Friday Night Videos

Rick Ocasek died a few weeks back, and I've been remiss at acknowledging his passing here. There was a time in high school when I was super-into the Cars. They dominated the radio with Heartbeat City, but being the obsessive that I am, I backtracked and listened to The Cars and Candy-O incessantly, and was particularly fixated by "Moving In Stereo" (hats off to Columbia Music Club for enabling my obsessions!). That said, I'm not sharing a Cars song today. That's too easy. Nor am I going with "Emotions in Motion," which is probably Ocasek's best-known solo song. No, I'm digging deep and sharing a track most Cars fans are probably completely unaware of, but Ocasek's distinctive sound instantly makes it his own. Yes, I'm talking about his cover of "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" from the album Mad About the Mouse. The Cars had a lot of bizarre videos, but I doubt any of them have prepared you for this. You're welcome.

Previously on Friday Night Videos... David Byrne.

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Friday Night Videos

Rick Ocasek's solo career didn't exactly set the world on fire when the Cars broke up, but you can't fault the man for trying. This late 80s single, "Rockaway", is a high-energy rocker that is vaguely reminiscent of the Cars' more uptempo, less-synthy work, but I'm moderately surprised it wasn't a hit for him. But that's beside the point. I'm gobsmackingly surprised by the gonzo bugnuts video, which looks for all the world like some unholy synthesis of the Go-Gos and the Brothers Quay. The 80s produced some bizarre music videos, but few approach this level of nutso.

Previously on Friday Night Videos... Eddie Murphy.

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