Winter Vacation

It seems around this time of year just about everyone is flying south to some tropical paradise. Everyone that is except for me.....
We currently have two extra cars parked in our driveway as friends and family jet of to somewhere warm.
Now I'm not bitter, not at all, but here is a video for all you lucky people getting on planes sometime soon.



Love ya.

Jeffrey

Stephen King's The Mist

I can't wait, one more sleep until The Mist.

Looks like we finally have another great Stephen King movie.
Many of the reviews are comparing it, in quality, to the Green Mile, Shawshank Redemption, and Stand By Me.
I let you know tomorrow if it's scary enough or not.

ABC - When Smokey Sings

So if you have been checking in to this blog you have probably realized that I enjoy music.
I love the way a song can bring all sorts of memories flooding back.
The good and the bad.
Thats why oldies channels on the radio do so well. I don't remember who told me that, but it makes total sense.
Here is one of the songs for me.
Do you remember it?



Like other songs that I have posted recently I can still sing every word along with this video even though I probably haven't heard it in over fifteen years.
Ouch, that's a long time.
A little history on the song/group.
This is ABC, and there song "When Smokey Sings".
It was a pretty big hit way back in August/September of 1987.
I had just survived my first year of high school and was preparing for grade 10.
Like I said it was a long time ago.
I remember buying the album (actually it was a cassette)to play in my Sony Walkman while I cut the neighbors lawns for some spending money.
I was hooked almost instantly.
Looking back I'm not sure now if it was the lead singer, cause' I certainly have a thing for blonds, natural or otherwise, or his partner that got my attention first.
After hearing this album it lead to me to some of there earlier work.
Specifically the song "The Look of Love".




I think this is the band that helped me discover British Music for the first time and too this day I still find my self attracted to the British scene.
While I was searching for ABC on YouTube one of the alternate selections that came up was another group that I love.
Breathe, with the song "Hands To Heaven"
Another British group.
I remember hearing this at my Grandparents house around the same time as the ABC song.
I was in thier basement watching CBC televison. It was their video countdown show.
I can't remember if it was on Friday or Saturday nights, but the host now works for CMT televison.
Anyway I fell in love with there first Canadian hit.
Yes I can still sing along with this video as well.



The follow up release was "How Can I Fall?"
Not as good as the first, but still enjoyable.

WiiHab

I certainly can relate to this...

Amy Brickhouse - Wiihab



Just for comparison here is Amy Winehouse with the original version.

Lego Mario

More coincidence.....
More Lego and Super Mario.
Like the tag says "It's always nice when to childhood passion's get together like this."

Goonies of the Caribbean

Just a random surfing find that ties in nicely to the Cindy post....
Coincidence or fate?
You be the judge.



A very nice piece of editing though.

Cyndi Lauper

It seems that I'm on a flashback to the eighties tonight.
What 80's visit is complete with out a tribute to Cyndi Lauper.
When Cyndi came to fame, about the same time as Madonna, people were saying that she was the real star.
The one with staying power.
I really like her music, but it was Madonna that just signed a $120 million dollar contract.

Here are a couple from Cyndi that have special meaning to me.

First up?

Goonies R Good Enough, the theme song from the 1985 movie "Goonies".
A fantastic movie with a fantastic video.
Staring some of the biggest wrestlers of the 80's.



More wrestlers and the classic "Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun".
Also turned into a movie starring a very young Sarah Jessica Parker.



My favorite Cyndi song "Time After Time"



What would a Cyndi Lauper retrospective be with out "True Colours"
The song that has been used by Phil Collins, Kodak, and Dove to name a few.




Last a song from 1989.
I Drove All Night.

Thriller - Michael Jackson

How can I let another Halloween pass with out a mention of Thriller one of the more "modern" Halloween songs.

Well folks this year marks the 25th Anniversary of the hugely successful album.
I'm happy to say that I never owned a copy of this album as I was only ten years old.
Apparently I am one of the few who don't own it has sold around 104 Million copies so far.
I am very aware though, of the numerous hits that came of this record, and I'm going to get a chance to finally purchase it. When the 25th anniversary addition is released in time for Christmas.
Who am I kidding I'll probably just download it.
From a completely legal source of course.

Here are a couple of my favorite songs from the album.

The original Thriller in all its glory.
At the time it was released it was a huge sensation especially the fact that the video ran more than 13 minutes unheard of really still to this day.

Here is an edited version of the video.



Billie Jean



Of course we have to include Beat it.



It's a shame that he destroyed his life and career the way he did.
He was a very talented person.

Finally I can't leave with out the Lego version of Thriller cause' who doesn't love Lego....

I Think We're Alone Now - Tiffany

I remember hearing this song while I was in my first year of high school.
Wow that was way back in 1987, twenty years ago...
Ouch.
Tiffany was the first of the "mall" singers....traveling around the U.S. singing in shopping centers.



I don't know what's worse the fact that the song is twenty years old our the fact that I can still sing along and remember every word.

OMG - Beer, Gasoline, and Matches.....

I have no idea what to say cause' I can't stop laughing.