MusiClack – One hit wonders of 1983

Tara: Guess what Michael? As I was perusing around the Billboard Music Charts for this week’s installment of MusiClack (as it’s my pick this week) I noticed that 1983 was a wild ride for One Hit Wonders. I mean, there’s so many it’s ridonkulous! We can’t even begin to cover them all. So thanks for pounding your head against mine and narrowing it down to these four.

Michael: Yep. There was definitely a little bit of mental strain when it came to picking these tunes, especially because they’re “OHW” worthy. Some are just goofy … like the first one below, Safety Dance from Men Without Hats:

Tara: It’s obvious, so I’m going to say it and possibly risk some wrath on the part of all our 17 loyal readers: I’m calling “gratuitous use of a little person” here. I mean really!

Michael: And … toward what end is he utilized in your opinion? Flagrantly? Abusively?

Tara: There’s just no reason for him to be there, other than for comedic purposes as in “look at this little person dancing!” I guess in the 80’s we weren’t so uptight about that crap as we are now.

Michael: Well … it is rather the Renaissancey-type atmospheric piece … and there were court jesters and clowns and the like of diminutive stature, so it’s not really a stretch. But, you’re right — things may have gotten a bit too politically correct.

Tara: I guess you have a point. You’re the one who used to hang out at all those fairs in your spandex tights, so you would know.  Or did you not want anyone to know that and I just blew your cover??

Michael: I did. I hung out at many a Renaissance Faire and I’m not ashamed of it. And in tights and other regalia. It was fun. And! There was the willing presence of little people at the events. Not to mention lots and lots of frolickry.

The song though … I hate to admit it, but in the day, it was infectious and toe-tapping. Still is somewhat.

Tara: I agree. Very catchy. But! That video is just a waste of tape.

Michael: There were lots of things wasted in the ‘80’s remember …

Tara: No comment.

Michael: *snort*

Tara: I think we both agreed to include Dexy’s Midnight Runners‘ Come On Eileen because well, who does not know it from beginning to end? Who amongst us children of the 80’s did not have some “arms over the shoulders of your buddies” sway-athon to this song? It’s a happy tune. I like it.

Michael: That it is … but … I don’t recall any “sway-athons” in my past.

And what’s the deal with the dorky hats and overalls? I have a theory about One Hit Wonder tunes: Maybe they wouldn’t be so “one-offish” if they weren’t made to harbor such doofus stories and images.

Tara: Don’t quote me (because I hate being quoted) but I think I saw on Pop Up Video on VH1 that they chose the overalls to try to convey the “everyday working man” image of their town where I do believe this was shot. Or? I could be full of it. I don’t know. But I think that’s a bit of useless trivia I have retained.

Michael: Maybe in England the “everyday working man” wears overalls … but it’s a foreign concept to this guy.

But again … catchy tune. Glad that was the end of them, though.

Tara: Oooooo the boys all loved this video. I don’t have to tell you that, do I? You could bounce a quarter off that! But(t)! I can’t believe we were all naive enough to actually believe it was Jennifer Beals‘ “real” body. When you see the movie as an adult, it’s much more boring and the wig on her stand-in who does all the dancing is just horrific. Horrific. The song is amazing though. It’s one of my favorite One Hit Wonders. And yes, I did do that ripped-neck-and-cut-off-sleeve thing to every one of my sweatshirts. I think my Mom almost fainted.

Michael: I’m right there with you. This is a favorite OHW of mine. But not because of the video. It’s all about the music for me. The off-tempo parts … the Eddie-Van-Halen-reminiscent guitar … the scratchy *rump-rump* throughout the song. The video itself is throwaway for me. It’s eye candy for certain, but I wasn’t taken in by it probably for exactly the reason you mentioned: the fakey-ness of it between Beals and her stand-in.

Tara: I truly didn’t notice the stand-in parts of the video. I didn’t want to believe it back then, I don’t think. We all sorta wanted to be her. (While being saved by the rich handsome man, of course.)

Michael: I did not want to be her. But I hear you. Fantasy stuff.

Tara: This Taco guy looks like a strange mash up of Freddie Mercury and Tim Curry. And how dare he quote Gene Kelly? Yuck. The only way this video would be the least bit cool is if it was shown at some bizarre Halloween party in the background. However! You’re a very strange man, so I bet you liked it!

Michael: After watching it, I thought the same thing. On first view (and it’s been a while since I’ve seen it) it’s Meco-y. (Remember the disco version of the Star Wars theme? If you do, you’ll know what I’m talking about.) As it progresses, it just gets weirder and weirder. It kind of pulls you in … you ride it out more and more simply to see what’s next.

Tara: Really? I was rather bored half way through.

Michael: Well … it is a bit creepy. And over-indulgent. And strange. Plus! This particular version is the “uncensored black face” variant of the video which makes it all the more interesting to watch. (Or terrible, if it’s that off-putting to you.)

Tara: Again, I guess we have to point out how much things have changed in video-making since then. No one in their right mind would even attempt it now. Ask Ted Danson and Whoppi Goldberg what happened to them, just about ten years later. (Do you get this reference?)

Michael: Oh … I remember it well.

Regarding the videos, however, it only helps to support my point: Maybe some of the OHWs — if not so weird — may have contributed to more success for the artists if they weren’t so hedonistic. Regardless, rather an interesting One Hit Wonder to conclude the post on.