A-List: Laura Branigan
By Jason Dean
September 3, 2004
Gloria, you're always on the run now
Running after somebody, you gotta get him somehow
I think you've got to slow down before you start to blow it
I think you're headed for a breakdown, so be careful not to show it
Gloria
The bosses prefer that these columns have some degree of topicality when possible. Well, at least I think they appreciate current topics, but that might change after this week. I had started some degree of research with regards to bad sequels or poorly inspired sequels given the open of the rather unnecessary Baby Geniuses 2. However, true to my faults, I’ve been distracted by something else and that was the untimely death of Laura Branigan this past week - a celebrity death that I noted far more than one could reasonably expect. In my general memories, Laura Branigan had done some of my favorite songs, and I had fond memories of thinking she was kind of a mysterious type of hot in a bad-'80s-big-hair-video type of way. Actual research revealed a rather limited number of songs that I really remembered (rose colored ears?), and yet I haven’t really been able to quit humming Gloria since last week nor thinking that somehow she had left a bigger impact on pop music. Perhaps it's just my belief that she was more than her music in that she had an above average voice, but I guess the songs just weren't there.
You really don't remember, was it something that he said?
All the voices in your head calling, Gloria
Maybe it’s a shameful confession - or perhaps it’s a sign that I haven’t given over to pop culture movies - but I’ve never seen all of Flashdance. I've caught bits and pieces on TV, but that’s about it. Apparently, Gloria was part of the movie, though not part of the official soundtrack as near as I’ve been able to research. Laura Branigan did have another track as part of the soundtrack. I can’t really comment on the movie other than the fact that it has left a mark on popular culture with the whole fashion for the time, the oft-mocked water/dance sequence, Irene Cara and so on. Still, the movie is important in a movie production sense as it is one of the early Simpson and Bruckheimer successes. That production duo would definitely leave its mark on Hollywood and popular movies with projects such as Beverly Hills Cop and Top Gun.
From IMDb:
Notable TV Guest Appearances: "Automan" playing "Jessie Cole" in episode: "Murder MTV" (episode # 1.9) 12 March 1984
The movie tie-in here is that Automan was obviously ripped off from Tron. I can hear the pitch now: “See, it’s like Tron but instead of the human going inside the video game, we’ll have the videogame character come out to the real world!” Looking back on it, the show concept was really that bad but it didn’t matter. I loved it. “Why do you make 90 degree turns like that? Because I was programmed that way.” Ok, so maybe I’m in the minority; however, the inspiration material in Tron is definitely worth remembering. Visuals such as the tanks and the light cycle endure even if the underlying technology has long been surpassed. The overall movie has a signature look due to the combination of live action and computer-assisted animation. On top of that were the brief moments of the games themselves, such as our introduction to Tron in the midst of a one-on-many disc competition.
It's gonna be a hot night
We're gonna have a hot night tonight
Hot Night
Doesn’t ring any bells? How about: “Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria"? I don’t recognize the song, either, but this apparently is the chorus of the song that Laura Branigan contributed to Ghostbusters. In meager defense of Ms Branigan, it’s not like the title song had the most brilliant chorus either. Ghostbusters is one of the all-time great comedies. The combination of good writing, decent ghost effects, and career performances by the leads led to Ghostbusters being of one of biggest movies of 1984.
Oh, the night is my world
City light painted girl
In the day nothing matters
It's the night time that flatters
Self Control
This is another of my favorite singles that comes to mind when I think of Laura Branigan. I vaguely recall the video. I remember something about walking streets, shop windows or some such in the video. I more remember various close-ups of Laura herself in the video - a video that happened to be directed by William Friedkin. Yes, that William Friedkin, the one who directed The Exorcist - the same horror classic that just had one or two of those perhaps unnecessary sequels released. Did we really need a prequel? Not to mention just how much did they need a release that they were willing to completely reshoot the movie?
Ever write yourself in a corner? That’s pretty much where I was with this list and given the fact that was I was to almost magically write myself out of that corner as well as tie back into the original topic for the week, I think I’ll quit while I’m ahead.
Print this column
