Popdose - Latest Comments in Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

Kris — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:12:30 -0000

In fact "Five o clock in the morning" was even remixed in the late 90s (I believe) by some Italian dj and charted AGAIN in Italy. Those Italians must have really loved their “Renaissance”!

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

BillU. — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:42:55 -0000

I just wanted to add that, despite their international success (Even though their fortunes waned in the US, VP were still big overseas in 1980, where the "CSTM" single hit top 10 in the UK, Oz, South Africa and even Hong Kong!), the only country that the singles even made a dent was ITALY! In fact, to this day, when the group performs in concert there, they have to add those 2 songs to their set. Strange but true.

Sad because listening to the 2 singles today, they were very pop-accessible fare by 1981 standards. Maybe the rest of the album (Side 1 was quite good - except the insipid "Fireman", Side 2 was beyond bad - except "Action Man", the perfect VP meets New Wave mashup!) was the real reason they were unjustly ignored. MTV even refused to play the videos which were in short supply back then. The singles were definitely under-appreciated gems in my opinion.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

JohnHughes — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:48:43 -0000

Absolutely!

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

kokorotrailer — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:16:02 -0000

Hi John
Could this be considered a When-New-Wave-Happened-to-Older-Artists-post? It kinda fits the category, IMHO.
Thanks for your kind attention.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

Titsley LeMieux — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:51:51 -0000

TItsley is a major fan of Diet. Diet is reminiscent of the "dance in unison" feel good hits of Go West. She personally has "DIet" in her cardio playlist and will skip to it to keep the heart rate at the tip top of the zone. Lyrics like "Diet. You'll feel better if you try it. Don't you know you've got to diet. Or you're gonna roll away" could give even A.I.'s Temptresse aural feul enough to run a marathon!!!

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

Darren — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:09:35 -0000

I feel as if I've been violated by Cabbage Patch Kids...wearing ass-less chaps.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

DwDunphy — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:08:10 -0000

You had the Village People on a home sick television experience. I had the space shuttle explosion.

Funny how disasters work like that.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

Allen — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:38:36 -0000

Close your eyes and imagine the in the studio. Thinking that, yes, THIS was going to put them back on the map! Food Fight! That's the ticket.
I remember when they debuted this look on some morning show I saw in the early 80's when I was home sick. I never heard it.
Thanks for breaking that streak.
I have heard "Rennaisance" era Village People. I think I can say I have heard it all.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

DavidMedsker — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:41:49 -0000

Well, dog my cats. That "5 O'Clock in the Morning" song isn't bad. "Big Mac," though, is the album's crown jewel. That song is just crazy awesome.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

Jerry — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:19:06 -0000

In a weird way, I think Food Fight may have been ahead of its time. If it had been slapped together today by some bored college kid and posted to YouTube with a charmingly amateurish video, I could see it being the next "Chocolate Rain".

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

JohnHughes — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:23:46 -0000

Let me expand a bit on "Food Fight" here - I do say it's the best of the "new wave" songs on side two, but I still think it sounds like some middle-aged focus group's idea of what new wave sounds like. The wacky lyrics, the insane organ - it sounds like incidental music from "Square Pegs."

Having said that, I've played it about 8 or 9 times today myself.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

Bastard_Number_1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:12:46 -0000

If you can even believe this - I just bought this record about a month ago - for 50 cents. I'm not shitting you. Maybe I have your copy. If so, I will take good care of it, but no, you cannot have it back.

Bizzare record indeed. Since I collect 80's music - I bought it simply because I didn't have it - but I have to admit - the cover really intrigued me/frightened the bejeezus out of me. I was pretty shocked at how decent "5 o'clock" was. And actually I don't think "Food Fight" is that bad either. I have to think your view is tainted because you knew it was the Village People. I would have liked to have seen what you thought if you didn't know the artist. It's a pretty silly song, I admit - but I've just listened to it three times. So maybe that means I even like it. Shhh.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

drcastrato — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:14:53 -0000

I can't believe this exists. I thought you were making it up.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:16:29 -0000

i dunno, i kinda like food fight. it sounds like a really low-rent high school version of Oingo Boingo.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

David_E — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:40:57 -0000

Holy crap. The only thing that was lacking was a "Klaatu verata nictu" at the end.

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

DwDunphy — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 13:54:19 -0000

Even the cleanest crack has to suffer a few dingleberries.

And then there's the Village People...

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

JohnHughes — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:55:50 -0000

Okay..."clean crack dealer..."

Re: Lost in the ’80s: The Village People, “Renaissance”

WHarrisBullzEye — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:52:25 -0000

I'll have you know that this crack dealer showers every day.

"Filthy." How insulting. I mean, really...