Give It to Me Thriller

I was driving somewhere recently--can't remember where exactly.  But, as you know, I love to listen to the radio while I'm driving.  I heard "Give It To Me Baby" by Rick James, and I think it came on the radio a few times.  Must have been an 80s weekend or something.  Anyway, I hadn't heard this song much, and I certainly did not remember the AMAZING brass line in the background.  I was really blown away by the brass playing.  It is not easy, and these guys just rip those licks out of nowhere.  I'm still floored as I write.  Meanwhile, I had never seen the video, so I took a look and thought, YUCK.  Oh wow.  It has to be the most disgusting video I've ever seen.  It's not like it's really graphic.  I mean, it really isn't.  Just something about Rick James.  Yikes.  I know--he did have talent to a certain extent, but he just seemed so gross in this video.  I think it was his lips or something.  I honestly don't know, but I can say that this is one song that is TERRIFIC on the radio--and should probably have stayed there without the video.  Or, maybe they could have filmed it with him on stage--brass band tearing it up along with him.  Now that would be awesome.

When I did a bit of research on the song, I read a comment somewhere claiming "Thriller" was a "rip-off" of this song.  I thought, "huh?"  So, this evening, I was listening to "Give It To Me Baby" and definitely could hear the bassline, and "Thriller" DOES sound similar.  Oddly enough, the "Thriller" video has scared the daylights out of me since it was released--and I was just a little girl back then in 1983.  So, I thought it would be perfect to pair the two -- given the similar bassline and the fact that both videos creep me out.  I can't really decide which is scarier...  I've posted them, but I'd probably be scared to watch them.  You may be more brave.  Enjoy!