New Wave Outpost Forum

I don't want to get into a "YES that was new wave, NO it wasn't new wave" debate here. Herbie Hancock is a jazz legend (having started with Miles Davis)and had really nothing to do with the scene.

This song, however, was an MTV staple in that wonderful early 80's era. And it IS bizarre. It segues beautifully into something like Art of Noise "Close to the Edit".

To me this song is an enigma, one of those oddball songs that comes out and grabs your attention. As a new wave fan, always searching for something new and weird, I loved it. Still do.

What do you think of this one??

I agree with you. The song was certainly not what you would expect from Herbie.

BTW, I think other enigmatic songs from that era were "19" by Paul Hardcastle and "Cry" by Godley & Creme.

One of the early videos I remember from MTV. Got heavy airplay.
Had robots a la Kraftwerk. Nice electronic beat with scratching.
I don't really love it or hate it, but you know what song it is when you hear it. I guess MTV burned it into my brain.[:p]

What was even more enigmatic was the "Megamix" of Rockit that was mixed by Grandmixer DST. I was lucky enough to find the 12" of this, but as far as CD's go, I was only able to find a butchered up short version on a CD.

I would consider it more of a b

I lump it in with NW in my memories, anyway, because they used to play it at the NW teen dance club I went to, and skinny white boys used to try to breakdance to it.

Before Herbie Hancock F*****up his career by going into Fusion he was a very cool Jazz Musician. on of his songs from the mid 60's was "Riot" a pheonominal Jazz piece. I think this was after he did Cantalope Island.

Funny you should mention Godley & Creme, since they were responsible for the video to "Rockit".

[quote][i]Originally posted by devildog[/

Godley & Creme also were responsible for the very naughty "Girls on Film" vid by Duran Duran. (if you check it now, it's so very cheesy, but a kick to see ! )

I'm probably a little off with this one, but I [i]kind of[/i] lump Herbie Hancock in that "electrofunk/funky electrodisco" category... kinda with Afrika Bambaata, The Gap Band, Dazz Band, Midnight Star, etc... *shrug*

"Rockit" is probably closer to an early Detroit or Chicago dance track than New Wave. Electrofunk, I guess, or what electronic DJs consider to be true "electro" (not electroclash). I file my Herbie Hancock next to my Egyptian Lover.

When it was out,

[quote]Originally posted by christsmasher
[br]"Rockit" is probably closer to an early Detroit or Chicago dance track than New Wave.

I too always remember Rockit being a big track during the early 80s, and Hancock infused this gem right into radio rotations at stations spinning new wave tunes. Although I never considered it new wave by any menas, it still seemed to have its place in th