Poison - Something to Believe In (1990)
**1/2 (of four)
Six or seven years ago, around the time of my college graduation, "Something to Believe In" and Poison in general were guilty pleasures of the tallest order. This existentialist power ballad came into my life at a personal crossroads and loss of faith, but I viewed the entire affair (that is to say, my existence and this Poison track) with tongue firmly in cheek. Yes, it was with full, knowing irony that I waved my fucking lighter from Row DD of the Riverport Ampitheater while half-drunkenly singing along on a warm June night in 1999.
When you think about it, it's kind of appropriate that "Something to Believe In" was Poison's last big radio hit. Within months, the Seattle revolution would blow through and leave Bret Michaels & Co. wondering why God had forsaken them in favor of flannel. Michaels is one somber, big-haired bastard in this video, too - even his giant Axl Rose headband is a funereal shade of black. He, C.C. Deville and the other guys act as grown up as one can while wielding bright blue guitars and wearing red paisley berets on a black soundstage.
Meantime, the uncredited director cuts in lots of moody black-and-white shots of cemeteries; homeless folk; psychotic Vietnam vets who resemble Bob Seger, Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins, respectively; Evil Hollywood; and, my favorite, the grinning visage of the deposed Reverend Jim Bakker. As you know if you happened to watch the Poison "Behind the Music," Bret Michaels was a charter member of the PTL Club - he was as disappointed as anyone to find out he could no longer ride the body slides at the Heritage USA theme park.
Six or seven years ago, around the time of my college graduation, "Something to Believe In" and Poison in general were guilty pleasures of the tallest order. This existentialist power ballad came into my life at a personal crossroads and loss of faith, but I viewed the entire affair (that is to say, my existence and this Poison track) with tongue firmly in cheek. Yes, it was with full, knowing irony that I waved my fucking lighter from Row DD of the Riverport Ampitheater while half-drunkenly singing along on a warm June night in 1999.
When you think about it, it's kind of appropriate that "Something to Believe In" was Poison's last big radio hit. Within months, the Seattle revolution would blow through and leave Bret Michaels & Co. wondering why God had forsaken them in favor of flannel. Michaels is one somber, big-haired bastard in this video, too - even his giant Axl Rose headband is a funereal shade of black. He, C.C. Deville and the other guys act as grown up as one can while wielding bright blue guitars and wearing red paisley berets on a black soundstage.
Meantime, the uncredited director cuts in lots of moody black-and-white shots of cemeteries; homeless folk; psychotic Vietnam vets who resemble Bob Seger, Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins, respectively; Evil Hollywood; and, my favorite, the grinning visage of the deposed Reverend Jim Bakker. As you know if you happened to watch the Poison "Behind the Music," Bret Michaels was a charter member of the PTL Club - he was as disappointed as anyone to find out he could no longer ride the body slides at the Heritage USA theme park.
posted by daytime at 3:39 AM
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