On VH-1 tonight
Set your TIVOs: VH-1 interviewed me for their show ’100 Best Songs of the 80′s’ and they just tipped me off it will air tonight in the second hour. They say they will use soundbites from my interview here and there.
I generally don’t like these countdowns with the commentary in between. “When Angelina Jolie stepped out of that limo, everybody’s jaw hit the floor!”….. says some B-list talent, recalling the moment in such detail you’d think he was actually right behind Angelina on the red carpet, when in fact he just viewed it on a video monitor months after the event.
But I agreed to do it because a song of mine is actually *in* their Top 100 (hmm, can you guess which?) I reasoned that this gives me the credentials to be interviewed for sound bites without coming off looking like a complete no-hoper. Tune in tonight and judge for yourselves!
BTW they said they may also preview a clip from my upcoming DVD ‘The Sole Inhabitant’.
I just went looking and found that Dr Magnus Pike died just over 4 years ago. Perhaps I’ll set the Tivo so I can see him in action one more time.
Will be watching of course, but with things like this, you’re never sure how the sound bite will be used or, moreover, how it will be recycled later. VH1 and the like are quick to put many artists into an easily identifyable group (one hit wonder, etc.), and it can be counter productive to the artist. As a dedicated fan, I’ve always been irritated by the boxes they’ve put you in before, like “one hit wonder,” because there’s so much more depth and variety to the music, lyrics and your general body of work.
I hope they let you get a word in edgewise about the new CD/DVD, tour and plans for new music! Still, it’s splendid that you’re in the public eye with so many good things coming. Just stay off of Oprah’s couch — that can’t help much! If you do, say seated.
Is this showing in the UK?
I ‘love’ how these channels distill our culture into “top ten” lists or “countdown of the best ________.” As if the fact that things we like or admire or experience outside that list is somehow illegitimate or less worthy. Why do we let them tell us what we should value? Thomas, I’m certainly glad that VH1 thinks that your work (or one very small portion of your work) deserves to be mentioned. But I think we need to be more skeptical about how network television is packaging our world into neat hour-long ‘best-of’ segments. Kinda reminds you of the recording industry, eh?
Beech
Thomas, you’ve got credibility for miles–re-launching your music
Sorry, kinda ran out of v-words, there.
career the way you have is totally amaaaaazing. And if VH-1 does
show some “Sole Inhabitant” footage, that will be excellent, because it will show the sort of folks who watch “Top-100″
shows that you are back out there, very vibrant and vital and v…uh, vanquishing?
You are certainly NOT a one-hit wonder–it’s just that, it seems to me, that “one hit” is accessible to musically-unsophisticated people because it’s got “hooks” by the train-car load, and it’s
completely unique, and it’s got that whole brainy-scientific-nutball thing going for it. People can relate to what they percieve as
cliches, even if they’re based on fact–your own academic
background, as it were, as you’ve said in a couple of interviews.
That’s certainly not what you’re about, nor was it really ever, but
But seriously.
it gets people’s attention, and that’s a good thing. It’s like a gateway song, as opposed to a gateway drug.
As long as people are reminded about you, then maybe they’ll want to see what else you’ve been up to lately. It’s all good, I think.
Peace and hot chocolate,
Kara
Thats awesome!!
I’m out to Bowl with my league, But have set the VCR (Low Tech here) Can’t wait!
any comments from anyone on the Exotic Erotic Ball show????
You looked very spiffy, Thomas. Love the eyeglasses. Very Euro-cool. And neat to see concert footage on my TV, if only a few seconds worth!
what merujo said. it’s almost strange to see you with glasses, after so much time without!
So now we know. Thomas isn’t that science guy, he’s the “Patron Saint of Nerdhood.”
Thomas, you sounded good. I loved how you politely let viewers know there is more to your music than this one song.
Also, it was great hearing Thomas’s snippet about loving Prince’s “Kiss” song. I was tickled by that, as my consistent top three favorite artists are Thomas (of course!), Prince, and Peter Gabriel. I would have missed this comment had I not stopped for this video, as I was fast forwarding through my recording. Perhaps there will be more soundbites…
Rochelle
The interview was great last night and it was cool to see your live footage broadcast nationwide.
I agree with Neeznoodle, and it was cool to see you talk about “Little Red Corvette” by Prince. You’ll laugh, but my wife never knew what the song represented until that clip was played. Did VH1 interview you for any other clips that we should keep an eye out for? It is always fun to get a musician’s take on other artist’s songs when you watch these shows.
Take care.
Brian
BeechwoodAve – the amazing thing about those shows is they started out relatively innocuously, with nostalgic countdowns about the 60′s, 70′s, 80′s or whatever. Stuff that was old enough to actually HAVE nostalgia. Now they’re manufacturing nostalgia on a WEEKLY basis. I’m sorry, you cannot be nostalgic about something that happend LAST MONDAY.
Mr Dolby – I’m looking forward to Sole Inhabitant, and is there any way you would consider a possible tour stop in Austin, Texas? We do bill ourselves as the “Live Music Capital Of The World.” I don’t know if that’s literally true, but still, don’t you want to find out? And dude, I will personally provide you with the best barbecue and enchiladas you have ever had. I’ll be the guy standing at the stage door, holding a tinfoil-covered tray, yelling “LET ME IN!!! THOMAS DOLBY MUST EAT THIS!!!”
Thomas Dolby In Austin Texas:
December 6th at the Elysium
Yeah, I agree these VH-1 type things can be pretty crappy. They talk to people who were still sucking thier thumbs in 1983 all waxing nostalgic about the “80′s”?! Still they did a pretty good job for your 1 minute. Hey you even beat the Human League! I see they put the bits from the Canal Room show on. They tape alot of stuff for these “Where are they now?” type things there I’ve noticed.
Thomas, I meant to ask — was your appearance on VH-1
the “live TV appearance” that you had mentioned in a previous
blog entry? I’m sure I’m not the only fan who’s curious about that.
Dangit, I wish I could’ve seen that. So do a lot of other people
who live outside the U.S., but I’m glad that a lot of my American
buddies enjoyed seeing you.
“Patron Saint of Nerdhood”, though, neeznoodle? Cool!
Peace and goodwill and all that jazz,
Kara, perpetually nerdy and proud OF it.
Kara,
It wasn’t me dubbing Thomas with that title, it was VH1. I should have clarified for those who didn’t get to see it. They said something like, (thinking really hard to remember, as the fog of sleep is still in my brain) “With his long lab coat and eye spectacle, Thomas Dolby might have simply gone off into musical no-where-land, but instead ending up being the Patron Saint of Nerdhood.” Wow, did I butcher that quote, but it’s close enough (I did get the title correct, though).
Rochelle
Thomas! Awesome to see you on VH1. They played a clip of you performing Science live on the SI tour. Very nice.
I have to agree with your comment about Depeche Mode getting even bigger when their material turned darker. I couldn’t believe VH1 picked the song they did when ‘People are People’ has to be their biggest and signature song. What about Strangelove? Huh? Sounded to me like a dig on VH1 (which they totally deserve). Some of the song choices weren’t that band’s biggest hit. STOO-PID!
Tara Lyn
Thanks for the clarification, Rochelle–but don’t worry, I thought
I appreciate details like that–it’s almost as though
it was funny!
I saw it myself, when people like yourself quote bits of dialogue
and stuff.
Love and little budgie warbles,
Kara!
stevied: HELL YES. Was that listed just a few days ago?
I finally get to see Mr. Dolby live. After all these years!
Now I just have to figure out a scheme to get backstage to meet my favorite musician of all time.
Dressing as a security guard? Too illegal.
Hiding in the ventilation system? Too uncomfortable.
I’ll work something out, I suppose.
I watched the whole series. All five hours. I sacrificed so you don’t have to. It was nice seeing TMDR, but the rest had its ups and downs.
The footage of Thomas on the S.I. tour, and talking about SBMWS, was great! He also discussed 4 or 5 other songs on the countdown. The most memorable for me was his commentary on Depeche Mode’s “Just Can’t Get Enough.” I think he influenced the show’s writers. As the song was introduced, the voiceover talked about DM moving from poppy & cute to dark and S&M, and how that helped them gain popularity as the decade wore on. Cut to Thomas, saying exactly that, so I presume the writing was influenced by his comment. (Who knows how many other times that happened. Artists who pay attention to what’s going on around them notice trends and details, whereas executive/marketing types do the same, but mostly in the context of what will sell. Right? Witness the top ten songs. Ugh!) Other things from the series:
There are some bitter, crabby, resentful 80′s artists out there. Kevin Rowland: get some therapy.
This series featured entirely too much commentary from Mark McGrath.
“Livin on a Prayer” is the #1 song of the 1980′s ? ?
Deborah Gibson is both funny and pretty.
The “brother in the codpiece” from Cameo’s “Word Up” video said he can’t perform without the red codpiece, even to this day. Everyone asks where it is, if he tries to shelve it. Now THAT’S something to be known for.
Whoa, Elaine, FIVE HOURS??!? You did that for US?! I could cry.
I appreciate your dedication, to slog through all that non-TMDR-
related crapola so you could describe the highlights for
appreciative people like myself, and maybe Retrocanary, and
anyone else who missed it for one reason or another.
It’s great that TMDR apparently influenced the writers–I guess
Usually. Most of it. With the occasional exception of some
{bang}. Okay, so maybe notta lotta sense there, but
that they know that *he* knows. He’s been there, he’s done
that–he’s had first-hand experience. He was THERE, man, in
the music biz in the 80′S, and unlike it apparently was at
Woodstock, a person could have been there AND still remember
it.
very snazzy argyle socks. I liked his fashion sense, so shoot
me.
hey, he was unique.
And our TMDR certainly would seem to know what it’s like to become famous for exactly the wrong thing…oh yeah, I finally
Oh, but if I’ve just insulted
remembered that Cameo’s lead singer was named
Damon Blackmon! Right?!?!?! I think? “The brother in the
codpiece”, snicker snerk snort…
any Cameo or Damon Blackmon fans, I sincerely apologize…
Oh great, now I have “Word Up” running through my head.
Alternating with “Hot Sauce”, of course.
Peace and fruit salad [not fermented...yet...],
Kara, incurable user of ellipses…ses.
Clips on YouTube yet anyone?
Hello Your Dolbyness,
I did a cover of what I think is your best song, “Airwaves”.
I’d like to get a copy to you with your approval, of course.
It will never match up to your brilliance, but I felt impelled to reproduce. (Musically that is.)
If you’re not opposed to this please let me know and Id be more than happy to send it your way via email. That goes for anyone else here as well.
Gracias,
Jason
Ted…
Good work….
None…
None…