80's Hit Song Review: "Ewok Celebration" by Meco (1983)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 60

Backstory: Domenico Monardo was born in 1939 in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania. He joined his local high school band while still in elementary school, and in 1956, won a scholarship to the Eastman School of Music in New York, which provided him with a proper classical and jazz music education. Starting in the late 60's, he started doing arrangements, like the horn section on Tommy James's "Crystal Blue Persuasion", and even songs for Neil Diamond to sing in Coke commercials. In the early to mid 70's, he met Tony Bongiovi (who is Jon Bon Jovi's older cousin), who produced his most famous single, "Star Wars Theme/ Cantina Band" in 1977, which was a disco version of the famous John Williams score, which became a huge No. 1 hit. Later in 1980, he had a follow up hit with "The Empire Strikes Back" medley, which peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. Two years later in 1982, he had another Top 40 single with "Pop Goes the Movies", which was basically just a medley mash up of certain famous movie scores and soundtrack songs, which peaked at No. 35. Finally, his music career came to an end the next year in '83 when he made a pop and dance remake of the "Ewok Celebration" song from Return of the Jedi. After he retired from music, he became a golfer, although he occasionally goes back to composing and making music every once in a while.

The review: I really should hate this song more than I do, but I just can't. It's definitely nothing good, but it's not necessarily as bad or as cheesy as some other novelty songs. It's pretty fun and catchy too, and Duke Bootee's rap, although cheesy, is a nice little touch. I also love the addition of steel drums in the background melody of this tune.

Final rating: 5/10

My 50th post!

Just wanted to let everybody know that this is 50th post! We made it to a goal! Yay! I’ll be back in a bit.

60’s Hit Song Review: “They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!” By Napoleon XIV (1966)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 3

Backstory: Jerry Samuels, a singer-songwriter was born in 1938 and at the age of only 18 made his first ever song, “Puppy Love”. He also made and wrote “The Shelter of Your Arms” for Sammy Davis Jr. in 1964. Two years later, he released this absolutely bizarre novelty song with not a single note of music that made it all the way up to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was controversial, however for making fun of mental illnesses. It was his first and only ever hit single, released off of Warner Bros. Records. Samuels still performs music to this day, usually at a retirement home.

The Review: This is EASILY one of my all time favorite novelty songs. The bizarreness of it, the repetitive clap and tambourine beat, and crazy vocals about a man going insane after losing his dog is just awesome! Truly unique!

Final rating: 10/10

80's Hit Song Review: "Don't Stop Trying" by Rodway (1982)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 83

Backstory: Steve Rodway was born in 1960, and by his early 20's already released and produced this album and single on the now defunct Millennium Records label, which died out by early 1983. This single was a minor hit, but was a bigger modest sized success on the Dance Charts, where it peaked at No. 41. But during the 90's, Rodway finally got his big break when he started to remix music for artists such as Pulp, Erasure, and the Pet Shop Boys under the alias, Motiv8. He still produces and makes music to this day.

The review: This is a very catchy and pretty cool lost synthpop gem with cool keyboards and pretty good vocals. If Millennium Records wasn't going out of business at this time, it could've been a much bigger success on the charts. It has a fun beat as well.

Final rating: 8/10

And as always, don't forget to comment down your opinion on this tune below.

60's Hit Song Review: "Big Bruce" by Steve Greenberg (1969)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 97

Backstory: Virtually nothing is known about Greenberg other than the obvious fact that he released this parody song of off the incredibly short lived record label, Trip Records. The song, a controversial parody of Jimmy Dean's 1960 classic, "Big Bad John", barely entered the Hot 100 and was Greenberg's first and only ever Billboard Hot 100 chart entry. He released one more follow up single that wasn't successful and just vanished into thin air after that. Nobody really knows if he is still alive or what! However, I do know that he is a Caucasian male because of an advertisement from 1969 showing his face on it.

The Review: This is an absolutely hilarious and politically incorrect parody song about a gay hairdresser who dies in a salon fire. But after hearing it, I can definitely see why is was hardly a success: The incredibly taboo (for the time, at least, subject matter of this parody song). But it still should've been a much bigger success if you ask me.

Final rating: 9/10

And as always, don't forget to comment down your opinion on this tune below.

A "Strange" Update

It seems like Joe has unfollowed my blog without giving me any reason as to why. I can't get in touch with him either, so if that is the case, than I'm confused as to why.

Joe, if you see this, please answer this question that way I can know what to do next or about the current situation that's going on right now.

80's Hit Song Review: "Respect Yourself" by Bruce Willis (1987)

U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Peak Position No. 5

Backstory: German-born American actor Willis first gained recognition and success as David Addison on the ABC comedy-drama series Moonlighting, which aired from 1985-1989. In 1987, Willis released this first single off of his album The Return of Bruno. The album was even made into an HBO rockumentary and mockumentary special during the same year. The single, somewhat of a surprise success, is a cover version of the 1971 Staple Singers classic and even includes backup vocals by June Pointer and the other Pointer sisters, made it all the way into the Top 10, and was even a Top 10 hit in the U.K. as well, peaking at No. 7 on the U.K. Singles Chart. The album was also a surprise success (heck, I OWN a copy, LOL), peaking at No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 200 Album Charts. The follow up singles, also cover songs ("Young Blood" and "Under the Boardwalk"), didn't do quite as well on the Hot 100. His 2nd and only other album, 1989's If It Don't Kill You, It Just Makes You Stronger, wasn't a success at all. Of course, Willis is much more famous for starring in movies such as Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, and Armageddon. (Side note: One of my 11th grade teachers was a relative of Demi Moore, his former wife who he divorced in 2000. LOL)

The Review: Like Eddie Murphy's "Party All the Time" and Starship's "We Built This City", this is one of those "love it or hate it" kind of guilty pleasure songs from this decade. I honestly have always loved Willis's version of the song, but what makes it stand out is the fantastic production, Willis's harmonica playing, and Willis's voice along with the Pointer Sisters as backup singers makes this a fantastic cover version in my book, personally. LOL. But, of course, the Staple Singers original is the true classic.

Final rating: 9/10

And as always, don't forget to comment your opinion on this tune below.