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defrogAs some of you may know, I’m a fan of the B-52s. They’ve had their high points and low points, but they’ve always been about goofy kitschy fun.
Now, like a lot of bands that have been together 30+ years, the B-52s trade largely on their classic back catalog. Which is why I didn’t buy their comeback album Funplex last year. It wasn’t bad – but it wasn’t essential either. I felt that I already owned far better music from them.
That said, there are still a few enjoyable songs on Funplex – nothing to rival their classics, but you wouldn’t change channels, either. Still, if MTV ever proved anything, it’s that sometimes the experience of an average song can be improved immensely with good and appropriate video footage.
Like, say, go-go bikini dancers from old Scopitones videos.
Result!
Granted, it’d be better if they’d set the same footage to “Rock Lobster”, but I’m sure someone will get around to it.
BONUS RESEARCH MATERIAL: If yr not familiar with Scopitones, it was a video jukebox invented in 1960. Big in Europe, less so in the US, died out by the end of the 1960s. Go here for background and here for samples of the original Scopitones videos.
Bedazzled also has a fine collection, with downloads suitable for yr iPhone/iPod.
Shake that cosmic thing,
This is dF
Now, like a lot of bands that have been together 30+ years, the B-52s trade largely on their classic back catalog. Which is why I didn’t buy their comeback album Funplex last year. It wasn’t bad – but it wasn’t essential either. I felt that I already owned far better music from them.
That said, there are still a few enjoyable songs on Funplex – nothing to rival their classics, but you wouldn’t change channels, either. Still, if MTV ever proved anything, it’s that sometimes the experience of an average song can be improved immensely with good and appropriate video footage.
Like, say, go-go bikini dancers from old Scopitones videos.
Result!
Granted, it’d be better if they’d set the same footage to “Rock Lobster”, but I’m sure someone will get around to it.
BONUS RESEARCH MATERIAL: If yr not familiar with Scopitones, it was a video jukebox invented in 1960. Big in Europe, less so in the US, died out by the end of the 1960s. Go here for background and here for samples of the original Scopitones videos.
Bedazzled also has a fine collection, with downloads suitable for yr iPhone/iPod.
Shake that cosmic thing,
This is dF
