"Yuppie Rap" has finally been transferred to HD in all of its 16mm grainy goodness! Yuppie Rap is the classic music video from 1989 that parodies the "have-it-all" lifestyle. Mike Saad wrote the lyrics and I wrote the music and played the lead character. (I posted Mike's lyrics below.) The video played on several music video shows including Night Flight which was a show that respected the art of music videos rather than the junky promotional tools they became for bands. We shot Yuppie Rap in and around the Santa Monica Beach where Mike and I resided with a bunch of other extras. Mike played the "Kamikaze Sushi guy" and various friends filled in the other roles. There was record company interest in Yuppie Rap, but they didn't know what to do with a parody song. MTV never aired it because it didn't come from a record label. While we may not call them yuppies anymore, Yuppie Rap seems to still connect with younger fans who yearn for 80’s nostalgia. I finally transferred the original 16mm negative to HD and recut the video which includes extending the end scene in the kitchen (filmed at Chez Jay in Santa Monica). The scene where I’m trying to model my hair after Donald Trump on a magazine cover is eerily prophetic. Bill O'Neil http://chicagospots.com YUPPIE RAP Words by Mike Saad Music by Bill O'Neil It’s a brand new day. I’m Mr. VIP. I’m gonna make some money. It’s good to be me. Secondary level. Upper middle management. I’m a businessman who’s gonna make a big dent. Paisley socks and a matching tie. My clothes go together like ham on rye. It’s how you look, not how you feel. Time for another low-cal meal. Always trying to up my percent. I kinda wish Ronnie was still the president. It’s what you have, not who you are. No plain ice cream. I want a Dove Bar. I’m a player! Oooohh… Yup-Yup-Yuppie. Oooohh… Upper Class Puppie. (Pass me an Evian.) Oooohh… Yup-Yup-Yuppie. (A six-figure guy!) Oooo Ooooo, Oooo… I wasn’t always this way. Once I really cared. But that was in the days when I had long hair. Now my hair is moussed. I wear Louis Vuitton. Acquisition and power are the drugs I’m on. I workout in the morning to look like Tarzan. Ninety bucks a week just to get this tan. I keep real regular by eating my bran. I’m a pseudo-intellectual kind of man. Wheeling and dealing and working away. I pushed all six buttons on the Xerox today. My job you know… You know it ain’t bad. I got where I am, ‘cause it’s owned by my Dad. I’m a player! Oooohh… Yup-Yup-Yuppie. Oooohh… Upper Class Puppie. (Does my power tie match the suspenders?) Oooohh… Yup-Yup-Yuppie. Oooo Ooooo, Oooo… Blue and Gray. I wear those colors every day. White wine. White wine. I drink that stuff all the time. Dressed for success. Dressed to impress. Dressed for the stress. I’m dressed to excess. He’s a businessman. I’m the baddest man. Shut yo mouth! Top down. Phone on. Feeling really care-free. I’m looking for a girl who’s user friendly. Saab 9000, 325. Come and take a ride with a happening guy. I use a gold card ‘cause I’m short on cash. You see, I lost my ass in the ’87 crash. California sushi. Quality time. I’m working on a program to make my next dime. I think I’ll sit back and watch The Wonder Years, Thirty Something and re-runs of Cheers. Lying here dreaming with a great big grin, Thinking he who dies with the most toys wins. I’m a player! Oooohh… Yup-Yup-Yuppie. Oooohh… Upper Class Puppie. (Hold all my calls ‘till I’m done channeling.) Oooohh… Yup-Yup-Yuppie. Oooo Ooooo, Oooo… (Gold card? Platimum card? I’ve got a Titanium card.) Oooohh… Yup-Yup-Yuppie. (And I can see my reflection.) Oooohh… Upper Class Puppie. (So… Let’s talk about me for a while.) Oooohh… Yup-Yup-Yuppie. Oooohh… Yup-Yup-Yuppie.

• published: 11 Sep 2017
• views: 115730