Flashback Video: 'Word Up' by Cameo

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 "Word Up" by Cameo. It was released as a single in September of 1986 and went on to become the band's most recognized song. "Word Up" spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard R&B chart starting in late October and one week at #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles chart in November when it also peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song would give Cameo a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

The music video for "Word Up" was directed by lead vocalist and the song's co-writer Larry Blackmon. He, of course, appears prominently in the music video and wearing his trademark "codpiece" over his pants fashion statement. The video also features actor LeVar Burton as a detective attempting to arrest the band. Burton is well known to a variety of audiences whether is is from 1977's Roots, the host of Reading Rainbow or as "Geordi LaForge" on Star Trek: The Next Generation. At the end of the video, Burton's detective ends up handcuffed to one of the dancers while the band members have walked out the club escaping capture.

Here is the music video for "Word Up" by Cameo...

W-O-R-D up!

Hope you enjoyed another trip back to the '80s thanks to Flashback Video!