30 November 2022 - The Cars - Drive

I know.

We've been deficient on posting.

We're going to get better, I promise.

For now, let's feature the 1984 Cars hit song, sung by bassist Benjamin Orr and written by Ric Ocasek.  The video was produced by Timothy Hutton (the actor) and features supermodel Paulina Porizkova, who would later become Ocasek's wife.

Orr sang the song beautifully, giving a heartfelt and moving rendition of the tune.  He was clearly the right choice, and the American public agreed, as this became a rather big hit for the band.

Perhaps the song is best known for its Live Aid performance - which is spectacular.

28 November 2022 - INXS - The Gift

How did INXS become an afterthought on the US charts?  The answer may surprise you.

This 1993 single, the lead one from their album Full Moon Dirty Hearts, featured a video that MTV would not air, because it had "controversial images" - specifically Gulf War images, something that was still pretty fresh in the American psyche.  

It was, and is, still a great and exciting song.  It is a true shame that it was ignored to the extent that it was.  

Even though Michael Hutchence passed away in 1997, he still have time to give spirited live performances of this song.  Here is the band, performing the song to an excited crowd in 1994.

2 November 2022 - Public Enemy - 911 Is A Joke

This joke, co-written by and primarily performed by reality show dating star Flavor Flav, is about the paramedic response in predominantly black neighborhoods.  It is not about police response - only paramedic/ambulance response.  

I think a lot of people look at Flavor Flav is a joke because, well, the clocks, Flavor of Love's three seasons.  Come on, man - just pick New York.  However, he wrote and performed poignant songs like this one - and delivered the hard messages with a side of humor.   It's somewhat brilliant, really.