Hooked on YouTube(Z)

For those of you who have not "used" YouTube to "go back" to better times, maybe now it's the time!

Sort of by pure accident, I did peak at YouTube this past weekend to see if there was any footage of "past heroes". Well, it turns out there's TONS of it. Looking back, I likely spent a large portion of Friday and Saturday night listening to tunes (and watching) by Chaka Khan, Shakatak, Steely Dan, Level 42, Rose Royce, Captain and Tennile, plus a lot of other stuff from the late 70ies and 80ies.

Much of this is likely posted/uploaded to youTube w/o any consent from the RIAA and MPAA - and others. But, before these organizations go out and sue everyone and their GrandMothers, you've gotta relaize that the mere fact that this stuff is out there - illicit stuff - is actually good for (your) business.

Why and how? Well, in my case, I was able to take a nostalgy trip back to "better" days and re-live some of past musical memories. This triggered my interest as to what these performers are up to today, and subsequently ordering of a few DVDs and CDs from Amazon.com.

I can also certainly say that I am not unique in this aspect. Many of us are curious for new and old music, but not curious enough to shell out anywhere from $15-$20 for an album - UNTIL we have gotten a feel for "what's there". Services like YouTube and other sites do provide that "stimulant" that trigger an unknown "need" - resluting in the purchase of stuff we would never ever have looked at (at least not after we entered our 40ies).

In my case just being able to see some of Shakatak's earlier work (long after MusicBox Televison died out) was like being brought back to the days of "staying up all night at the dorm and watching (music) TV". Few of my friends back then listened to that type of music (well composed and well performed) but the fact that these guys (Shakatak) are still alive and better than ever, must be proof of something.



And getting the chance to see performers in their pink dresses (and big hair) from the 80ies, now looking like normal individuals - AND doing a better job when they are close to retirement, was pretty rewarding.