As a child of the eighties, I look back on the music videos of the era with a mixture of delight and embarrassment. Such ambition! Such confidence! Such cheesiness!And if one video reigns supreme in its ability to induce a psychic cringe, it is Journey's Separate Ways (opens in new window; sorry, no embedding allowed on this one).
I think even then I laughed at the silliness of the group's depiction of a neo-preppy babe walking the docks of a New Orleans wharf, being accosted by porn star-mustachioed band members playing frequently invisible instruments.
Then there's Steve Perry's e-nun-ci-a-tion of every tear in his heart as he and his lady go their "separate ways." That dude was the William Shatner of lead singers.
Thanks to YouTube, Journey remains a remnant of the eighties, an eternal reminder that folks now in our forties should never make fun of kids' music.
Of course, there's a shot-by-shot remake.
(Video image montage by Andrew Wood)
4 comments:
Fortunately, I like to think the American public is forgiving enough to think fondly of Journey in light of their impressive talent rather than just write them off as another cheesy eighties' band. I for one don't mind cheesiness. For that matter, I think there's something refreshing about it, so I say kudos to Journey. Rock on!
Yeah, I can't help but agree with you (in large part). Thus, this song remains for me a guilty pleasure.
Let's hear it for old music and cheesiness!
My sibs and I are going to see Blue Oyster Cult next month (it's a big family thing; the spouses think we're nuts, and maybe we are).
It must be a nostalgia thing.
Don't fear the Reaper!
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