#MusicMonday – November 13, 2017

(Shifts eyes nervously) Welcome to Music Monday…I guess?

Have you ever taken the time to listen to Music Choice (you know, that multi-channel music service through Xfinity/Comcast?  I am not above listening to that 80s station all day long.  I’ve heard songs on there I haven’t heard anywhere else.

I also say that about Pop-Up Video, because that’s where I heard that one Grateful Dead song I like.  And how about that one Tom Jones song where he rapped…and did this?

Why did this have to be sexy?!

I’m really going there.  I’m dipping into that weird territory I usually don’t openly talk about.

Weird-Ass Music Allison Listens To, Round Three…FIGHT!

The year:1989.

The artist: Donny Osmond.

His mission: Comeback/Resurgence/Revitalized Career.

The attempt: “Soldier of Love.”

“Soldier of Love” was Donny Osmond’s 1989 attempt at a revived career.  By this point in his life, he was unsigned to an American record label, but was signed to Virgin over in the United Kingdom.  As a result, the song was initially released there.  It was a Top 30 there, so naturally, someone wanted the song to be heard stateside (you know, where Osmond actually lives).  A British import cassette of the song was sent from an Osmond fan to Jessica Ettinger, who was the acting Program and Music Director at ABC’s WPLJ in New York.  Ettinger liked the song, but was worried that it wouldn’t be accepted by the current pop audience.

But Ettinger didn’t give up on the song.  Nope, she did what she thought was the right thing…she gave it a slot on her playlist.  She decided to create a “mystery artist” promotion to keep listeners guessing for several weeks. Finally, she had her talent reveal the “mystery artist” as Osmond himself, and Osmond appeared live on the station at that same time.

Capitol Records soon signed Osmond, released the song in 1989, it became a #2 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and Osmond got the re-launched career he was obviously striving for.

The moral of the story?  Don’t judge a book by its cover, try not to have preconceived notions, and not everything Michael Bay directs is terrible.

Like this music video.

I still can’t believe this is Donny Osmond, because this song is surprisingly awesome!  And when I say surprisingly awesome, it’s like that one Tom Jones song.  It surprises you with its awesomeness!

So here, for your Music Monday, Donny Osmond letting you know that he’s a soldier of love…and that he isn’t some washed up singer.

And for that Oddity Archive episode…

Have a great Monday, and enjoy the music…I guess?

Why does this song have to be so good?!  Like, why am I downloading it for?

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