Like a pinch on the neck from Mr Spock!

It's playlist time again, and you know there's only one option this week. The best of the Beastie Boys. They're one of my favourite bands, so it was such a sad day when I found out the awful news about the awesome MCA. It's hard for me to pick just ten songs from these guys. Everything they do makes me happy. But I went with the ten most amazing (in my opinion) videos. Plenty of these ones were directed by Nathaniel Hornblower, which I've included not just as a tribute to Mr Yauch, but because they're some of the funniest videos not just of the Beasties, but of all time.

Intergalactic

This one I have a soft spot for because it ticks all the boxes. Since I'm old, but not that old, a lot of their albums had been released when I was much younger and so I had to do some reverse discovery. But Hello Nasty was released just when I was at that perfect teenager discovering music age. It has some of the greatest, sometimes overlooked, songs like Super Disco Breakin' (such a great way to start an album), The Move, and The Grasshopper Unit. And of course Body Movin', which is, of course, in this list.

This video is the reason I obnoxiously kept yelling "Shibuya!" every time I was anywhere near it when in Tokyo (do yourself a favour and watch the Criterion Collection anthology with the commentary on to understand that). There's a robot doing the robot, a squid headed monster, and  an easy Halloween costume for you and two friends. How can you not love it?

Best lines: When it comes to beats well I'm a fiend.

I'm from the family tree of old school hip hop.

Like a pinch on the neck from Mr Spock.

Ch -Check It Out

I much prefer this version, but for some reason it's not available on you tube, which is really weird. It's one of the funnier ones.It's got Star Trek, old ladies throwing fish, fights with joggers, and the visualisation of lines like bank cashier, engineer, magician, scientist, and the doctor who's breaking the bad news about the sparky in your butt. Rad.

Best lines: Son you better listen, stuck in your ass is an electrician.

You look like cable guy dunked off of your crown.

Like a scientist, when I'm applying this. 

Body Movin

I bought this as a single not only because it was awesome and I was obsessed with it, but because this was a time before easy internet downloads, and the Fatboy Slim remix was better than the album version. I think it says a lot about my 15 year old self that I thought this song and video was the best thing going around at the time. I would get stupidly excited and make people watch it whenever it came on tv (remember that I'm old enough to not have you tube in my childhood). It's just pure fun, and doesn't really make a lot of sense, but that's what's so great about it. The use of stock footage is almost as good as Sabotage.And that weird fondue soup thing still makes me feel ill. In a good way.

Best lines: Flame on! I'm gone! I'm so sweet like a nice bon bon! Came out rapping when I was born! Mom said rock it til the break of dawn! Puttin bodies in motion cos I got the notion. Like Roy Cormier with the coconut lotion! The sound of music making you insane, you can't explain to people this type of mind frame. Like a bottle of Chateau Neuf Du Pap, I'm fine like wine when I start to rap. We need body rockin not perfection, let me get some action from the back section! (that was all from memory, because I'm a loser)

Sure Shot

I love you. Is what the dog says at the start. And I love this video. Those suits. Hurricane's fear as he hangs off the camera. Underwater rapping. Adrock's weird part. MCA's hat. The funny walks. You should love it also.

Best lines: I got more rhymes than I got grey hairs. 

Can I crossfade on your ass and bust your eardrums.

Keep my underwear up with a piece of elastic.

Hey Ladies

  I can't help it. I love the funky disco sounds. And a man with a hair dryer. And the cowbell. And more underwater rapping. And that polyester look. They do make ladies flock like bees to a hive. 

Best lines: Date women on TV with the help of Chuck Woolery.

Educated no, stupid yep, and when I say stupid I mean stupid fresh.

Vincent van Gogh go and mail that ear.

Shadrach

I know I probably say this all this time, but this is one of my favourite songs ever. Of all time. I love it so much I was going to get a Shadrach tattoo. The only thing that stopped me was that my mother would kill me, and I don't think I could be bothered answering the stupid questions about what my tattoo meant. Anway, gorgeous video. Press pause on any moment in this, print it, and I'd happily hang it in my house. Or press pause on every moment and make me a sweet ass wallpaper. 

Best lines: 

Got the girlies in the coupe like the Colonel's got the chickens.

We love the hot butter on what the popcorn!

Madder than Mad's Alfred E Newman.

Three MCs and One DJ

Firstly, what's with the Ghostbusters get up that Mix Master Mike is wearing? It makes absolutely no sense, which I guess is what makes it cool. Especially since it seems to get in the way a bit. While we're talking about Mix Master Mike, I've always wondered what would happen if nobody had let him in that door. Would the Beastie Boys still be standing there today, with weird atrophied arms and grey hair? I kind of wanted to live in that dodgy basement area. At least there was a turntable, and some nice rugs. I think we can all agree that the best part of this video is Mike D's weird handstand. He's obviously a very athletic man.

Best lines:

Kenny Rogers' Gambler is my gambling theme.

My beats is sick like malaria.

 He'll tweak your ass across the cross fade.

Root Down

Money makin! This is the funkiest shit ever. I remember hearing this as a kid and I wanted to learn two things. How to breakdance and how to play a Hammond organ. Luckily these boys were all about name dropping, because that's how I found out about Jimmy Smith and became a loser teenager who listened to funky jazz. That's a record!

Best lines:

 Jimmy Smith is my man I wanna give him a pound.

Because I've got the flow where I grab my dick, and say oh my god that's the funky shit.

It's Kool Moe D vs Busy Bee there's one you should know.

Sabotage

Waaaaahhhh! Can't stand it! I know you planned it! I guess this one is most people's favourite, which is totally understandable. Kicking doors in. Moustaches. Suits without socks. The lamest knife fight ever. Shitty stock footage. Be honest. We've all driven around listening to this thinking that we're fucking invincible.  

Best lines:

 But make no mistakes and switch up my channel, I''m Buddy Rich when I fly off the handle.

Shake Your Rump

It's the joint! Another funky always on repeat track. Watching that video actually makes me want to be young and stupid again. I can't say much more about this one. The hilarious lyrics speak for themselves.

Best lines: With your bad breath onion rings.

My man MCA's got a beard like a billy goat.

Got more rhymes that Jamaica got mangoes.

Suckers they be saying they can take out Adam Horovitz.

Like Sam the butcher bringing Alice the meat, like Fred Flintstone driving around with bald feet.

  Fight For Your Right

Best lines:

Living at home is such a drag. Your mom threw away your best porno mag. 

Mom you're just jealous it's the Beastie Boys!

Kick it! I'll admit it, I've included this one purely because I wanted to follow up with this...

Fight For Your Right Revisited