For some reason I thought I wrote more First Friday chapters on songs that I used to hear constantly while I sat on a school bus which had German flag stripes painted all along its length as it rumbled across some random far-flung desert island taking me to and from school, but I guess I only wrote one (Mr. Mister's Broken Wings & Kyrie).
Well, I guess it's time for Part II:
Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out
So I saw this video for the first time pretty much 5 minutes ago, which is surprising given how much I used to watch MTV once we moved back to the States. What black hole did this video fall into? I don't recall it being part of any 80's video weekend or countdown. I don't even remember it on TBS' Night Tracks, and you know they played everything. Have any of you seen it before or am I that out of the loop?
I will say that the video's unfortunately kind of lame. All about a maid's fantasies of being a rich socialite in an ugly dress dancing a pseudo-tango with some bored dude in a club. And did Joe Jackson just pick a carnation off a New York sidewalk and stick it in his mouth right there at the end? Nice. I can safely say that directors of 80's videos got one hell of a free ride.
As for the song, I'd liken Steppin' Out to be the sonic equivalent of wallpaper: you probably haven't thought of this track in eons, but as you were watching the video you were probably thinking, "Oh yeah, that song. By that guy."
The question is: Is Steppin' Out already in your iPod? Will it ever be in your iPod? Or are you still tripping that you always thought Joe Jackson was one of these guys?
Have a great weekend.
5 comments:
BTW, Joe Jackson was Michael, Tito, Jermaine, Janet, Rebbie, etc. dad.
And he recommends beating children.
1. I've seen the video. (It used to play in the background on the TVs when I had my 80s night dj gig at the Brass Rail in Hillcrest.
2. It's on my iPod.
3. I was always grossed out by the red carnation on the sidewalk, but then in his mouth bit.
:)
wrki: Ah, Pops Jackson's name was Joe? Maybe that's where I picked that up. The guy's got some issues, in any case.
c-d-o: I forgot about your gigs as an 80s night dj. That's awesome (you dj'ing, not me forgetting). And hearty bonus points for joe jackson on your ipod.
I remember the silly video, but more importantly I remember the album "Night and Day" fondly. Almost every song is on my iPod right now. I thought it was one of the strongest releases of 1982, but it's necessary to listen to the entire album to get the full effect. "Steppin' Out" is the sorbet course in a multi-course meal that also features some bitter, savory, and salty moments. It all works when taken as a whole. By the way, after drifting off course in the '90s, Joe Jackson has found his way back to his strengths in the current decade. His new album "Rain" is pretty good.
David -
Defining a song as a sorbet during a multi-course meal that has bitter, savory, and salty moments? Are you sure you don't want to work for Rolling Stone? That's the best written album summation I've read in ages.
Post a Comment