You might remember that awful 1980 movie Xanadu. I recall finding it while channel surfing and never being able to sit through more than 5-10 minutes, but it did give us some cool music. I submit to you two examples. First, from Olivia Newton John:
Second, ELO:
On the other side, I give you Rush providing a very long awaited sequel to Coleridge’s epic poem, Kubla Khan:
Rush or Olivia – who ya got?
6 replies on “Friday Night Videos – Xanadu Edition!”
For I have dined on honeydew, and drunk the milk of paradise.
When my daughter started getting into poetry, she asked me if I had anything in our extensive little library. I handed her my Coleridge. She asked me what from it she might know. I told her she might be familiar with the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, but she would certainly be familiar with Kublai Khan, since Exit Stage Left i my go to CD, and was played often in the car. She read through the book a little bit, then said to me after about five minutes, “boy, he really likes honeydew”, pointing out that honeydew was mentioned in both Kublai Khan and the Rime of the Ancient Mariner. That made me laugh. And might be exemplar of why she is going for her masters in English, to teach it.
She never gave me my book back.
Consider the money that book cost dollars well spent!
I have a soft spot for that particular bad movie. I KNOW it’s bad. But it still makes me smile. It’s a capture of the death of disco and the beginning of 80s style music. (Nostalgia can be a powerful thing)
And the music is GREAT! Olivia Newton John at her most waif-like innocent sexiness and wonderful voice work, Electric Light Orchestra at the top of their game. They even brought in The Tubes for a song!
What’s not to like? 😀
But of course the movie’s soundtrack, while enjoyable to listen to, is just a single moment in time.
Rush on the other hand – Rush had STAYING power. I’ve been a Rush fan since I heard “The Spirit of Radio” on my old 1967 Mustang’s radio going to and from High School. I quickly discovered the rest of their music in short order and have been a life long fan.
I was devastated when Neil Peart passed. But consoled by the fact that there is FORTY YEARS worth of music that he and Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson left to the ages!
And they played up until 2015. They never “retired” and then came back for a comeback tour. They stayed a “working band” for most of those decades. With only the late 90s/early 2000’s break when Neil lost his first daughter and wife (RIP) and he went on “walkabout”. Only in his case it was “Rideabout”. He literally became a “Ghost Rider” for a few years until he decided to live and play again.
Their sound evolved on every album – and there’s not a single “bad” song in their discography.
Wow – that desciption erfectly nails it!
And Rush was my first “metal” band. Even though they’re more accurately hard or prog rock (unless you only focus on their 1st 3 albums), they were my gateway drug from my childhood favorites of The Beatles & Hall & Oates to way heavier stuff.
Thanks for weighing in!
I can’t believe that ONJ is 74!
Hear hear on Rush. I don’t recall being sadder for the death of a non relative than when Peart passed.