Michael Blowhard writes:

Dear Blowhards --

How time passes, vol. 639: Toni Basil, who sang the bouncy-cute pop song "Hey, Mickey" such a short while back, is now 63 years old. Interesting to learn that Toni grew up in Vegas. She appeared as a go-go dancer on "Shindig"; she choreographed David Byrne's famous spazz dance in the video of "Same as It Ever Was" (CORRECTION: Yahmdallah points out that "Same as it ever was" is a line in that Talking Heads song. The song's title is "Once in a Lifetime"); she worked early on with break dancers; she did the choreography for "Peggy Sue Got Married" and "My Best Friend's Wedding"; and she has helped put on shows for David Bowie, Tina Turner, and Bette Midler. She was also an actor in "Easy Rider."

Info gleaned here, here, and here.

Best,

Michael

George Costanza moment: And she got nekkid for the acid/lsd drug scene in "Easy Rider."

Btw, that's "Once in a Lifetime," which contains the refrain "same as it ever was."

Posted by: Yahmdallah on May 18, 2006 9:59 AM

That is one heck of a career, actually.

She should write her memoirs.

Posted by: Lexington Green on May 18, 2006 10:04 AM

Yahmdallah -- Damn, I always use the wrong title for that song, tks. And nekked stills of Toni in "Easy Rider" can definitely be found via Google Images.

Lex -- It *is* an impressive career, no? She's a real creative force. Impressive too that she's still putting it out there.

Posted by: Michael Blowhard on May 18, 2006 10:23 AM

Wouldn't she have already been like 35 when "Hey Mickey" came out? Yeah, sounds like she had a cool life, and didn't die young or broke or addicted to heroine. Good for her.

Posted by: annette on May 18, 2006 12:10 PM

Ah, the days when Italians tried to hide their background -- but c'mon, w/ a face and moves like that, what are we s'poseda think, she's from England? Antonia Christina Basilotta. Beautiful! She's still pretty good-looking.

Ah, and she's only 62 (b-day is in Sept).

Posted by: Agnostic on May 18, 2006 12:34 PM






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