The Monkees - (Theme from) The Monkees

Okay, I'll admit it, The Monkees are one of my biggest musical guilty pleasures. Sure, their music isn't great, it's manufactured pop, but hell, it's fun! And you can't have a music video blog and not throw The Monkees in, they pretty much invented the entire genre. I had a hard time deciding which video to show, but I figured it'd be best to start from the beginning, the theme song. Don't worry, you'll be seeing plenty more of The Monkees around here!

Monkees facts:

1. The Monkees debuted on NBC on Sept. 12, 1966
2. Charles Manson did NOT audition for the show, just another urban legend
3. They outsold The Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined in 1967
4. Davy Jones' popularity spurred another David Jones to change his surname, we now call him David Bowie!
5. They actually played their own instruments and sang the songs, in the studio and on tour...another urban legend bites the dust
6. Michael Nesmith created a show called Pop Clips, which was sold to Time Warner, who later turned it into MTV

T. Rex - 20th Century Boy

No history or facts here, just a cool song from the Glam era of the early 70s.

Hmm I just noticed this Levi's commercial from '91 that uses this song, check it out and see if you recognize anyone...

a-ha - Take On Me

Ah (or should I say a-ha?) this one really takes me back. To this day, this remains my all time favorite video! I'm a sucker for the song from this one-hit wonder from Oslo, Norway, and the video was pretty groundbreaking in 1985. It used rotoscoping animation, which has been around since 1915 (invented by Max Fleischer), but was something new in the burgeoning music video world. Rotoscoping is a technique where animators trace over live-action film, frame by frame, to give it an animated look and feel. Richard Linklater (dir. Dazed and Confused) used this technique in two of his more recent films, Waking Life and A Scanner Darkly. The mix between the real world and the animated world, coupled with the fantasy love theme, are what make this video such an enduring, timeless classic.

Take On Me facts:

1. From the album Hunting High and Low
2. Song topped the Billboard charts on October 19, 1985
3. The last scene is based on the 1980 movie Altered States
4. a-ha is the only Norwegian band to reach #1 on the Billboard charts
5. Video won 6 MTV Video Awards in 1986, and was nominated for 2 others
6. Originally titled "The Juicy Fruit Song"
7. Although a one-hit wonder in the US, a-ha continues to make new music and tour
8. Featured in one of many....many....pop culture references on The Family Guy

Post Script Video

Interesting post post script - it took me longer to find this Family guy clip than the real video, all the ones on youtube are from jackasses that filmed their TV set. I mean really, who does that?!?

Michael Jackson - Thriller

With the sad happenings of yesterday, I couldn't think of a better way to kick off Musical Karma than with the best video of all time. This video stands the test of time, IMHO. It really encompasses what a music video should have: good music and a story you can follow. I'm not big on plain concert videos. Sure, I'll watch 'em if it's a song/artist I really like, but otherwise I'd just as soon hear the song on the radio. But when you add the video element to the audio, there should be something more there, and this video perfects that concept.

Thriller facts:

1. Premiered December 2, 1983
2. Directed by John Landis (Animal House, The Blues Brothers, An American Werewolf in London)
3. Cost: $500,000, at the time, the most expensive video ever made
4. Narrator: Horror icon Vincent Price
5. Jackson's co-star Ola Ray was the Playboy Playmate of the month, June, 1980
6. List in the Guinness World Records as the "most successful music video", selling over 9 million units

Welcome to Musical Karma!

So you've found your way to Musical Karma, eh? Well then, Welcome! There's a simple goal here, to bring you some some great videos to spice up your day. Some will be great, cool songs and videos, some will be cheesy good fun. And if you know me, you know you're in for some greats from the '80s. And you might just learn a thing or two about your favorite songs, too. So tune in and turn it up!!

And yes, we do take requests!