VOL. 1, TRACK 18: HAYSI FANTAYZEE, “SHINY SHINY”

*Takes deep breath and tries to let go of prejudice against white people with dreadlocks before beginning writing…

I did not expect to like Haysi Fantayzee’s “Shiny Shiny” video as much as I did. Or, rather, I did not expect to go down a mini-rabbit hole of all things Haysi Fantayzee after watching the video, because there was something that was intriguingly New Wave enough about them to spark my interest. That is to say, I wanted to know more about the band after watching the video, which is always a good sign that a music video has done its job — essentially, marketing.

So what I’m really trying to say is that you should watch this video, above and beyond the music video for “Shiny Shiny.” Not because it reveals some scant behind-the-scenes secrets of Haysi Fantayzee, but because it’s an inside look at how a teenybopper music magazine of the ‘80s was put together, back in 1982 or ‘83 or whenever this video was made.

Towards the end of it, one of the female reporters for the magazine does get around to a brief interview with Kate Garner of Haysi Fantayzee — in which Garner reveals little, because it’s only about 60 seconds long. But we do find out that she a) wears hair extensions, b) lives in a mostly-empty, but still unkempt, loft apartment, and c) that the band’s new single is going to drop in “two weeks.” (Now well over forty years ago, but ah well.)

It just goes to show that some things are timeless. One of those things is NOT dreadlocks on white people, but, rather, the love and dedication of a team of young music journalists coming together to create a monthly music magazine WITHOUT the graphic or technical assistance of a computer. They’re doing all the layouts by HAND, you guys! That’s impressive.

Not that that has anything to do with the music video for “Shiny Shiny.” But I’m still going to give it a 8.5/10, for leading me down such a fun little rabbit hole of nostalgia this morning.

💘