Today’s video of the day is the Men At Work – "Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive" released in 1982.
Men At Work brought sharp humor and new wave energy to MTV with “Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive.” The band formed in Melbourne in 1978, led by Colin Hay. Soon, they became global stars with Business as Usual. However, instead of repeating that formula, they pushed forward fast. As a result, this single showed they could mix pop hooks with weird storytelling.
“Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive” appeared on their second studio album, Cargo, released in 1983. It arrived after the massive success of “Down Under” and “Who Can It Be Now?” Therefore, the song had big expectations. Still, it stood out with its playful lyrics and bouncing rhythm. Also, it worked as a parody of the classic Jekyll and Hyde tale. Because of its catchy chorus, it became a hit in several countries.
The music video adds even more personality. Greg Ham plays the strange Dr. Heckyll, while Colin Hay acts like a detective on the case. Then the story shifts into a party scene full of chaos. After that, the transformation into Mr. Jive turns the song into a comic performance. In contrast to their more serious later work like Two Hearts and Man of Colours, this video captures Men At Work at their most theatrical. Ultimately, it fits perfectly into the fun, adventurous spirit of Cargo.
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