Eastenders Promo 1985 - UK TV BBC1
If you didn't know the show, it would be hard to grasp what the show would be about watching this preview clip. It's a soap, a programme about people and their lives and relationships, but all that is shown is an non-affectionate steering of a London Routemaster and a Lorry with the Eastenders logo printed on it's side, as it encounters a roundabout, along with the famous drum of the Eastenders theme, and the whistling bit. I mean, this just shows how emotionally unattached the 1980's could be, but yeah, it makes sense having the London routemaster, but you watch the clip, it builds up to the climax, and you think what's going to happen, will the lorry and the bus collide, or perform sychronised waltzing driving with other look-a-likeys, creating the "Eastenders" title from a bird's eye view? No.
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Eastenders, I'll be posting (more extensive) clips from EE down the years soon!
Presently, Eastenders are on the cusp of celebrating their 25th Anniversary as advertised heavily on the BBC, the looming of what viewers are casting as their favourite "duff duff's"- pretty corny - as well as seeing the climax of a much-anticipated storyline/whodunnit? scenario, but let's delve on what was probably one of the best "duff duff's", here in this very short preview before the show came on air. The duff's mean the big drums that hit at the end of each cliffhanger, which are epic of course. It give a moment to reflect on the character receiving this blow/shock/unhappiness to their life, and then onto the credits.
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Help!....Me, From this Dodgy Live Routine!
Bananarama - Help (Live 1989)
Yes, it's another post from the same 1989 Comic Relief Telethon, this time discussing the charity single of the campaign. This, terrible, terrible live routine, featuring the UK's biggest girl's pop band Bananarama, who were in hindsight on their last legs, with the charity single "Help" a cover from The Beatles song of the same title. In Comic Relief's early days, the charity singles were comedy sonfgs featuring some of the big names of that time. The 3 girls of "Bananarama", Keren Woodward, Sara Dallin, and Jacquie O'Sullivan(who replaced original member Siobhan Fahey in 1988), sang alongside comedienne's French and Saunders, along with a relatively unknown Kathy Burke, who interpret Bananarama in their own comedic terms, calling themselves "Lananeeneenoonoo".
The song itself, actually sounds good minus the French and Saunders shouting "DOWN DOOOWWWWNNN" in every chorus, while their talking part are bearable in the studio version of the song. The talking parts don't make sense, unless you have watched or remembered the music video, but still the "I'll a little bit bottom-y, I'm a little bit top-py". It just sounds like complete verbal diarrhea! There is a version somewhere without "Lananeeneenoonoo's" parts but only on mp3, have I found it. However, this live version of the song sounds godawful, and the dancing/choreography, if you can call it that, so cringeworthy, I mean, the dry humping. Please no!
Also one of the bandana men in denims and vests is Rowland Rivron, who has popped up on Television now and again, usually in bit-parts presenting, but mainly passing comment in interviews and countless nostalgia/showbiz documentaries/Countdown shows.
As I said, by 1989, Bananarama were past their peak by this point, the replacement of Siobhan Fahey seemed to be a turning point. Their best-known hits like "Venus" and "Love in the Third Degree" and "Robert De Niro's Waiting..." all came before this era. However, "Help!" was their last ever Top Ten hit in the UK, and reached an impressive 3rd spot on the UK Singles Chart. The song itself does have a catchy beat, and well, if it did send Del Boy and co. in rapture singing along to it in the "Jolly Boys Outing", it did something right!
Yes, it's another post from the same 1989 Comic Relief Telethon, this time discussing the charity single of the campaign. This, terrible, terrible live routine, featuring the UK's biggest girl's pop band Bananarama, who were in hindsight on their last legs, with the charity single "Help" a cover from The Beatles song of the same title. In Comic Relief's early days, the charity singles were comedy sonfgs featuring some of the big names of that time. The 3 girls of "Bananarama", Keren Woodward, Sara Dallin, and Jacquie O'Sullivan(who replaced original member Siobhan Fahey in 1988), sang alongside comedienne's French and Saunders, along with a relatively unknown Kathy Burke, who interpret Bananarama in their own comedic terms, calling themselves "Lananeeneenoonoo".
The song itself, actually sounds good minus the French and Saunders shouting "DOWN DOOOWWWWNNN" in every chorus, while their talking part are bearable in the studio version of the song. The talking parts don't make sense, unless you have watched or remembered the music video, but still the "I'll a little bit bottom-y, I'm a little bit top-py". It just sounds like complete verbal diarrhea! There is a version somewhere without "Lananeeneenoonoo's" parts but only on mp3, have I found it. However, this live version of the song sounds godawful, and the dancing/choreography, if you can call it that, so cringeworthy, I mean, the dry humping. Please no!
Also one of the bandana men in denims and vests is Rowland Rivron, who has popped up on Television now and again, usually in bit-parts presenting, but mainly passing comment in interviews and countless nostalgia/showbiz documentaries/Countdown shows.
As I said, by 1989, Bananarama were past their peak by this point, the replacement of Siobhan Fahey seemed to be a turning point. Their best-known hits like "Venus" and "Love in the Third Degree" and "Robert De Niro's Waiting..." all came before this era. However, "Help!" was their last ever Top Ten hit in the UK, and reached an impressive 3rd spot on the UK Singles Chart. The song itself does have a catchy beat, and well, if it did send Del Boy and co. in rapture singing along to it in the "Jolly Boys Outing", it did something right!
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Belgians? And Comedy? Noooooo...oh I see, they're only the Punchline
Comic Relief Belgians quiz
The first Telethon related-post to reach my blog, and this is the usually bi-annual "Comic Relief", which is the best of the lot of, well, not much competition, there's only "Children In Need", the pigeon-holed "Sport Relief" and the annoyingly short-lived monster that was ITV's "Telethon" series in the 80's and 90's.
This is a sketch from which was only the second live BBC 1 Telethon, although the franchise, that helps plead for donations to the poverty-striken and hungry in Africa as well as at home, had been running since Christmas Day 1985, with the main focus on refugees in Sudan. I think also, the terrible footage of the wide starvation crisis in Ethiopia, shown the year before and at the 1985 "World Aid Concert", was a factor in the creation of the franchise. It did seem rather distastely ironic, mixing comedy with hard-hitting images of real people suffering, near and far, however, the live telethon, and the charity singles that ran from 1986, helped yield millions of pounds. These live telethons could amass practically millions of pounds as the programme ran from the evening to late-night after midnight! The 1989 show raised £26.9 million pounds.
Ok, about 10 lines ago, I mentioned this sketch, but never got back to it? Ok, this is a clever sketch starring one of the show's mainstays being the works of Rowan Atkinson, and in this non-Mr Bean/Blackadder sketch, we have Rowan as a quizmaster playing it straight, but with cleverly-chosen footage of certain politicans, that pokes fun at the general concensus view, that these guys can never give a straight answers to question, as wonderfully perceived by David Steel's (archived footage now) long-winded answer to "2+2". Also featuring David Owen and Shirley William, funnily enough with their political career's at the time were in the doldrums, with the split up of the SDP-Liberal Alliance party, after disappointing results at the 1987 General Election. The sketch is most remembered for Conservative Lord Halisham, who just basically repeats "The Belgians" everytime he's asked a question by the amused Rowan. It...just...works. Basically because over here, in popular stereotypes, the Belgians are seen as boring and insignificant. The latter, understandably, it is a small country after all.
The first Telethon related-post to reach my blog, and this is the usually bi-annual "Comic Relief", which is the best of the lot of, well, not much competition, there's only "Children In Need", the pigeon-holed "Sport Relief" and the annoyingly short-lived monster that was ITV's "Telethon" series in the 80's and 90's.
This is a sketch from which was only the second live BBC 1 Telethon, although the franchise, that helps plead for donations to the poverty-striken and hungry in Africa as well as at home, had been running since Christmas Day 1985, with the main focus on refugees in Sudan. I think also, the terrible footage of the wide starvation crisis in Ethiopia, shown the year before and at the 1985 "World Aid Concert", was a factor in the creation of the franchise. It did seem rather distastely ironic, mixing comedy with hard-hitting images of real people suffering, near and far, however, the live telethon, and the charity singles that ran from 1986, helped yield millions of pounds. These live telethons could amass practically millions of pounds as the programme ran from the evening to late-night after midnight! The 1989 show raised £26.9 million pounds.
Ok, about 10 lines ago, I mentioned this sketch, but never got back to it? Ok, this is a clever sketch starring one of the show's mainstays being the works of Rowan Atkinson, and in this non-Mr Bean/Blackadder sketch, we have Rowan as a quizmaster playing it straight, but with cleverly-chosen footage of certain politicans, that pokes fun at the general concensus view, that these guys can never give a straight answers to question, as wonderfully perceived by David Steel's (archived footage now) long-winded answer to "2+2". Also featuring David Owen and Shirley William, funnily enough with their political career's at the time were in the doldrums, with the split up of the SDP-Liberal Alliance party, after disappointing results at the 1987 General Election. The sketch is most remembered for Conservative Lord Halisham, who just basically repeats "The Belgians" everytime he's asked a question by the amused Rowan. It...just...works. Basically because over here, in popular stereotypes, the Belgians are seen as boring and insignificant. The latter, understandably, it is a small country after all.
David Icke Stands Firm on being a Son of God after "Wogan" Debacle
David Icke with Fern Britton: Part 1 of 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q9ncm2jotI
...While the audience displays what must be the greatest ever inaudible "WTF?" moments on TV ever.
David Icke was once a lowly sports presenter on "BBC Breakfast Time" in the mid-80's. By the early 90's, instead of reading off auto-cues, after a strange experience of hearing voices in an newsagent in 1990, he began theorising into what he thought really controlled the world, delved into New Age thought-processes and medicine relating to himself suffering arthritis at a young age. He began to believe in a complicated system, where there is not just one God and Jesus and that's it, but a hierachy, where human beings with certain "frequencies" or being a "Godhead" can achieve special powers or God-like powers, and he believed he is one of the chosen ones, one of the many sons of God. He has also tried to display prophetic news of how the world will become enraged by more natural disasters and man-made disasters. This developed later into certain humans beings of reptilian, who are not for the good of this world. With the rise of of the internet, a haven for conspiracy theorists, despite his embarrassing showing on the "Wogan" chat show in 1991, his following has grown.
Now let's talk about this clip, a young, slim, ego-free Fern Britton (come on, she was so p*ssed Phillip Schofield was getting paid more for "This Morning") presents this unnamed chat show, as stated in the Youtube clip. Doing research on IMDB.com, I'm making a good guess this is the programme "After the News" a local programme for the TVS region (south England and the coast). The title makes sense as this David Icke interview was shortly after the infamous "Wogan" interview. He is given more time to discuss his opinion of how the world works, and thank god for no shellsuit this time. It made him look positively dodgy, rather than giving off positive vibes in his turquiose/pink shelly. At this stage in his evolution of his own grand-standing theory, he would only wear clothes bearing the colour turquoise, as he believed the colour to be a conduit of positive energy.
This is a must-watch video for the casual viewer, if only to see the audience reaction to Icke's rambling. The shaking of heads from some, the muffled laughter. There was non-one on his side, apart from possibly one woman, who wanted to give him a chance to share his views. Despite the madness of it all, these whole new ideas being brought into the mainstream, Icke hasn't sunk without a trace. To be fair, he's articulate and consumed enough in his works, that, it's led some to believe he is a genius, and that he is explaining what many human still don't understand to himself and others, the whole aspect that there are some human who are, or can be "special" that defies logic or nature. Some say he had predicted 9/11 and the looming of more natural disasters as Global warming increases. Some think the guy is an absolute nutter. You decide. Just one last thought, you read about his childhood, he was a loner as a child and at school, one of those kid's in a different world...mmmmmm.
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
"You CANNOT Be Serious!" Vs. The Iceman
Borg McEnroe Match Points 1980
The last 5 mins of an epic 1980 Wimbledon Men Singles final between the mouthy American John McEnroe and the calm and collected Swede Björn Borg. This is the fifth and final set!
This was Borg's fifth consecutive Wimbledon title and his last Grandslam title to be won. He reached the following year's Wimbledon Final, with an almighty winning streak of 41 matches at Wimbledon, however he lost to McEnroe this time.
Tennis is Sport which can sometimes have a bizarre player shelf life. Björn Borg retired at the age of 26 in 1983, really an age where you are still at you're physical peak. It was after another defeat to McEnroe at the US Open in 1981, that seemed to take the biscuit, and he gradually became more inactive throughout 1982 with no Grandslam tournaments attended. Borg actually made a comeback in 1991, but lost every match playing in ATP tournaments from 91-93. Borg now appears on the Senior circuit, sometimes playing McEnroe, fiery as ever, which was a legendary rivalry in the late-70's and early 80's for the sport of tennis.
The last 5 mins of an epic 1980 Wimbledon Men Singles final between the mouthy American John McEnroe and the calm and collected Swede Björn Borg. This is the fifth and final set!
This was Borg's fifth consecutive Wimbledon title and his last Grandslam title to be won. He reached the following year's Wimbledon Final, with an almighty winning streak of 41 matches at Wimbledon, however he lost to McEnroe this time.
Tennis is Sport which can sometimes have a bizarre player shelf life. Björn Borg retired at the age of 26 in 1983, really an age where you are still at you're physical peak. It was after another defeat to McEnroe at the US Open in 1981, that seemed to take the biscuit, and he gradually became more inactive throughout 1982 with no Grandslam tournaments attended. Borg actually made a comeback in 1991, but lost every match playing in ATP tournaments from 91-93. Borg now appears on the Senior circuit, sometimes playing McEnroe, fiery as ever, which was a legendary rivalry in the late-70's and early 80's for the sport of tennis.
Marking the End of ITV's "The South Bank Show"...
The Making of Sgt Pepper (Part 1)
To commemorate the ending of a great cultural and artistic documentative TV icon "The South Bank Show", here we see a classic full episode on Youtube, from 1992, showing us how "The Beatles" historic album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was produced, in itself commemorating it's 25th Anniversary. We are welcomed at first by that engraved-in-legend theme song of the show, a myriad of classical violins, punchy guitar, jazzy piano chords, the flute and 70's synth. Presented by Melvyn Bragg.
To commemorate the ending of a great cultural and artistic documentative TV icon "The South Bank Show", here we see a classic full episode on Youtube, from 1992, showing us how "The Beatles" historic album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was produced, in itself commemorating it's 25th Anniversary. We are welcomed at first by that engraved-in-legend theme song of the show, a myriad of classical violins, punchy guitar, jazzy piano chords, the flute and 70's synth. Presented by Melvyn Bragg.
This episodes shows archive clips from the scene of "Swinging Britain" in the late-60's, along with fresh interviews with the likes of The Beatles record producer George Martin, the 3 surviving Beatles members Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. John Lennon was assassinated back in 1980. The episode highlight how the influence of drugs like LSD were an influence on the album itself. This led to a psychedelic rock feel to the album.
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was released in 1967, The Beatles eighth album, which become one of their best and one of the most iconic albums in music history. The LP cover envisaged "The Fab Four" in the legendary pompous and regal brightly coloured buttoned uniforms, in front of a large gallery of famous faces from down the decades including the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Laurel and Hardy. The unique preposition for this album, were The Beatles became this fictional or alter-ego band, with the same name as the album title, changing their image and growing moustaches and longer hair. It contains classic hit songs like "With a Little Help from My Friends", "When I'm Sixty-Four" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". You can't knock it, can you?
The last episode of "The South Bank Show" was screened on the 28th December 2009. The last South Bank Awards Show was shown only 2 days ago, with many of the star-studded audience pouring scorn over ITV's decision to axe the Arts and culture programme. The programme ends for "good, good" after a series of "Revisited" episodes in Spring 2010.
Monday, 1 February 2010
First Episode of The Greatest Nostalgic Programme Ever?
Rainbow - the first ever episode part 1
This is the first ever episode from the classic Thames Television Children's TV series "Rainbow", from 1972. There's quite some difference you will see, from the iconic image and cast that stayed long in the memory of pre-school children and older, in the 70's, throughout the 80's, and into the 90's. First of all, no Geoffrey! This is brown-haired David Cook, who presented the first and second series of "Rainbow", but left to concentrate on his script and play writing. Geoffrey Hayes began presenting the show in 1973, and he came across as more fun, and had a great relationship with the camera, and the children at home. Not forgetting the rapport between the cast, just excellent.
Another major, major change is no George, the pink, camp-voiced pink hippo puppets only puppet Zippy(just what is he?) and Bungle(man dressed in bear costume), who look rather quite different, and their voices are different too. Both bungle and Zippy look rather distorted and skinnier to their later counterparts. Zippy, so named, as his mouth is really one big zip, a mouthy so-and-so, so Bungle or the presenter will shut him up by closing the zip. We see a more relaxed or the still-a-work-in-progress, as regards to Zippy's personality voiced and operated here, by Peter Hawkins. The famous voice that enscapulated the later ruder and cheekier version, was Roy Skelton, who is most famous elsewhere for voicing the Daleks in "Doctor Who". Skelton also voiced George, who would enter (skip and prance?) into the show by the second series in 1973.
Bungle looks completely sozzled in this early version. His eyes as wide as saucers, with a skinner body and face, he was still the more mature of the "children" to David Cook's father figure in the Rainbow house. His appearance was changed as it scared children in the first series. I mean, obviously, just look at him! Bungle was mainly voiced and played by Stanley Bates, but it is not him in this first episode. No Rod, Jane and Freddy, but a band by the name of "Telltale". In the first episode, we also have 2 much smaller puppets a purple and yellow duo by the name of Sunshine and Moody, but were dropped by 1973. The show ran from 1972-1992.
The reason I say, it's one of the best nostalgia programme ever, or best show of the 50s/60s/70s/80s/90s, is because, in UK nostalgia circle online, since the early days, "Rainbow" has been one of the more talked about and best remembered. Not only the fact, that it harboured a traditional family-element, but the much mirth that was brought by the characters themselves, and the bizarreness and triviality of, Bungle walking about naked all the time, but coming out the shower, he is wearing a towel around his unsuggestables! Not forgetting the adults-only "Twangers" episode. "Rainbow" has been a beacon for many adults who grew up in the 70's/80's and early 90's.
This is the first ever episode from the classic Thames Television Children's TV series "Rainbow", from 1972. There's quite some difference you will see, from the iconic image and cast that stayed long in the memory of pre-school children and older, in the 70's, throughout the 80's, and into the 90's. First of all, no Geoffrey! This is brown-haired David Cook, who presented the first and second series of "Rainbow", but left to concentrate on his script and play writing. Geoffrey Hayes began presenting the show in 1973, and he came across as more fun, and had a great relationship with the camera, and the children at home. Not forgetting the rapport between the cast, just excellent.
Another major, major change is no George, the pink, camp-voiced pink hippo puppets only puppet Zippy(just what is he?) and Bungle(man dressed in bear costume), who look rather quite different, and their voices are different too. Both bungle and Zippy look rather distorted and skinnier to their later counterparts. Zippy, so named, as his mouth is really one big zip, a mouthy so-and-so, so Bungle or the presenter will shut him up by closing the zip. We see a more relaxed or the still-a-work-in-progress, as regards to Zippy's personality voiced and operated here, by Peter Hawkins. The famous voice that enscapulated the later ruder and cheekier version, was Roy Skelton, who is most famous elsewhere for voicing the Daleks in "Doctor Who". Skelton also voiced George, who would enter (skip and prance?) into the show by the second series in 1973.
Bungle looks completely sozzled in this early version. His eyes as wide as saucers, with a skinner body and face, he was still the more mature of the "children" to David Cook's father figure in the Rainbow house. His appearance was changed as it scared children in the first series. I mean, obviously, just look at him! Bungle was mainly voiced and played by Stanley Bates, but it is not him in this first episode. No Rod, Jane and Freddy, but a band by the name of "Telltale". In the first episode, we also have 2 much smaller puppets a purple and yellow duo by the name of Sunshine and Moody, but were dropped by 1973. The show ran from 1972-1992.
The reason I say, it's one of the best nostalgia programme ever, or best show of the 50s/60s/70s/80s/90s, is because, in UK nostalgia circle online, since the early days, "Rainbow" has been one of the more talked about and best remembered. Not only the fact, that it harboured a traditional family-element, but the much mirth that was brought by the characters themselves, and the bizarreness and triviality of, Bungle walking about naked all the time, but coming out the shower, he is wearing a towel around his unsuggestables! Not forgetting the adults-only "Twangers" episode. "Rainbow" has been a beacon for many adults who grew up in the 70's/80's and early 90's.
Person-being-pinned-against-a-glass-shower-screen-possibly-sending-a-coded-message-for-help. Don't you just Love that Continuity?
Channel 4 Interlude (Late 1980s)
Here we have the ending and credits to the award-winning and long-running, US Children's educational series "Sesame Street" created by Jim Henson. This was a main feature on Channel 4 back in the 80's and early 90's, introducing the UK to what all the fuss was all about. Running since 1969, here we see on the left, deaf Sesame Street presenter, Linda Bove, along with lesser-known puppet character, Buster the Horse, can't name the other woman, but I'm sure it's not who I think it is. This is followed by "Sesame Street was brought to you today by the number letter...etc". Then, prepare to fast forward or skip, if you don't like classical, relaxing music. This is simply an on-screen schedule after 9am in the morning, with an questionably artistic photograph behind, and that is all.
Back then, TV was more slower paced, but usually more prolonged around Schools TV on both BBC/ITV and Channel 4. You hardly see this kind of continuity nowadays, although Schools TV did keep up with it, but still-frame pauses like this became shorter and shorter into the 1990's and 2000's. The belief being that, people's attention spans were getting shorter -probably true with younger generations brought up on the internet- and now 100's of channels from satellite competing against the "Big Four" or the ahem, "Big Five". You only get this type of continuity on "Ceefax" on the early hours of BBC2 mornings, now and again. Isn't there times, you want the TV of today to take a chill pill? We don't want to be informed all the time, being shown your big flashy graphics, and editing camera angles every millionth of a second. It can sometimes get annoying or depressing. What's wrong with listening and watching to nice music, while you're mind wanders, giving you time to think, on perhaps, the previous TV viewings or, what's to come, or maybe it allows you into some deep philosophical though about your own life. Some will say, "Just turn the TV off then", however, a minority of people say " You just don't understand".
Yes, "Sesame Street" was an American show but it was a large part of some British children's childhood and should not be detracted from UK TV nostalgia! So anything goes here, if the programme is mainstream and well-known. The series was one of the first to entertain as well as educate, not basic stuffy professors in stuffy studio's telling us how the world works. Learning can be fun, as proved by Sesame Street. We'll be seeing more of this show in later posts.
Here we have the ending and credits to the award-winning and long-running, US Children's educational series "Sesame Street" created by Jim Henson. This was a main feature on Channel 4 back in the 80's and early 90's, introducing the UK to what all the fuss was all about. Running since 1969, here we see on the left, deaf Sesame Street presenter, Linda Bove, along with lesser-known puppet character, Buster the Horse, can't name the other woman, but I'm sure it's not who I think it is. This is followed by "Sesame Street was brought to you today by the number letter...etc". Then, prepare to fast forward or skip, if you don't like classical, relaxing music. This is simply an on-screen schedule after 9am in the morning, with an questionably artistic photograph behind, and that is all.
Back then, TV was more slower paced, but usually more prolonged around Schools TV on both BBC/ITV and Channel 4. You hardly see this kind of continuity nowadays, although Schools TV did keep up with it, but still-frame pauses like this became shorter and shorter into the 1990's and 2000's. The belief being that, people's attention spans were getting shorter -probably true with younger generations brought up on the internet- and now 100's of channels from satellite competing against the "Big Four" or the ahem, "Big Five". You only get this type of continuity on "Ceefax" on the early hours of BBC2 mornings, now and again. Isn't there times, you want the TV of today to take a chill pill? We don't want to be informed all the time, being shown your big flashy graphics, and editing camera angles every millionth of a second. It can sometimes get annoying or depressing. What's wrong with listening and watching to nice music, while you're mind wanders, giving you time to think, on perhaps, the previous TV viewings or, what's to come, or maybe it allows you into some deep philosophical though about your own life. Some will say, "Just turn the TV off then", however, a minority of people say " You just don't understand".
Yes, "Sesame Street" was an American show but it was a large part of some British children's childhood and should not be detracted from UK TV nostalgia! So anything goes here, if the programme is mainstream and well-known. The series was one of the first to entertain as well as educate, not basic stuffy professors in stuffy studio's telling us how the world works. Learning can be fun, as proved by Sesame Street. We'll be seeing more of this show in later posts.
Kissy Wissy's for the UK from Jacko...
Michael Jackson Christmas Message TOTP 1995
A special message from the late, and of course great "King of Pop" Michael Jackson. This was at the time he was on the recovering side, from the child sex abuse allegation that were made in 1993. Icelandic singer Bjork and English comedian Jack Dee introduce a recorded message from MJ. The music video that features for a few seconds at the end, is the 1995 hit "You Are Not Alone", that features -not shown- Jackson posing almost in the buff, along with similarly unclothed, real-life wife at the time Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of another great and late, Elvis Presley, in a relationship that was mostly criticised for being "all for show" and headline grabbing. The relationship didn't last and they divorced 2 years later.
Jackson at this point, was past his peak in his musical influence, and the recent scandal had much reduced his popularity within the murky proceedings, and this is when he began being regarded as "Wacko Jacko". Although he was still regarded as an icon and legend, it felt at the time, no longer fashionable to quote you're love for Michael Jackson. It's changed very much since then, but maybe it was always meant to be after the death of such a showman. Anyway, in this period, as shown in the clip, Jackson has unusually short, but wavy hair, much like short at the bottom, wavy from the top, rather than the flowing locks of before, or the frizzy perms and afros, he had in the 70's and 80's. Despite what Jackson was portrayed as, since the child abuse scandals, right up to his death, the song "You Are Not Alone" was a No.1 hit in both the US and UK. It actually became one of his best-selling singles, and his album "History" was no dud either, with some other big hit songs. It was to be Jackson's last No.1 in the US, however he hit the top of the UK singles chart again in the same year, with "The Earth Song".
A special message from the late, and of course great "King of Pop" Michael Jackson. This was at the time he was on the recovering side, from the child sex abuse allegation that were made in 1993. Icelandic singer Bjork and English comedian Jack Dee introduce a recorded message from MJ. The music video that features for a few seconds at the end, is the 1995 hit "You Are Not Alone", that features -not shown- Jackson posing almost in the buff, along with similarly unclothed, real-life wife at the time Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of another great and late, Elvis Presley, in a relationship that was mostly criticised for being "all for show" and headline grabbing. The relationship didn't last and they divorced 2 years later.
Jackson at this point, was past his peak in his musical influence, and the recent scandal had much reduced his popularity within the murky proceedings, and this is when he began being regarded as "Wacko Jacko". Although he was still regarded as an icon and legend, it felt at the time, no longer fashionable to quote you're love for Michael Jackson. It's changed very much since then, but maybe it was always meant to be after the death of such a showman. Anyway, in this period, as shown in the clip, Jackson has unusually short, but wavy hair, much like short at the bottom, wavy from the top, rather than the flowing locks of before, or the frizzy perms and afros, he had in the 70's and 80's. Despite what Jackson was portrayed as, since the child abuse scandals, right up to his death, the song "You Are Not Alone" was a No.1 hit in both the US and UK. It actually became one of his best-selling singles, and his album "History" was no dud either, with some other big hit songs. It was to be Jackson's last No.1 in the US, however he hit the top of the UK singles chart again in the same year, with "The Earth Song".
New Links and Discussion of Links....
I have added all-new links attached to the blog, now under the labels section.
80snostalgia.com - Great site that has used some real effort in their website. Also has it;s own video player, to watch 80's adverts and articles on various TV programmes. It's a fusion of many, from 80's karaoke to buying retro 80's T-shirts! Play old school console games (just a few) from the good old Spectrum/C64 and Sega Master System days. Has a forum, but isn't very active. The best part is, the webmasters host interviews with icons of the 80's such as "Bullseye's" Jim Bowen! Yes!
Popular Nostalgia - Actually, kind of like what I've been doing with this blog! But a more, shall we say, independent blog, featuring such British shows like "The Really Wild Show", "Noel's House Party" and "The Clangers". So it's really the most appropiate link to add here. However, from face value there seems to be quite alot of video material, however, when you yield through the decade list, there isn't really that much, and also, some posts were added so long ago, that the videos have been removed from Youtube. That is a problem that has to be addressed for this blog, which must be kept fresh. However, some good ideas I can take from this blog, inclusion posts from other users. Nice.
Nostalgia Critic - This website is from across the pond (USA), and features humourous nostalgic film/cartoon rants videos from a section of the "thatguywiththeglasses.com" website, by Doug Walker. He reviews some very well-known films and TV Programmes, that have featured on British TV, mainly cartoons, like Ninja Turtles and He-man: Masters of the Universe. The link is really there, because there is no British counterpart from the viral community, who pokes fun at nostlagia over here.
80snostalgia.com - Great site that has used some real effort in their website. Also has it;s own video player, to watch 80's adverts and articles on various TV programmes. It's a fusion of many, from 80's karaoke to buying retro 80's T-shirts! Play old school console games (just a few) from the good old Spectrum/C64 and Sega Master System days. Has a forum, but isn't very active. The best part is, the webmasters host interviews with icons of the 80's such as "Bullseye's" Jim Bowen! Yes!
Popular Nostalgia - Actually, kind of like what I've been doing with this blog! But a more, shall we say, independent blog, featuring such British shows like "The Really Wild Show", "Noel's House Party" and "The Clangers". So it's really the most appropiate link to add here. However, from face value there seems to be quite alot of video material, however, when you yield through the decade list, there isn't really that much, and also, some posts were added so long ago, that the videos have been removed from Youtube. That is a problem that has to be addressed for this blog, which must be kept fresh. However, some good ideas I can take from this blog, inclusion posts from other users. Nice.
Nostalgia Critic - This website is from across the pond (USA), and features humourous nostalgic film/cartoon rants videos from a section of the "thatguywiththeglasses.com" website, by Doug Walker. He reviews some very well-known films and TV Programmes, that have featured on British TV, mainly cartoons, like Ninja Turtles and He-man: Masters of the Universe. The link is really there, because there is no British counterpart from the viral community, who pokes fun at nostlagia over here.
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