Michael Jackson – “Thriller” (1982) Part II

March 28, 2008

We were on our usual 2.5 hour drive to San Quentin in Marin County North of San Francisco to see my mom’s boyfriend in prison. I was 7 or 8 at the time so I didn’t appreciate the full impact of how screwed up our family situation was. I didn’t have a care in the world.

In fact, I loved the trip. I sat back in the plush leather of our Yellow 70’s caddy and listened to the entire Thriller album on cassette tape. We would play the whole thing at least twice there and twice back. Mom would always fast forward through the actual song Thriller because my sister, DeAmber, thought it was too scary… what a wussy… she would later join the deck swabbin’, squid lovin’ Navy… so that should tell you everything you need to know about the Navy.

The songs grew on me.. even “the girl is mine” but only because I would switch some of the words with curses such as the chorus: “because the g*d damn girl is mine”. That makes the song more fun and full of filthy flavor.

When I finally got to see the actually Thriller video, I was blown away. It was genius. I started trying to copy the dances. When I went back to school, we all talked about Thriller and attempted to Moonwalk in shitty Converse sneakers on the asphalt. I’m not sure you can really appreciate Mike unless you were an 80s kid effected by the “Thriller phenomenon”. Back then he was like a god.

Needless to say things are different now. In fact, my buddy told his daughter that Michael was black and she did not believe him. I think the old man still has it - but Thriller was a once in a generation thing that can never be repeated. I have no doubt the someone will eventually beat his record breaking sales but… it won’t be Thriller.

Popularity: 44% [?]

Written by admin · Filed Under 80s Music, 80s Review

Michael Jackson – “Thriller” (1982)

March 28, 2008

I was 9 years old when Thriller hit the shelves at the end of 1982 and knocked the collective world on its ear. But really it started with the infamous “moonwalk” Mike performed during his March 1983 performance of Billie Jean during the television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. That night would truly begin the legend of The King of Pop.

What can you say? Thriller was sonically amazing. The accompanying videos changed the way any and all videos where conceived, written, produced, directed, and presented thereafter. His costumes, the glove, the socks, the pant cuffs, the jackets, everything was mimicked and copied by the kids. Everyone would sport the one glove style whether it was a dingy winter mitten or a former cotton garden glove now adorned with glued on sequence or rhinestones. I knew more than one kid that rocked the famed multi-zippered “Beat It” style jacket (in red or black, it didn’t matter) and even a few “Thriller” editions. And of course many kids yearned to dance like him. A few gifted and dedicated souls like my good friend Ron genuinely perfected the art. Another friend, David, went on to professionally perform as a Michael Jackson impersonator in Vegas. Michael Jackson was just bigger than life. But it definitely wasn’t all circus hype. Thriller the album was insane. It’s not the greatest selling album of all time for nothing. Seven of the nine original tracks went on to become Top Ten singles.

But enough of what I remember, what do I think now? It’s a banger dude. The damn thing still rocks. Now I still loathe, The Girl Is Mine, (sorry, I just do) but the rest of the album is as solid as it was to me in the fourth grade. Billie Jean will always be my favorite track, but Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ and P.Y.T. still make me want to get up and dance. Thriller? C’mon now, I started doin’ the dance routine as soon as the chorus came on. LOL! The bottom line is if you don’t have this historic album in some shape or form (physical or digital), go out and get it. I promise you’ll be singing along, dancing, and grabbing your crotch like its 1983.

Popularity: 44% [?]

Written by Deep73 · Filed Under 80s Music, 80s Review

“Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” (June, 1981)

March 28, 2008

It was the summer between the 2nd and 3rd grade when this movie was released. I had caught the trailers on TV and recall the excitement and animated descriptions by the older kids who had been lucky enough to see it in theaters. However, my parents weren’t ballers and it was rated PG so my lil ass wasn’t gonna see it with them no way. Sigh. So without actually seeing the movie I had to settle for playing Indiana Jones from mostly imagination. With a cap gun and an old fishing hat playing as the brown fedora’s stunt double, I was almost set. Of course everyone had to make themselves a fake whip back then too. We used sticks and miscellaneous string, speaker wire, or even yarn (had to tie a small pebble at the end to give it some weight). Heck, if you were really lucky, you had access to an authentic leather one. By show of hands, how many of you including me popped they self in the face at least once? Huh? Just me, eh? Well damn. Guess I’m the only uncoordinated “ghetto geek” in the room.
Anyway… I wouldn’t see Indy in action myself until much later on like on Beta or VHS, I don’t recall exactly. But wow, IT was the shit! There was Han freaking Solo knockin suckas out left and right and crackin that whip like a gangsta! I was mesmerized.

Of course the Temple of Doom Diddy would come out 3 years later and be even better! Shit, sequels just don’t do that type of shit no more. Part two’s, sequels, and now - prequels (oh my!) nowadays seem to be pretty wack. Exceptions of course for the LOTR series, Spider Man 2, X-MEN 2, and maybe 2 or 3 others (the Bourne series comes to mind). Anyway, I digress. I thought the movie was dope back then. Simple as that. Just dope.
So what do I think now? Watching it as an adult ghetto geek on the wrong side of 35? In a word, it’s classic. Dude is still bustin heads like I remembered. And doin it with his bare hands at that! With green screen CG, wire-fu, and an over dependence on firearms and blades that’s rampant in today’s silver screen fare, watchin this cat just chunk ‘em like that was refreshing. Like snackin on something you ain’t had in a minute (shout out to Honeybuns, Slapstix, and watermelon flavored Now & Laters). I admit, yeah, he may have pulled his pistol and capped a few cats here and there, but only when throwin’ hands wasn’t an option. Was it all good? Nah. A few technical flaws, some forced logic leaps of faith (the German sub scene comes to mind), and slight pacing issues were noticeable to my adult eyes. But all in all, not enough to mar this piece. Before I forget special recognition to the costume crew and Lucas for making/allowing Indy to look so grimy and dirty. It totally sells the character. Folks, I definitely endorse re-watching it again. I introduced my 10 year old to it last night and he thought it was pretty cool. Though he did ask me why he (Jones) didn’t just shoot everyone instead of taking the arse kickings he was getting in a few of the fights.
“Son,” I say,”they just don’t make ‘em like they used to no more.”

Popularity: 8% [?]

Written by Deep73 · Filed Under 80s Movies, 80s Review

The 10 Most Insane, Child-Warping Moments of ’80s Cartoons

March 25, 2008

Toplessrobot.com created an awesome list of the terrible 80’s Cartoon images that should not have been shown to children. Sadly, neither animators or Ronald Reagan gave a shit about us 80’s kids. The topless list missed one of the greatest and most trouble enigma’s of hideously inappropiate cartoon history. Ladies and gentlemen I submit to you.. Tranzor Z:

(in spanish - but you’ll get the idea.. its screwed up)

The ‘80s were supposed to be a harmless time for toys and the cartoons that sold them. In spite of this, cartoons sometimes snuck in certain moments that were clearly designed to break impressionable minds and pervert the youth of America. Here are the 10 worst.

William Shatner in Commodore Vic-20 commercial

March 24, 2008

Why buy just a video game from Atari when you invest in the wonder computers on the 1980s for under $300 dollars. The Commodore Vic-20. Unlike games it has a real computer keyboard. With the Commodore Vic-20, the whole family can learn computing at home (plays great game too).

Under $300 hundred dollars, the wonder computer of the 1980s, the Commodore Vic-20.

*Coming soon: Commodore brings you Gorf, the wonder arcade game and Omega Race in home version.

McDLT with Jason Alexander for 80s goodness

March 10, 2008

This is the original McDLT commercial with Jason Alexander prancing around the street singing about some godforsaken McDonald’s sandwich. Accept NO SUBSTITUTES.

We found this wonderful commercial on an old VHS tape of some made-for-TV Ewok movie. I’m guessing this was from 1984ish.

Check my profile for other horrible 80s commercials… Enjoy!

Song / Commercial by McDonald’s.
Ripped by J-Check.