Episode 418: Ch-ch-ch-changes: The 20 Most Revolutionary 80s Music Videos, Part 2

"Music videos were an avenue for women to break into directing, which was really important at the time. A lot of women basically got their start directing music videos because nobody wanted to do them... until they became super popular." — Susan Lambert Hatem
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The Conversation

  • The Mid-Season Packing Hiatus: Susan and Sharon share an update on their respective moves, navigating the emotional and physical heavy lifting of downsizing and uncovering hidden historical gems in old storage boxes.
  • Female Directing Pioneers: The ladies discuss how music videos served as a vital gateway for groundbreaking female filmmakers like Mary Lambert and Penelope Spheeris at a time when traditional Hollywood doors were shut.
  • Choreographers Step Out Front: Sharon breaks down Paula Abdul's iconic black-and-white debut for "Straight Up" (directed by David Fincher), mapping her legendary transition from behind-the-scenes Laker Girl choreographer to a front-and-center music superstar.
  • Classic 80s Cameos & Cameo’s Word Up: A celebration of Cameo's "Word Up" featuring a remarkably baby-faced LeVar Burton as an overmatched police officer, alongside a dive into the origins of the phrase "wave your hands in the air like you don't care."
  • The Reality of the Road: A look at Bon Jovi's cowboy-tinged "Wanted Dead or Alive" leads to a touching tribute to the grueling, marathon work ethic required of touring bands traveling from city to city.
  • Sepia Tones & Lake Pedal Boats: Susan explores the Americana aesthetic of Rod Stewart & Jeff Beck's "People Get Ready" cover, pulling back the curtain on a rare 1965 pre-MTV performance by The Impressions filmed on pedal boats with the young stars of Dick Clark’s Where The Action Is.
  • Susan's Disney & Cape Canaveral Tales: Susan shares an extraordinary behind-the-scenes story from her time in Disney broadcast publicity, recounting the legendary, high-budget Armageddon premiere launch party where Aerosmith played a private rehearsal concert directly in front of a lit-up space shuttle.
  • Sharon's Oscar Rehearsal Memories: Sharon looks back on attending Academy Award rehearsals, offering a beautiful memory of Whitney Houston's profound kindness and grace toward a young fan while at the rehearsal for her iconic duet with Mariah Carey.
  • The Welder with a Dream: The ladies champion Irene Cara's "Flashdance... What a Feeling" as an essential piece of 1980s feminist representation, reflecting on the film's rousing choreography and the publicity crew's spontaneous cubicle performances of "Armageddon: The Musical." But Susan wonders if the movie holds up on a rewatch?
  • Fan Favorites Coming Up! To give the hosts time to complete their big moves, 80s TV Ladies announces an exciting lineup of fan-favorite rebroadcasts featuring insightful interviews with writer Nicole Levy and legendary showrunner Susan Fales-Hill exploring the legacy of A Different World.

Our Audio-ography

📹 REVOLUTIONARY 80s MUSIC VIDEOS PLAYLIST - PART 2

Artist | Song Title | Release | Picked By | Link

Paula Abdul | Straight Up | 1988 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube 

Pat Benatar | Hit Me With Your Best Shot | 1980 | Susan | Watch on YouTube

Eurythmics | Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) | 1983 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube 

Cyndi Lauper | Girls Just Want to Have Fun | 1983 | Susan | Watch on YouTube 

Cameo | Word Up | 1986 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube 

Bon Jovi | Wanted Dead or Alive | 1987 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube 

Rod Stewart & Jeff Beck | People Get Ready | 1985 | Susan | Watch on YouTube

The Impressions | People Get Ready | 1965 | Watch on YouTube

Genesis | Invisible Touch | 1986 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube

Van Halen | Jump | 1984 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube 

Irene Cara | Flashdance... What a Feeling | 1983 | Susan | Watch on YouTube 

Whitney Houston | I Wanna Dance with Somebody  | 1987 | Sharon | Watch on YouTube

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SPECIAL MESSAGE

CREDITS

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