web analytics

Pop Rock Nation

Tag: Friday Throwback

  • Friday Throwback: "The Boys of Summer"


    GG is headed out of town, so he entrusted me with the Throwback column this week. With Memorial Day weekend hearalding the beginning of summer, I thought it would be a good idea to post this classic video.

    A lot of people give The Eagles shit. They gave ’em shit back in the day for being a laid-back California rock/country band (and for selling a shit-ton of records), and they give ’em shit today for charging hundreds of dollars per concert ticket (and also because Don Henley and Glenn Frey seem to be complete and total douchebags). All I can say to that is…they won’t be the last assholes to make good music. I’m a huge fan of The Eagles and while I can’t say Frey even made enough good solo material to make a good Greatest Hits EP, Henley’s work is as solid as it is frequent. His solo career has consisted of: 1982 album, 1984 album, 1989 album, 1995 hits comp, 2000 album…that’s it.

    Anyway, “The Boys of Summer” is more of a reflective song than it is a “lay the blankets out and crank the radio up” kind of song. It has that END of summer, wistful feel, which I’m sure those of us who are undergoing some kind of transition-whether it be graduation or aging or whatever-can relate to. Bottom line-it’s a fantastic fucking song. That synthesizer part is one of the most recognizable parts of any song from that era-right up there with the drumbeat that opens “Billie Jean” and the sax part that opens “Careless Whisper”. Enjoy, and have a safe and enjoyable weekend.

  • Friday Throwback – Lady (You Bring Me Up)

    When I was a kid, my dad used to leave the VCR on all night recording MTV and VH-1, back when they both played videos. I guess he wanted to check out what he missed in the morning. But there was one video that I still remember until this day just because of how wacky it was. I sat there wondering why Lionel Richie was singing and dancing in booty high soccer short. Why wasn’t he just dancing on the ceiling? It was outrageous.

    – Those are some short white shorts.

    – They must’ve had to rehearse those dance sequences at least once before shooting the video.

    – Even the referee was getting his boogie on.

    – Which one is the father of that guy Adam from “The Real World”? I called him Adam Richie for most of the season until he did that terrible rap which lead me to believe there’s no way he could be Lionel Richie’s biological son with that lack of musical talent.

    – Did they just kick a basketball at Lionel? And really, wouldn’t this video be better on the basketball court? Imagine Lionel in those same shorts, except with a tank top sized jersey, showing off a massive tuft of chest hair and gold chains danging from his neck. Ok, I think I went too far with that one. Back to the soccer field.

    – Wait, I hope the girls threw those drawers at him.

    – You just knew that girl with the long hair in the pig tails was trouble.

    – There must be a “Behind The Music” story about how this video was a rib on a groupie activity that the Commodores had one time right? I imagine that story would start by Lionel saying, “One time, we were hanging out with Pele …”

  • Friday Throwback – It Was A Good Day

    While playing basketball on the black concrete courts of Mount Pleasant High School, I had some great times. But I don’t know if I ever secured a triple double. You know, when you get double digits in points, rebounds, and assists. If I did, I’d remember because that would’ve been a good day. Ice Cube remembers.

    – Does dude need to be wearing gloves in LA? It doesn’t look cold. Are they for driving? Do thugs wear gloves?

    – For it being a good day, Cube still looks angry. I’d hate to see what he’s like on a bad day.

    – See, Cube was just messin’ ’round and dude had a triple double. That’s a great day as far as I’m concerned.

    – Can you imagine Too Short and Cube watching Yo! MTV Raps? That’s a sitcom right there.

    – That 7-11 wasn’t for a slurpee.

    – He got laid AND the Lakers beat the Supersonics? Must’ve been a good day.

    – That poor butt went right to sleep. Damn good day.

    If you want to see part II, you’re going to have to Check Yo Self.