"Pop Goes the Music" Raquel (1991) Music Video

The story behind the video... Rewind back to the winter of 1991. MTV was 10 years old and still playing videos. Cell phones were very big and very expensive. There was no e-mail, world wide web, MP3 players, music downloads or other technologies we now take for granted.
Pittsburgh based, Education Management Corporation, which owns career schools throughout the country, decided to offer a curriculum that would teach entertainment management. These courses included all aspects of the business, from producing records to managing live performance acts. Elias-Savion was their advertising agency.
Philip Elias called to discuss a concept for a TV spot that would require producing a realistic, live concert. We planned a 2-day production schedule. On the first day, we'd shoot a "staged" concert and numerous backstage cutaways. The second day would include a recording session and other "B-roll" footage.
In 1991, "Raquel" was quickly becoming one of the country's hottest live bands. They were selling out clubs and venues all over the East Coast. Based in Pittsburgh, their power "Glam Rock" style and sound was being compared to groups like Poison and others. Bassist, Billy Covert put the talented group of guys together. Front man, Ron English had an amazing voice and stage presence. Other members included guitar/vocalists Kevin McDonald & Eric Gadrix. Sean McDonald was the drummer on our video. LA & Nashville's Toby Wright produced the band's music.
We secured Pittsburgh's Syria Mosque for the concert venue. It was one of the last events to take place at the Mosque as it was scheduled for demolition. The historic venue had been stripped of most lighting and power distribution equipment. Perry Como performed a sold-out concert a couple days before our shoot. We arranged to rent his stage lighting setup and doubled the lighting instruments.
Virtually all music videos are filmed to a playback track. This insures synchronization of camera angles which are often filmed hours apart. Music producer, Toby Wright supplied an initial mix of "Pop Goes the Music". The band performed live to this sync track. By the time we finished 2 days of shooting, the guys in "Raquel" had played the song over 25 times! I never heard a complaint from any of the guys.
I photographed the 35mm concert and recording studio scenes with my Arri 35mm BL4 using Zeiss super-speed lenses and Angenieux zooms. I shot virtually all the "B-roll" cutaways hand-held, using a 16mm Arri SR2 and a Zeiss 10mm -100mm T2 lens. I enhanced the grainy, gritty look of the 16mm footage during film-to-tape transfer and color correction. (In 1991, everything of any value was shot on film.)
Film processing was handled by Cinefilm Labs in Atlanta. Film-to-tape transfer took place at Elite Post in Nashville. I edited the music video on 1" broadcast analog tape. The MTV commercial for Education Management Corporation was edited at NorthCoast Communications. The ad aired dozens of times on MTV network

[@johnschomer7790]

Sorry to say I'm 60 and never heard of this band or heard any radio airplay when this album came out. This song shoulda been huge back then.

[@PJski]

Odd. I'm 19, and been listening to them for 36 years. ;)

[@oregonxyz]

I am 60 also, and I would have loved this band back then, but I found them now - they are great. The singer can really sing and the songs are catchy. Makes me wonder what else is out there that I don't know about?

[@Metaldjwill2]

Their demo came across my desk when I worked @ Capitol around that time. Crazy to see this vid years later!

[@RedMedicineRecording]

Thanks for sharing this Glenn, the quality of this version is really incredible! But Id like to add one correction. I was the drummer, not Chris Procopio, although his wife Patty was the make up artist, and on the shoot. We were lucky, and had a pretty good run as a band, and the video was a big part of the bands promotion, thanks again. all the best, Sean

[@ryanmiller7867]

Sean, we're guys also on an episode of Another World on NBC is the early 90's??

[@RedMedicineRecording]

@@ryanmiller7867 I don't think so...

[@oregonxyz]

Thanks for being in this killer band. Wish I would have known about them in the day.

[@dragonlandstudios]

Before the stage is set…before one lick of a guitar is played…before the crowd roars…

[@otheozzy]

+John Mercer "Kill 'em all, I say" -Krist Novoselic

[@PrzyborskiProduction]

Thanks for the correction. All these years, I thought that Patty's husband, Chris was the drummer I filmed in Raquel. As it turns out, he was in a totally different band at the time. I was working with makeup artist, Patty Bell last week and she confirmed that Raquel's drummer was indeed, Sean McDonald. I've updated the story about the video... Glenn

[@wiscorpio72]

I remember the Art Institute commercial but was the video ever played on MTV?

[@rodnig1]

I seriously cannot believe this!! i had a copy of raquel's "tape" that was given to me as a gift for helping out a roadie for Poison at a concert at the Broome County Arena in 1990!! loved every song, and eventually the tape was lost, or worn out. Couldnt find another one anywhere(way before the days of the intrawebs). then i would see the commercial for the "arts institutes of america" and i would see the band on the commercial. I knew it was them, as the backdrop for the stage had the logo from the tape sleeve. Years later, and here i am trying to find them again Thanks for making me believe im not crazy for seeing them in the commercial.... kinda made me think i was imagining things. Now, if i could just find the tape, cd today

[@vielmaleo1970]

I recently got that tape, very good quality, has everything you mentioned, but it's in mono, not stereo.

[@NorEastBeast]

The lead singer is probably one of the nicest and most genuine person you'd ever meet. Really awesome guy.

[@TemperYourAnger]

It’s a shame they don’t have other albums. I looked everywhere. I don’t know if all your subscribers have heard of Y&T, if not, look them up. One of the most badass underrated bands to ever come out of the 80’s

[@guyo7351]

Those were awesome times. Can't count how many times I saw them around town and up to Altoona to the Engine Room. Glad you posted the video. Great quality and each time I see another face I knew from the time.

[@robmatia1635]

The Engine Room, always a good time.

[@denhartlejr3895]

Pretty amazing story about this band..never ever had heard of them until I ran across this..let alone a great Pittsburgh based band..wonderful job ,Glenn!!!

[@PrzyborskiProduction]

Hey Den... Those were the good old days when MTV dominated cable and actually played music videos. Raquel was a very talented group of guys!

[@spidermanfan.3161]

0:02 “ before The stage is set before one lick of a guitar is heard” oh wait wrong video HEH :P

[@80srocknheavyjohannhawk52]

Awesome band!

[@rodolfomisao123]

I like two musics from this album.more than that: love don't go and Dark city.

[@mandrauptukangbecak]

If these band got major label contract, imagine... Would the only surviving Glam Rock band in Grunge era.

[@scottshipley6284]

I remember a commercial from TimeLife/Warner Music (1991-92) that this group was shown in. I'd never even seen them on MTV's "Head-bangers ball." However, I very much liked the segment I did hear, and I couldn't find an album from them anywhere. Truly a pity. This group could have been huge.

[@lusse7183]

Oh my this is amazing, 🤩😻

[@pablons2061]

Love this Glam Hair Metal Band with Kramer guitars!!

[@ndjr]

Hamer guitars.

[@mikeharris6722]

Nirvana's Live! Tonight! Sold Out!! brought me here.

[@Neilbear5820]

Good God...someone really wanted to be Jani Lane.

[@steviegunnz6498]

I never heard of this band

[@karenskultety8687]

Raquel. Sexiest singer ever.

[@radoslavyakimov765]

GREAT PARTY ROCK

[@DaveMa]

LTSO brought me here.

[@wiscorpio72]

Art Institute commercial in 1993 brought me here.

[@sherilewis4345]

Awesome video!!! Anyone have another great song of theirs called S.L.U.T.? Please upload if you have it. Many thanks!!!

[@sheshemuenster1272]

She looks untouched

[@lazrpo]

Nirvana

[@vielmaleo1970]

Can we buy a copy of the video on DVD from you?

[@PrzyborskiProduction]

vielmaleo1970 Sorry, no DVDs were ever made of the video. You'll have to download it to your computer from KZbin or Vimeo.

[@vielmaleo1970]

I just bought a promo VHS on ebay, would that VHS be an official promo from the band, it has a 30 & 60 second commercal. How did you load up yours, is on u-matic, is there any way you can get this on DVD, i'll pay for it. The VHS I bought says it's from 1991.

[@Bungleandgeorge808]

Then along came Nirvana

[@bobgomez9481]

Triple X was always superior to this clown show.