August 28, 2006

{ Cindi Lauper for Trivial Pursuit }

Since this retro-mania started, we had to swallow up lots of shit, from having to wear dust smelling clothes out of our mother’s chest of drawers (it has not been hidden away in the basement for 30 years by mistake…), to having to worship anything branded 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and even 90s as fashionable. And this despite just before this insane trend started, we were all laughing away at how bad some of this decades were: how ridiculous the hairdoes in the 80s, how unimmaginative the minimalism of the early 90s, how laughable most of the music produced in those times (just recently, visiting a Keithe Haring exhibition, the gallery distributed for download all the music that inspired Haring: unbelievable how pathetic and dated it was, when compared to the very contemporary appeal of the artwork).
And now, the icons of those years, taken out of their coffins, dusted and polished, are again considered stars. Even if probably what interest us is how dramatic their decades away from the spotlights have been, submerged in their millions, more than their actual personality.

As for everything, everybody is trying to cash in on retromania. And what can be best than creating trivia games to learn all about our recent golden eras? Trivial Puruit itself has invested time and money in a 90s Edition and in the more glamourous Totally 80s, this one being the topic of this post.

Because Trivial Pursuit Totally 80s has more to it than a dec of cards. They have called in a bunch of third line 80s icons to star on this marvel. And a real 80s star, Cindi Lauper, now 53, (to recycle herself) to direct them all in the commercial for the game.

Read on »

» Trivial Pursuit Totally 80s
» The "making of" the commerical and the song

By Tacita | Film & TV

Comments

Well, if the author knew what they were talking about then they would know that not all of the 80's icons in the commercial had to be "taken out of their coffins, dusted and polished..". Cyndi Lauper, for example, still continues to tour the world. Her shows always sell out and they usually seat around a thousand or more. She continues to make albums, which do very well. She doesn't have to "recycle" herself. Just because her face doesn't grace the cover of every magazine doesn't mean that she's a washout. It just means that she wants to now also spend time with her family. I notice that her age was added in as if there is something wrong with being 53. Well I hope that I look as good as she does when I'm 53!

The game is simply meant for a laugh-- as is the commercial. Yes, keyword: LAUGH. Something that I think more people need to do. What's wrong with spending some quality time with your family and children? It's something that is also lacking anymore in our society. YES, god forbid if we laugh at how funny their hair was, how silly the clothes were, how weird the dancing was when mom and dad were growing up. To me, that's much better than kids spending time by themselves, getting into trouble. Oh, my I'm so shocked! Companies actually trying to cash in on retromania?? I could name at least a hundred other companies that do the same thing and everyone is buying. What's wrong with nostalgia? The world needs a little more humor, as the author is so obviously lacking.

There's no need for anyone to morph into the "material" girl during the commercial. Society already has enough of those. Instead of their weekly manicure/pedicure, they should buy the game and spend some time with their kids.

Posted by: Amy B at September 4, 2006 05:07 AM

I agree with Amy B, but the commercial is a bit much. It honestly looks like VH1 threw-up on an Old Navy ad.

I think there's nothing wrong with looking back and having fun with the past (shit, I'm just glad I actually know some of the answers to these questions for once....), but it would be nice to see this kind of thing marketed a little better. I hate it that this (and other retro-marketing) make me feel like such a blatant target audience.

Bottom-line, I'd buy it.

I'd also totally make out with Cyndi Lauper if she was up for it.

Posted by: Adam at September 23, 2006 02:13 AM

question who are all in the commercial i can't figure out who the busty blonde is? can you tell me who are all in the commercial, i recognize corey and tiffany but no one else?

Posted by: carla at November 24, 2006 07:53 AM