Video Hangover: El Debarge - "Who's Johnny"
Twice a week, we dig in the MTV/VH1 archives for videos that we find noteworthy, memorable, or just unbelievably stupid. Is it crap, or is it the greatest video ever made? You decide.
"Who's Johnny"
El Debarge, 1986
Some things to consider while you’re trying to figure out why Ally Sheedy is wearing an apron...
Who makes Steve Guttenberg a star? We do! We do!
You know our thoughts about celebrity cameos and celebrity impersonators, but this is our first encounter with a celebrity cardboard cutout. Frankly, we’re not sure how we feel about this. On one hand, you have to give the director credit for finding a quick and goofy way to involve the star of the movie he was trying to promote. On the other hand, when the star of the movie you’re trying to promote can be replaced by a cardboard cutout, maybe you’ve hitched your wagon to the wrong horse.
It’s Spanish for "the Debarge"
No matter what you think about his wispy moustache, soul-glo afro, and girlish falsetto, El Debarge has a really cool name. It's like a cross between a Dutch impressionist and a Mexican wrestler. Or it would be, if "El" weren’t actually short for "Eldra." Fitting, perhaps, but disappointing nonetheless.
Unlike Sammy Hagar, El Debarge managed to stay out of jail
What is it about the legal system that inspires such ridiculous videos? "Who's Johnny" was one of at least a half-dozen high-profile '80s videos to take place in a courtroom, and it embraces all the conventions of this mini-genre. We have a hero on trial for some unspecified offense. A crusty old judge, usually with a gavel. A stuck-up prosecutor who hates music. A chorus that gets the jury jumping, leading to an orgy of awkward dancing and/or fighting. And, of course, footage of Ally Sheedy hitting a Camaro with a baseball bat.
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Posted at 1:09 PM in Video, Video Hangover
I haven't heard this song in eons. I was better off that way, especially since this will be stuck in my head for the rest of the week.
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One thin is for sure...
Number 5 is alive.
And Janet married the wrong Debarge.
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For the love of god, will someone tell me what this song is supposed to be about?
The hallmark of the 80's seems to be writing songs that make absolutely no sense.
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i still can't believe weird al parodied this, turning it into "here's johnny".
oh, and billy joel was in music court in his video for a musical dui.
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If I remember correctly, El is short for Eldra
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GUTTENBURG !
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I always thought that was Prince. Hmmm...who would have thought.
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So, his ladyfriend, I suppose, is curious about this "Johnny" fellow that Eldra has been spending alot of time with. As Eldra is very turned on by women who are as confused about his sexuality as he is, he falls for her.
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Only Queen Sheedy would dare take a baseball bat to such a bitchin' Camero...
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the other debarge project, from earlier/funkier days, switch, contributed what i am convinced is the single greatest pop song ever: "my friend in the sky."
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I can't count the number of times my roommates and I dropped acid and put this song on when we were having parties in college. (That was just a few years ago, not during the 80s, so I'm not sure what it says about us.)
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What's the song about? The video has nothing to do with it, far as I can tell... but the song is about the singer (Johnny)'s ex-girlfriend who snidely pretends not to know who he is when people mention him. He sees her eyes flicker to him when she says "'Johnny'? Who is this 'Johnny'?", so he knows she's just doing it to hurt him.
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I just saw the video again on VH1 "80 hours of the 80's" and I can't remember the name of the actress who played the prosecutor-
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