Robert Hazard is a Philly musician who wrote "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", which was obviously a huge hit for Cyndi Lauper. But he also recorded his own early 80's MTV classic, "Escalator Of Life", and the video is absolutely priceless. It's 3 minutes of 80's excess, fashion, makeup, and attitude. And you've just got to love the chorus - "We're riding on the escalator of life - we're shopping in the human mall" - who writes lyrics like this nowadays? Robert Hazard's "Escalator Of Life" - an essential 80's track!!!!And HOLY CRAP! I just noticed that one of the girls in the video is the late Patty Donahue, lead singer of The Waitresses! Who knew...
mktackabery says
Do you think Bret Easton Ellis listened to this while writing American Psycho? All you needed then was an 808, a Casio and a good hairdresser.
ebuzzmiller says
i remember reading American Psycho on the subway, and shrinking down in the seat, because it felt like i was looking at porno on a crowded train. it wasn't until a lot later that i realized it was written as kind of a comedy.
missjunk says
You know, its funny. Our world now seems so generic. Everytown USA (and the world really) Malls of Subways, Qdobas, Chipoltes, Pottery Barn, Banana Repuplic, Old Navy and the Gap... etc etc...
But in the 80's- the malls first came to town. It was a HUGE HUGE deal to get a new mall. It was a new place to go "and be seen", "shop til you drop" it was an amazing time to be a teenager. Everything was special because it was in the "mall"
Now, its all evolved again.....
ebuzzmiller says
I worked at a mall, in a record shop, while I went to community college. I ended up meeting record label field reps at the store, they'd come visit, hand out tapes and hang up posters. the whole time i worked there, selling Pretty In PInk soundtracks, New Order, Cure & Depeche Mode 12 inch imports, eating Burger King 2 times a day and workign 12 hour shifts, I thought "damn, I want to be one of those label guys who hand out tickets, LPs and posters."
i didn't think it would happen, but eventually I got in and had a pretty great run in the business, met a lot of great people, met a lot of asshole, maybe even became an asshole for a little while, but when I think back on it all, just about the most fun I had in the music business was at that record store, in the mall, waiting to open the LP boxes of new arrivals every week. for a while there, it was like being in a John Hughes movie, a really good one.....
mktackabery says
wow ebuzz, didn't exactly live this same life, but almost. worked in a mall record store, and became a buyer, so I was the person the label dudes hooked up with. Tuesday mornings was the best day of the week. Or was it Monday night, when the UPS guy showed up and you got to dig out the new releases you couldn't put out til the next day?
ebuzzmiller says
hey, i was a buyer too, Mtack! wasn't that a great gig - when you're a buyer, you got tickets, promos, all the cool stuff. did you buy for a chain store? where and which one? do tell!
Robert Hazard is a Philly musician who wrote "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", which was obviously a huge hit for Cyndi Lauper. But he also recorded his own early 80's MTV classic, "Escalator Of Life", and the video is absolutely priceless. It's 3 minutes of 80's excess, fashion, makeup, and attitude. And you've just got to love the chorus - "We're riding on the escalator of life - we're shopping in the human mall" - who writes lyrics like this nowadays? Robert Hazard's "Escalator Of Life" - an essential 80's track!!!!And HOLY CRAP! I just noticed that one of the girls in the video is the late Patty Donahue, lead singer of The Waitresses! Who knew...
Comments (7)