TAKING A BREAK...

I'LL BE

BACK

ONE DAY

NEW VIDEO: JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE - SUIT & TIE

And here is the video. It's basically what you saw at the Grammy Awards, but with some extra pizazz. Enjoy.

FLASHBACK: MY MUSIC IN 1985: FEBRUARY 10th

Oh, boy. This was towards the start of a beautiful relationship. Madonna debuts big on my top 30 with her then new single, Material Girl, placing two singles in the top 10 at the same time for the first of many times to come. That girl's got something. Mark my word. Lots of big drops this week too, including Stevie Wonder just missing the top 10 by dropping from 11 to 28. You can't win 'em all, Stevie. Foreigner, Ray Parker, Jr. and Hall and Oates all drop significantly as well. Also debuting is one of my favorite 80s chanteuses as well, Ms. Sheena Easton. LOVE HER! I am sure I had no idea what "sugar walls" she was referencing, but I do now and since Prince wrote it, it's no surprise at all. Oh, the innocence and naiveté of the 80s. If we could all have just a touch of that back again, the world would be so full of wonder. But I digress. 1985 me was okay not knowing. Okay, here ya go with my top 30 on the week of February 10, 1985. Click the links for fun!

30. Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
29. I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner
28. Love Light In Flight - Stevie Wonder
27. Method of Modern Love - Hall & Oates
26. Keepin' the Faith - Billy Joel
25. Jamie - Ray Parker, Jr.
24. You're the Inspiration - Chicago
23. Save a Prayer - Duran Duran
22. Sugar Walls - Sheena Easton 
21. Misled - Kool & The Gang
20. I Can't Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon
19. Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood 
18. Private Dancer - Tina Turner
17. Mr. Telephone Man - New Edition
16. Take Me With U - Prince & The Revolution (duet with Apollonia)
15. California Girls - David Lee Roth
14. Operator - Midnight STar
13. Solid - Ashford & Simpson
12. Call to the Heart - Giuffria
11. Foolish Heart - Steve Perry
10. The Heat Is On - Glenn Frey
09. Mistake #3 - Culture Club
08. Material Girl - Madonna
07. Like a Virgin - Madonna
06. Jungle Love - The Time
05. Money Changes Everything - Cyndi Lauper
04. Neutron Dance - The Pointer Sisters
03. Loverboy - Billy Ocean
02. Careless Whisper - Wham!
01. I Would Die 4 U - Prince & The Revolution (4th Week)

NEW VIDEO: RUPAUL - PEANUT BUTTER

OOOOOH! This ain't your grandma's sandwich, guuuurl!! RuPaul is back with another bite of delicious camp and a lot of guys who are able to shake their ass and show their front at the same time. How? What the video, Ms. Thang....but not with your childrens. Am I drag queen all of the sudden? I hope. The video for Peanut Butter is a fantastic trashfest of menzzz, genderf**k rappers and, best of all, RUPAUL!!! Watch in amazement and have a fantastic day. Oh, and don't forget to watch what is shaping up to be a humdinger of a season of RuPaul's Drag Race on Monday nights. Check your listings, HUNTY!

HUMPDAY SEXY SONG: LIKE A STAR - CORINNE BAILEY RAE

So sexy and so pretty. Corinne Bailey Rae is almost like a throwback from the golden age of jazz propped up in the pop world of today. Her smooth voice and beautiful songs transport you to a place of sexy relaxation like no other. Like a Star is my fave song by the lovely Ms. Rae and it's a killer. Unlike the overtly sexual songs I usually display on Humpday, I would like to offer you a love song that you can makeout to today. "Still I wonder why it is I don't argue like this with anyone but you.." See, I think that's hot. Right? Enjoy the gorgeous song and video and hump, ever so gently, today.

FLASHBACK: MY MUSIC IN 1985: FEBRUARY 3RD

Oh, 1985. You were so good to me. I remember your winter Sundays, alone in my room dancing to the radio and wishing I was a grown up gay in NYC. Now look at me! I'm here, I'm queer, get used to it, whores!!! But, I jump forward. In 1985 my biggest escape was Duran Duran, Madonna and new guy Billy Ocean who was going to be a star FOREVER! It's called optimism, I once heard. On february 3, 1985 the music was as hot as the temperatures in Texas were..well....probably not that cold. Billy Joel had a new song on my chart and Band Aid was making it's last appearance ever. Who knew what the future held? Not this little guy, that's for sure. All I could do was hunker down, dance and pray for Madonna. So here was the result of my prayers on February 3, 1985. Click those links for some more recent performances of these songs by their singers and relive your glory.

30. Wild Boys - Duran Duran
29. Cool It Now - New Edition
28. Keeping the Faith - Billy Joel
27. Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
26. I Can't Fight This Feelin' - REO Speedwagon
25. Save a Prayer - Duran Duran
24. Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
23. Private Dancer - Tina Turner
22. Misled - Kool & The Gang
21. Take Me With U - Prince & The Revolution (duet with Apollonia)
20. Mr. Telephone Man - New Edition
19. You're the Inspiration - Chicago
18. The Heat Is On - Glenn Frey
17. Operator - Midnight Star
16. California Girls - David Lee Roth
15. Solid - Ashford and Simpson
14. Call To The Heart - Giuffria
13. Foolish Heart - Steve Perry
12. Method of Modern Love - Hall & Oates
11. Love Light In Flight - Stevie Wonder
10. Mistake #3 - Culture Club
09. Jamie - Ray Parker, Jr.
08. Jungle Love - The Time
07. Neutron Dance - The Pointer Sisters
06. Money Changes Everything - Cyndi Lauper
05. Like a Virgin - Madonna
04. I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner
03. Loverboy - Billy Ocean
02. Careless Whisper - Wham!
01. I Would Die 4 U - Prince & The Revolution

MADONNA FRIDAY: 4 MINUTES (FT. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE)

In celebration of Justin Timberlake's birthday yesterday, I thought I'd give him some love on Madonna Friday. Madonna's 4 Minutes, featuring Justin Timberlake, is from her 2008 album Hard Candy. Her deepest foray into hip hop music, Madonna opened up big with this loud, horn-laden Timbaland and Danja produced number that rocked her back into the top tier of the charts(#3), becoming her 37th top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit, breaking Elvis Presley's record, and her 13th #1 in the UK, the most by any female artist. The video is freakin' awesome too, showing Madge and Justin running around and keeping one step ahead of the blob eating the world. I don't know either. Does it catch them? Find out. Enjoy Madonna's banging 4 Minutes ft. Justin Timberlake.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUSTIN TIMEBERLAKE!

He's still just a baby! JT turns a ripe old 32 today, and he is on his way back to the top of the music biz, y'all! Justin, of course, started as little twinky so-and-so as a member of NSYNC, but soon conquered the world as a solo artist. Then he started doing a bunch of "movies" and stopped making music. ESANDALO! Well, we can all calm down and take out our dancing thongs again, cuz girl is BACK! Here, for your earhole pleasure, is some of the best of Justin to shake it to this afternoon. Don't hurt yourself.

PERHAPS THE MOST ROMANTIC SHORT FILM EVER, PAPERMAN

Disney has really outdone itself with the Oscar nominated short Paperman. Just six minutes long (so watch it) it is a love story with an adorable twist. It's Disney, so the animation is amazing, but it is truly so sweet and so adorable that it will melt your heart. Watch and fall in love...

FLASHBACK: THOMPSON TWINS

One of the biggest, quirkiest British bands to invade the US during the 1980s were Thompson Twins. Named after the detectives from the The Adventures of Tintin comics, the group actually consisted of three members: Tom Bailey, Joe Leeway and Alannah Currie. The group formed in 1977, but their big break didn't come until 1981 when the song In The Name of Love hit #1 on the US Dance Chart. More mainstream success came in the UK with their 1983 album Quick Step and Side Kick and the top 10 hits Love on You Side (#7 UK) and We Are Detective (#9 UK). It also placed their first song on the US Hot 100 when Lies hit #30. Their next album, Into the Gap, released in 1984, would prove to big a huge international hit, placing Thompson Twins in the top 10 in the US and UK with the undeniable classic Hold Me Now (#3 US, #4 UK) and vaulting Doctor! Doctor! (#11 US, #4 UK) up the charts. Another hit from Into the Gap, and one of my personal favorites, You Take Me Up was their biggest UK hit to date (#2) but just missed the top 40 here (#44). Thompson Twins next album, 1985's  Here's To Future Days, kept their streak of chart hits running in the US, but saw a slump in the UK. First single, the excellent and gospel tinged Lay Your Hands on Me, and the second single King for a Day both reached the top 10 in the US hitting #6 and #8 respectively, but only #13 and #22 in the UK. Don't Mess with Doctor Dream was released in the UK only and reached #15, but their cover of The Beatles' Revolution failed to reach the top 40. They managed two more top 40 hits in the US; 1987's Get That Love (#31) and 1989's Sugar Daddy (#28) before the group disbanded in 1993. With a very distinct sound and look, Thompson Twins left an indelible impression on 80s pop culture and made music that stands the test of time for sure. So here are Thompson Twins biggest hits and some of my most beloved 80s pop songs. Enjoy!!

HUMPDAY SEXY SONG: SLAVE TO LOVE - BRYAN FERRY

There's nothing quite like an 80s new wave ballad to set my heart aflutter. In 1985 Roxy Music lead singer Bryan Ferry released Slave to Love as the first single off of his solo album Boys and Girls. Perhaps his best known solo single, Slave shot to #10 on the UK charts becoming one of his biggest hits. The sexy video for the single was shot by acclaimed director Jean Baptiste Mondino, but I knew the song from it's inclusion in the super erotic film 9 1/2 Weeks starring Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke. GAWD I love that movie. As a bonus, I included a fan made video with clips from the movie below the official video. Uh, you're welcome! Anyway, this song has pretty much stayed on my playlist since 1985 and I make no apologies for it. It's a Humpday classic, so get to it, people!!

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK ARE BACK WITH REMIX (I LIKE THE)

They may not be "new" or "kids" anymore, but with this track they are back on the block. THE boyband from the 80s, NKOTB, are switching things up a bit and  hitting it a little harder with their new single Remix (I Like The) and it's pretty great. The song the lead single off of their upcoming album 10 which drops April 2nd and the boys are going on tour with 98 Degress (what?) and Boys II Men (what?) starting May 31st. Enjoy and let me know whatcha' think.

FLASHBACK: MY MUSIC IN 1985 - JANUARY 27TH

This week sees some significant movement by a few songs on the chart and some notable debuts. Prince & The Revolution bookend the chart with two of my fave songs they have ever done that contain the letter "U". Duran Duran has one song on the way out and another classic song debuting. Band Aid and Chicago take some pretty big plummets while Foreigner starts off high in the top 30.  Will Stevie Wonder or New Edition make it into the top 10 finally this week? I mean, it's only been three weeks into the year, so maybe I shouldn't be so dramatic yet. Oh well. Take a gander at who was rockin' the charts this week in my world of 1985. A couple of the video links, by the way, may NOT be the original video but a live clip from that time. Check it.

30. Take Me With U - Prince & The Revolution (with Apollonia)
29. I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore - REO Speedwagon
28. Wild Boys - Duran Duran
27. Cool It Now - New Edition
26. Save a Prayer - Duran Duran
25. Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
24. Private Dancer - Tina Turner
23. California Girls - David Lee Roth
22. Misled - Kool & The Gang
21. Mr. Telephone Man - New Edition
20. The Heat is On - Glenn Frey
19. Operator - Midnight Starr
18. Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
17. You're the Inspiration - Chicago
16. Solid - Ashford & Simpson
15. Call To The Heart - Giuffria
14. Foolish Heart - Steve Perry
13. Mistake #3 - Culture Club
12. Method of Modern Love - Hall & Oates
11. Love Light In Flight - Stevie Wonder
10. Jamie - Ray Parker, Jr.
09. Jungle Love - The Time
08. Neutron Dance - The Pointer Sisters
07. Money Changes Everything - Cyndi Lauper
06. Boys of Summer - Don Henley
05. I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner
04. Like a Virgin - Madonna 
03. Loverboy - Billy Ocean
02. Careless Whisper - Wham!
01. I Would Die 4 U - Prince & The Revolution

MADONNA FRIDAY: JUSTIFY MY LOVE (LIVE GIRLIE SHOW)

Madonna really shook up the game with the release of her 1990 #1 single Justify My Love. It's icy sexiness set the tone for what was about to be, at that point, the most controversial time in her career, her Erotica era. Justify My Love was a spoken word, stark song about Madonna's yearning for a lover and that she was willing to be with him anywhere. Hot, right? Well, she NEVER performs the song in concert, mostly because she doesn't believe it lends itself to a live performance, but in her 1993 Girlie Show World Tour, Madonna pulled out all the stops and gave us a My-Fair-Lady-by-way-of-the-60s inspired number that will knock your bra off. The mix of the song is a little different , in a great way, and of course Madonna looks so amazing I want to rip my face apart. The girl knows how to put on a show, people. She just does. Watch the clip below and if you don't like it then you don't like living. Totally not kidding, so think hard about your reaction. Smiley Face. Enjoy this and the rest of your Madonna Friday.

FLASHBACK: FOOTLOOSE SOUNDTRACK

Back in 1984 it was impossible to get away from Footloose. The movie was a surprise blockbuster and the soundtrack was a non-stop ass-shaker with hit after hit. Writer/Producer Dean Pitchford collaborated with about a dozen songwriters to come up with an eclectic mix of pop music that somehow formed a cohesive soundtrack with a little something for everyone. From rockabilly to R&B, hard rock to new wave, all bases were covered. The record produced two #1 songs on the Hot 100 (Footloose and Let's Hear It For The Boy), another top 10 hit (#7 Almost Paradise) a top 20 hit (#17 Dancing in the Sheets) and two more top 40 charters (#22 I'm Free(Heaven Helps the Man) and #34 Holding Out For a Hero), but I think most people who were alive and listening to pop music would agree that every song was A-MAH-ZING! If they don't agree, quite frankly, they must be destroyed. The album has gone on to sell in excess of 9 million copies in the US alone to date. Sweet! So to salute one of my fave albums of all time, here is the track listing of the original nine-song album and the videos for all the songs that were released and links on the songs that didn't have official videos. Enjoy and cut loose, bitches.
1. Footloose - Kenny Loggins
2. Let's Hear It For the Boy - Deniece Williams
3. Almost Paradise - Mike Reno and Ann Wilson
4. Holding Out For a Hero - Bonnie Tyler
5. Dancing In the Sheets - Shalamar
6. I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man) - Kenny Loggins
7. Somebody's Eyes - Karla Bonoff
8. The Girl Gets Around - Sammy Hagar
9. Never, Never - Moving Pictures