El DeBarge - Who's Johnny - Perle Dimenticabili

I Jackson Five diedero alla luce Michael Jackson, in maniera analoga ma abbastanza fallimentare la DeBarge family diede alla luce El DeBarge. Negli anni 80 con la sua giacca enorme con spalline e il suo baffetto da sparviero realizzò un paio di hit, tra cui questa "Who's Johnny", colonna sonora del mitico (ma, ahimè, invecchiato malissimo) Corto Circuito ("Short Circuit").

Song

"Who's Johnny" is the debut solo single by El DeBarge. Released in 1986 on the Gordy label, the single was used for the film Short Circuit and reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B Singles chart. It was the only solo number 1 single El DeBarge released after he left his surname-based family group, DeBarge that same year.

Music video

The music video features El DeBarge singing in a courtroom, where a judge is presiding over the trial of Johnny 5 (the robotic protagonist of Short Circuit). A representative of NOVA, the government defense contractor that created Johnny, sits at the prosecutor's table as El DeBarge sings his testimony from the witness stand.

Stephanie Speck (Ally Sheedy) and a cardboard cutout of Newton Graham Crosby, Ph.D. (Steve Guttenberg) are also in attendance as adversarial witnesses for the prosecution, implying that El Debarge is playing the co-lead role of Ben Jabituya, played by Fisher Stevens in the film.

The prosecutor's sole question during these examinations is the titular line of the song "Who's Johnny?" She plays a VHS tape, labeled "Short Circuit," containing various clips from the movie.

Meanwhile, Number 5 wreaks havoc in the courtroom (only his robotic hand is visible to the viewer) with various hijinks, including giving the prosecuting attorney a pair of funny nose glasses, turning up the ceiling fan to create a windstorm of papers, swapping the judge's gavel for an exploding one and calling the fire department, resulting in the judge being sprayed with water.

Stephanie and El DeBarge sneak out of the courtroom at the end, covering the camera with a slate on their way out. The prosecutor, still wearing the trick glasses, pops up to deliver the last "Who's Johnny?"

Album

El DeBarge is the self-titled debut album by El DeBarge. It was released in 1986 on Gordy Records (a sub-label of Motown) and featured the three hit singles, "Who's Johnny," which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Love Always," which reached #43, and "Someone," which was a Top 20 Billboard A/C hit and made it to #70 on the Hot 100.

Singer/actress Vanity featured on backing vocals on the track, "Secrets Of The Night". This album was certified by RIAA as gold in September, 1986, selling over 500,000 copies.

Artist

Eldra Patrick "El" DeBarge (born June 4, 1961) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and producer. He was the focal point and primary lead singer of the family group DeBarge. Popular songs led by El Debarge include "Time Will Reveal", "Stay with Me", "All This Love", and "Rhythm of the Night".

As a solo artist, he is best known for his unique high tenor register, strong falsetto and hits like "Who's Johnny" and "Love Always". He's also collaborated with artists such as Dionne Warwick, Al Green, Lalah Hathaway, Babyface, Faith Evans, Quincy Jones, Fourplay, and DJ Quik. DeBarge is a five time Grammy Award nominee.

El DeBarge – Who’s Johnny