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Time for a new feature. ‘The Projectionist’ will showcase a series of related video clips with commentary and trivia. This first installment was the brainchild of my old roommate Kevin Pell, the pride of Somers, Connecticut. Now set your cellphones to silent and enjoy the feature presentation.
1. Various Artists: “Voices That Care”
Year: 1991
Cause: Operation Desert Storm
Biggest Stars: Garth Brooks, Michael Bolton, Kevin Costner, Will Smith
Strangest Stars: Orel Hershiser, Fred Savage, Don King, Mike Tyson
What To Look For: The forced inclusion of half-hearted lip-synchers Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan (at the 1:03 mark); Ted Danson waving in passing, making me question his involvement (3:24); Gary Busey rocking (3:35); a barely recognizable Alyssa Milano (3:43); The Fonz and Hershiser (4:11); Iron Mike’s sweater (4:33)
2. USA for Africa: “We Are The World”
Year: 1985
Cause: Famine in Ethiopia
Biggest Stars: Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder
Strangest Stars: Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson, Marlon Jackson, LaToya Jackson, Dan Aykroyd
What To Look For: Billy Joel looking confused (1:05); Michael Jackson’s socks (1:18); Michael Jackson’s glove (1:19); The Springsteen Face (2:14); LaToya (5:48); Aykroyd (multiple times)
3. Band Aid: “Do They Know Its Christmas?”
Year: 1984
Cause: Famine in Ethiopia
Big Stars: Bono, Phil Collins, Sting, Boy George
Bigger Stars Who Appeared Only On The B-Side: Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Annie Lennox
What To Look For: A sweet Duran Duran sweatshirt (2:03); Young Sting looks a lot like Dr. Chase on House (2:43); intense maracas (3:31)
4. Northern Lights: “Tears Are Not Enough”
Year: 1985
Cause: Famine in Ethiopia/Canadian Pride
Biggest Stars: Neil Young, Bryan Adams, Gordon Lightfoot, Geddy Lee
Strangest Stars: John Candy, Paul Schaffer, Wayne Gretzky and other Campbell Conference All-Stars
What To Look For: A better quality video, which you can find here (sorry, embedding was disabled)
5. Hear n’ Aid: “Stars”
Year: 1985
Cause: Famine in Ethiopia/The Perception of Heavy Metal Stars
Biggest Stars: Blue Oyster Cult, Dio, Quiet Riot, Queensryche,
Backup Vocalists You’ll Know: Vince Neil, Ted Nugent, Yngwie Malmsteen
What To Look For: A great idea for an obscure nostalgic t-shirt (0:42); Quiz: Groupies or Heavy Metal Studs? (2:04); Another Quiz: That’s not Ron Jeremy, is it? (5:36); a fantastic photo montage (6:20 to end)
6. Old Aid: “We Are The Old”
Year: 1992
Cause: Aging Rock Stars
Biggest Stars: John Sebastian (The Lovin’ Spoonful), Peter Noone (Herman’s Hermits), Mark Lindsay (Paul Revere and the Raiders), Robbie Krieger (The Doors), Richie Havens and Spencer Davis.
Strangest Star: “Axel” Bundy
What To Look For: Axel playing his sandwich (1:40); actual feelings of sympathy for the aging rockers (throughout)
I believe that’s Carmine Appice that looks a bit like Ron Jeremy.
posted by Jill on 10-25-2007 at 1:14 am
Don’t forget “Child Stars on your Television”
video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7033395342625832381
posted by Doug Nelson on 10-25-2007 at 4:11 am
Can’t leave out the video that featured Run-DMC, Lou Reed, Joey Ramone, George Clinton and about 9 million others: the anti-apartheid anthem “Sun City.”
youtube.com/watch?v=lKCJWjqjQww
posted by Griner on 10-25-2007 at 8:24 am
or the Ramones’ “Hands Across Your Face” video for “Something to Believe In” featuring Dio, Penn&Teller, X, Weird Al, Zander Schloss, Pat Smear, etc.
or “Do They Know it’s Halloween” featuring Thurston Moore, Beck, David Cross, the Arcade Fire, Feist, Redd Kross, Elvira, Peaches, Roky Erickson, Rilo Kiley, etc.
Both of those are on YouTube.
posted by illnoise on 10-25-2007 at 8:44 am
Thanks for the laughs. :D
posted by mrs.djs on 10-25-2007 at 8:50 am
I rememeber Hear N Aid and mostly Spinal Tap being interviewed. Pointing out that Yngwie Malmsteen had a J. put in his name, “So we don’t confuse him with all the other Yngwie Malmsteens out there.”
posted by Johnny Cat on 10-25-2007 at 2:46 pm
“Do They Know Its Christmas” is truly the greatest Xmas song of ALL TIME. When I worked at a bookstore, my friend and I would put it on constant repeat and sing it all day until someone noticed and would make us change it.
posted by Rachel on 10-25-2007 at 4:06 pm
Michael Jackson: We are the children…
*blink**blink*
posted by Amy on 10-26-2007 at 2:46 pm
Did I catch a glimpse of Nancy Wilson on the “Stars” video - prior to the extremely drawn out guitar solos? If so does that make her the only woman on that video - other than a few token groupies in the still shots.
As a final thought - there was way too much hair in that video. Rob Halford even had some hair. I am a child of the days of the hair band, but I had repressed a lot of how much hair it really was. I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep tonight after watching that. Scary…..
posted by Angie on 10-29-2007 at 9:19 pm
OMG! The “Voices That Care” video has to be the most self-serving piece of drivel I’ve ever seen outside of a GW Bush photo op!
posted by Lisa on 11-9-2007 at 7:25 am
“Do they know its Christmas?” Followed by the less popular reply song “Do they know we’re Muslim?”
posted by Mary on 11-14-2007 at 3:30 pm
Al “Axel” Bundy, Yes!!!
Marrried with Children is one of the best shows of all time. And to think it probably never would have survived a year if it hadn’t been for that stuck up b—- from Bloomfield Hills, MI and the attention she brought to it.
I agree Do They Know It’s Christmas is a great song. Anything with Bob Geldof is good (not to mention his performance in “Pink Floyd The Wall”).
posted by It's good to be the King on 11-28-2007 at 12:34 pm
These make me want to help Ethiopia just so we never have to hear crappy drivel like this again.
Still, kudos to Hear ‘N Aid for featuring Nigel St. Hubbins!!
posted by This is my Boomstick! on 1-29-2008 at 12:26 pm
The only problem I had with the USA for Africa one was with Bob Dylan…. one of the organizers (Springsteen, or someone like that) said “No egos allowed”… Dylan refused to record with the other stars. All of his parts were done separately and mixed in later.
As far as Band Aid… *NOW* I remember why I loved Bananarama so much! They were hot for the ’80’s! Hell, they’re hot NOW!
posted by Lost in the '80's on 2-19-2008 at 9:22 pm
“We are the old
we have arthritis
our gums are weak, from gingivitis..”
posted by Dick Manly on 3-6-2008 at 5:39 pm
I was expecting to see the GHOSTBUSTERS on this list!!???
posted by Ella on 4-8-2008 at 11:34 am