VJ Big 40 Countdown Errors

[skuncle]

Since there are so many, how about a new thread to list the weekly errors in the VJ Big 40 Countdown??

For this week's countdown:

Used Billboard's 1/24/81 chart:

While intro-ing the #1 song "Just Like Starting Over" by John Lennon, Nina Blackwood gave her clues to figure out who it was, saying that "this was first new music he would record since 1975, but sadly wouldn't live to see it get released" The music in question was the "Double Fantasy" album which was released in mid November of 1980, Lennon was shot December 8, 1980. He saw the album get released. He even saw this single get released and begin to climb the charts.

[mkarns]

Here's a few recent ones that stick out in my mind:

Calling UB40 "pretty much a one-hit wonder", the hit being "Red Red Wine". In fact, they had several other big hits, including another #1, "Can't Help Falling In Love". Granted, that and most of their other US hits were in the 1990s, but they still exist.

Saying "Total Eclipse of the Heart" was Billboard's #1 single of the year for 1983; it was actually "Every Breath You Take"

Stating that "Ruth, June, and Anita Pointer" are about to tour. In fact, June Pointer died in 2006; current Pointer Sisters performances usually consist of Ruth, Anita, and Ruth's granddaughter Sadako Johnson.

[Deleted]

Wow, didn't realize they were that wrong that often. But unless I'm in the car going somewhere I never hear it. I don't hate it as much as some people and I don't use the sarcastic annoying name others do, but they should check their facts.

[bestmusicexpert]

They did work for MTV, who is in the same company as VH1, who always makes errors... so take them with a grain of salt!

[mkarns]

I don't know what kind of research they do, but it seems annoying to hear so many errors especially concerning acts that were played a lot on MTV about whom you'd think they'd have plenty of accurate personal memories.

That said, I do like the countdown for playing a lot of songs that are rarely if ever heard on SXM 8--or almost anywhere else, except of course for replayed countdowns from the period (and for the last 17 months of the decade we don't even have Casey AT40s.) Plus there are often interesting "where are they now?" type updates, including news on new recordings and upcoming concert dates--provided they're accurate.

[skuncle]

Jan 27, 2013 13:15:43 GMT -5 bestmusicexpert said:

They did work for MTV, who is in the same company as VH1, who always makes errors... so take them with a grain of salt!

But I doubt the staff of MTV and VH1 are the same used today. By the way VH1 was intentionally a cheap knock off of MTV back in the day. It's detailed in the book "I Want My MTV" (a great read) as to why they came up with VH1 and why it was a dumping ground for all the videos that didn't fit MTV's AOR format. VH1 had no budget (if you recall watching it back in the mid 80's you'll remember the set, a VJ sitting at a desk). They didn't expect it to last so paid no attention to it. But it served its purpose (knocking out Ted Turners competing video channel) and eventually came into its own.

[mkarns]

To be fair, it's not just the 80s VJs who goof things up. Today I heard a similar program on the 90s channel, in which one of the DJ's referred to the three members of Wilson Phillips as Chynna, Wendy, and "Carrie"--it's actually Carnie.

[easye]

Don't they have a different person actually writing a script for the show? Although I have no idea for sure, my guess is that the ex MTV VJ's just read whatever somebody else wrote on the paper. And whoever wrote the script, probably hired some non-paid college intern to do the research. The college-aged kids would not have known things that seem obvious to somebody who remembers that period.

On the other hand, maybe the guy doing the writing used to be associated with the Weekly Top 40 where you cannot assume anything being said is accurate.

[Deleted]

Jan 27, 2013 14:34:31 GMT -5 easye said:

Don't they have a different person actually writing a script for the show? Although I have no idea for sure, my guess is that the ex MTV VJ's just read whatever somebody else wrote on the paper. And whoever wrote the script, probably hired some non-paid college intern to do the research. The college-aged kids would not have known things that seem obvious to somebody who remembers that period.

On the other hand, maybe the guy doing the writing used to be associated with the Weekly Top 40 where you cannot assume anything being said is accurate.

At least they never hd amnesia and said they were Casey Kasem. ;D

[bestmusicexpert]

I'd love to do the 80's countdown weekly, you know I'd get it right...

[doomsdaymachine]

On a similar note: some years back, I heard a syndicated '80s retro show that was spotlighting 1983. One of the songs played was Rick Springfield's "I've Done Everything For You" - a top ten hit in 1981. The DJ even back-filled it as being from '83! Unbelievable.

[mkarns]

This week Nina Blackwood kicked off the countdown, from February 1980, by saying that it was six months before MTV premiered. Is there some "lost year" of MTV broadcasts from August 1980-July 1981 we don't know about?

[lasvegaskid]

Casey lite is at it again. They just said Sheena's Lover was her first big hit in 8 years.

Just the year before she had a duet with Prince that reached #2 and in 84/85 she had two solo top tenners.

[lasvegaskid]

OMG, Casey lite just said Holding On was Winwood's last of four #1s!

He only had two chart toppers and this track didn't even hit the top 10!

[skuncle]

Feb 16, 2013 12:22:01 GMT -5 lasvegaskid said:

OMG, Casey lite just said Holding On was Winwood's last of four #1s!

He only had two chart toppers and this track didn't even hit the top 10!

They didn't clarify but he had four #1's on the AC chart of which this was the last of them.