So a little on the personal significance "She Blinded Me With Science" has to my adolescence. I grew up in a small rural town in southern Ontario and I was a nerdy kid. In early part of the 80s nerdy was not chic, it was just nerdy and I had it in spades. Band nerd, theatre nerd, electronics nerd, computer nerd, D&D nerd, I had it all. Nerdiness wasn't a culture so much as an affliction. The cool kids listened to Led Zeppelin and Van Halen and while I appreciated the musicianship that music never spoke to me like it did to them. I liked it, but it wasn't me. Now in the 80s albums were expensive and most of us had to bootleg our music and I can remember sessions with my friends making copies of our cassette tapes. Often they'd be copies of copies of copies of copies of a cassette that someone's cousin in Toronto had. The audio quality was very bad but the only other way for a poor kid to get music was to listen to the radio and hope your song comes on and then record it. I had a stereo boombox but, growing up in a small town the audio quality of radio was always iffy and the local AM station never played the music I liked. In fact it rarely played the music anyone under the age of 35 liked. But then one day something glorious happened. CHNR 1600 played "She Blinded Me With Science". It was love at first listen. Here was a song that spoke to me, in part because all my crushes were smart and nerdy and here was a song that was smart and nerdy and sexy about sexy smart nerds in love. I immediately asked all my music nerd friends what they knew about this song and if they had a copy of it. None of them had heard of the song. I called the radio station from a pay phone in the school cafeteria and asked them about the song and requested that they play it. They wouldn't play my request but they told me it was by an Englishman named Thomas Dolby. Now I was armed with a name but still none of my music nerd friends knew about it. The next week however, BOOM the song was everywhere and then I got to see the video for it. Life changing! Here was a guy who was sexy AND nerdy. Synthesizers and computers and electronics and all the nerdy things I was into but rolled up in a pretty blond package. Holy shit! Nerds can be sexy! I can be sexy! Wow! I was hooked. A lifelong fan was born. No way was I going to be settling for a copy of a copy of a copy of this song. No, I had to go to the source, but in a small rural town where the local record store was well stocked with Anne Murray and Gordon Lightfoot getting a hold of this album was not going to be cheap nor easy. The store was small so it only stocked the type of music that would sell well locally but it did have a catalogue behind the counter and if what you were looking for was in the catalogue you could order it. So I gave the lady behind the counter the name of the artist and she looked through the catalogue, frowning. My heart was in my throat each time she turned the page and then she said, "Oh here it is, Thomas Dolby "The Golden Age Of Wireless". WOAH! What a freaking awesome album name! I bought it right then and there and over the next 2 weeks was a constant thorn in the side of the poor lady running the record store after school to see if my album had arrived. And when it did, oh my! What a glorious treat for the ears this album was. Listening to the drums in She Blinded Me With Science ping-ponging back and forth through my ears with the headphones on. Every song on the album was a gem, sexy, emotive, smart and lyrical and covered in layers of nerdy synthesizer goodness. The entire album became my own personal highschool soundtrack. This album made me proud to be the nerdy kid because some nerdy guy (who was pretty sexy) from over the seas had made it. Fiddling with electronics. Coding on my Commodore 64. Being into synthesizers. I felt good about it all because that English guy showed me nerdy can be very cool. Decades later and I'm an old man now. I've traveled the world. I've raised a family. Had a swell career of my own. Heck, I even got to contribute to one of Thomas's albums (I play accordion on Toad Lickers). Every time "She Blinded Me With Science" comes on the radio I'm a gangly teenage boy thinking "Damn! It feels good to be a nerd."
I graduated from High School in 1982, just to give you an idea of how old I am. I would still watch MTV today if it was the same forum as it was at its inception. I was glued to the TV for 1 year.
Thousands of hours of people's VHS recordings of MTV broadcasts here on RU-vid (With the commercial breaks included), I make playlists of them to relive that era.
I graduated in 1992. MTV was rockin’ and popular when I was in high school, then I graduated & MTV cut the music to bring an oxymoron called Reality Television. That’s when I quit watching. Fuck that.
I don't know how many VCR tapes I have when I taped MTV in the early days. My son has them now. He says they're pure gold, lol. Blinded Me With Science is on a few of them. I remember it was August, 1st. 1981 a Saturday my friends and I watched Video Killed The Radio Star by the Buggies and we were hooked. My Pop yelled at us as it was midnight. We were singing, dancing, and making to much noise. Our yelling out; I Want My MTV really ticked him off, lol. Those were the days and I was seventeen, the perfect time and place I felt for me for I love music. My T.V. never stopped playing MTV as long as I was home. I miss the olde days when it really was a music channel. I never watch it now. I actually went back to radio so I guess it isn't dead, lol.
I've been enjoying your documentaries for a while now. This one is quite special. I was not into this kind of music at all at that time and I thought that MTV was the invention of the devil. One of the worst things MTV ever did to us was inflict Beavis and Butt-head upon us. But hearing these stories and learning the history of this music and getting to see what it was in England at that time, this was very special to me. A decade later when punk scene was big in the US on I was in the Los Angeles area. You could walk up and down Melrose and all the weekend punks would be out. I had no idea how this started in the London Underground. So thank you so much for sharing this video with us. What I'm wondering is how you got the wonderful quality out of Zoom. This really was a wonderful film.
Thomas Dolby, so nice to see him. He should have his own RU-vid channel for all his interesting stories. I'm a big fan of his work. His song Budapest by Blimp is deffinitley in the soundtrack of my life. Very interesting interview, Mr. Hoffman. Thank you!
He does have his own YT channel with lots of content at Thomas Dolby Official right here on YT!! Yay! I'm checking out 'Budapest by Blimp' right now. This song kind of reminds me of Joe Jackson. I like it. It's very sophisticated music.
Ahh yes, the good old days for me, having just graduated high school, Dolby all over the radio and MTV. Listening to him and some of my other faves, like Talk Talk, Haircut 100, Tears for Fears and so many others. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
I had to look up Haircut 100 just now 'cause I forgot what they sang. I remembered when I heard 'Love + 1" just now. That took me back. I got out my ancient Egyptian sistrum and started playing along with it. lol
OMG!!! This is fantatic!! I LOVED this song when I was a kid...sigh. here's to the "hermit weirdos"!! thanks for the memories...didnt Mr Dolby go on to compose ringtones? Or was that someone else? I miss Mtv.
yes, he had a company called Beatnik that invented polyphonic ringtones back in the late 90s. Pick up his autobiography "Speed of Sound", it's full of great stories from getting started in the music biz and then onto the tech industry.
I just started listening to this song again a week ago having not heard it since childhood, and now wow you have an interview with Thomas... and you are friends :) Love your work!!!
Now tell me what the SECOND video was. When you find out, it will blow your mind. (I mean, it blew MY mind. And I saw this artist in concert TWICE, and I had no idea.)
I really appreciate the footage you provide. I hope other's find your channel, and can relive the past too. Everything you post is truly fascinating. Thank you!
Wow! So much to say in a half hour. I appreciate the background tutorial; I had never heard of "the Loveys," nor did I know the scientist in the video was real. I like how Thomas gave his assessment of MJ's behavior. I would love to ask him a few questions myself.
I have a feeling that most people commented before getting to the Michael Jackson part. Makes me sad that he was obviously in a state of arrested development.
I've always had the biggest crush on him. Funny story. I'm an attorney now and am presenting about defending against junk science in criminal prosecutions. I built his video into my presentation to be playing as people come into the hall and leave the hall. The title of the presentation I'm giving is "She Blinded Me With Junk Science: Successfully Defending Against Junk Science." If you see him, let him know. He might get a chuckle out of that.
That's incredible! Good job 👏 I hope you're really exposing it all. I can't believe how much we've been lied to after doing deep dives into the 'science' we've all been taught. Now we need to try to sort the truth from the lies. Thank you for doing your part.
I love Thomas' music, I bought the "Wireless" album when it came out back in the 80s, but he's such a discreet, quiet guy, I never heard any promotion for records or tours back then... Great interview. Has he written a book? I'd love to read it, I'm sure he has lots of interesting stories to tell. Thank you Sir for this.
I'm listening to "I Scare Myself' right now and then came upon this comment. It's such a good song. How fun to be finding new cool tunes by someone like Thomas Dolby. We lost MTV, but we've got YT, for now anyway.
Interestingly, The Buggles' version of "Video Killed the Radio Star" was the very first music video aired on MTV at 12:01 a.m., on August 1, 1981. That song started it all off.
?! Really?! What a great connection! Thomas is so creative. Yes...culture in UK originated so much that children replicate and jump for the 80’s (from today.)
When I saw his video on Mtv I believe my intuition compelled my to appreciate Thomas Dolby’s character. There is a presence about him that lends ones subconscious in trusting him. The last 3rd of the interview seems to corroborate that. What a great piece. Thanks!
I first heard this song when it was a hit--I was probably five or so--and it been among my favorites ever since. This was awesome, and I'd love to see more.
His album " The Flat Earth " is one of the best of the 80's. RIP To Matthew Seligman a frequent collaborator who played with David Bowie at Live Aid 1985 at Wembley Stadium.
I am so glad to have happened upon this interviews! I was absolutely fascinated with the music video for “She Blinded me with Science, particularly the scene in which Thomas dances with the woman whose back looks like a cello. I raced out and bought that album, “ The Golden age of Wireless and would listen to it all the way through, over and over. The beats were so cool and different! I had no idea Mr. Dolby had such a long and varied career, nor that he continued to be so good- looking. My college boyfriend looked just like him back in the day, but now Thomas looks ten years younger than him!. ❤Thank you so much for giving us this piece of music history.
09:15 onwards, Is he saying that "the budget for the videos was 10k because everything was unionized"? I don't understand what that would imply and would love a quick clarification. By the way, all respect to your work! I've just been watching many videos from your channel lately and this one is a total surprise as I am extremely interested in the topic of MTV (and whatever happened to it). There is a lot of new insight in here and the parallel with Top of the Pops is a brilliant way to look at it. Now I'll be back watching 💜
A union film crew (and production costs) in London in 1982 was probably £20k/day (~$25k), but we saved money by 'upgrading' each member of the crew, so for example you hired a key grip as camera operator, and so on. Plus, the same production company shot TV commercials so the crew guys wanted 'in' with them; and rock videos were silly and fun! We got a lot done in a day. By the mid-80s, a budget of £10k for an MTV video was miniscule; whereas these days for £10k you could make a full length indie feature film for £10k and enter it for Sundance!
Dayum, Mr. Dolby !!! How incredibly well you ve aged... still got that boyishly charm ! I was one of the "weird" kids because i was a T. Dolby Fan :D Never regretted it... learned to embrace it, in fact, thanks to your prime example :D much appreciated Also " Aliens ate my Buick" is one of the greatest album-titles someone could come up with... keep going strong...both of you
That was great! I was 11 years old when mtv started, so it was smack in my generation. I saw this video a thousand times. May have even been how I discovered the beauty of Asian women from Ms. Sakimoto😂
David Hoffman & Thomas Dolby together, in deep talk, describing history & culture - double brilliance & interview bliss! ❤❤❤ Thomas Robertson Dolby, the boffin. First in his school to have a cassette player with the Dolby button 👍Perfect! 😁👏 With Dr Magnus Pike 😀
10,000 what? I miss the 80's. The 80's had the best moves, the best sitcoms(that actually delt with real issues), the best music, and the best of everything.
I was 21 in 1985 cruising around and a thought came to me that right then at that moment we had the perfect balance between the manmade world and nature. And then I thought, 'Why am I thinking this? Is that gonna change in the future?"
Very enjoyable. Great interview. The song, for me, as a teen, was " The Eighties"...the generation rebelling against the Woodstock generation, is the best comparison, I can relay from my perception of the song, and time. All I know is, I really had a lot of fun.
Fan of Thomas Dolby...great insight into the era and origin of the ‘She blinded me with science’ song video. I found his ‘bizarre’ meeting with Michael Jackson disturbing in light of what we know today.
I agree with your last statement. Dolby seems very protective over Jackson's image. And of course he would be. Imagine going to a foreign country where you know nobody and someone just selfessly invites you in his home and is very hospitable. Imagine that person being one of the biggest entertainers we have known in the last century. That's a story you would cherish for the rest of your life. And rightly so. So the idea of the allegations being true must hurt for Dolby and be unacceptable. His perception of Jackson is all based on that one evening that felt bizarre and excentric to him. BUT it was all innocent right? How could you think such horrible things of a man that has been nothing but kind and inviting to him? I mean what would you expect? Michael Jackson being touchy touchy with those children right in front of you? Of course he made it all seem innocent. That is exactly what grooming is. I'm a victim of abuse myself and I had to hear years of nothing but good words about the person who did those things with me. Nobody had a clue. I don't know what happened and what didn't but from my own experiences I get the sense that Dolby got groomed. The words he uses, the way het tells his story, Michael Jackson couldn't have been a bigger saint to him... It just feels very off.
@@Djoarhet001 I'm sorry that happened to you. It's something many of us are learning about nowadays and I think the way you've written about it here is very respectful. I feel bad for everyone that gets caught up in it. I mean, the culprits were likely victims as children too. I pray humanity can change for the better and evolve. 😢
This closed a loop in my life in a really satisfying way. What a blast to hear the stories, and then to see the whole MTV video at the end was the frosting, delicious. The enactment of Michael, including his voice, mindful of the kids as he was talking, I could picture that scene.
Thank you for this unique interview- I came across by accident! What a very genuine individual- thank you for telling your experience with the Late Micheal Jackson as well. He was grossly misunderstood I agree.
Thank you for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that RU-vid is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts. David Hoffman filmmaker
Dear David, I wish you or someone else would make a documentary about your life. You really lived, witnessed, embodied and now telling the History of the USA 🇺🇸 I wish I could meet you one day. Much love from Algeria 🇩🇿
I remember when MTV came about. We had already had Cable in NYC, but I watched the "U-channels" on my analog tv by running an antenna made of metal coat hangers up to the roof and connecting it to the Rabbit Ears antenna of my little Sony TV. I remember watching "U-68" and finding "Video Music Box" late at night....loved it! But it only played for an hour. Then on Cable this new channel called "MTV" came out and they played music too! But this was on 24-7!!!!! Goodbye "Video Music Box"!!!
I recall MTV when it just started , I also recall the song Video Killed The Radio Star , and everyone here in the states who watched MTV would remember Thomas Dolby's Hit She Blinded Me With Science , whether it was our style or not . I was more of a hard rock and metal fan but also liked oldies , motown and old country . I was not into new wave or punk , but it invaded the radio stations like it or not . I have to go watch Thomas's videos now , great video David Hoffman
I was 10 in 1982. We only had regular tv at that time. We had about 6 channels. Then in 1984 my Dad bought a satellite dish, and all of a sudden we had 100+ channels, and MTV was one of them. They still played videos like “She Blinded Me With Science” regularly in 1984. It was one of my favorite videos. I really liked the old Scientist guy in the video. I enjoyed seeing the playful, funny side of older people.
Fun fact #1: The old scientist guy was a prominent TV science commentator in the UK at the time, Dr Magnus Pyke. Fun fact #2: The "deranged scientists" were real professors from the university where Thomas Dolby's father worked as an archeology professor. They said they had a lot of fun that day.
Greetings from Clay County, Missouri! Ahh, 1982. I was 21. Going to E-RAU in Daytona Beach. Classes from like 4 til 10pm Miles of bars and a different choice of females every week. Living a block and a half from the beach. Yeah , I don't remember much of 1982. But I DO remember MTV and I DO remember seeing Joan Jett and the B52s open for The Who at the T-Bowl in Orlando in Nov '82 well, about a song and a half from the B52s Thanks you two! 569 thumbs up! \m/ later
As an American kid from North Carolina, I moved to England in the summer of 1983, initially to follow the trail of an old family connection/connections. My journey through southern England during that time period is epic within my own life and memories, perhaps unsurprisingly. I can absolutely attest to what Thomas is talking about. England was such a homogenous and very different culture in comparison to American culture back then. It still is, but not in the same way. The contrast then was so starkly apparent. I became the camilion that I am just so people would actually talk to me.
G A o Wireless. One of the albums of choice if you are STRANDED ON AN ISLAND WITH ONLY ONE ALBUM. Skip track 1, a parody of science, and the rest is BRILLIANT!
very interesting!! it was great to hear your very POSITIVE story of Michael Jackson!! if only more people would tell these sweet stories!!! you're a great speaker!!!❤❤
That was freaking awesome!!! I stumbled across Thomas Dolby and was obsessed then he showed up on MTV and I lost my mind. I'm completely over a lot of the 80's and 90's music but will always like Thomas Dolby.
I witnessed the origin of Punk in the 70's. I lived 1 and a half hours from Manhattan. CBGB was filthy with graffiti and spray paint all over and sticky beer on the floor
I'll never forget the day my parents had one of those 10' foot satellite dishes installed in the backyard, we went from only having 2 channels to the sky has no limits (literally). The birth of music videos was a great time for anyone who loved to see their favorite bands, now we use RU-vid to watch our favorite entertainers. Video killed The radio star, and RU-vid (the internet) killed the monopoly on main stream music/entertainment. Great video as always, one of your best (IMO).
