You could analyze any genre of music and determine who were the artists that truly influenced it. Heavy metal can be attributed to Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. Disco can be attributed to Donna Summer. Boy Band Pop can be traced back to the Jackson Five. New wave can be attributed to Blondie and The Talking Heads. And cheesy 80's music can be attributed to Lene Lovich. Wait, who is Lene Lovich, you might ask? Well, before Cyndi Lauper, Bow Wow Wow, and Dale Bozio from Missing Persons came along, there was Lene Lovich. She is the genius behind the classic tune, Lucky Number, a song recorded in 1979 that was probably the first to actually sound like a typical 80's tune.
Lene Lovich was an American singer based in the UK whose style was mixing quirky sounds with new wave and punk. She might have been kind of like the female version of Frank Zappa. Her most famous song, Lucky Number, was released in 1979 and it has gone overlooked by club DJ's. It's your typical 80's new wave tune with a memorable whoo whoo whoo whoo chant in the chorus. Very upbeat! Although the song was a big hit in England, it failed to chart in the U.S. Most music fans probably have no recollection of this track, but I am confident it could have been a big hit in the clubs if more attention was given to the tune. I didn't even know about this song until my brother shared it with me. Since it never was a Billboard chart hit and pretty damn obscure, I wasn't sure I even needed it. I probably had it for about two years until it caught my attention one day while falling in and out sleep during a nap. But now after listening to it a few times, I have fallen in love with the tune. Since I've probably heard the classic 80's new waves tunes so many damn times over the last twenty years, it's nice to enjoy a song that's fresh since it wasn't a radio smash while also never receiving exposure on MTV. Lene Lovich was ahead of her time, but is never given credit when people talk about the influences of new wave. Yet in this music guy's estimation, Lucky Number was to 80's new wave music like what Smells Like Teen Spirit from Nirvana was to grunge music. In fact, if you watch the video below, you could argue that she was kind of like the 70's version of Lady Gaga! Who knows, maybe a cover of this song will be on Gaga's next album?
WHOO WHOO WHOO WHOO!! My lucky number's One!
Ladies and gentlemen.... Lucky Number from Lene Lovich
There are a few songs throughout my thirty years on this earth that have just stood the test of time with me since the first time I heard them. Songs of which include such a beautiful melody that always keeps me from clicking fast forward. At #19 on this list is one of those songs. It's been with me since I was I five years old, it's with me during elementary school, it's been with me during college, it's been with me during my wedding, and it's still very important to me now. Even though I have still never seen the 1981 Oscar Winning Movie of the same name of which the theme was created for, this classic movie theme composed by Greek musician Vangelis is considered not just by me but also by most movie lovers as one of the greatest movie themes of all time.
What made the song even more unique was that many questioned why a modern song using synthesizers would be the main score for a period piece. Chariots Of Fire took place in 1924 during the Summer Olympics, and a classical score from Elmer Bernstein or John Williams would have probably made more sense. Instead, a then unknown Greek composer named Vangelis was brought in to score the movie. Even though the song featured a synthesizer sound, you can also hear such an amazing inspirational piano melody throughout the song. The Chariots Of Fire theme was such a smash hit that after the movie left the theatres, the song was released as a single reaching #1 on the Billboard Top 100 Charts and staying on the charts for an amazing 97 weeks selling 3 million copies in it's first year alon. Not only was the song a monster success throughout the entire world, but it also earned Vangelis an Oscar trophy in 1981 for Best Film Score. Although Vangelis would later on score other movies including Blade Runner and Mask as well as tunes for the Olympics Games, he would never reach the success he had with Chariots Of Fire. This classic theme will always be synonymous with running in a race just like Gonna Fly Now from Rocky will always be associated with running up steps toward a monument or museum. At least the theme was always in my head when I ran track in elementary school, or running outside to clear my head.
The Chariots Of Fire theme was also used brilliantly in another movie. Remember the classic scene in National Lampoon's Vacation when the Griswolds finally reach Wally World? Although the parking lot was empty, Clark was so proud that his family were the first ones there. Using such illogical thought, Clark decided to park the car far away from the parking thinking that they would be the first ones in to the park, and also the first ones out. Clark and his son Rusty decide to race, and in classic slow motion action as they run in high spirits, the classic Vangelis tune is used making an already classic funny scene even more hilarious. And the best part comes when we find out the park has been closed for renovations. Classic!
Chariots Of Fire works on so many levels: a song that inspires you, a song to listen to while running on the treadmill at the gym, a song that makes you reflect on the past, and a song that defines goodness. Because the song has been with me for so long as one of my favorites, I used it on my wedding video when recapping the momentous occasion. Not only is it a classic movie theme, it's simply one of the most beautiful love melodies of all time.
Ladies and gentlemen... #19 Chariots Of Fire (Theme) by Vangelis
Just like there is Justin Bieber, The Jonas Brothers, and Zac Efron making little girls scream in today’s society, back in the 1970’s their mothers were doing some screaming of their own for teen idols David Cassidy, Leif Garrett, and Tony DeFranco. Wait, Tony DeFranco, who is that? You might not know who I’m referring to, but he was yet another of the many teen idols featuring in Teen Beat and 16 magazines in the early 70's. I also assure you that he is no relation to indie music darling Ani DeFranco. Tony DeFranco was supposed to be the next Donny Osmond, but his star power didn’t last too long. I have kept comparing Justin Bieber to Tony DeFranco on this blog, and the reason is because I truly believe twenty years from now nobody will remember him just like people have forgotten Tony DeFranco. But the reason why I am also referencing Tony DeFranco for this week’s column is because of the cheesy but classic tune he and his family recorded in 1973, Heartbeat (It’s A Lovebeat).
The DeFranco family was a family pop group from Ontario that attempted to cash in on the fame of other family-oriented acts like The Osmonds, The Jackson 5, and The Brady Bunch. Featuring Benny on keyboard, Marisa on guitar, Nino on drums, and of course little Tony on lead vocals, The DeFranco family were considered the Italian version of The Osmonds. Per a demo that was heard and pushed hard by the editor of Teen Beat, the DeFranco family soon was signed to a record deal with 20th Century Records. Featuring the lead vocals of 13-year old Tony, the DeFranco Family's first single Heartbeat (It's A Lovebeat) hit the charts reaching #3 on the Top 100 chart and selling two million copies in the process. The success and key marketing strategy led to Tony and his brothers and sisters receiving much buzz in kiddie magazines. Their next two singles would also reach the Top #40, but failed to live up to their first hit, "Heartbeat". Upon the record company's decision to fire their original producer and replace him with Mike Curb who was ironically successful producing the Osmonds, the DeFranco Family was on the verge of becoming yet another fad of the times. Curb wanted to make them a cover band, but the DeFranco family wanted to continue to record new music which led to a horrible meltdown. Because the record company had full control of the band and didn't like that these little punks wouldn't do what was asked, the band was dropped immediately by their label. They also managed to piss off their manager who left them for dead. Although they continued performing until 1978 as a Vegas attraction, the DeFranco family would never be able to get a second chance in the music biz. It also didn't help that human nature wasn't too kind to Tony who didn't age very well during his adolescence and was no longer the cute 13-year old kid with the angelic voice. By the 80's, the DeFranco Family was just another casualty of the music business. The DeFranco siblings would find other avenues other than music, including Tony who is now working as a successful real estate agent in California. I hope Justin Bieber becomes the next Tony DeFranco, and not the next Danny Bonaduce!
I had no real knowledge of this song until catching it on an episode of the legendary VH1 show, Eight Track Flashback back in 1998. The song is pure cheese, but pretty damn hilarious and a good example of how awful some of the music from the 70's was. Check out the video below, I mean c'mon those dance moves would make Michael Jackson jealous! By no means could I say this song is a wonderful recording, but it sure is one of those obscure pop culture nuggets that I like to share with people.
Ladies and gentlemen... Heartbeat (It's A Lovebeat) by The DeFranco Family
"Heartbeat, it’s a lovebeat! Listen to my heart pound, listen to my love sound!"
We’re getting down to the nitty gritty of the countdown. #20 is a beautiful synth-pop theme from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off which fans of the movie would instantly recognize as the Art Museum theme. The original song, titled Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want, was actually recorded by The Smiths in 1983. John Hughes, the genius director of Ferris Bueller, apparently was a huge fan of The Smiths and saw an opportunity to use one of their songs for his film. I’m not sure if he mistook the fact that The Smiths would not allow their song to be featured. So instead, 80’s pop band Dream Academy’s instrumental version recorded a year later in 1984 that holds true to the original was used. Of course, Dream Academy is best known for their 80's tunes, Life In A Northern Town, so having used an instrumental piece from theme was kind of strange.
As mentioned in the second sentence of the above paragraph, the song was brilliantly used during the scene in which Ferris, Sloan, and Cameron visit the Chicago Art Institute. From the moment the trio enter the museum by sneaking in via holding hands in unison with a group of student to the end of the montage where Cameron thinks he sees his dad’s Ferrari in a photo, we hear this beautiful piece of music play. Hughes must have had a large boner for art, as the montage features a good minute and half of painting and sculptures. The scene is kind of pointless in the overall scope of the movie, but the classic tune more than makes up for it.
For whatever reason, there never was a Ferris Bueller’s Day Off soundtrack ever produced. The version of Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want used in the movie was never released on a Dream Academy studio album. Although the song was finally made available in 2000 as an inclusion on the band’s greatest hits album. I associate this song with innocence and it seemed to really work during what the hell" art montage scene in the film. It's just a classic tune, both the original Smiths version and the instrumental version from Dream Academy. I am still kicking myself for not having used it for my wedding video during the sequence featuring all of the guests, but I sure would recommend it to be used for other people's wedding videos. Well, unless they are people who think outside the box!
Ladies and gentlemen... #20 Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want by Dream Academy
Once again while adding more songs to my collection as I am now trying to own every Top 40 song of all time, another gem of a song came into my consciousness. And what makes this song so special is that even though it was written in 1946, this tune definitely was ahead of it's time. The song I'm writing about this week is "Shaving Cream", a song that would become a Billboard hit almost thirty years later, and one that I just added to my list of Top 50 Funniest Songs Ever.
Shaving Cream was written by Benny Bell and sung by Paul Wynn. Bell was a Jewish American singer/songwriter best known for writing tunes that were risque but innocent. He was a definite precursor to "Weird Al" Yankovic and sophomoric humor rappers like 2 Live Crew, Eminem, and Young MC with lyrics referring to poop, butts, and sexual activity. And this was during a time when Bell had no real outlet to get his songs heard on the radio. Shaving Cream was recorded during the 1940's, but didn't gain much exposure in part to the innuendo lyrics. Each verse of the song describes a bad situation setting up an ending in which the last word is assumed to be "Shit." Instead as your ears anticipate to hear this naughty word due to the emphasized Shhhh sound, the lyric actually is shaving cream. Here's the first verse of the song which is a perfect example of what I'm referring to:
"I have a sad story to tell you It may hurt your feelings a bit Last night when I walked into my bathroom I stepped in a big pile of ...shhhhh . . . aving cream, be nice and clean. . . .Shave ev'ry day and you'll always look keen."
The song gained new life thanks to appearing on Doctor Demento's radio show, a show that supported novelty songs and tunes filled with dry humor. Demento was the king of spreading cheesy tunes of his liking to the nation developing a cult audience in the process. Thanks to receiving tons of requests from his loyal listeners, he was able to influence Vanguard Records to re-release the song in 1975. The song was recorded fresh with Bell on vocals and reached #30 on the Billboard Charts. Finally Buddy Bell had gotten the hit record he was determined to make thirty years earlier.
Give this tune a listen, I think you'll get a good laugh from it. It a classic bunch of Shh.. Shaving cream!!!!! Be nice and clean!"
