I'm glad you like several of the artists showcased by "The Guy Under the Seats" including Tears For Fears.
Thanks again for coming over and have a super weekend, dear friend Kelly!
Manamanah … smiles. Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteHi again, cat!
DeleteThanks for returning to make sure I still have that goofy song stuck in my head, dear friend. :)
LUBBINS LUBBINS LUBBINS, cat! :)
Boy, wasn't that a kick in the butt!!! But a cool intro-I have seen that guy but can't put a name to the face. I love the "Granddaddy's Lame Hit Parade" remark, but how brutal!
ReplyDeleteI believe Debbie Harry backfired all right! I like the "Backfired" song as long as I don't have to watch the video again, lol! True, her "Sci-Fi" look is unimpressive! But I have always adored Debbie and am a true believer that she was one of the very first rappers. I would like to see her in concert, if I had the chance.
Yum on the Eddie Murphy/Rick James song. I have always loved the song, it is so danceable. And, what a treat to see this video...Eddie does good! I know Rick James was a mess, but I always liked watching him perform. I remember seeing him on Soul Train for the first time-I thought he was so cool! This made my day, Shady's host! The song is so "HIP" and upbeat-superb performances by both guys. It totally made my day!
I'm with you, Shady on the Fun Boy Three (but what a name). I like the unique appearance of each band member, and like the way they deliver this song. They send a new message with it while still surrounding it with a nice beat. One of my favorites today.
This is a good post, with different attitudes of the 80's. I personally liked the 80's music, because a lot of it set off good vibes which made for fun dancing and socializing. I didn't recognize "Situation", but enjoyed the cool, strong beat behind the vocals. And, Tears For Fears delivers good vocals and music which makes their style unique.
I hope you're having a cool week, Shady. It is cold and dreary here with light drizzle, that threatens to be a little frosty! I just hope it kills off some of the beastly bugs of summer. The birds are trying to force Spring and they are singing in the bare trees. I enjoyed your offerings today, in spite of the guy who took over host! Good Stuff. Take care dear friend, Shady! ♫
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteI hope your week is going well, dear friend. Thanks so much for coming over for the long awaited, much anticipated vol. 4 of Shady's Eighties Greaties!
I must be the only person who watched Late Night with David Letterman in the mid 80s because, if you and the other readers had, you should recognize one of the funniest men in show business, actor, writer and comedian Chris Elliott, as "The Guy Under the Seats." Chris starred in that recurring sketch on the Letterman show from October 1984 to April 1985. As you might recall, Chris also had his own sitcom Get a Life which co-starred Elinor Donahue, "Betty Anderson" from Father Knows Best, in the role of his mother. Chris also had a recurring role on Everybody Loves Raymond and has appeared in numerous other TV shows and movies. In the recurring segment on Letterman, Chris Elliott emerged through a hatch from a space under the seats in the studio audience, was introduced as "The Guy Under the Seats," and was interviewed by Letterman. At some point in their conversation Letterman always made an innocent remark or joke that rubbed Elliott the wrong way, at which point the mood changed and Elliott recited a litany of insults ending in the threat "But until that day, I'm gonna be right here, making your life ... a living hell," at which point Chris retreated through the hatch and returned to his hiding place under the seats. It was one of my favorite bits.
I'm thrilled that you like the 80s songs in the post. Between 1977 and 1987, during my second stint as a bachelor, I hung out in dance clubs. The Debbie Harry single was big and so was Eddie's. I also remember hearing the Yaz song "Situation" but my friends and I came to know it as "Move Out."
We aren't having anything like your weather. It is uncomfortably warm and the air conditioner runs day and night. I'm afraid winter has left the Sunshine State early just as the Groundhog predicted.
Thank you again for your cheery visit and comment, dear friend Suzanne, and have a safe and happy weekend!
No, I didn't watch much Letterman...only now and then. But, now I remember the guy. He was a crazy brother of Ray's brother's girlfriend, I think on "Everyone Loves Raymond". And, I know I've seen him on other programs too!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you're running AC. I'm sure mine will have to be turned on later in March. For now, I am enjoying the crisp cold weather. I keep seeing wishes and prayers for Spring, haha! I love Spring, if we ever have one.
Thank you for putting the bee in my bonnet about Chris Elliott. He is a very funny guy! Have a very nice weekend, and stay cool, dear Shady!
Thank you so much, dear Suzanne!
DeleteI'm glad you remember Chris Elliott now that I told you a little about him. I'm glad you saw and enjoyed his shtick on Raymond. I think Chris plays the same type of character in all of his acting projects - smug, superior, annoying, judgmental, yet childlike. I have enjoyed all of his performances ever since first seeing him on Letterman as "The Guy Under the Seats." I found a video on YouTube that contains every episode of "The Guy Under the Seats" in the order they aired. Click at the 45:10 mark to see an example of how the sketch typically ends:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccOS5OSrubg
Yessum, we are running the a/c day and night. I am in no rush for spring to arrive here in Florida. :)
Thanks for returning to chat, dear friend Suzanne. Please give Scootie a big hug for me and have a great weekend!
Tom...I mean 'The Guy Under the Seat'... you're so right the 80s was the last best decade for mewsic. It totally rocked and I'm glad you're keeping Tom on his toes. The boy needs a reminder of just how fabulous the 80s were disco, pop, rock, and all! :) I have to admit, you did spin a few tunes that I don't remember like 'Backfired' & 'Situation'. Okay, I was in college and my mind was more on my studies than mewsic. That sounds like a good exercuse and am sticking with it. Cathy Dennis is another I don't know but I'm blaming that on Mommy Amensia. Your line up is great and I hope you're able to sneak a post or two when Mr. Shady isn't looking. Have a good weekend and keep those 80 tunes rockin'!
ReplyDeleteHi, Cathy!
DeleteThank you so much for coming late on a Friday, dear friend. That was very nice of you!
I'm glad you got a kick out of Chris Elliott as "The Guy Under the Seats," a character I came to know and love from his recurring bit on Late Night with David Letterman. Chris is a comedy writer and brilliant comedic actor. He started on Late Night as a production assistant in charge of the "Stupid Pet Tricks" segment and was soon promoted to writer for the show and recurring featured player. To give you some background, Late Night premiered on NBC on February 1, 1982. I was working at an NBC affiliate at the time and we carried Late Night live. I loved the program from the start. A year later I needed surgery and was laid up several weeks recuperating. Since I didn’t need to get up for work in the morning, I stayed up late every night and watched Letterman, then continued to catch the show whenever possible in the years that followed. One of my favorite recurring segments was “The Guy Under the Seats,” a bit that ran during 1984 and 1985. It is always a hoot when the fake interview turns nasty and Chris delivers his put-downs and threats against Dave.
I'm delighted that you can testify about 80s mewsic being great. If you enjoyed this post then you will be happy to know there are more installments of Eighties Greaties in the pipeline, all of them featuring Chris Elliott, "The Guy Under the Seats."
Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend Cathy. Take care and have a wonderful weekend!
Tom,
DeleteI don't recall watching The Letterman Show in the 80s. I think it wasn't until the millinium that I began watching on occasion when DH & I were up late on the weekends. I'm not much of night owl. I was always the girl who fell asleep first at slumber parties. What can I say, I need my beauty sleep!
I'm definitely looking forward to your Chris' next 80s mewsic installment. You don't realize how good something is until it's gone but luckily mewsic never goes away, it just gets shelved temporarily. :)
Have a great day, my friend!
Hi again, dear Cathy!
DeleteThank you very much for returning to continue our thread. I am always delighted to see you.
I was a night owl in my youth but in recent years I have become an early to bed - early to rise person. I love the predawn hours. If I sleep in until daylight I feel like I have wasted half the day. :) If you were the first girl to fall asleep at slumber parties because you needed your beauty sleep, then all I can say is "mission accomplished." :) I'm thrilled that you enjoy 80s mewsic as much as I do.
Thank you again for your kind visit and comment, dear friend Cathy!
Big Tears for Fears fan and so was daughter as she went off to University.
ReplyDeleteI get a phone call from her the first week or so and she held the phone up, she was at an outdoor concert with them ! Then she went to a protest a few days later.
Love that child.
cheers, parsnip
Hi, Gayle!
DeleteThanks for dropping by, dear friend!
Thanks too for sharing stories related to Tears For Fears. It's good to know you and your daughter are big fans of the band. It's cool that your daughter saw them play at an outdoor show at her university and you got to hear them over the phone.
Thanks again for checking out volume 4 of Eighties Greaties and stay tuned for vol. 5 coming soon. Have a great Sunday and a wonderful week, dear friend Gayle!
Ah, yes, Chris Elliot. After the man beneath the seat bit had played itself out, Elliot began, with the help of prosthetic makeup, appearing on Letterman's show as different celebrities: Marlon Brando, Marv Albert, even Jay Leno. There was a metafictional aspect to these bits, as Dave refused to play along and instead said things like, "Well, Chris, I see you're Marv Albert tonight," which Elliot would then ignore and proceed as if he was the real person. Very funny. Also very funny was his movie Cabin Boy, but I think I was the only one who saw it! I haven't followed his career lately, but he was a semi-regular on the last few seasons of Everybody Loves Raymond as the Brad Garrett character's aging metalhead brother-in-law, his parents the woman who played Georgette on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and the man who played Martin Mull's sidekick on Fernwood (later America) Tonight (my celebrity name recall seems to be failing me today.) Elliot's father was Bob Elliott (THAT name I do remember, even though he was a bit before my time) of the comedy team Bob and Ray, so it's in the genes.
ReplyDeleteBlondie has since reformed. I saw them on Austen City Limits about a year ago. Debbie Harry doesn't even look 60 much less 73. True, she no longer wears halter tops and shorts on stage like she used to, but, as did Marlene Dietrich in her seventies, still dons some pretty skin tight clothes.
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for coming over on your weekend, good buddy. I’m very happy to see you!
I am delighted to find someone who immediately recognized Chris Elliott and remembers his character "The Guy Under the Seats" on Letterman. Thanks for mentioning some of Elliott's other comedy bits and acting credits. Mrs. Shady and I never missed an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond and enjoyed seeing Chris doing his familiar shtick on that series. We also watched every episode of Elliott's sitcom Get a Life. It was a hoot to see Chris in the role of an adult paperboy who lives in an apartment above his parents’ garage. His real life dad Bob played his father on the show, and Elinor Donahue – “Betty Anderson” from Father Knows Best – played his mother. It was surreal. One of the writers on that series was Bob Odenkirk who, as you might know, went on to star in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, two other series Mrs. Shady and I highly recommend. Get a Life aired from 1990 until 1992 before being yanked, mainly because it was too edgy, way ahead of its time, and the network suits simply didn't like the show or get what Chris and his talented team were doing.
I enjoyed the deadpan comedy duo of Bob and Ray and remember seeing them perform on Ed Sullivan, Dick Cavett and Mike Douglas. I see that Bob outlived Ray by more than a quarter of a century and died two years ago just shy of his 93rd birthday.
Thanks for letting me know you recently saw a performance by the reunited Debbie Harry and Blondie. It's good to know she's still got it.
Thanks again for your visit and great comments, good buddy Kirk. Have a terrific week!
Hi Shady,
ReplyDelete2012?! No wonder why I don't remember the other volumes, it was a few years before I started following you. I might have to go back to your old blog and check out the playlists. :)
I'm only familiar with the Tears For Fears song, and I never heard this song by Debbie Harry. I'm more familiar with Blondie and I like Blondie a bit better. Her solo song seems different and I can see why it didn't have the reception she expected. I liked the Eddie Murphy song - this will have to go on my playlist for the week. :)
I hope you're enjoying some warmer weather. I think these tunes will help me get through another snow day. Happy Sunday, dear friend, and have a great evening.
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for dropping in, dear friend! Yessum, you can find three other volumes of Shady's Eighties Greaties on Shady Dell Music & Memories. From now on "The Guy Under the Seats" - Chris Elliott - will be hosting every new volume, so if you enjoyed his hateful hosting, stay tuned.
I'm pleased to know I introduced you to some new 80s material. New wave artists and bands will be featured often in this particular series, and I'm thinking that might not be a category you know very well.
We are having warmer weather down here but I can't say I am enjoying it. I have cabin fever from being trapped indoors with the air conditioner running. That dang groundhog got it right! :)
Thanks again for coming by, dear friend JM, and have a wonderful week ahead!
Hi Shady,
DeleteI'm familiar with some new wave, mostly a-ha and groups like that, but not too much. I can't wait to see what you post and learn more about new wave. :)
Oh no! You can keep your warm weather, but I have a feeling that in a month and a half or two, we'll be getting that weather. Yuck.
Have a great Wednesday, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteNew wave was huge in my neck of the woods. It played heavily in the dance clubs I inhabited. The Eighties Greaties series will have lots of music in that category along with rock, pop and post-disco R&B funk.
Our warm weather left us in a hurry 24 hours ago and we had the coldest morning of the season, but the temperature bounced back somewhat in the afternoon hours. I appreciated the invigorating blast while it lasted.
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend JM!
Well, that certainly brought back some memories! I was in high school in the 80s, so I remember these songs well. Interesting to see the videos for these songs. The Tears for Fears one was so bizarre, I had to watch the whole thing. I guess I didn't expect the lead singer to look like that.
ReplyDeleteLots of big hair in the 80s. Glad that style is over. You wouldn't believe how much hair spray (Bold Hold) I used to achieve my big hair look!
Enjoy your week!
Hi, Sherry!
DeleteThanks for coming over to experience the new Shady's Place series Jennifer Jason Leigh Bridget Fonda Phoebe Cates Christie Brinkley Bo Derek Morgan Fairchild Heather Locklear hosted by Mr. Congeniality - "The Guy Under the Seats."
I'm glad some of these 80s songs resonated. You must have been a fan of new wave bands as was I and still am. They say video killed the radio star. In some instances it is a shock to see the face behind the voice. I always get a kick out of Terry Hall, the lead singer of Fun Boy Three, and how he sang in an emotionless, deadpan style. Wooden works for me. It often makes the song and the artist seem cooler. (See Debbie Harry.)
I wish you would post pictures of yourself taken in the 80s when you had big hair. :)
Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend Sherry, and have a great week!
I literally still have Upstairs at Eric's cd in my truck as we speak!! I am HUGE fan of Yaz/yazoo/ Alison moyet. I'm a true 80's girl so this post was right up my alley. Love Debbie Harry and so bummed I didn't get to see her last year when she stopped on tour in Dallas. She really is an inspiration for women rockers!
ReplyDeleteChris Elliott is too funny! Remember him in Something about mary?
Fun post Shady! Made me smile today which I needed. xoxo
My little brother loved Tears for fears - their song Shout!! I cant hear that song and not think of him.
Hi, Holli!
DeleteHow are you holding up, dear friend? I am pleasantly surprised to see you here knowing that you are still mourning the loss of your Nanny. It's good to know vol. 4 of Eighties Greaties put a smile on your face and planted a song or two in your noggin.
I'm thrilled that you are an 80s girl and appreciated this set of songs. You are the first person to comment who seems to know Alison Moyet and her new wave act Yazoo/Yaz. They were big in my neck of the woods and their hit single "Situation" aka "Move Out" played in clubs I inhabited around that time. Sorry you missed seeing Debbie Harry in DFW last year. Maybe next time. I am also delighted that you know my hateful guest host Chris Elliott and enjoy his antics. Yessum, I saw Chris in Something About Mary, Kingpin, Cabin Boy, The Abyss and Groundhog Day. I never get tired of his familiar shtick.
Once again I thank you for breaking away from your period of mourning to visit Shady's Place. I am always happy to make you smile. Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Holli!
Well, I have to say the 80s shook the room, but it's still not my favorite era. There are some I like, of course, and from this lineup I cop to dancing to Eddie Murphy's Party All the Time. Don't let this guy push you around, Shady!
ReplyDeleteHi, Cheryl-Lee!
DeleteThank you very much for dropping by, dear friend! If the 80s was not your favorite era, I'm curious to know which decade is. I'm pleased to know that the team of Eddie and Rick got you up on your feet dancing, no matter if you meant back in the mid 80s or today for the first time. I danced to it many times in clubs back then and owned the 12-inch single with the longer version of the song.
Thank you for coming to my defense in the wake of the harsh verbal attack by "The Guy Under the Seats." When I first read what he wrote about me, I raced to the bedroom, curled up on the bed in the fetal position and had a good cry. Thanks to your support I pulled myself together and I'm ready to move forward. :)
Thanks again for joining the fun, dear friend Cheryl-Lee!
Hi Shady!
ReplyDeleteI know it isn't better that I'm late instead of never, but I made it!
Wow - what a line-up of artists. Did Debbie Harry switch to 'business' attire before, or after this video?
I have no recollection of the Eddie Murphy song, but I'm impressed.
Cathy Dennis sounds a lot like Madonna - did I see Oprah in the video?
I'm not at all familiar with Yaz, but her headband reminds me of why I probably can't recall more than two - Tears for Fears, and Fun Boy Three - artists from that era: killer headaches ;-)
This has been an enjoyable stroll the old cobwebs, my friend!
Hi, diedre!
DeleteI am just now checking some of my older posts and found your comment. Thank you very much for taking a look and a listen to these Eighties Greaties hosted by Mr. Congeniality - "The Guy Under the Seats" - a recurring Chris Elliott character sketch on Letterman's Late Night show in the mid 80s.
Debbie Harry was such a dazzler as the Blondie frontwoman that it seemed ill advised for her to tinker with her look as a solo artist. I love "Backfired" with its dueling raps, and the record played often in dance clubs as did the Eddie Murphy - Rick James number. Yessum, that hybrid YouTube video combines a live performance by Cathy Dennis on Oprah's TV show along with footage from Cathy's official music video. I was ecstatic to find it.
Thank you again for your visit and kind comments, dear friend diedre!