Forgotten Classic Video of the Week

This week's vid is for yet another song that popped into my head recently for no apparent reason. Most of you remember Ray Parker, Jr. as the Ghostbusters' shill, and some of you (old folks like me) may even remember his late '70s/early '80s band, Raydio, and their hits "You Can't Change That," and "A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)." The latter song is a cautionary tale for men who are kidding themselves into thinking that they don't (need that love), and warns them that the ladies can fool around just like the boys do.

Infidelity is a common theme with Ray Parker, Jr., as "The Other Woman" seems to be a cautionary tale for men who like sneaking around. Oh, it's not warning men to not cheat in the first place. That would be crazy! No, Ray is basically just reminding them to hit it once and then break away clean, or they might actually start to see "it" as a real person with feelings.

You know, this guy is like the musical equivalent of Billy Dee Williams - a rather handsome, cool, charming, mustachioed lothario with just a hint of creepiness simmering under the surface. Like, you know he has some weird-ass fetish. Or, at the very least, his skincare regimen is lengthy and freakishly complicated,like Patrick Bateman's.

Whatever his issue is, this 1982 video proves that Ray was into spirits and monsters well before "Ghostbusters." He was even funking up the graveyard before Michael Jackson.

Comments

Anonymous said…
What's Lando Calrissian doing in a music video? Actually, I never could stand this song and the living dead stuff just doesn't fit the song.

First? Me?
Gwen said…
Holy crap. I would have never thought of this song again in my life if not for you.

And you're right, he's just a little too smoove for comfort.
Sorry, I just can't get past the Ghostbusters thing. Once you have that on your resume, there is no turning back.
There's only one song that's ever spoken to my real problem of an invisible man sleeping in my bed (Ow!).
Claire said…
Same as Gwen, I would NEVER have remembered this song had I not seen this. And I didn't even know that he was the singer in "You Can't Change That" and "A Woman Needs Love". I thought that his musical career started and ended with Ghostbusters. See, I learn something every time I come here.