fine young cannibals: underrated

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I'll admit "Good Thing" has not aged well for me. "Don't Look Back" sounds great though.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:04 (twenty years ago) link

I've gotten more than one google hit on my site from people looking for info about Puff Daddy's presence in the "Man I Used To Be" video.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:05 (twenty years ago) link

I like the song far more than "Good Thing" which makes me get all Alex In NYC all over the place

I'm afraid to ask what that's supposed to mean.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 23:45 (twenty years ago) link

One of those bands that I never minded hearing the singles or seeing the videos for but who I could never get interested enough to buy the albums for. And somehow that seems just.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 00:42 (twenty years ago) link

"Johnny Come Home" was a great single, and then it all quickly went pear-shaped

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 02:51 (twenty years ago) link

Two brilliant albums. The only thing they could do was breakup after that, and I commend them for doing so.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 03:57 (twenty years ago) link

But The Raw and the Remixed!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 04:01 (twenty years ago) link

I'm afraid to ask what that's supposed to mean.

Don't be afraid. it was meant as a compliment. More specifically, a directed vortex of well-phrased verbal rage.

― donut bitch (donut), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 04:33 (twenty years ago) link

i can't listen to "she drives me crazy" without wanting to rip my ears off.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 06:35 (twenty years ago) link

try drilling a hole in it about an inch or two from the centre

― that's MR. sanchez to you (mokey), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 14:07 (twenty years ago) link

Actually, a strategic hole at about 3.25" will probably do the trick for most people.

― NickB (NickB), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 14:12 (twenty years ago) link

I agree with Strongo: underrated. "I'm Not The Man I Used To Be" is particularly good wimp-soul. I have a sneaking fondness for "Blue" too and its ham-fisted political metaphor, it seemed kind of subtle to me when I was 12.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 14:13 (twenty years ago) link

one year passes...

i still have their records on cassette!

they had one of the best motown pastiches ever. the rhythm section--i.e. the same rhythm section as the (english) beat--was fucking great. the vocalist gets points for not sounding like anyone else, ever.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Saturday, 7 May 2005 01:15 (eighteen years ago) link

That first record still feels like thick, humid summer nights where you can taste the ocean in the air and hormones runneth amuck.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 7 May 2005 02:27 (eighteen years ago) link

Who plays the piano on "Good Thing"? THAT guy can fucking play!

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Saturday, 7 May 2005 03:08 (eighteen years ago) link

Stringo and Amatrist otm

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 7 May 2005 03:21 (eighteen years ago) link

> Who else hated that bass player's dance?

Memorably described in Smash Hits magazine at the time as resembling "a headless chicken being electrocuted underwater".

― Palomino (Palomino), Saturday, 7 May 2005 14:56 (eighteen years ago) link

I'm still astonished that "The RAw & the Cooked" was number one for several weeks and produced two number one singles during the blandest, most reactionary Top 40 period in years (spring '89).

I still love, love, love the Buzzcocks and Elvis covers. "Don't Look Back" sparkles like it's the kid sister of the Beat's "Best Friend."

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 7 May 2005 18:45 (eighteen years ago) link

I don't remember it being that bland and reactionary ("Hangin' Tough" might be bad, but reactionary? Donnie's shirt said HOMEBOY! Don't forget the B-52's and Rhythm Nation 1814 and lots of new jack and all kinds of neat stuff but then I dunno what specific season of '89 I was hearing this stuff), but then that was the time I first started really paying attention to music so the novelty was pretty inherent for me (BATDANCE, yo!). I threw on Raw & The Cooked last night and I have to admit a lot of the album tracks are tinny as fuck. I probably like "I'm Not The Man I Used To Be" and "Don't Look Back" as much as I did when I first got the CD.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 7 May 2005 18:57 (eighteen years ago) link

The "Rhythm Nation" stuff came out later in the year; and the good New Kids stuff and Prince's Batman soundtrack came out over the summer. Until Madonna's "Like a Prayer," the Cannibals and (alright, fine) the Bobby Brown-led new jack swing stuff was the only thing of interest between, say, February and April '89.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:00 (eighteen years ago) link

yeah the specific months of hits from my prepubescence MTV fanhood is kinda foggy.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:06 (eighteen years ago) link

my post sounds a bit persnickety, rereading it.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:10 (eighteen years ago) link

haha it's ok! I wish I knew the succession of hits better myself. I didn't buy Green, my first self-purchased CD, until a year after it was out.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:10 (eighteen years ago) link

I was thinking I should have put "Blue" on my political CD.

― Tom (Groke), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:18 (eighteen years ago) link

What WAS on the charts in early 89. Donny Osmond's George Michael rip "Soldier of Love," I think.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:31 (eighteen years ago) link

Milli Vanilli

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:37 (eighteen years ago) link

well at least their album debuted that March

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:38 (eighteen years ago) link

hey REM's "Stand"!

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:40 (eighteen years ago) link

#1 Song on Billboard’s Modern Rock Chart, February 4th, 1989: “Stand” by R.E.M.

went top ten pop too so I have to assume it was around the same time.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:41 (eighteen years ago) link

From a billboard pop charts list of the biggest hits of 1989:

STRAIGHT UP Paula Abdul (Virgin) (#1, Feb)
GIRL YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE Milli Vanelli (Arista) (#2, April) LOST IN YOUR EYES Debbie Gibson (Atlantic) (#1, March)
THE LOOK Roxette (EMI) (#1, April)
*SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY Fine Young Cannibals (I.R.S.) (#1, April)
LIKE A PRAYER Madonna (Sire) (#1, April)
THE LIVING YEARS Mike + the Mechanics (Atlantic) (#1, March)
ETERNAL FLAME The Bangles (Columbia) (#1, April)
WILD THING Tone Loc (Delicious Vinyl) (#2, Feb)
WHEN I'M WITH YOU Sheriff (Capitol) (#1, Feb)
BORN TO BE MY BABY Bon Jovi (Mercury) (#3, Feb)
MY HEART CAN'T TELL YOU NO Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers) (#4, April)
YOU GOT IT (The Right Stuff) The New Kids On the Block (Columbia) (#3, March)
WHEN THE CHILDREN CRY White Lion (Atlantic) (#3, Feb)
THE WAY YOU LOVE ME Karyn White (Warner Brothers) (#7, Feb)
FUNKY COLD MEDINA Tone Loc (Delicious Vinyl) (#3, April)
STAND R.E.M. (Warner Brothers) (#6, April)
ALL THIS TIME Tiffany (MCA) (#6, Feb)
RONI Bobby Brown (MCA) (#3, March)
WHAT I AM Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians (Geffen) (#7, March)
PARADISE CITY Guns N' Roses (Geffen) (#5, March)
I WANNA HAVE SOME FUN Samantha Fox (Jive) (#8, Feb)
SHE WANTS TO DANCE WITH ME Rick Astley (RCA) (#6, Feb) DREAMIN' Vanessa Williams (Wing) (#8, April)
HEAVEN HELP ME Deon Estus (with George Michael) (Mika) (#5, April)
SURRENDER TO ME
Ann Wilson and Robin Zander (Capitol) (#6, March)

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:46 (eighteen years ago) link

I believe that's their chart peak and the month of it. from this site

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:47 (eighteen years ago) link

I didn't know "Stand" was that big.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:51 (eighteen years ago) link

their SECOND top ten pop hit dude!

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:52 (eighteen years ago) link

yeah I knew "The One I Love" was top 10.

But come to think of it, I think "Stand" was MTV's #5 or #6 video of 1989, so top ten status shouldn't be that surprising.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:53 (eighteen years ago) link

I'd like to look back at my favorite acts at the time (B-52's, REM, Prince, Fine Young Cannibals) and pat myself on the back for digging respected, interesting artists rather than NKOTB or whoever but I realize now the true connection between all of them is videos involving eccentric dancing.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 7 May 2005 19:59 (eighteen years ago) link

Rereading the list of hits you posted, Anthony, I'm struck again by how friggin' gross most of those songs are.

(I bought "Stand" on 45! I thought I was so cool and alternative for being an REM fan!)

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 7 May 2005 20:21 (eighteen years ago) link

Ned: I remember "Soldier of Love" and Michael Damien's "Rock On" being on the charts at the same time: double dosage of TV stars!

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 7 May 2005 20:23 (eighteen years ago) link

(1) A lot of those songs are pretty good!

(2) I presume the Mike/Mechanics single was crap, but I don't remember it.

(3) Who were Sheriff?

(4) I think NKOTB are better in memory than if I actually had to hear them again. I used to make fun of a girl named Caitlin who liked horses and NKOTB. Sorry, Caitlin.

(5) "When the Children Cry" is a kitsch classic. My college roommate grew up down the street from White Lion's lead guitarist.

(6) OMG Karyn White!

(7) Is it time to revisit J0hn Darnie11e's Rick Astley story?

(8) "Deon Estus"?

(9) Ann Wilson and Robin Zander WTF?!

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Saturday, 7 May 2005 21:20 (eighteen years ago) link

(10) GNR, Milli Vanelli, and FYC obviously the best things on there. (I like Madonna, but not that particular record so much.)

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Saturday, 7 May 2005 21:21 (eighteen years ago) link

(11) I thoroughly enjoy the first Tiffany LP.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Saturday, 7 May 2005 21:22 (eighteen years ago) link

For some reason I thought "Heaven Help Me" was by Maxi Priest but hey I remember the chorus hook more than the dude.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 7 May 2005 21:41 (eighteen years ago) link

Karyn White was cool; so were the Deon Estus song (which sounds so much like George Michael it's no wonder George sings on it) and Rick Astley's "She Wants To Dance With Me."

Amateurist: Sheriff's "When I'm With You" is a hairy power ballad, originally released in 1985 but rereleased in '89. Come to Miami and you'll hear Mike's mechanical "Living Years" in every bakery and beauty parlor.

Shouldn't John Darnielle have written a song about his Rick Astley experience by now?

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Saturday, 7 May 2005 22:11 (eighteen years ago) link

Mojo Nixon did!

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 7 May 2005 22:35 (eighteen years ago) link

I just listened to "She Drives Me Crazy"

Fantastic song. Benefits muchly from ripping the drum pattern (and to a large extent, the video) from New Order's "True Faith".

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Saturday, 7 May 2005 23:33 (eighteen years ago) link

same director. that kind of stuff is his thing.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 7 May 2005 23:34 (eighteen years ago) link

I figured it had to be.

I mean, if you're gonna do one style throughout your career, that's a pretty good one, with people as abstract art images moving in time to the music and whatnot. The "True Faith" video is easily one of my favorites of ever.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Sunday, 8 May 2005 00:51 (eighteen years ago) link

I'm kinda surprised here, Dr. Bill -- you surely *did* notice the cameo appearance of the two blue/orange/yellow guys from "True Faith" in the "She Drives Me Crazy" video at the time? That's precisely what confirmed my hunch!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 8 May 2005 00:56 (eighteen years ago) link

I notciced the similarity, but didn't realize they were the exact same guys by the exact same director.

Next time I catch either on VH1 Classic, I'll be sure to pay more attention.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Sunday, 8 May 2005 04:54 (eighteen years ago) link

"I'm Not The Man I Used To Be" is not only a wonderful song, but a strong contender for best use of a "Funky Drummer" rip from that point in the late 80s when it was inescapable. Roland really does have a beautiful voice, and maudlin resignation suits it best.

― TV's Mr Noodle Vague (noodle vague), Sunday, 8 May 2005 10:38 (eighteen years ago) link

Hang on, it's "Make It Funky" isn't it, not "Funky Drummer". Still, golden.

― TV's Mr Noodle Vague (noodle vague), Sunday, 8 May 2005 12:26 (eighteen years ago) link

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