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Monday, September 15, 2003

Latest Guilty Pleasure
I find myself tuning in more often to VH1 Classic, the digital cable channel devoted to music videos from the 70s, 80s and early 90s.

Watching VH1 Classic is akin to watching a TV show or movie that's so bad, it's good. The videos on the channel are completely dated -- I've seen karaoke videos with more production value than Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero," for example. But that's the point. It's a snapshot to a less jaded, more cheesy time.

VH1 Classic airs plenty of memorable videos from our time (just caught REM's "Stand" this morning) but also offers up a heavy dose of kitsch. Bad videos for crappy songs you've completely forgotten about are a treat to rediscover.

Jackson Browne and Clarence Clemons' late 1980s duet about being such good friends. Adrien Belew, with his daughter singing along to "Oh Daddy." Jody Watley, hoop earrings and all, "Lookin' for a New Love."

These are videos from back when MTV played videos. It's almost ironic: Music videos are so much better produced now -- but no one sees them anymore. Yet I still remember these low-budget clips from the 80s -- and can't wait to see them again.

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