“Africa” by Toto is just one of those songs you can’t help but scream out when you’re driving alone. One of the girls in the Jack FM Promotions Department absolutely loves it and belts it out even when she’s not alone. It’s a rather frightening experience. This week’s Ridiculous ’80s Video honor goes to Toto, not because the video for “Africa” is anything crazy… but because it’s not crazy enough.
The video includes two scenes: (1) the band playing in a room on top of some books, and (2) singer David Paich in a library pretending to be Indiana Jones. To simulate Africa they stamp a passport and spin a globe. Guess what Toto, Jack FM is not impressed. Where are the lions? The zebras? The Tarzans?
You didn’t just “miss the rains down in Africa”, you completely missed Africa. As a whole. This is the band’s biggest hit and managed to land a #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, yet it looks like they made the video in some guy’s basement one Sunday afternoon when nothing good was on TV.
Props for the flute solo, though. No one can take that one away from you… except maybe Jethro Tull.
Awesome acoustic performance of “Bron Yr’ Aur Stomp” by Led Zeppelin. The video does a great job of showing just how mind-blowing Jimmy Page is on guitar.
When it comes to 80s Hair Rock, Poison is right up there with the best of them. But the video for their hit “Fallen Angel” takes it to a whole other level. There is more hair here than on this man’s back. We’re surprised CC is able to breathe through all that hair and double-y surprised Bret left the house that morning looking like Carmen San Diego.
Bonus points for the storytelling here. I haven’t seen a plot unravelled quite like this since last season on Rock of Love.
Dead or Alive pretty much captures the idea of British New Wave that teens at the time couldn’t get enough of. The band’s song “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” shot all the way to #1 in the UK and then did the same stateside. They had minor success afterwards, which we personally find hard to believe, considering the video for “You Spin Me Round” was pretty much the coolest thing ever.
We know what you’re thinking, “but Jack, how do you know I’ll like this music video?”
Well, do you enjoy unnecessary eye-patches and multiple appendages? Does the idea of dancing in front of a colorful elementary-school-picture-day background excite you? Do you enjoy singers whose gender is questionable? Can you rock massive amounts of hair on a regular basis?
If you answered yes to at least two of these, this video is for you.
Queen is coming to the mega-popular Rock Band video game in late October, as ten classics from the band’s catalog of hits will be made available for download through the Rock Band music store. Hits such as “Another One Bites The Dust,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Fat Bottomed Girls” will be featured in the track pack, which is set for release on October 20th. There has been no word given on the cost of the set.
Get pumped for ZZ Top live at the House of Blues 09.04! Watch the videos, or check out their photo gallery. Don’t forget to listen all weekend to win tickets from JACK, or enter here for a second chance to win!
