When Bad Videos Happen To Good Songs

The 80's were a funky time for music. MTV was actually playing videos and record companies where trying to figure out how to best use this medium to their benefit. Some bands like Duran Duran figured it out quick. Their Hungry Like The Wolf video was groundbreaking (for that time frame). Vibrant colors. exotic women and a wrestling match with Simon. I was a sophomore in high school and I remember being completely transfixed. These guys were gorgeous, sexy and now we got to see them too? I begged my parents for cable and was transfixed every day after school.

Now there were some rock and roll stars that were unbelievably talented but maybe didn't fit the rock and roll mold so much. Mark Knopfler was one of these guys. His guitar playing and lyrics are some of the greatest you'll ever hear.

So why in the world would he allow this video to be made? Romeo and Juliet is a masterpiece in my opinion. So why Mark? Why????? Talk about bad management decisions.



Just for fun I've included the lyrics. For those of you who can't make it through the video (it's that bad)

a lovestruck romeo sings a streetsuss serenade
laying everybody low with a lovesong that he made
finds a convenient streetlight steps out of the shade
says something like you and me babe how about it?

juliet says hey it's romeo you nearly gimme a heart attack
he's underneath the window she's singing hey la my boyfriend's back
you shoudn't come around here singing up at people like that
anyway what you gonna do about it?

juliet the dice were loaded from the start
and i bet and you exploded in my heart
and i forget i forget the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong juliet?

come up on different streets they both were streets of shame
both dirty both mean yes and the dream was just the same
and i dreamed your dream for you and now your dream is real
how can you look at me as i was just another one of your deals?

when you can fall for chains of silver you can fall for chains of gold
you can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold
you promised me everything you promised me thick and thin
now you just say oh romeo yeah you know i used to have a scene with him

juliet when we made love you used to cry
you said i love you like the stars above i'll love you till i die
there's a place for us you know the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?

i can't do the talk like they talking on the tv
and i can't do a love song like the way its meant to be
i can't do everything but i'd do anything for you
i can't do anything except be in love with you

and all i do is miss you and the way we used to be
all i do is keep the beat and bad company
all i do is kiss you through the bars of a rhyme
julie i'd do the stars with you any time

juliet when we made love you used to cry
you said i love you like the stars above i'll love you till i die
there's a place for us you know the movie song
when you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?

a lovestruck romeo sings a streetsuss serenade
laying everybody low with a lovesong that he made
finds a convenient streetlight steps out of the shade
says something like you and me babe how about it?

And just for some more fun....