Phil Collins, Elton John, and Gloria Estefan dominated Adult Contemporary radio back in the 1980s and '90s, yet have disappeared from modern radio. Seemingly, the only time you ever hear them is at the grocery store or your local CVS. This blog remembers the music, the stories and the quirky characters from my days working in Adult Contemporary radio.
Nearly as famous as the song itself, the music video to "If I Could Turn Back Time" ruffled plenty of feathers back in 1989. Filmed aboard the USS Missouri while it was docked in Los Angeles, the music video featured Cher singing to an excited bunch of seamen aboard the vessel. In the video, Cher wore a short black leather jacket over a fishnet body stocking. This fashionable (?) outfit conveniently left her butt exposed which upset an on-site Navy official who kindly asked Cher to cover up--but we all know that wasn't going to happen. Seeing that it was still 1989, the music video was considered too risque and was banned by most television networks including MTV (who later agreed to air it, but only after 9pm). The result: the song went to #3 on the Hot 100 (#1 on the Adult Contemporary Chart) and helped propel Cher's comeback. Oh, it also caused the Navy to place a ban on filming music videos aboard their ships. All together now: Thanks, Cher!
Phil Collins' last album of new material (Testify) was released in 2002. Since then, Phil's only forays into the limelight was a Genesis reunion tour in 2007 and an album of Motown covers (!) in 2010. Since then, he's been in retirement mode living in Switzerland and raising his children. Years of drumming and performing took a toll on Phil's health--he was nearly deaf in one ear and nerve damage in one of his elbows required surgery. But his health wasn't the only thing that had deteriorated; Phil's marriage was also in trouble. After his wife took their two children and moved to Miami in 2008, Phil was alone and devastated. He told Rolling Stone that he spent lots of nights in front of the TV drinking himself to the point that it nearly killed him. In an effort to clean himself up, Phil moved to Miami (in Jennifer Lopez's old home) to be closer to his children in 2015. He gave up the booze and now claims to be three years sober. Phil even announced his intention to come out of retirement. Earlier this year, he released a collection of album reissues of unreleased and alternate versions of songs from his long and illustrious solo career. Based on how the public perceives these songs, Phil said he could envision himself doing a short comeback tour. He said he wants to show his children what their dad did for a good portion of his life. At a time when we're losing musical icons left and right, we need to hold onto and cherish those that we have left and Phil is certainly one of them.
Tara Kemp broke ground in 1991 with the rhythmic "Hold You Tight" and then disappeared. Fast forward to 2013 when Tara teased a comeback bid via her Facebook page.