I came to the realization that (as of writing this post) it has almost been exactly 20 years since the '80s ended. 20 years!!! It made me start thinking about what was happening back at the end of 1989. In music, the #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 was "Another Day In Paradise" by Phil Collins. In fact, that song was #1 for the last two weeks of 1989 and continued for the first two weeks of 1990. It was the first single off of his album ...But Seriously and would end up being his most successful song of his career despite being quite the departure from his normal pop records. This week's Flashback Video is "Another Day In Paradise" by Phil Collins...

The song, intended to bring attention to the problem of homelessness, would eventually win the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1991. I will go ahead and admit that I am actually a fan of Phil Collins and Genesis as well. It seems that many people are not fans because many of his songs are too poppy and often sound the same, but I have always enjoyed his sound. He is one heck of a drummer as well. This song, "Another Day In Paradise," is not one of my favorites by him as evidenced by the fact it only received honorable mention on my Top 20 Phil Collins & Genesis Songs of the 80s list. You should definitely click on that link to check out that issue which includes for nearly every song. Some outstanding songs included on that list.

Since this is likely my last issue of 2009, I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of my regular readers and supporters for another solid year. I apologize for not posting issues as regularly as in the past, but I hope the ones I have gotten up have been interesting and entertaining. I love the 80s (as I hope you can tell) and I appreciate you all helping to keep the 80s alive and relevant. I wish you and yours all the best in the coming new year.

That will wrap up this decade-ending issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks for reading. If you are interested in reading any of my other 80s related issues, please click there for a summary of those. If you want to see the past issues of Flashback Videos, just type that into the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column and it should give you a list of all of them. You can also always click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use that Google Search Box to find any past issues or topics you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LOGO in the upper right hand column. This will take you to the Fan Page where I ask you to then click on "Become a Fan". Even if you are not a Facebook member yet, please consider joining and registering as a fan at that page. You can also follow Old School on Twitter by clicking on the FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER LOGO also in the upper right hand column. This will take you the page and you can just click on the box that says "Follow". Let other 80s fans know about it as well! Peace and much love.

Back in 1987, a charity album was released titled A Very Special Christmas. The album featured renditions of Christmas classics by some of the biggest names in music at that time and the proceeds went to Special Olympics. The album was the brainchild of music producer Jimmy Iovine, who wanted to produce a Christmas album as a memorial to his father. The idea of the record benefiting Special Olympics was suggested by Iovine's wife Vicki, as she was a volunteer for the organization. Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, the founders of A&M Records, along with Bobby Shriver, helped the Iovines make the project a reality. Since the release of the first album in 1987, the series has raised over $100 million for Special Olympics, more than any other benefit series.

Selling over a million copies in its first year, that 1987 premiere album, A Very Special Christmas set a precedent for the following albums (the seventh in the series was just released this year 2009). According to the Special Olympics website, "the album series has become the largest financial source in Special Olympics' history, enabling the organization to respond with hope in areas around the world where people with intellectual disabilities are still perceived as less than worthy, less than capable, even less than human. These Christmas albums/CDs have given Special Olympics the power to forever change lives. They make possible another kind of music: the rousing cheers of proud parents and friends, where once there was only the stifling silence of ignorance and fear."

That first A Very Special Christmas album contained several outstanding performances. Many of the songs never had actual music videos made for them. A couple of my favorites include "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by the Pretenders, "Winter Wonderland" by the Eurythmics and "Do You Hear What I Hear?" by Whitney Houston. There are a couple other favorites which do happen to have music videos, so I am going to share those with you now. This week's first Flashback Video is "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" by U2...

I included another song from this album as an honorable mention on my Top Run-DMC Songs of the 80s list which was part of my special Run-DMC issue after they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. Who would have thought that a Christmas rap song would have caught on like it did? This week's second Flashback Video is "Christmas in Hollis" by Run-DMC...

The cover art for this album and the subsequent albums in the series were all done by artist Keith Haring. Here is a complete list of all the tracks on A Very Special Christmas:
1. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" - The Pointer Sisters
2. "Winter Wonderland" - Eurythmics
3. "Do You Hear What I Hear?" - Whitney Houston
4. "Merry Christmas Baby" - Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
5. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - The Pretenders
6. "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" - John Cougar Mellencamp
7. "Gabriel's Message" - Sting
8. "Christmas in Hollis" - Run-D.M.C.
9. "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" - U2
10. "Santa Baby" - Madonna
11. "The Little Drummer Boy" - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
12. "Run Rudolph Run" - Bryan Adams
13. "Back Door Santa" - Bon Jovi (was replaced on later pressings with "I Wish Every Day Could Be Like Christmas" also by Bon Jovi)
14. "The Coventry Carol" - Alison Moyet
15. "Silent Night" - Stevie Nicks

This album not only created some outstanding versions of some great Christmas classics, but it raised lots of much-needed support for a charitable organization. It exemplifies the spirit of the season, creating joy through music and helping those less fortunate. And to think, it all started back in the great decade of the 80s!

I want to take a moment to wish you and yours the happiest of Christmases. May we have peace on earth and true goodwill to all.

That's all for this final holiday issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks as always for reading. If you are interested in reading any of my other 80s related issues, please click there for a summary of those. If you want to see the past issues of Flashback Videos, just type that into the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column and it should give you a list of all of them. You can also always click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column to find any other issues you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LOGO in the upper right hand column. This will take you to the Fan Page where I ask you to then click on "Become a Fan". Even if you are not a Facebook member yet, please consider joining and registering as a fan at that page. You can also follow Old School on Twitter by clicking on the FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER LOGO also in the upper right hand column. This will take you the page and you can just click on the box that says "Follow". I am sending daily 80s tweets, so sign up to get those. Let other 80s fans know about it as well! Peace and much love.

Check this out: If you are a regular reader, you know my fascination with humorous or ironic signs. I came across this street sign which was slightly altered and it seemed fitting to share it at this time of year. Watch out for Rudolph crossing...

I also wanted to share a holiday light display which I'm sure meant well, but just missed the mark. Let there be PEASE on earth. Tip for all of you out there, before you put any words in lights up on your house just double check to make sure you spell them correctly...

Quote of the day: "Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more." -Dr. Seuss from How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Bonus quote of the day: "What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace." -Agnes M. Pahro

I was obviously not a coffee drinker at the time and never have developed the taste for coffee even now, but there is a particular Folgers coffee holiday commercial that is memorable to me. It is memorable to a lot of people since it ran off an on for 17 years beginning back in 1986. Here is the commercial which features a college student "Peter" (played by actor Greg Wrangler) coming home for Christmas despite a snow storm. He makes Folgers coffee with his little sister which wakes up the rest of the family to find that "Peter" was home. It follows the normal tagline of "the best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup." You can watch this classic holiday commercial yourself:

Like I said, this spot started back in 1986 but would continue its run during the Christmas season through about 2003. It always reminds me of the 80s which is usually a good thing for me. The commercial was created by the Cunningham & Walsh agency which technically no longer exists (merged into other agencies), but they did an incredible job of capturing the warm fuzzy feeling of family and the holidays. At the same time, they created an timeless iconic moment which would serve to promote the Folgers brand for years and years to come.

There is a new 2009 version of this commercial with a new "Peter" coming home from doing volunteer work overseas. It is supposedly based on a real-life story, but does not seem to have the same effect the original did (at least to me). I could not share a video to watch because I could not find one online. In the 2009 Brandweek Directory, the Folgers brand was listed among the top superbrands, with a $37.3 million ad budget. Folgers, founded in 1860, last year was sold by Proctor & Gamble to J.M. Smucker for just under $3 billion. Smucker has purchased other iconic P&G brands including Jif and Crisco, all of which it is attempting to revitalize.

As I mentioned, I have never been a coffee drinker and probably never will, but I can still hum the Folgers song and have fond memories of this holiday commercial. Now, I spend time trying to avoid watching commercials, so to have one as touching and memorable as the original Folgers "Peter Comes Home" commercial is a special accomplishment.

That'll do it for this short holiday issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks as always for reading. If you are interested in reading any of my other 80s related issues, please click there for a summary of those. You can also always click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column to find any other issues you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LOGO in the upper right hand column. This will take you to the Fan Page where I ask you to then click on "Become a Fan". Even if you are not a Facebook member yet, please consider joining and registering as a fan at that page. You can also follow Old School on Twitter by clicking on the FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER LOGO also in the upper right hand column. This will take you the page and you can just click on the box that says "Follow". I am sending daily 80s tweets, so sign up to get those. Let other 80s fans know about it as well! Peace and much love.

Check this out: Came across these humorous Snow People cartoons and with winter fully upon us, I thought they would be appropriate to share here...

Quote of the day: "To the American People: Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." -Calvin Coolidge (Presidential message December 25, 1927)

The Brady Bunch originally aired from 1969 to 1974, but I fondly remember watching it in syndication when I was a kid in the 80s. In 1988, there was a reunion of sorts with the television movie called A Very Brady Christmas. The parents, "Mike and Carol Brady," try to bring together all of the kids, which many have their own families now, to celebrate Christmas. As you would expect, this task is not as easy as it would seem with all of the kids facing personal obstacles that could prevent them from coming.

The special features all of the original cast except for Susan Olsen (who played "Cindy Brady") because she happened to be on her honeymoon in Jamaica when it was filmed. "Cindy" was played by the beautiful Jennifer Runyon (who I remember as the girlfriend in Charles in Charge as well as the subject of Dr. Venkman's experiment at the beginning of Ghostbusters). It was interesting to see the rest of the Brady kids all grown up. Even housekeeper "Alice" (Ann B. Davis) returned despite her character's husband ("Sam" the butcher) leaving her for another woman.

I don't want to ruin it for you, but all of the kids do in fact come home for Christmas. An emergency interrupts Christmas dinner causing "Mike Brady" to have to go help when one of his buildings collapses. Mr. Brady ends up saving the two people who were trapped inside the building, but gets himself stuck in the process and this video below lets you watch the last 9 minutes or so of the special...

As the family and other on-lookers fear the worst, "Carol Brady" begins to sing the Christmas carol "O Come All Ye Faithful." This harkens back to an episode in the first season of the original series when "Carol" sings that song in church after recovering from a lost voice. Here is a link to watch the video of that scene from 1969. In this special, the others join in and there is a touching moment when Mr. Brady appears safe from serious harm. The family rushes to him with hugs and kisses after what appears to be a sort of Christmas miracle. After that the family returns to enjoy their Christmas dinner and the show ends with the entire family singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." All's well that ends well and that was a fine way to end it.

A Very Brady Christmas is pretty much what you would expect it to be. It was written by Sherwood Schwartz (and his son Lloyd) and tries to maintain the same characteristics that so many enjoyed in the original series. Of course, it ends up being very cheesy though I would say it was a fine effort. As far as 80s Christmas specials go, it is at least memorable. The holiday message of appreciating family and helping others is there and those kinds of reminders are always welcome as far as I am concerned.

That'll wrap up this holiday issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks as always for reading. If you are interested in reading any of my other 80s related issues, please click there for a summary of those. You can also always click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column to find any other issues you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LOGO in the upper right hand column. This will take you to the Fan Page where I ask you to then click on "Become a Fan". Even if you are not a Facebook member yet, please consider joining and registering as a fan at that page. You can also follow Old School on Twitter by clicking on the FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER LOGO also in the upper right hand column. This will take you the page and you can just click on the box that says "Follow". I am sending daily 80s tweets, so sign up to get those. Let other 80s fans know about it as well! Peace and much love.

Check this out: I have already sent this out on Twitter to all of you who follow me there, but thought it was worth putting here as well. The Muppets performing "Carol of the Bells" as only the Muppets can. Enjoy!

Quote of the day: "My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?" -Bob Hope

Last December, I did special issues on one of my most memorable holiday songs, television specials and movies from the 80s. I did a special issue on my favorite holiday movie, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (which is worth going back to check out again) that just happened to be released at the end of my favorite decade. This year, I wanted to pick another of my favorite holiday films from the 80s and I chose the 1988 comedy Scrooged.

Scrooged is an adaptation of the Charles Dickens story A Christmas Carol directed and produced by Richard Donner. It stars the incomparable Bill Murray as "Frank Cross" who has turned into the stereotypical jerk and has forgotten the true meaning of the Christmas season. He is visited by the traditional three ghosts and realizes he needs to change his ways. Here is the original trailer for Scrooged...

Bill Murray plays the "Scrooge" character as only Bill Murray can. The movie culminates with Murray's character making an improvised monologue on live TV imploring the viewers to not make the same mistake he made ("The miracle can happen for you!"). Here is a video including this monologue...

Even in this modernized version, the message still resonates. One of the characters even says the iconic Tiny Tim line of "God bless us, every one." The film closes with everybody singing the song "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" and the song plays during the end credits as well. The song was originally performed by Jackie DeShannon back in 1968, but the Scrooged version is performed by Al Green and Annie Lennox. This new version would surprisingly reach #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988.

As I included in last year's issue, I wanted to highlight some of the hilarious dialogue featured in the film. Here is OLD SCHOOL'S TOP 5 FAVORITE LINES FROM SCROOGED:

5. "I want to see her nipples." "But this is a CHRISTMAS show." "Well, I'm sure Charles Dickens would have wanted to see her nipples." "You can barely see them nipples." "See? And these guys are REALLY looking."

4. "I can't get the antlers glued to this little guy. We tried Crazy Glue, but it don't work." "Did you try staples?"

3. "I never liked a girl well enough to give her 12 sharp knives."

2. "The bitch hit me with a toaster."

1. "It's Christmas Eve. It's the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year we are the people that we always hoped we would be."

That's all for this holiday issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks as always for reading. If you are interested in reading any of my other 80s related issues, please click there for a summary of those. You can also always click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column to find any other issues you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FACEBOOK LOGO in the upper right hand column. This will take you to the Fan Page where I ask you to then click on "Become a Fan". Even if you are not a Facebook member yet, please consider joining and registering as a fan at that page. You can also follow Old School on Twitter by clicking on the FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER LOGO also in the upper right hand column. This will take you the page and you can just click on the box that says "Follow". I am sending daily 80s tweets, so sign up to get those. Let other 80s fans know about it as well! Peace and much love.

Check this out: Someone just sent me this, so I thought it was worth sharing. Read the following before looking at the picture...

Well, there is good news and bad news about my Christmas decorations this year. The good news is that I truly out did myself this year with my decorations. The bad news is that I had to take them down after just 2 days. I had more people come screaming up to my house than ever. Great stories. But two things made me take it down.

First, the cops advised me that it would cause traffic accidents as they almost crashed when they drove by. Second, a 55 year old lady grabbed the 75 pound ladder, almost killed herself putting it against my house and didn't realize it was fake until she climbed to the top (she was not happy). By the way, she was one of many people who attempted to do that. My yard couldn't take it either. I have more than a few tire tracks where people literally drove up my yard.

Kind of feel like I gave in to the man by taking him down but my neighbor did confirm two near miss accidents on the busy street next to my house. I think I made him too real this time. So it was fun while it lasted. See what it looked like below:

Quote of the day: "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future." -Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol