Billy Ocean: C or D?

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The chorus to "Loverboy" may well be the best chorus of all time...mmm. Though whoever thought up the Star Wars-themed video should be beaten to death...yeah.

I know Big Boi loves him, but what's the vibe out in ILXland re: the Carribean King? I myself am debating purchasing his greatest hits if I find it cheap. Either that or the album "Loverboy" is on, which I believe is suddenly.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 01:17 (twenty-two years ago)

does anybody else's heart stop when Billy says "mmm" in the chorus of "Loverboy"?

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 01:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't think I could've imagined a stranger place for Billy Ocean to have shown up than a Scott Walker album -- yet there he is on Climate of Hunter. Surrealistic genius.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 02:41 (twenty-two years ago)

i haven't heard "loverboy", but i sure rate "when the going gets tough" and "get outta my dreams (get into my car)", and "carribean queen". yeah, get his greatest hits, anthony.

― The Lady Ms Lurex (lucylurex), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 03:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I remember when the radio stations would play "loverboy" and "lovergirl" back to back

― nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 03:42 (twenty-two years ago)

"lovergirl" > "loverboy" natch

― nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 03:43 (twenty-two years ago)

"Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)" is great, easily his best uptempo song.

― Andy K (Andy K), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 03:53 (twenty-two years ago)

"lover boy" came on the radio a week or two ago. i was surprised at how tawk the guitars were, maybe just relatively but remembered it as being this ultra-smooth piece and was off from my memories.

i'd buy a best of if it was cheap.

― H (Heruy), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 05:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"Red Light Spells Danger" is a near-masterpiece

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Tuesday, 5 August 2003 22:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Not a fan, but I hate sharing the same dream w/ Caribbean royalty...

― Bryan Moore (Bryan Moore), Wednesday, 6 August 2003 03:11 (twenty-two years ago)

misanthrope

― nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Wednesday, 6 August 2003 03:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Carribean Queen is Ocean to the max. It's also really hard to sing on karaoke -- man, he's good.

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Wednesday, 6 August 2003 15:00 (twenty-two years ago)

The phrasing in the chorus of that song is so odd.

I owned Tear Down These Walls on cassette once upon a time. I bought it for "Get Outta My Dreams." It wasn't bad IIRC.

― amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 6 August 2003 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

i remember watching his vid to "When the Going Gets Tough (the Tough Get Going", featuring an unembarrased-looking Michael Douglas & Kathleen Turner miming along in dramatic white suits and dark sunglasses.

this was back when "Nick Rocks" was still on, in 1986, i believe.

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Wednesday, 6 August 2003 15:37 (twenty-two years ago)

The amount of times I've thought "What's this cracking northern soul stomper?" and it turns out to be Billy Ocean's Love really hurts without you...

― Keith Watson (kmw), Thursday, 7 August 2003 17:12 (twenty-two years ago)

seven months pass...

Anthony is SOOOO otm regarding 'Loverboy' - great track (revived for me via Ben Liebrand's 'Grandmix 1984)', and I am uploading the staggering video now for people to see - my god, i hadn't seen it since i was 7 - the horror has to be seen to be believed, and even then you won't believe it

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 15 March 2004 01:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm really glad you revived this, Stevem. I played the song for some folks recently and they weren't feeling it. Though between the video and my ecstatic dancing they might not have been able to appreciate it.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 15 March 2004 02:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Billy Ocean almost made North Americans finally start pronouncing Carribean the European way and not "cuh-ri-BEE-an"

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), Monday, 15 March 2004 03:01 (twenty-one years ago)

(NOT) THE BEST VIDEO EVER

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 15 March 2004 03:18 (twenty-one years ago)

stevem I kiss u with hot alien lips.

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Monday, 15 March 2004 15:27 (twenty-one years ago)

i still can't get the song out of my head. it's kinda scary 'now'

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 15 March 2004 16:56 (twenty-one years ago)

so before i go Googlin' does anyone know whether Ocean's label got sued by Lucasfilm as they surely must've?? ("How dare you produce something better than the Holiday Special using such simialr characters!")

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 15 March 2004 16:57 (twenty-one years ago)

"King of Wishful Thinking" is killer.

― Clarke B. (Clarke B.), Monday, 15 March 2004 18:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I agree that "King of Wishful Thinking" is killer, one of my favorite songs ever but the one I'm thinking of is performed by Go West. Unless there's a Billy Ocean track with the same title.

― theodore fogelsanger, Monday, 15 March 2004 20:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Billy: Classic. I spent most of today playing 'Carribbean Queen' in my head prior to reading this, so that's gotta count for something.

Go West - 'King Of Wishful Thinking': Classic. It's always been vaguely resonant.

― Barima (Barima), Monday, 15 March 2004 20:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Barima why have I never seen you and Billy Ocean in the same room at the same time?

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 15 March 2004 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't mean because you look alike - you don't at all. but still...

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 15 March 2004 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Possibly because we move in different circles on different continents, Steve. Mind y'all, I have been growing my beard (and planning on getting a white suit), though I plan to chop it by my birthday this Sunday.

― Barima (Barima), Monday, 15 March 2004 20:53 (twenty-one years ago)

But you and Beck - what's your excuse?

― Barima (Barima), Monday, 15 March 2004 20:54 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.tunkhannock.com/fencing/images/Demo.jpg

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 15 March 2004 21:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Between that photo and strongo saying "touche" to me earlier, I

― Barima (Barima), Monday, 15 March 2004 21:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Between that photo and strongo saying "touche" to me earlier, I now have the indelible image of Touche Turtle in my head.

http://www.wingnuttoons.com/touchedum.jpg

― Barima (Barima), Monday, 15 March 2004 21:43 (twenty-one years ago)

BTW, Steve, I've been informed on numerous occasions that I can't sing. Which is a bummer everytime I wake up from my dreams of being a famous pop colossus.

― Barima (Barima), Monday, 15 March 2004 21:45 (twenty-one years ago)

you look more like Dum Dum than Billy to be fair - it's that red hat dude.

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 15 March 2004 21:52 (twenty-one years ago)

there were, like, TWO videos for "loverboy" if my memory serves me correctly. one was the "star wars"-themed thing, with the wookie(?) dude riding a horse across a desert. the other was billy ocean just sort of dancing along with these laser-light things. or maybe it was the same video, i dunno. it was a pretty good song, though!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Monday, 15 March 2004 21:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Same video. Interspliced.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 15 March 2004 21:53 (twenty-one years ago)

you look more like Dum Dum than Billy to be fair - it's that red hat dude.

Man, I don't own or wear a red hat. What'sa matter with you? Don't mke me diss your jumper(s).

How did this start anyway - are you trying to get a Barima/Billy Ocean mini-meme going?

― Barima (Barima), Monday, 15 March 2004 21:58 (twenty-one years ago)

i was, but Barima/Dum Dum is mighty tempting. i must think on this further. how long til you're back in the UK to make my face a mash-up?

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 15 March 2004 22:01 (twenty-one years ago)

what's wrong with my jumper(s) btw?

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 15 March 2004 22:04 (twenty-one years ago)

i SO must download "loverboy" on soulseek tonight!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Monday, 15 March 2004 22:05 (twenty-one years ago)

It's not a question of what's wrong, it's a question of what isn't right!

― Barima (Barima), Monday, 15 March 2004 22:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I paid that guy at The End to make fun of your attire, ya know.

BTW, I'm thinking of visiting at Easter, though if I get myself fired anytime soon (boredom ---> constant absenteeism via internet cafe), probably longer.

― Barima (Barima), Monday, 15 March 2004 22:09 (twenty-one years ago)

every now and then, mr. miccio, you verily justify yer existence

though the original "loverboy" is pretty great, there's this extended club mix that's also pretty great -- it's like they spliced "loverboy" w/ "white lines." which may've been common in 1985, but it's 2004 now and it sounds pretty cool.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 16 March 2004 05:46 (twenty-one years ago)

seriously now, suddenly was a BIG part of the miraculous year for pop that was 1984 ... this record was omnipresent that year and 1985. and that was a pretty good thing!

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Monday, 22 March 2004 21:56 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

"Loverboy" does indeed rock, and Billy Ocean could indeed sing. It's deceptively difficult.

I'm uncertain as to the song's provenance though. afaik it was cowritten by B. Ocean, producer Keith Diamond, and one Robert John "Mutt" Lange (!)

But allmusic refers to it as a Prince cover. Can anyone help sort this?

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Thursday, 1 September 2005 16:24 (twenty years ago)

It is not. Allmusic is incorrect. Fie on them for confusing the greatness of "Loveboy" with Prince-greatness.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 1 September 2005 16:42 (twenty years ago)

There was a thrilling two months during which "Loverboy" and Teena Marie's "Lovergirl" chased each other up the charts.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Thursday, 1 September 2005 16:43 (twenty years ago)

Thank you Alfred! More googling shows the Prince canard popping up elsewhere as well, but I can't tell where it started. (And I was mortified! How could I not have known this was a Prince cover!)

I hear more Quincy Jones/MJ/"Beat It" than early Prince.

Anyone up for a round of "six degrees of Mutt Lange"?

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Thursday, 1 September 2005 16:55 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

I just heard "Loverboy" on the bus; man, do those guitars sound great.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Monday, 2 April 2007 13:00 (eighteen years ago)

[i}i haven't heard "loverboy", but i sure rate "when the going gets tough" and "get outta my dreams (get into my car)", and "carribean queen"[/i]

Wow - those last three would be the reasons I'm vaguely embarrased about having Billy Ocean on my lastfm playlist (even though I haven't been playing those songs) - actually, perhaps that is harsh on Carribean Queen which might sound good after all these years. The other two were rub. though. Full on rub.

what was GREAT is Red Light Spells Danger and EVEN BETTER is LOVE REALLY HURTS WITHOUT YOU OOH YERAR BREAKING MY HEA-ART BUT WHAT CAN I DO, CAN I DO???

(on lastfm, someone has tagged this as "gay". Its not necessarily a gay thing, is it? Or is it?)

― hobart paving, Monday, 2 April 2007 13:51 (eighteen years ago)

god, I'm crap at html. Pretend that top bit of my post was a quote.

― hobart paving, Monday, 2 April 2007 13:51 (eighteen years ago)

RYAN ADAMS - Expressway to Yr. Skull>Caribbean Queen

― MRZBW, Monday, 2 April 2007 14:04 (eighteen years ago)

Not at all bad. I love "Carribbean Queen" and "There's Be Sad Songs" in particular.

― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 00:48 (eighteen years ago)

geir U ain't never lied. 'When the Going Gets Tough' is a great song.

― tremendoid, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 00:55 (eighteen years ago)

"There'll Be Sad Songs..." is treacle.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 02:14 (eighteen years ago)

eleven months pass...

SHE'S SIMPLY...AWESOME

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 7 March 2008 20:01 (seventeen years ago)

five months pass...

HEY! (Hey!)
YOU! (You!)
GET INTO MY CAR!

So good!!!

― Doctor Casino, Tuesday, 2 September 2008 02:21 (seventeen years ago)

two years pass...

suddenlyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy...LIFE HAS NEW MEANINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG TO ME

― sarah, palin and tall (San Te), Friday, 18 February 2011 12:14 (fourteen years ago)

eleven months pass...

There is no shame! "Caribbean Queen" does sound great after all those years. I think it's because of the ubiquitous airplay in the eighties that it gets no love. Tant pis. When you've shopped for pants to it with a bunch of white folks you lose interest.

A real funk beat at a time when funk didn't get a lot of airplay. Great vocal. I loved it at the time, friends ridiculed me. Made me want to run off to the islands and "run my game".

Must check out some other Billy Ocean.

― โตเกียวเหมียวเหมียว aka Don Nots (Mount Cleaners) (Mount Cleaners), Thursday, 26 January 2012 18:09 (thirteen years ago)

I can't believe Billy didn't sue the makers of Inception. He invented the concept of sharing the same dream 25 years ago.

― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 26 January 2012 19:57 (thirteen years ago)

five months pass...

Lover.

http://io9.com/5924368/10-reasons-why-billy-oceans-loverboy-is-the-best-music-video-ever-made

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 9 July 2012 18:07 (thirteen years ago)

wonder how he feels about his gay son

― the alternate vision continues his vision quest! (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 9 July 2012 18:24 (thirteen years ago)

It should also be noted that the Wikipedia page for the song is possibly even MORE insane.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loverboy_%28Billy_Ocean_song%29

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 9 July 2012 18:38 (thirteen years ago)

wonder how he feels about his gay son

sad songs to make you cry?

― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 9 July 2012 18:39 (thirteen years ago)

eleven months pass...

more thoughts about that crazy "loverboy" video

― عليك ارتداء ماكياج من مهرج مثلي الجنس المتداول مائة عميق في سيارة مصغر (Eisbaer), Wednesday, 12 June 2013 03:37 (twelve years ago)

eight years pass...

a) Had no idea he had a 1970s career
b) Is his head much larger than his body?

On this in 1950 💫

Billy Ocean,is born Leslie Sebastian Charles in Trinidad and Tobago. He moves to Romford, England, at age 10.

Billy Ocean 😎🙏
Love Really Hurts Without You 🎶
Top Of The Pops Dec 1976💫#BillyOcean pic.twitter.com/OoZjGFLC7x
— Song A Day / Philosophy Away😊🙏🎶 (@SongsPhilosophy) January 21, 2022

― deep luminous trombone (Eazy), Friday, 21 January 2022 18:52 (three years ago)

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