David Bowie and Mick Jagger “Dancing in the Street” 1985. First made popular in 1964 by Martha and the Vandellas (#2 in the US, #4 in the UK), “Dancing in the Street” also was a hit for the Mamas & the Papas in ‘66 and Van Halen in ‘82. I’m partial to Bowie’s and Jagger’s ‘85 version which hit #7 in the US and #1 in the UK, its proceeds going to Live Aid’s African famine relief effort.

Mostly I loved the video which MTV played in heavy rotation. I seem to recall critics panning it mercilessly (NME rates it as the 12th worst video ever, describing it as “two rock legends having a nasty outbreak of Fibromyalgia and in the process invent the ‘old men who look like lesbians’ craze’”) but it always seemed to me that the two Brit rockers were just having a ball, the biggest rock stars in the world giddily singing and literally dancing in the street. Jagger’s son, James, had this to say, “The ‘Dancing in the Street’ video, which is hilarious…whenever I’m feeling blue, I just google ‘Dancing in the Street,’ and it makes me laugh. It’s so ’80s, it’s amazing.“ I did and I agree. It’s brilliant, unintentionally hysterical, juxtaposing Jagger’s unbridled gumby-limbed enthusiasm with Bowie’s ultra-suave cool and sly humor.  Go and watch it now!