The late Billy Ocean was big in the 80s. Really big. You wouldn't know that from the lack of airplay he gets these days, even on stuff like Sirius XM's 80s station. But he was. He had a smooth, soulful voice and stylish good looks. He seemed like a decent guy. I never quite liked his work enough to rush out and buy his albums, but I never changed the channel when they came on the radio. My earliest memory of him came from the video for "Loverboy". This was on heavy rotation on few video programs my MTV-free house received: Night Tracks, Friday Night Videos, etc. And you know what? It's even weirder today than I remember it. I have to wonder if the Henson Creature Shop was involved in this production in any way, because the horse-lizard main character has pretty sophisticated (though limited) facial movements that remind me of some Farscape creatures, and the woman he abducts looks like a Gelfling, or any of Brian Froud's other fairy-like creatures. Others online have noted the aesthetic similarities, but I haven't seen anything definitely connecting the two. The whole thing is a bizarre Star Wars cantina scene knock-off complete with fake Jawas, but the thing that stands out the most to me is the "Barbot." I want one of those.
The late Billy Ocean? As far as I know, he's not dead...
And good choice, by the way. I always liked this one, and haven't heard it in forever. Weird video, but Billy has kind of a Lando Calrissian vibe going, and that's never bad. :D
The late Billy Ocean? As far as I know, he's not dead...
ReplyDeleteAnd good choice, by the way. I always liked this one, and haven't heard it in forever. Weird video, but Billy has kind of a Lando Calrissian vibe going, and that's never bad. :D
Huh. So he is. I could've sworn he died of kidney failure 10-12 years ago. Weird.
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