OK, when I think of 80's cheese videos, Wang Chung's "Everybody Wang Chung Tonight" is near the top of the list (Starship's "We Built This City" will forever occupy the #1 slot). This is kind of a shame, because Wang Chung also did some really interesting electronic pop, certainly their 1984 release "Points On The Curve" was enjoyable and almost progressive. The height of Wang Chung art, however, was most certainly their soundtrack for William Friedkin's 1985 film "To Live And Die In LA". If you haven't seen this movie, you're really missing something - Willem Dafoe does a superb job playing Rick Masters, a sociopathic artist/counterfeiter. Wliiam Petersen (now much chubbier and on CSI) plays a tough Secret Service agent who will stop at nothing to avenge the death of his partner. Friedkin, who directed "The French Connection", creates a pursuit scene that is probably the best since that classic film chase. The whole film has a Wang Chung soundtrack, which sounds a bit dated now, but really adds a nice pulse to the movie. Check out the video for Wang Chung's "To Live And Die In LA" - another essential 80's track!
Iren says
Having seen the film again recently I was struck by the one scene where Wang Chung isn't the music playing.... there is a meet in a bar, just a regular every day bar, with a brick wall and an old juke box, and what's playing..... 80's Cowpunk group Rank'n'File.... which is a very nice counter to the synth pop of Wang Chung...
lemontwist says
So I guess I'll have to check this one out once I get some time to go through the backlog of YouTube videos to check out. (They make my old laptop get all angry and slow.)
lemontwist says
It's all good. It's partially my fault for having like 10 tabs open and several programs at a time. I keep treating my laptop like it's brand new. :)
OK, when I think of 80's cheese videos, Wang Chung's "Everybody Wang Chung Tonight" is near the top of the list (Starship's "We Built This City" will forever occupy the #1 slot). This is kind of a shame, because Wang Chung also did some really interesting electronic pop, certainly their 1984 release "Points On The Curve" was enjoyable and almost progressive. The height of Wang Chung art, however, was most certainly their soundtrack for William Friedkin's 1985 film "To Live And Die In LA". If you haven't seen this movie, you're really missing something - Willem Dafoe does a superb job playing Rick Masters, a sociopathic artist/counterfeiter. Wliiam Petersen (now much chubbier and on CSI) plays a tough Secret Service agent who will stop at nothing to avenge the death of his partner. Friedkin, who directed "The French Connection", creates a pursuit scene that is probably the best since that classic film chase. The whole film has a Wang Chung soundtrack, which sounds a bit dated now, but really adds a nice pulse to the movie. Check out the video for Wang Chung's "To Live And Die In LA" - another essential 80's track!
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