On this day in 1984 {June 2nd} Van Stephenson performed "What The Big Girls Do" on the ABC-TV Saturday-afternoon program, 'American Bandstand'... The following month on July 29th, 1984 "What the Big Girls Do" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #83, five weeks later it peaked at #45 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the chart for nine weeks... And on the same 'Bandstand' episode he also performed "Modern Day Delilah", at the time it was at position #29 on the Top 100 chart, four weeks later it would peak at #22 {for 2 weeks} and it spent seventeen weeks on the Top 100... On June 10th, 1984 "Modern Day Delilah" reached #9 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs chart... The Hamilton, Ohio native had one other Top 100 record, "You've Got a Good Love Coming", it reached #79 in 1981... Van Wesley Stephenson passed away at the young age of 47 on April 8th, 2001 {melanoma}... May he R.I.P.
I heard this in 2004 after finding a cassette of his Righteous Anger album at a thrift store, the whole album is great and his voice sounds like a more powerful, hard rock version of Don Henley.
Van Stephenson was a hidden gem, in the Rock World. This is one of the better songs he released. I became so much of a fan of his, that I requested permission from his estate to cover one of his songs- "Modern Day Delilah". My '80s Tribute band, "OutaTime", covers that song, and we may possibly do this song, as well. RIP, Van- hope we're making you proud.
"What the Big Girls Do", peaked at No. 45. #RIP In February 1999, Stephenson was diagnosed with melanoma and underwent surgery. He passed on the morning of April 8, 2001, as a result of the disease. He was 47 years old.
Forgot all about him. Believe it or not, I had this song in my head ,and I knew his first name ,google did the rest. Definitely brings back memories.I strongly disagree with him being a 1 hit wonder. He reminds me a lot of Rick Springfield.
While vacationing on Cape Cod for a SINGLE week in 1984, Providence's PRO-92 played this a LOT. Should have followed Modern Day Delilah into the top 40 as well.
Nice Vid!! :) My previous comment was regarding a few people picking on Van. Van passed away some years ago, and I for one don't appreciate people going after someone that can't defend themselves, I know it is all in fun. Anyway, Thanks for posting this song and keeping his memory alive :)
the car is rocking, and the windows are steamed up and rolled up all the way. I thought they needed to be rolled down a tiny bit so you could get the speaker inside your vehicle to hear the movie.
