Friday Night Videos

"Adult Education" is one of Hall & Oates' odder hits. There's a cynicism to it, the staccato beats of the lyrics hinting at something ominous, or at least stressful, lurking around the corner. It's very much in the vein of high-school-as-a-horror-story done with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, save for the lack of supernatural elements. Or is it? I'm not so sure after watching the deeply weird video. What the heck is going on here? It starts off with something of an Indiana Jones vibe, but then takes a left turn into some occult ceremony with a mostly naked couple being blessed with what looks to be an Aztek paper weight. And John Oates is really, really pissed off about something. Was he angry because he didn't get to be one of the naked people? Is that why he's not wearing a shirt? I honestly have no idea.

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Friday Night Videos

Hall & Oates had a big year in 1984, with the release of their album Big Bam Boom. It was a change of pace for them, breaking away from their blue-eyes soul sound of previous albums. The lead single, "Out of Touch, was but the first in a string of hits from the album. The video for it was perfect for the era, gaining very heavy airplay on MTV, Night Tracks and Friday Night Videos. It's not hard to see why: Despite being filled with skads of 80s excess and questionable fashion choices, it is inventive and a whole lot of fun. The giant drum kit alone is iconic in music video history. And the song's not half bad, either.

Previously on Friday Night Videos... Chris Rea.

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Friday Night Videos

Hall & Oates were really, really big by the time I started high school, but with their album "Big Bam Boom" they broke away from the strict blue-eyed soul sound they were known for and rocked a bit more. Their video for "Out of Touch" was (and still is) pretty darn impressive, and it actually gives viewers a bonus song, opening with the instrumental "Dance On Your Knees." Great stuff. Enjoy!



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