On November 22, 1997, Michael Hutchence was found dead in a hotel room in a Sydney hotel room. Today we observe a moment of “reviewer silence” in honor of the former lead singer of INXS.  No ratings today. Just a good video.

For those of you that still think Nirvana was the original voice of the 90’s, I give you the Pixies. Curt Cobain once admitted that he was trying to copy the Pixies with Smells Like Teen Spirit.  You can judge for yourself, but I would argue much of the “Seattle Grunge” sound was aped from the Minneapolis scene bands like Pixies and Soul Asylum.  At any rate, this video isn’t much to look at and the lyrics sound like a bad acid trip, but this band influenced a lot of the punk and alternative music recorded in the last 20 years.

WATN? They did a reunion tour recently that sounded awful.

Trivia? Their lead singer changed his name to Black Francis. I guess you kind of have to go into rock music with a name like that.

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We had to give this video a guitar just for the dog wearing sunglasses alone! Throw in Valerie Day (who we here at Pound Note had a major crush on in the 80’s) as well as some cool special effects and you have one of the better videos of the 80’s.  The song itself hit #3 in the U.S. in June of 1986. The following year they were nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Artist Catagory (they lost to Bruce Hornsby).

WATN? After 2 albums Nu Shooz took a long hiatus. Happily, they are back as the Nu Shooz Orchestra. They’ve remade their early music with horns, strings, etc.  Look for a new disc soon.

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What the Bleep is this? That’s what longtime Scritti Politti fans had to be thinking when they saw this video. The band released Cupid & Psyche 85 in 1985 (of course) and it was a huge departure from their previous sound. Originally a post punk rock band with heavy Marxist overtones, this album was pure 80’s pop. I can only compare it to The Clash releasing something that sounds like Toto. Anyway, American pop fans took to it and Perfect Way was their first and only U.S. top 20 hit.

WATN? They toured most recently in 2006 with only one original member.

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Foreigner released Inside Information in 1987. The first single was Say You Will and it reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Shot in black in white, it’s a lot swankier than any of the videos from the Agent Provocateur album.  The guys appear to be in some NY club watching a couple of high class “pros” pick up some rich old guy. Other than that, I’m not sure what the heck is going on here.  Good song though.

WATN? Foreigner released a single earlier this year. It was their first new recording since the dismal Mr. Moonlight in 1994. Only Mick Jones remains of the original lineup.

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The Hooters released their album of the eighties on this date in 1989. I’ve always felt this band was horribly underrated. Although they had other songs that were bigger hits (and we will get to them, Ket), this song is one of my favs. It’s a tune that dates back to the civil war that they remade and added lyrics that were relevant at the time (including a reference to Tienanmen Square). Sixties folk icons Peter, Paul, and Mary sing back up on the song.

WATN? The Hooters are still going strong, after a six year hiatus from 1995 to 2001. Mostly successful in Europe, they released another studio album (Time Stand Still) in 2007.

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Living on a Prayer was voted best song of the 80’s in an online poll by VH1.  The 2nd single from Slippery When Wet, it was released in late 1986. The song hit #1 on the U.S. charts in February of ‘87 and stayed there for 4 weeks.  The album spent 94 weeks on the Billboard album chart, including 8 weeks at #1.

Looking back, the video isn’t that remarkable. But, it’s a great look back at the hair band era from one of the few acts to actually survive and thrive post 80’s.  And yes, I did see this tour. Twice. Feels good getting that off my chest. Seriously though, Bon Jovi was a great show for the money (and probably still is) and that’s what Rock N Roll is all about.

WATN? Still making records and touring. They released Lost Highway last year.

Trivia: Jon Bon Jovi is co-owner of the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League.

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This was truly one of my favorite songs of the 80’s, but the video never lived up to the song. Still not sure why the stalker chick is carrying a picture frame or why the egg has an eyeball in it. But, somebody had an artistic vision and this is the tragic result. The Church deserved better.

Under the Milky Way was from the album Starfish, released in 1988. The song was once voted Best Australian Song of the past 2 decades by readers of a Melbourne newspaper. Considering rock icons ACDC and INXS were in the running, that’s a pretty strong statement.

WATN? The Church have continued to tour and release albums throughout the 90’s and this decade. American chart success has eluded them, but they still have a significant following worldwide.

Trivia: Since the release of Starfish, the Church have refused to issue lyrics with their albums. They believe lyrics should be heard and not read.

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With album sales sagging in 1983, KISS decided to take off the make-up.  Lick it Up was the first album and video in which the band appeared without their trademark look. They keep you guessing for the first 40 seconds of the video, only showing the band from the waist down. It looks like the guy who shot all those annoying Dockers commercials was trying to sell ripped jeans and leather pants.

About 43 seconds into the video, you want them to put the make-up back on.The only member who benefited from the loss of the makeup was Vinnie Vincent (far right in the opening sequence) because he never embraced is KISS “alter ego.” Gene was the Demon. Ace was Space Ace. Peter was the Cat. Paul was Star Child. However, Vinnie never got over the guys calling his Kiss character Transgender Crack Whore. Of course, after this video was released, that’s what the rest of the world called him!

Lick it Up is another post apocalyptic videos that were popular in the early to mid 80’s (mostly with metal bands). I remember liking it when I was in high school, but let’s face it: I was pretty much an idiot then!

WATN? Catch Gene on A&E’s Simmons Family Jewels. I love that show!

Trivia: Eddie Van Halen wanted to join KISS after Ace Frehley left. Gene Simmons talked him out of it.

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Which all female group has the most chart entries in history? It’s not Destiny’s Child or The Go-Go’s. And, it’s not the Supremes, Spice Girls, or Pussycat Dolls.  Believe it or not, it’s these three ladies from Bristol, England.

Bananarama hit # 1 in both the U.S. and U.K. with this video. I can’t say I know why, but it has enough creepy elements to helps us coundown to Halloween. There are devils, coffins, and of course the performers themselves, who are pretty easy on the eyes.

WATN? Bananarama is working on a new album of Disco cover tunes.

TRIVIA: Victoria Beckham recorded a version of the song for her demo tape when auditioning for the Spice Girls.

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