This post is for Mike! Mike had commented on my last entry that I hadn't written about Cyndi Lauper, who was an important fixture on the '80s scene. Well, when I was in 5th grade, she released the album "She's So Unusual." The year was 1984 I believe. I absolutely LOVED that album and listened to it over and over. That was about the time when I think I was first allowed to have slumber parties, which were SO much fun. Yup -- just invite a handful of your closest (girl) friends over, have pizza, snacks, put the records on, and dance and sing (or lip sync) into the wee hours. Sleeping bags were there, but not really for sleeping -- more for giggling and storytelling in the dark. Boy, those were some fun times. It was just after we had started band, so all of my closest girlfriends were in band with me. Good times! Needless to say, my "She's So Unusual" LP was full of skips -- you know, from when you're dancing around and the needle skips and scratches across the vinyl.
Ancient Artifact - Corded Telephone
Anyway, this song is so notorious. I read that this video won the very first award for best video by a female artist on the 1984 MTV Video Music awards. I am not surprised. I probably watched the show, too. I remember waiting anxiously every year for it. Seems that around that time, Cyndi Lauper and Madonna were neck and neck competitors. Newsweek thought that Cyndi would eclipse Madonna, who they called the "Trash Heap Queen." Ah, yes, well, Madonna was also queen of re-invention and crafty marketing, so I think she gained more notoriety and sold more records, but Cyndi was always my idol. Her hair was just so amazing with its flaming red color (along with all the other colors throughout time). The video is terrific, too. I think I read somewhere that Cyndi's mother is in all of her videos, and it's true. Her mom always looked so kind and endearing. Captain Lou Albano played her father, and the video is one giant feel-good dance party. In fact, at the end of the video, she brings all of Manhattan into her bedroom for a dance party. I know it isn't all of the city, but it seems like it to her parents. I love the part where the guy comes in with flowers looking for her. He says, "Cyndi? Cyndi?" You can really see him mouth the words. Then, as was the case in the '80s, we see Captain Lou peeking through the keyhole to see what's going on in there. The vision of Cyndi and the boy embracing makes him irate, he opens the door, and everyone falls out. It's pretty funny. But, I really think aside from the guy mouthing "Cyndi," my favorite part is the telephone sequence. Remember telephones with cords? Amazing. I also think this is a perfect video in the midst of all the "binders full of women" satires. Yup, this is one video binder full of women. So, Governor Romney, if you are looking for some female "folks," call Cyndi!
I am in big, big trouble here... Yeah, I know. I had been blogging just about everyday, and then it seemed as though I fell into a black hole. I apologize and agreeably put myself in the doghouse as my parents used to say. Couple of things have happened since my last post -- including a nice, much-needed vacation. In fact, as I was driving home for vacation, I heard "Talk to Me" by Stevie Nicks on the radio. I hadn't heard this song in ages, and I really enjoyed listening to it again. My favorite part is when she sings "you can set your secrets free, baby." Yeah, how cool is that? I can imagine someone holding a bird, maybe a dove, and just letting it go. Or, perhaps opening a window and letting those pesky old secrets out. Set them free, baby! I just think that has to be another one of the absolute coolest lyrics ever in the history of pop/rock music. I listened to the rest of the lyrics, and it's pretty clear what the song is about. I like the angle of having Stevie sing to a man, because he is the one with the secrets for a change. Seems like women are always the secret keepers. Anyway, the song paints the picture of a couple, and they are having an awkward time because of his secrets. Yeah, I think he's probably got another girlfriend that he's hiding, and it sounds like he may be doing this out of spite because he was hurt for some reason.
The video for this tune is also pretty neat. Can't remember seeing it much back in 1985 when it was released, but I guess it was up against a lot of competition. Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, etc... You can see the fashion influence of the time, because Stevie is wearing red lace gloves at one point in the video. I think it's terrific, and I love when she kind of "melts into a puddle." I am thinking she did some of her own choreography, although other parts also seem very typical of the day (like when Stevie is joined by four other dancers in that "V" type figure). And, alas, there is a saxophone solo in this tune. I hadn't noticed it until I watched the video again. No offense, saxes, but it was pretty nice when I was driving along and hadn't noticed that part... However, a good ol' sax solo was also pretty standard for the '80s. Come to find out the tune was written by Chas Sanford, who co-wrote John Waite's "Mising You." Lots of similarities, but I think Stevie really makes this her own. Kudos, Ms. Nicks!
