Ever since the dawn of MTV and Friday Night Videos, the music video has significantly impacted musical tastes and pop culture. It might not be as extreme as when the Buggles declared that "Video Killed the Radio Star", but there is no arguing that the music video certainly could make or break a song's popularity. So this regular Flashback Video feature will serve to remember some of the music videos from the great '80s decade that made an impact on me in one way or another.
This issue we will cover "I'm So Excited" by The Pointer Sisters. This single was originally released in 1982 on their So Excited album, but it would only achieve moderate success reaching #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was re-mixed and released again in July of 1984 as a single from their Break Out album. This time it would become even more popular peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 at the end of October that year. This had continued the success of that album and previous hit singles "Jump (For My Love)" and "Automatic".
The music video for "I'm So Excited" was released in 1984 and directed by Kenny Ortega. At that time, Ortega was best known as a choreographer performing that role on films like 1980's Xanadu as well as music videos like Olivia Newton-John's "Physical", Styx "Mr. Roboto" and Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy". But he also had directed a few music videos including The Tubes "She's a Beauty", Deniece Williams "Let's Hear it For the Boy" and Billy Squier "Rock Me Tonight". After 1984, he went on to a pretty prolific career as both a choreographer and director. In the '80s, he was choreographer on Madonna's "Material Girl" music video as well as films like St. Elmo's Fire (1985), Pretty in Pink (1986), Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), Dirty Dancing (1987), The Great Outdoors (1988) and Shag (1989). He worked on several Michael Jackson concert tours and was working with him on his "This Is It" tour when Jackson passed away in 2009. Ortega began a partnership with Disney and directed all three of the hugely popular High School Musical movies (2006-2008) as well as all three of the Descendants movies (2015-2019). For his work, Ortega was honored with both a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Disney Legend Award in 2019.
For the "I'm So Excited" video, the sisters are seen getting ready for a formal party at a high-society club. Anita Pointer is shown dressing and applying make up; Ruth Pointer, in nothing but a nightgown, is shown rolling around on her bed and throwing her garments around; and June Pointer is wearing nothing at all and taking a bubble bath. Once the sisters arrive at the club, they are photographed, attracting the attention of the other party-goers. By the video's end, they have the club on its feet jamming to the song. Shots of the dancers in the club performing choreographed dances are a highlight and definitely show the influence of Ortega. Here is the music video for "I'm So Excited" by The Pointer Sisters...
Many of us will remember this song from the Saved By the Bell episode originally airing in 1990 when "Jessie" took caffeine pills to keep up with all of her obligations and burst into tears while singing "I'm So Excited" and admitted her problem. I am sure I am not alone in having that connection.
Hope you enjoyed another trip back to the '80s thanks to Flashback Video!