Sunday, July 6, 2014

The Girl in the Video 2: MORE original interviews with icons of 1980s MTV

From Annie and Josie to Diane and Jenny and (sort of) Billie Jean…welcome to round 2 of the girl in the video series.

logo adapted by Leigh Cullen @DesignLeigh

Thank you to all who said such nice things about round 1. Thank you also for your requests here and on Twitter; I’ve fulfilled as many of them as I could, plus, of course, threw in some surprises. 


This encore presentation/love letter to an era features 27 videos and 29 women including winners of an Oscar (Marlee Matlin) and Emmy (Kay Lenz). It also spills a bit into the ‘90s.

But first, a recap of round 1 (15 videos, 21 women): 

1983 

1984
 

1985
 

1986


1987
 

1988
 

1989
 

[Also rare ‘80s: interview with Mick Smiley, singer-songwriter behind the memorable song “Magic” from Ghostbusters (1984).] 


And now...ROUND 2:

1981

1982


1983


1984


1985


1986


1987


1988


1989


1990


1991


1993


Some I found declined to participate or did not respond:


J. Geils Band, Centerfold” (1981)Jill Forbert (Jill Priest)
did not remember the names of any of the other women in the video:

Jill (left); Jill in 2011

 Huey Lewis and the News, Do You Believe in Love” (1982)
Liz Shatner
daughter of William Shatner:


 Liz 2008; one of several videos of Liz interviewing her dad

Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Come On Eileen” (1982)—Máire Fahey
editor of Prima magazine:

 
 
Maire recently

Kajagoogoo, Too Shy” (1983)Carolyn Miller (Carolyn Espley)
married to comedian Dennis Miller:


Carolyn recently; image: C Home

The Kinks, “Come Dancing” (1983)Emma Harrison (no photos)

 The Cars, “You Might Think” (1984)Susan Gallagher
married to author/MTV executive Bill Flanagan:



image: Doug Hopkins

Susan 2010

Ray Parker, Jr., Ghostbusters” (1984)Cindy Horn (Cindy Harrell)
a humanitarian married to Alan Horn, Chairman of Walt Disney Studios:


 Cindy 1982

Cindy 2014

Bruce Springsteen, Dancing in the Dark” (1984)—Courteney Cox
starred in a 1990s sitcom (no photos)

 Lionel Richie, Hello” (1984)Laura Barboza (Laura Carrington)
married to photographer Anthony Barboza:

  
Billy Idol, Eyes Without a Face” (1984)Nina Tolbert (no photos) 

Bon Jovi, Runaway”  (1984)—Jennifer Gatti:

  
David Lee Roth, “California Girls” (1985):

 (one on the left)
 
Elton John, “Nikita” (1985)Anya Rajah (Anya Major)
also the hammer-wielding woman in the iconic
 Apple Computer “1984” Super Bowl commercial:


Anya circa 2010

Tears for Fears, “Head Over Heels” (1985)Joan Densmore:

  
The Moody Blues, “Your Wildest Dreams” (1986)Janet Spencer-Turner:


 Janet recently

 AC/DC, “You Shook Me All Night Long” (1986)
Corinne White (Corinne Russell)
works in music management in the United Kingdom:

  
George Michael, “I Want Your Sex” (1987)Kathy Jeung
a makeup artist who agreed to participate but then changed her mind:

  
Young MC, “Bust a Move” (1989)Lisa Ann Cabasa:

 
John Mellencamp and Meshell Ndegeocello, “Wild Night” (1994)
 Shana Phipps (Shana Zadrick)
a model whose mother (from whom she is estranged) kindly left 
a note from me on Shana’s windshield…but I don’t know if Shana got it:

 

Believe me, I passionately tried to convince them to (re)consider. I risked annoying them for your benefit. Luckily, this round does feature women from other videos by five of the artists on the list immediately above. 

How you can become part of this series:

There could be a round 3.
 
If you agree that the people above saying no to an interview is a cultural misfortune, please say so in the comments below. If enough readers express heartfelt interest any particular ingénue, perhaps that will change her mind...

Plus I am still searching for a handful more. In other words, where can I find a woman like that?

If everyone who reads this simply skims the eight photos at that link (time investment: 11 seconds), I bet we will find at least one of those women the very day this series launches and others as word spreads.

So please click the link and tell me if you have leads on any of them: mtnobleman@gmail.com.

Housekeeping:


  • I conducted the interviews between August 2013 and July 2014.
  • Stills from videos are copyright their respective labels. I got permission to post all previously unpublished images; if you want to repost, please do the same by asking me first. You know the music business does not tolerate piracy.

To tease you in, five of my favorite lines (stay tuned to find out who said what):


  • “You couldn’t eat breakfast at Du-par’s without a video gal chucking some hash browns at you.”
  • “Now how did such an indelicate question get in here? I’m quite sure it must have been a mistake, so I’ll just pretend it wasn’t asked.”
  • “My friend said I was the Forrest Gump of modeling.”
  • “My dad was just thankful I wasn’t playing a prostitute this time.”
  • “Who puts Prince on hold?”

She’s right here behind the glass
And you’re gonna like her ‘cause she’s got class
You can look inside another world
You get to talk to a pretty girl
She’s everything you dream about…


First up: Tommy Tutone, “867-5309/Jenny” (1981).

57 comments:

Jason said...

I'm delighted to see this series return! Have you given any thought to collecting all the interviews into a book when you're finished (possibly after series 3)?

For what it's worth, I'd love to hear more about Janet Spencer-Turner and Anya Rajah if you can convince them to do an interview. Rajah, in particular, has a face that has haunted my subconscious for years...

Marc Tyler Nobleman said...

Thanks Jason! If enough people chime in for Janet, Anya, or any of those who passed, I may be able to make a case!

Delmo said...

Weird that Shana Zadrick, who was pretty big as a model for a time, can disappear. Well done for identifying the gal from the 1984 Apple commercial-shame she can't be found. And Courtney wouldn't participate? Too busy filming "Cougartown"?

Marc Tyler Nobleman said...

Delmo - well, I did find Shana, and allegedly did get a message to her, but yes, she has almost zero trace online. And I also found Anya Rajah from the '84 Apple commercial, but she, too, declined to participate. Bummed. BUT...plenty of great people who DID participate!

Unknown said...

I had the biggest crush on the English girl in Marshall Crenshaw's 1983 "Whenever You're on My Mind" video. Any chance of finding her?

Lisa MacLeod said...

Great series! I look forward to digging into this for my weekend reading.

Also; I've always wondered, who was the woman in the video for Donnie Iris' "Ah! Leah!"? Would love if you added that to your sleuthing!

Anonymous said...

HI, with regards to your feature on "Bust A Move" I have been wondering and googling forever trying to find the identity of the dancer with a jet black bob, rather busty and maybe mixed race. I read somewhere that Flea's wife was in the video, but I am not sure. Please Help!

Thanks

Unknown said...

This is so fun to read and I appreciate all the work you did tracking these girls down and interviewing them! So my nomination for the next round is the raven-haired beauty in Daryl Hall's "Dreamtime" video. Never could quite get her image out of my mind.

Jerz said...

Did you know where's:
- Ola Ray (from Michael Jackson's "Thriller")
- Stephanie Seymour (from Guns'n'Roses' "November Rain")
- Helen Christensen (from Chris Isaak's "Wicked Games")
- Susie Hatton (from Poison's "Fallen Angel")
- Lisa Dean (from Ratt's "Round and Round")
- Lillian Muller (from Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher")
- Bobbie Brown (from Warrant's "Cherry Pie")

...and here's the list that I did not know the girl/s from music videos like...
- "Baby Got Back" (Sir-Mix-A-Lot)
- "Whip It" (Devo)
- "Careless Whisper" (George Michael)
- "Lady in Red" (Chris DeBurgh)
- "Something About You" (Level 42)
- "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You" (Glenn Medeiros)
- "One Night in Bangkok" (Murray Head)
- "Der Kommissar" (After the Fire)
- "The Look of Love" (ABC)

Robt C said...

Great! Thanks! If you could the lady who starred in Squeeze's Black Coffee In Bed and XTC's Ball And Chain

gp2000 said...

Enjoyed the series!

Just a quick note that the link to "I'd Do Anything for Love" is broken. It should be http://noblemania.blogspot.ca/2014/07/the-girl-in-video-id-do-anything-for.html. ("07" instead of "08").

The link at the end of "Poundcake" also needs fixing.

Marc Tyler Nobleman said...

Thanks gp2000. Fixed!

Marc Edward Heuck said...

If you're looking for suggestions for Volume 3, what about the models that appeared in The Cars' videos for "Shake it Up" and "Since You're Gone"? The former was always a favorite because of the whole "disguise" aspect of their initial appearace.

Unknown said...

I've always wanted to know who the girls were in the following videos:

"When It's Love" by Van Halen
"Lost in You" and "My Heart Can't Tell You No" by Rod Stewart

Unknown said...

great job!

I really really suggest:
The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?

that girl haunted my adolescence dreams.

Anonymous said...

Hi man! any idea who is the girl in "its not enough" starship 1989

Unknown said...

The girl from "whenever you're on my Mind" by Marshall Crenshaw! I absolutely loved her in that video! Any idea who she is?! any chance of THAT interview? 😊

Unknown said...

Great site and clearly a real labor of love, so 'thank you." I had to laugh at the woman from Missing You saying people thought she and Waite were married or dating. I remember when I was 15 at that time all my friends and I thought that about so many of the girls in the videos. I think we thought that since the were unknown to us (as in not familiar from TV and Film) they must be married to the rock star! Anyway, I hope you continue this great, entertaining project. I would be happy to suggest other videos should you wish and happy to help find any one. Between you and the guy who has the Bond Girls site, I will be reading for a long time!

ManInMotion said...

Also; I've always wondered, who was the woman in the video for Donnie Iris' "Ah! Leah!"?

actress Barbara Crampton

donnieh said...

Who was the hottest in the music video of Loverboys "Hot girls in Love"?

Unknown said...

I always wondered who was the beautiful Blond Girl in the Winger Video called "Headed for a Heartbreak"?

RL said...

I love this site. Please try again to get Lisa Ann Cabasa to be interviewed, PLEASE

Lisa Princeton Real Estate said...

Great series! Any idea who the actress is in Daryl Hall's "Someone Like You"? That's one of my favorite 80"s videos

Unknown said...

Any idea of the name of the girl in Richard Marx's Should've Known Better video?

Marc Tyler Nobleman said...

I have tried but so far failed to find the "Should've Known Better" woman: http://noblemania.blogspot.com/2013/10/help-me-find-these-80s-music-video-girls.html.

illustrAutori said...

GREAT GREAT great wirk... I hope you'll find some girls from Picnic at the Whitehouse videos, especially the first "We need protection": who knows where is it recorded? Thank you VERY much for your wonderful site!

ah leah said...

Also; I've always wondered, who was the woman in the video for Donnie Iris' "Ah! Leah!"?

actress Barbara Crampton


I really looked at old photos of Barbara Crampton from the 1980s. I am not convinced it was her. What is the proof? Very similar looking, but show me a pic that really looks like her. Looks like green eyed girl in Ah Leah and Barbara is definitely blue eyed.

Unknown said...

The Woman from Ah Leah Video is Joanna Lumley
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0525921/

Unknown said...

Who was the girl in Loverboy's video "Hot Girls in Love" 1983.

JL said...

Winger - Headed For a Heartbreak. Planet P - Why Me? Any names on the models? Thank you.

Unknown said...

Coverdale * Page - "Take me for a little while". Does anybody know the name of the model? Thank you.

superado said...

I only saw these recently...thank you so much for endeavoring to make these interviews! I'd love to hear more about the German(?) girl in Alphaville's "Big in Japan," the one who was made up like a geisha. Some online posts say she was the wife of the video's director, Dieter Meier, but another site says she's not and was a girl named Tanja.

rossbach451 said...

What a great series! I was really loving it until the note that Janet Spencer-Turner didn't/wouldn't reply. What a crushing blow, I have been enamored with her for years. Then again, notes like this from strange weirdos is probably why she didn't respond! Regardless, your work is greatly appreciated!

Celeste K said...

I would also like to know who the girl is in Corey Hart's video for It Ain't Enough the second version?

Unknown said...

The alien girl in Asia song "Go". What is hername and did she do the video Daryl halls video dreamtime?

Matu said...

Do you know who is the girl in Starship
"its not enough" 1989

Matu said...

Do you know who is the girl in Starship
"its not enough" 1989

LLuisBB said...

I don't know what you think, but for me, Susan Gallagher in the videoclip "You Might Think", is the prettiest girl I've ever seen.
It's a pity there isn't more information about her on the net. Did you do a lot of commercials that are missing or does anyone know a link ?

waywardpolygons said...

What a fantastic project. As a Bowie enthusiast, I have to ask: any interest in finding any of his video costars? I'd be happy to help with their names and try to point you to a couple of social media resources. (Maybe the most iconic, Geeling Ng, has been in NZ/AU media a bit, including interviews about the "China Girl" video after Bowie's death).

Carlos said...

I would like to know who the girl in China Crisis video "Black Man Ray" is . Excelent blog,by the way :).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTWcbaXS-ZU

Anon said...

Always wondered who was the blonde in "Planet P-Why me" video.

B-dog said...

Still no hits on the girl in the TOTO Pamela video? Thought it might be Diane Franklin, but probably not.

MTV Fan said...

B-dog
The models are: Cindy Compton, Kathy Doyle, Diane Manzo, Rosetta Millington

Unknown said...

You know my best friend at time was crazy about Centerfold. He wanted to know who those girls were. He is dead now, but I have worn out the internet trying to find out just for his memory. But there is nothing and I guess we will never know. For you Randy.

A leg man said...

Who is the beautiful girl in the
“ whenever your on my mind” video from 1983 i believe
Marshall Crenshaw

Unknown said...

Who is the gitl/ model in daryl halls video, some o ne like you?

Raincrow said...

As long as we're throwing out questions, anybody know who the girl is in Lou Reed's "I Love You Suzanne?"

Anonymous said...

One of the girls in the Centerfold video is Rochelle 'Rock' Joseph. She's a stylist who was very active in the Boston club scene. I sent an e-mail to Marc telling him about her, and I hope he gets to talk to her at some point. I decided to post this comment because quite a few people were looking for information about those girls.

Hmm said...

Who’s the girl in Mr Mister’s “Is it Love” video??

Hmm said...

Also, who’s the Smith’s “How Soon is Now” girl?
(And NO, it’s NOT Jaime Pressly! She was 8yrs old when the video was released!)

The Angry Photo Guy said...

Periodically, I look back on this series and think of how much I wish you had continued it. There was a lot of ground to cover and you barely scratched the surface.

VB said...

Imagine living in a world where nobody except me is curious who the girl is in the video to the song "Texas Twister" by "Little Feat"!

ChristineP said...

I was searching for her info too!

Sean said...

Same.

Sean said...

You should do a Kickstarter for a book about this,I bet you would make a fortune!! (Sorry I couldn’t edit my comment above)

Madsteve_9 said...

Looking for the names of the Girls in the videos

1) REO Speedwagon - Keep on Loving You (think someone else mentioned this one)

2) The Cure - Charlotte Sometimes

3) Belouis Some - Imagination (especially the 12inch vid)

4) Ultravox - Vienna

PS Lisa Vanderpump appears in both Adam Ants - Prince Charming, Stand & Deliver (she was a Blonde at the time) and ABC's - Poison Arrow

PPS Amanda Donohoe of L.A. Law, is in Adam Ants - Prince Charming & Stand & Deliver.

Madsteve_9 said...

5) Duran Duran - The Chauffeur