Appreciate the video that led to a drug use boom in the 90's

[Dean Winchester]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5zJvX3pIY4

Check out this classic from the "charity single" era. A song against drug use featuring vocals by Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown (c/o New Edition) amongst others.

[ABlairican Pie]

"Stop the Madness" indeed. This video was so bad, corny and tripe-y on so many levels. It must have been done at a time in the late 80's where the whole charity single/video had worn out its welcome. "We Are the World" it was not. I can see how the vid must have defeated its purpose with the tons of drug images and all that. "Wow, cool!! Coke and dope!!"


And no, not even an appearance from Tootie (see credits) was enough to save this. I know this
late 80's r & b hip-hop music and dance thing was for a different audience, but still, it was so lame.

[Dean Winchester]

Originally Posted by ABlairican Pie

"Stop the Madness" indeed. This video was so bad, corny and tripe-y on so many levels. It must have been done at a time in the late 80's where the whole charity single/video had worn out its welcome. "We Are the World" it was not. I can see how the vid must have defeated its purpose with the tons of drug images and all that. "Wow, cool!! Coke and dope!!"


And no, not even an appearance from Tootie (see credits) was enough to save this. I know this
late 80's r & b hip-hop music and dance thing was for a different audience, but still, it was so lame.

I disagree. The r&b of the late 1980's kicked ass, it had a much wider appeal than the stuff today does (today's r&b music is too hip-hop influenced, just because both are predominantly African-American genres doesn't mean they should be married. I mean, metal and soft rock music isn't married). Janet's Control was a great album, and then there was Jody Watley, Bobby Brown (he was decent before drugs), Pebbles, etc... all fun stuff.

To me, what was so ironic about the video is the sheer number of anti-drug celebrities who ended up addicts themselves, like Whitney, Bobby and David Hasselhoff

Tootie's only in it for a split second

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

I disagree. The r&b of the late 1980's kicked ass, it had a much wider appeal than the stuff today does (today's r&b music is too hip-hop influenced, just because both are predominantly African-American genres doesn't mean they should be married. I mean, metal and soft rock music isn't married). Janet's Control was a great album, and then there was Jody Watley, Bobby Brown (he was decent before drugs), Pebbles, etc... all fun stuff.

To me, what was so ironic about the video is the sheer number of anti-drug celebrities who ended up addicts themselves, like Whitney, Bobby and David Hasselhoff

Tootie's only in it for a split second

True, I take that back, I did like quite a bit of late 80's r & b stuff, like Prince, I had a copy of his 'Lovesexy' album, and really enjoyed it a lot. Same with Janet and some others, other decent artists before there was a glut of rap/hip-hop performers in the early 90's that took it over. What I was complaining about was that this video just seemed too predictable, like your typical "hip" infomercial designed to sell a point and a message with something that your average "at-risk" kiddies were going to "get": "A-ha, hip-hop, dancing, pop stars, scary images, I get it, just say no!!" It's that the music didn't seem too artistic even for hip-hop, it was just run-of-the-mill commercial-sounding PSA.