🎵 Laura Branigan - Self Control REACTION

[@TheRetroManRandySavage]

This is one of my favourite songs from the 80s. Laura had to have been one of my first crushes as a kid. My god, was she beautiful. Her voice was crazy good. She's sadly missed. RIP. 🙏🏻

[@NYC_Goody]

She's got so many underrated bangers besides gloria and self control that reactors need to start listening to. And I got no shame, I still crush on her. No idea if it's weird or not since she's passed but she's gorgeous.

[@daviddrouant2852]

OOOH YEAH!!!

[@andirandolph8830]

Also one of mine! Right up there with Our House, Just Like Heaven, and some others.

[@TheRetroManRandySavage]

@@NYC_Goody she never looked better than she did in the Gloria video. She was an absolute knockout.

[@TheRetroManRandySavage]

@@daviddrouant2852 ten thousand years as the intercontinental champion, oooooh yeeeah. 💪😜

[@shanehebert396]

This song was HUGE in the early/mid '80s. It was on heavy play on Night Tracks, MTV, etc.

[@SaturnusDK]

It's a shame it wasn't the original by Raf (Raffaele Riefoli) that got famous in the US instead. In Europe both the original and Laura's cover made the charts. In my opinion the original has much more intensity and honesty in the performance.

[@shanehebert396]

@@SaturnusDK it's pretty good but I actually prefer Laura Branigan's cover. Honestly, I'd never heard Raf's version of it until you mentioned it and I looked it up. So... some of my preference could just be that the cover is what I "grew up with". Thanks for posting so I could look up the original.

[@SaturnusDK]

@@shanehebert396 Cheers mate. Happy that you decided to check out the orginal. There's some very odd minor changes made in Laura's version. Where Raf wrote and sings: "Night, I'm livin' in a moment of a dream", Laura's version for some reason changed "moment" to "forest" which seems out of place for a song that is basically about a guy (or girl) that lives for losing himself (or herself) in the moment, on the dancefloor when the music, the lights, and the atmosphere carries you on and you just dance the night away without a care in the World.

[@andirandolph8830]

Whenever this song came on Flash FM in Vice City, I just kept driving around until the song was over.

[@WorldwideWyatt]

The chorus of Self Control is amazing, one of the best of the 80s.

[@SaturnusDK]

And mind you, it was written (and originally sung) by an Italian guy (Raf, or Raffaele Riefoli) with English as his 3rd language.

[@randychampion184]

i totally agree...very dramatic!!

[@jrr1814]

This is my favorite 80's song for sentimental reasons. RIP Laura.

[@vinsgraphics]

She’s on the “Flashdance” soundtrack as well, “Imagination.” Often overlooked, another great LB track. (RIP Laura)

[@karlsmith2570]

That was Laura singing that song?? I didn't realize that

[@emmabauer1906]

Love "Imagination"

[@robertbagley9199]

This and 'Gloria' were huge and Gloria really showcases her voice!

[@NYC_Goody]

There's plenty of other songs from Laura that aren't considered "hits" that are far better and show off her voice even more IMO.

[@robertbagley9199]

@@NYC_Goody Sorry I only know these two, Show me heaven and the power of love.

[@TheInvoker78]

both stolen

[@robertbagley9199]

@@TheInvoker78 and?

[@TheInvoker78]

@@robertbagley9199 don't give too many credits to covers. listen to the orginals, unless a cover is made with a very different style (pop song becomes punk or metal....or the opposite too)

[@jamestripp239]

Haven’t heard this song in 40 years thanks for playing it she was good

[@edgriswold8736]

GTA Vice City introduced me to her as a kid lol

[@donny1960]

She was at a party but the man in the white mask was always there. He is the "one" she is singing about. The white masked man was in almost every scene, lurking in background. Then he was in the room with her. He was the "you" in song.

[@joskokrstulovic1258]

My favorite song of her, this was huge in the middle of 80's. Bring's many memories,80's is the best decade musicaly.🎶❤️

[@chrisnorman1902]

An excellently produced 80s pop song

[@terrylewis_]

One of my favorite tunes of all time for sure. Laura's voice was awesome!

[@brockbeckstedt6483]

Imagine playing this song loud in the car with the FM Stereo it has great ambient sound in the background.

[@nicolaiboensch6643]

The video is some Eyes Wide Shut, MKUltra, Illuminati type... 😂 Loved this song since I was a kid.

[@calebclunie4001]

Originally, a song by Raf. A man, making what became known as Italo-Disco. It was huge, in Europe. It's the epitome of early 80's rhythm, and synths, and fashion, too. "Oh-Oh-Oh" Bam! I remember that, from The Grammys, performance, I think. The underworld of the music industry, is a true story. Look up, Michael Jackson, "Blood On The Dance Floor". He struggled to expose the industry, after being a pawn in their game, for nearly his whole childhood. Laura Branigan was a major Pop icon, of the day. Gone, too soon. I knew nothing about this video, back then. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say.

[@richard_n]

I've always loved this song

[@Bekka_Noyb]

one of my fave 80s songs! ♥

[@steverusso177]

You must do her version of "The power of love" ! One of the best performances ever .

[@pamphillips5968]

Holy crap I forgot how awesome this song is!! I actually got up and boogied.

[@andyscott5277]

A perfect song. So good. Love that intro with the drums, and then when the guitar kicks in. It’s a vibe.

[@stef8073]

Never anyone reacting to the original RAF version. The real Italo Disco.

[@bridgetmccracken1381]

Brings back so many memories of fun times, thank you!!!

[@moonlitegram]

Really strong pop song. Over 2 and a half minutes before it repeats any of its sections. And every section is just candy to the ears. I think my only minor complaint is that they give us that really awesome guitar riff at the beginning that sounds like it could be in a ZZ Top song, and then we never hear it again in the song. And its such a tasty riff that its such a shame. Wish it would have kicked in with that at the end or something. But other than that, really great pop song.

[@jtarantula3390]

My favorite 80s jam, love her so so much. My mom got me into her RIP LEGEND

[@FaytLinegod]

This was a fantastic song. And Laura loved her fans very much, too. She always described then as 'her other half'.

[@angelskunk2206]

It almost seems like she’s dreaming because she says in one of her lines, “I’m living in the chorus of a dream”. And yes, this was a huge club song in the 80s!

[@jeffmaltby6185]

Yeah but it is forest < not chorus

[@SaturnusDK]

@@jeffmaltby6185 It's actually supposed to be "Night, I'm livin' in a moment of a dream". It's one of the few changes to the lyrics in Laura's cover. I have no idea why they changed moment to forest, it's so out of place with the rest of the song being about losing yourself in the moment.

[@angelskunk2206]

Oh ok, I mainly heard the “of a dream” part and it made me wonder if it was a dream sequence type video

[@michaelpepper821]

Brad, what you need to understand is in the 80s, music videos were a new medium. Often record labels would hire someone to produce the video to make it "interesting". Often, the video's story had no connection to the song. If you are trying to understand a song, listen to the lyrics, not the story of the video.

[@africareigns]

This particular video is heavy on the symbolism of mind control.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

In the late 80's MTV went corporate and music videos became a lot less creative.

[@sifw5462]

Great cover by Laura! The original song was written and performed by the Italian singer Raf and went to number one in Italy, Switzerland & number 2 in Germany. Laura other big hit 'Gloria' was another cover of an Italian artist Umberto Tozzi, both Umberto & Raf sang for Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1987 also.

[@ingobordewick6480]

Funny how most people today don't remember the original. Shows how good of a job was done with the cover.

[@sifw5462]

@@ingobordewick6480 I agree. I think the originals are more well known in Europe but for the US & beyond it would be Laura's great covers they would remember for sure.

[@SaturnusDK]

@@sifw5462 In my opinion the original has much more intensity and honesty in the performance.

[@nikolanikolic1366]

@@SaturnusDK I don't agree with that, Rafs vocals or whiney and thin compared to Laura's rawness imo. But hey its all good, we don't have to agree :) Don't mean no disrespect, just putting my own two cents in.

[@SaturnusDK]

@@nikolanikolic1366 That's fair enough, to each his own I say. To me it's the subtle changes to the lyrics in cover that really don't vibe with me. For example in the line "Night, I'm livin' in a moment of a dream", moment is changed to forest in Laura's cover which seems out of place for a song that is basically about a guy (or girl) that lives for losing himself (or herself) in the moment, on the dancefloor when the music, the lights, and the atmosphere carries you on and you just dance the night away without a care in the World. Laura's voice is spectacular but that's another point why I like the original better. You can hear the longing, bordering on desperation of having to live through every day life to get antoher chance at getting into that magical moment where you lose your self-control, and just being one with yourself much better in Raf voice.

[@LaserRanger15]

So talented. What a shame that she passed away so young.

[@nikolanikolic1366]

just 47! Such a loss, what a voice she had

[@RaduRadonys]

@@nikolanikolic1366 You mean 52?

[@ceciliawilson6328]

This was the era of MTV videos and was all about getting air play on their playlist rotation so they had some wild visuals as there was so much competition with the record companies. A lot of artists were really compromised.A lot of videos were directed by professionals and the end result had nothing to do with the actual lyrics. Mini movies of 3 or 4 mintutes.

[@alegriadj9997]

Luv this song ❤❤❤❤

[@stevegoldy2196]

Me too! I am so glad a certain someone with impeccable music taste suggested it to me because this gem is now on my playlist ✌

[@Deathbird_Mitch]

She has a great voice. This song was in so many movies.

[@darrenbrown9058]

She will be missed. R.I.P. LB

[@richardhenderson9767]

"Forever Young", by Laura Branigan is awesome

[@rebeccalipps23]

Add this one to the pile, "Oh, I had forgotten that"! The video is a take on the musical, "Phantom of the Opera" & there are many of those. As far as the club scene in the 80s, I was in high school & college. The drinking age was 18. For me & my friends the club was all about the alcohol. I am 18, with 40-years of experience. I quit drinking several years ago in favor of the smoke because it doesn't mess with my blood glucose like alcohol.

[@NYC_Goody]

Y'all need to listen to more songs from Laura. I know this is one of her most popular songs, but ironically it's the one that flexes her range the least. She has a TON of range and an amazing voice. I'm not even exaggerating when I say she deserves to be up there with the Whitney's and Celines of the world. But labels screwing her over really buried her. She's got tons of great songs.

[@marsbar2566]

I was a kid when this came out and too young to grasp the meaning but "creature of the night" and the whole vibe of the song brings me to the 90s when I was clubbing late into the night with friends having fun dancing and looking to hook up with someone, eating at some pancake house or Chinese place at 3am when I struck out haha with all the other creatures of the night drunk or high on something. Not to mention the hookers, dealers and odd assortment of people you come across in the city long after the adults and children have been to bed and are asleep. This song has a nighttime vibe that is intoxicating and eerie just like the late night itself.

[@scottvanhille5688]

RIP Laura. My favorite from her! Love it.

[@elmoomle4565]

Lexi's last words were entirely, 'on point'. Also, this song was huge when it was released...Laura has a fantastic voice.

[@karlsmith2570]

What a lot of people don't realize is that Laura's version of this song is a cover

[@marcotemperini5467]

Yeah, the author is Raf, an italian singer. When we (the italians) were legend.

[@Voltasaur]

My favorite song of the 80s 🔥

[@pauld6967]

Definitely one near the top of my 'favorite songs' list.

[@johnmcdermid6896]

R.I.P Laura

[@esmokah]

Oh my god, this is one of my favorite songs ever

[@heltonfalusi9201]

Guys, you've just sent me back to 80's...forgot this singer and I used to love this song...

[@sparks5063]

Lex’s face when the guy in the mask grabs her by the back of the head lol 😂

[@joemachine4714]

❤ Laura Brannigan

[@time2chill121]

I Live amongst the Creatures of the Night

[@jamesmorrison4581]

I Absolutely adore this decade and this song is my favourite of ALL time. The beat,intro & Ooh ooh oohwwwww BOOM! 👌🏻 I've finally got my mullet after 2 years of hard waiting & bad hair days. But it's great now. 👌🏻

[@surlechapeau]

Brad & Lex, you'll love her "Solitaire" !!

[@shanedesselle2590]

Yes!

[@youtpfpm6097]

Another cover. She was good at that.

[@vibingwithvinyl]

I was 7yo when this was released. Soundtrack of my childhood.

[@Steffe]

Takes me back, she was very popular back then.

[@mikeshoe74]

One thing about the 80's...regardless of the genre of music, you had to have a voice. You had to be able to sing, and the voice had to carry an identity with it. She had one hell of a voice. RIP

[@Fuerwahrhalunke]

And that's exactly what's missing in mainstream music today. Voices, if (rarely) real, don't carry an identity. Crowds drawn to mainstream singers are just as superficial. Though I have to say, at least from my perspective, the times we are currently going through might be one of the most superficial in all of history.

[@mikeshoe74]

@@Fuerwahrhalunke I'm a conspiracy guy, so this is all by design. The dumbing down of society. A generation or 2 brainwashed into listening to music in the simplest of forms. I'm not saying listening to freestyle music or heavy metal made us geniuses. However, there was far more diversity in the music I grew up and listened to. Pop 40 charts and radio stations had a wide array of genres. Just watch the 'We are the World' video. That was your pop icons of that era and it was a wide range of artists, each who could be identified by voice alone. I'm starving for something new and enjoyable to listen to, and there will be a song here or there that I like, but as a whole there's not much to choose from. It's sad.

[@andyscott5277]

@@mikeshoe74 it’s just corporatism, a conspiracy to make money.

[@Fuerwahrhalunke]

@@mikeshoe74 I agree with everything you said. I look at it the same way. And you might want to add "The Traveling Wilburys" :-)

[@mikeshoe74]

@@Fuerwahrhalunke ...on a different scale, but yes, still representing a collaboration of icons.

[@xtiants]

One thing you gotta watch out for with 80's videos... Sometimes the director's concept has nothing to do with the actual song. This one isn't completely off. She's singing about the night life, which in the 80's was pretty open and wild, but it does seem to be a love song about one person with a hold on her.

[@kookiemonster3261]

Brings me back to late night Coast to Coast.

[@KencoShadowraven]

Flash FM All the way baby! A few seconds into this song and it really was a flash to the past of playing GTA. Really introduced me to a lot of good songs

[@GazBC4U]

The voice is hypnotizing........

[@jannaversheck7121]

My favorite 80s song

[@bobowrathsovine.]

This song and Scandal's Beat Of A Heart are like etched in my mind as 2 songs that were extremely popular when I was in the 4'th grade until maybe the 8'tb grade then just got cast aside

[@Cadinho93]

You guys should react to more Laura Branigan… "Solitaire", "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You", "The Lucky One", "Forever Young", "Shattered Glass", "Spanish Eddie", "Ti Amo", "Maybe Tonight", "Cry Wolf", "The Power of Love" #RIPLauraBranigan ✨🙏

[@Neilsmu]

Yay the 80’s… loads of disco dancing…. Still played in all good quality kitchens near you 🎶🕺🏻🎶💃🏼🎶

[@jamesmorrison4581]

Disco? errrmmm nope 👍🏻

[@theritchie2173]

'Night parties'. It's never too late to learn a new term.

[@marty88899]

Both of your expressions are different 😂...brilliant

[@steventownley8254]

The music video was directed by William Friedkin who directed The Exorcist in 1973. This video was aired on MTV when it was first released but quickly pulled after parents complained about the content. USA Network's late night show Night Flight showed it as well but they never pulled it.

[@saratemp790]

Ha, that is why I never saw the video before.

[@Kerppu68]

Steven Townley That tells it all. He was in deep

[@joedonlewis9820]

This must be from the 80s stream. A lot of people discovered Bruce Springsteen in the 80s. His Born in the USA album had half a dozen videos on MTV. The tour was huge. Best concert I ever saw.

[@evillink1]

The most 80's song in the history of the 80's!

[@chrisbush5965]

I was born in 1980, i play this song alot now in my 40s i am 43 years old now in 2023❤❤❤❤

[@keemosobee3067]

Seems like this song is making a comeback - well deserved! 🎉

[@jamesshort8660]

I like Lexie going bug-eyed when the masked man grabs her by her hair and makes her lay down

[@T-Max-4-Life]

This is such an awesome song

[@brgreg8725]

Watching a beautiful lady react to one of the most stunning women in history’s video is: for lack of a better word, awesome!!

[@cadirector]

Another great song and creative video from the 80's. I liked this song so much more than her first hit Gloria. Sadly, she left us way too soon like many other great voices.

[@stevenblock9712]

A very good Brannigan hit is How Am I Supposed to Live Without You. I recommend you hear that one. :)

[@chestrockwell8328]

So much fun and funny to hear Brad and Lex discuss what they vision the 80's to have been. And Laura was so much hotter than I remember.

[@barryevans791]

Im pretty sur this was on one of the radio stations in one of the GTA games, as it is 80's I want to say Vice City.

[@atenachos6282]

Greatest video game soundtrack!

[@ninja_tony]

Yeah it was definitely on Vice City! That’s where I discovered the song and I’ve been a fan of her ever since.

[@AnotherAgnostic]

This song isn't nasty but beautiful. Creatures of the day always judge the creatures of the night.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

This was a great selection. Super cool tune.

[@EchoesDaBear]

I was six when my sister (13 years older) bought this album, and I absolutely fell it love with this song, and The Lucky One. Played it constantly. Video is a bit abstract, but sultry and sexy. Laura was such a beauty with an incredible voice. I was so saddened to hear of her untimely passing. RIP Laura.

[@tadanott300]

This song is fire.

[@redsmoker37]

I love this son, really just one of those "theme songs" for the 80s. Really fits the decade.

[@rhhfayetteville]

A cover version was also featured on an episode of Miami Vice.

[@TheMkamix]

The look on Brad's face was hilarious.

[@ethan46441]

If you want a example of how a music video can impact the lyrics of a song and the image it potrays, I recommend listening to the original version and watching the two music videos of the song by the Italian artist Raf

[@jasonweston1273]

This song was attributed to venice masquerade characters of which you can dress up as & "Lose your self control"!👍.

[@colemanno6391]

Gat vice city showed me self control ever since I have loved this song cuz it gave me my memories!!

[@STEELCITYBERMA]

Huge song in the 80’s….

[@JJGhost-b3m]

You guys bring me back and i'm not that old, good song choice!

[@eggy1962]

mmm dat bass... great sounding song that got the hell played out of it

[@shelbie2490]

Ooooo memories!!!! ❤️

[@shaheersk721]

The original is by raf an Italian singer. However, i love both versions.

[@vistavizion]

This video always reminds me of Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut in several ways. Interesting that it was directed by another big-name director, William Friedkin, who made The Exorcist, The French Connection, and other celebrated films.

[@fabian4ever69]

If you think clubs in the 80s were crazy you should hear stories about the club scene in the 70s...especially at Studio 54 in New York City...there was sex, drugs, and disco...it all happened there. The 80s couldn't compare to Studio 54 lol. Underrated song by Laura Brannigan. May she RIP.

[@dr4782]

The music video for "Self Control" was a bit controversial for the time, but it had no real relation with the lyrics. It was just an interpretive dance routine choreographed for the song and recorded for its music video, similar to the dances performed on Solid Gold. (Solid Gold was a syndicated music TV show that aired from 1980-1988, featuring performances and interviews by popular musicians, and a dance squad that choreographed dances -- some of them risque -- to the top hits of the week.) "Self Control" was the second-biggest hit of Laura Branigan's career, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 30, 1984. In all, Laura Branigan had 13 hits on the Hot 100, including seven Top 40 hits, and three Top 10 hits. Here's a list of her Top 40 hits in chronological order: "Gloria" (#2 in 1982) "Solitaire" (#7 in 1983) "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" (#12 in 1983) "Self Control" (#4 in 1984) "The Lucky One" (#20 in 1984) "Spanish Eddie" (#40 in 1985) "The Power Of Love" (#26 in 1988) You've already listened to "Gloria" and "Self Control," and I recommend listening to the other five above as well. Also note that two of the hits above became #1 hits for other artists in the 1990s. Michael Bolton wrote "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You," and his version of the song spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, beginning January 20, 1990. Jennifer Rush wrote and originally performed "The Power Of Love," and her version was a not-Top 40 hit (#57 in 1984), as was Air Supply's cover the following year (#68 in 1985), but Laura Branigan's cover of the song was a Top 40 hit, as indicated above (#26 in 1988), and then came Celine Dion's cover, which is the most famous of them all, spending four weeks at #1 on the Hot 100, beginning February 12, 1994. This song is not to be confused with "The Power Of Love" by Huey Lewis & The News, which is a completely different song that became a big hit for them, spending two weeks at #1 on the Hot 100, beginning August 24, 1985. Also worth noting is that Laura Branigan performed another song written by Michael Bolton, called "I Found Someone." Hers is the original version of the song, which was a not-Top 40 hit (#90 in 1986), but Cher resurrected her music career when she covered the song. It was her first hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in almost a decade, and it even became a Top 10 hit, peaking at #10 on March 5, 1988. After that song, Cher had 13 more hits on the Hot 100, including nine Top 40 hits, four Top 10 hits, and one #1 hit which turned out to be the biggest hit of her career, when "Believe" spent four weeks at #1, beginning March 13, 1999. Cher's second act would be considered a successful pop music career on its own.

[@davespear6662]

Damn I miss the 80's!!! 😭

[@rick5440]

I had the biggest crush on her back in the day..

[@muggy87]

GTA Vice City bro, the best car chases happened when this came on.

[@eragonn.9284]

Damm bro you have such a beautiful, intelligent and down to earth women by your side! never let her go

[@bryanlennicx7031]

Laura Brannigan is what I imagine Trash Novels would sound like to music

[@josemapolo1974]

The magic of 70's and 80's nights were too special, free and magic. That's gone today.

[@paulwatson6452]

She is singing 'You' she is referring to the night time itself, it makes her loose her self control and go out enjoying the 'secrets' of the night (Drugs, Partys and the Sex).

[@shanenolan8252]

I was listening to this last night. This is the song on the fresh and fit podcast ( after hours) show , or a remix of it