Mincing Up the Morning

Etienne Daho

2009-01-14T01:42:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Étienne Daho, born this day in 1956! Here's his 1984 video for "Week-end à Rome." (Yes, St. Etienne's "He's On the Phone" is inspired by it.)

This concludes the yearlong cycle of Mincing Up the Morning--366 days and nearly 900 music videos featuring performers whose birthday it was each day. It's been my pleasure to put it together for you; I hope you've enjoyed it.

LL Cool J

2009-01-14T01:41:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to LL Cool J, born this day in 1968! Here's his 1993 video for "Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed By Buildings."

Suggs

2009-01-13T01:40:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Suggs, born this day in 1961! Here he is in Madness's 2007 video for "Shame & Scandal."

Wayne Coyne

2009-01-13T01:40:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Wayne Coyne, born this day in 1965! Here he is singing "Riding to Work in the Year 2025 (Your Invisible Now)" (sic) with the Flaming Lips in 2007.

Trevor Rabin

2009-01-13T01:39:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Trevor Rabin, born this day in 1954! Here he is performing "Leave It" with Yes in 1983.

Cynthia Robinson

2009-01-12T01:39:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Cynthia Robinson, born this day in 1946! Here she is playing a handful of songs (starting with "M'Lady" and "Thank You") with Sly & the Family Stone in the early '70s. Killer arrangements--!

Blixa Bargeld

2009-01-12T01:38:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Blixa Bargeld, born this day in 1959! Here he is playing "Sand" with Einstürzende Neubauten--perhaps circa 1986?

Vicki Peterson

2009-01-11T01:38:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Vicki Peterson, born this day in 1958! Here she is playing "I'm in Line" with the Bangles around 1983.

Luci Martin

2009-01-10T01:37:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Luci Martin, born this day in 1955! Here she is singing "Le Freak" with Chic in 1979.

Pat Benatar

2009-01-10T01:37:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Pat Benatar, born this day in 1953! Here's her early-'80s video for "A Little Too Late."

Tim Hart

2009-01-09T01:36:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Tim Hart, born this day in 1948! Here he is playing "The Lark in the Morning" with Steeleye Span in 1970. Yes, that's Martin Carthy on backup vocals.

Jimmy Page

2009-01-09T01:36:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Jimmy Page, born this day in 1944! Here he is playing "Shapes of Things" with the Yardbirds in 1967 or so.

Joan Baez

2009-01-09T01:34:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Joan Baez, born this day in 1941! Here she is singing "I Pity the Poor Immigrant" with Bob Dylan on the Rolling Thunder tour in 1975.

David Bowie

2009-01-08T01:34:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to David Bowie, born this day in 1947! Here he is singing "Starman" in 1972.

Elvis Presley

2009-01-08T01:34:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Elvis Presley, born this day in 1935! Here he is singing "Crawfish" in 1958.

Mike McGear

2009-01-07T01:33:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Mike McGear, born this day in 1944! Here he is singing "Lily the Pink" with the Scaffold in 1968.

Kathy Valentine

2009-01-07T01:33:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Kathy Valentine, born this day in 1959! Here she is playing (a fragment of) "Johnny Are You Queer?" with the Go-Go's in 1979.

Rory Storm

2009-01-07T01:32:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Rory Storm, born this day in 1938! Here he is with Rory Storm & the Hurricanes, playing "I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)" in, I'd guess, 1963.

Jazzie B

2009-01-06T01:32:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Jazzie B, born this day in 1963! Here he is in Soul II Soul's 1988 video for "Fairplay."

Wilbert Harrison

2009-01-06T01:31:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Wilbert Harrison, born this day in 1929! Here he is singing "Stagger Lee" sometime in the '50s.

Kate Schellenbach

2009-01-05T01:31:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Kate Schellenbach, born this day in 1966! Here she is playing "Here" with Luscious Jackson in 1995.

Chris Stein

2009-01-05T01:30:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Chris Stein, born this day in 1950! Here he is playing "(I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear" with Blondie in 1978.

Bernard Sumner

2009-01-04T01:30:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Bernard Sumner, born this day in 1956! Here he is in Electronic's 1990-or-so video for "Getting Away With It," directed by Chris Marker.

Ann Magnuson

2009-01-04T01:29:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Ann Magnuson, born this day in 1956! Here she is in Bongwater's 1989 video for "The Drum."

Beth Gibbons

2009-01-04T01:29:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Beth Gibbons, born this day in 1965! Here she is singing "Threads" with Portishead in 2008.

Michael Stipe

2009-01-04T01:28:00.002-08:00

Happy birthday to Michael Stipe, born this day in 1960! Here he is singing "Radio Free Europe" with R.E.M. on TV in 1983.

Arthur Conley

2009-01-04T01:28:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Arthur Conley, born this day in 1946! Here he is singing "Whole Lotta Woman" and "Sweet Soul Music" in 1967.

Nels Cline

2009-01-04T01:28:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Nels Cline, born this day in 1956! Here he is playing "Impossible Germany" with Wilco in 2007.

Slim Gaillard

2009-01-04T01:27:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Slim Gaillard, born this day in 1916! Here he is playing "Laguna O-Rooney" sometime in the '40s. January 4 is a very important day.

John Paul Jones

2009-01-03T01:26:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to John Paul Jones, born this day in 1946! Here he is playing "We're Gonna Groove" with Led Zeppelin in 1970.

Palmolive

2009-01-03T01:26:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Palmolive, born this day in 1955! Here she is in the Raincoats' 1979 video for "Fairytale in the Supermarket."

Dawn Silva

2009-01-02T01:25:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Dawn Silva, born this day in 1954! Here she is singing "Birdie" with the Brides of Funkenstein in 1979.

Keith Gregory

2009-01-02T01:25:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Keith Gregory, born this day in 1963! Here he is in Cha Cha Cohen's 1999 video for "Freon Shortwave."

Amelia Fletcher

2009-01-01T01:24:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Amelia Fletcher, born this day in 1966! Here she is in Heavenly's 1993 video for "Trophy Girlfriend."

Tessa Pollitt

2009-01-01T01:24:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Tessa Pollitt, born this day in 1959! Here she is with the Slits in their 1979 video for "Typical Girls."

Grandmaster Flash

2009-01-01T01:23:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Grandmaster Flash, born this day in 1958! Here's his circa-1981 video for "The Message."

Donna Summer

2008-12-31T01:29:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Donna Summer, born this day in 1948! Here's her 1989 video for "This Time I Know It's For Real."

Andy Summers

2008-12-31T01:28:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Andy Summers, born this day in 1942! Here he is playing "The Bed's Too Big Without You" with the Police in 1979.

Bo Diddley

2008-12-30T01:28:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Bo Diddley, born this day in 1928! Here he is playing "You Can't Judge a Book By Its Cover" on TV in the mid-'60s.

Robert Quine

2008-12-30T01:28:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Robert Quine, born this day in 1942! Here he is playing "Some Kinda Love/Sister Ray" with Lou Reed in 1983.

Patti Smith

2008-12-30T01:27:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Patti Smith, born this day in 1946! Here she is singing "Horses" and "Hey Joe" in 1976.

Jeff Lynne

2008-12-30T01:27:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Jeff Lynne, born this day in 1947! Here he is playing "Brontosaurus" with the Move in 1970 or so.

Tracey Ullman

2008-12-30T01:26:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Tracey Ullman, born this day in 1959! Here's her early-'80s video for "They Don't Know."

Marianne Faithfull

2008-12-29T01:26:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Marianne Faithfull, born this day in 1946! Here's her early-'80s video for "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan."

Yvonne Elliman

2008-12-29T01:25:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Yvonne Elliman, born this day in 1951! Here she is singing "If I Can't Have You" in 1977.

Pops Staples

2008-12-28T01:25:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late "Pops" Staples, born this day in 1915! Here he is playing "When Will We Be Paid" with the Staple Singers in 1971.

Alex Chilton

2008-12-28T01:24:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Alex Chilton, born this day in 1950! Here he is singing "Turn on a Dream" and "Soul Deep" with the Box Tops in 1969.

Marlene Dietrich

2008-12-27T01:24:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Marlene Dietrich, born this day in 1901! Here she is singing "Hot Voodoo" in 1932.

Youth

2008-12-27T01:23:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Youth, born this day in 1961! Here he is playing "Wardance" with Killing Joke in 1982.

Lars Ulrich

2008-12-26T01:23:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Lars Ulrich, born this day in 1963! Here he is playing "Breadfan" with Metallica in 1989.

Duke Fakir

2008-12-26T01:22:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Duke Fakir, born this day in 1935! Here he is singing "Baby I Need Your Loving" with the Four Tops in 1964.

Cab Calloway

2008-12-25T01:22:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Cab Calloway, born this day in 1907! Here he is performing "Minnie the Moocher" in a 1942 soundie. Hi-de-ho-ho-ho.

Annie Lennox

2008-12-25T01:21:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Annie Lennox, born this day in 1954! Here she is in her pre-Eurythmics band the Tourists' 1979 video for "I Only Want to Be with You."

Bob Stanley

2008-12-25T01:20:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Bob Stanley, born this day in 1964! Here he is in Saint Etienne's early-'90s video for "Nothing Can Stop Us."

Lee Dorsey

2008-12-24T01:20:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Lee Dorsey, born this day in 1924! Here he is performing "Working In the Coal Mine" in the mid-'60s.

Lemmy Kilmister

2008-12-24T01:20:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Lemmy Kilmister, born this day in 1945! Here he is in Motörhead's mid-'80s video for "Killed By Death."

Esther Phillips

2008-12-23T01:19:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Esther Phillips, born this day in 1935! Here she is singing "And I Love Him" in 1965.

Tim Hardin

2008-12-23T01:18:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Tim Hardin, born this day in 1941! Here he is singing "If I Were a Carpenter" in 1969.

Adrian Belew

2008-12-23T01:18:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Adrian Belew, born this day in 1949! Here he is performing "Pretty Pink Rose" with David Bowie in 1990.

Robin and Maurice Gibb

2008-12-22T01:17:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Robin and the late Maurice Gibb, born this day in 1949! Here they are performing "Massachusetts" with the Bee Gees in 1967.

Vanessa Paradis

2008-12-22T01:17:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Vanessa Paradis, born this day in 1972! Here she is performing "I'm Waiting for the Man," circa 1993. Amazing how much that song's meaning changes with a woman singing it.

Carla Thomas

2008-12-21T01:17:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Carla Thomas, born this day in 1942! Here she is singing "Pick Up the Pieces" in 1971.

Carl Wilson

2008-12-21T01:16:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Carl Wilson, born this day in 1946! Here he is singing "God Only Knows" with the Beach Boys in 1969.

Betty Wright

2008-12-21T01:00:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Betty Wright, born this day in 1953! Here she is singing "Shoorah Shoorah" on TV in 1975.

Anita Ward

2008-12-20T05:01:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Anita Ward, born this day in 1956! Here's a soothing video of a disco ball accompanying her 1980 performance of "Don't Drop My Love." Yes, she did have another song...

Billy Bragg

2008-12-20T05:01:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Billy Bragg, born this day in 1957! Here he is playing "The Milkman of Human Kindness" on TV in 1984.

Edith Piaf

2008-12-19T05:01:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Edith Piaf, born this day in 1915! Here she is singing "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" in 1961.

Phil Ochs

2008-12-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Phil Ochs, born this day in 1940! Here he is playing "Here's to the State of Richard Nixon" in 1971.

Professor Longhair

2008-12-19T01:52:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Professor Longhair, born this day in 1918! Here he is being backed up by the Meters on "Hey Little Girl," sometime around 1980, I'd imagine.

Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson

2008-12-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, born this day in 1917! Here he is playing "Mr. Cleanhead"... sometime in the '70s, maybe?

Martha Johnson

2008-12-18T04:59:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Martha Johnson, born this day in 1950! Here she is in Martha & the Muffins' 1984 video for "Black Stations White Stations."

Christina Aguilera

2008-12-18T04:59:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Christina Aguilera, born this day in 1980! Here she is singing "Ain't No Other Man" in 2006.

Art Neville

2008-12-17T04:58:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Art Neville, born this day in 1937! Here he is playing "Look-Ka Py Py" and "Jungle Man" with the Meters in 1974.

Eddie Kendricks

2008-12-17T04:58:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Eddie Kendricks, born this day in 1939! Here he is singing "If You Let Me" in 1972.

Mike Mills

2008-12-17T04:57:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Mike Mills, born this day in 1958! Here he is in R.E.M.'s 1991 video for "Near Wild Heaven."

Noel Coward

2008-12-16T04:57:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Noel Coward, born this day in 1899! Here he is performing "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" live on TV in 1955.

Benny Andersson

2008-12-16T04:56:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Benny Andersson, born this day in 1946! Here he is playing "Wedding" with the Hep Stars, his pre-ABBA band.

Stan Kenton

2008-12-15T04:56:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Stan Kenton, born this day in 1911! Here's his 1945 soundie for "It's Been a Long, Long Time," with June Christy singing.

Paul Simonon

2008-12-15T04:55:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Paul Simonon, born this day in 1955! Here he is playing "Join the Professionals" with the Looters in 1982 (the Looters weren't exactly a real band, but hey...).

Spike Jones

2008-12-14T04:55:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Spike Jones, born this day in 1911! Here's his 1942 "Soundie" for "Clink! Clink! Another Drink."

Jane Birkin

2008-12-14T04:55:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Jane Birkin, born this day in 1946! Here she is singing "Comment Lui Dire Adieu" with Françoise Hardy in 1976.

Morris Day

2008-12-13T04:54:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Morris Day, born this day in 1957! Here he is singing "The Walk" with Morris Day & the Time in 1982.

Tom Verlaine

2008-12-13T04:54:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Tom Verlaine, born this day in 1949! Here he is playing "1880 Or So" with Television on TV in 1992.

Nick McCarthy

2008-12-13T04:53:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Nick McCarthy, born this day in 1974! Here he is playing "It Won't Be Long" with Franz Ferdinand in 2004.

Gideon Kendall

2008-12-12T01:55:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Gideon Kendall, born this day in 1966! Here he is singing "Fake Brain" with Fake Brain, sometime in the late '90s, I'd guess.

Dionne Warwick

2008-12-12T01:54:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Dionne Warwick, born this day in 1940! Here she is lip-synching "Walk On By" on TV in 1964.

Sheila E.

2008-12-12T01:54:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Sheila E., born this day in 1957! Here she is playing "Sister Fate" on TV in 1985.

Brenda Lee

2008-12-11T01:54:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Brenda Lee, born this day in 1944! Here she is lip-synching "Sweet Nothin's" in 1960.

McCoy Tyner

2008-12-11T01:53:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to McCoy Tyner, born this day in 1938! Here he is doing a solo piano version of John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" in 1996.

Mos Def

2008-12-11T01:53:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Mos Def, born this day in 1973! Here he is on the 2002 remix of DJ Shadow's "Six Days."

Paul Hardcastle

2008-12-10T01:52:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Paul Hardcastle, born this day in 1957! Here's his 1985 video for "19."

Joan Armatrading

2008-12-09T01:51:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Joan Armatrading, born this day in 1950! Here she is singing "Call Me Names" in 1983.

Neil Innes

2008-12-09T01:51:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Neil Innes, born this day in 1944! Here he is singing "I Must Be In Love" with the original incarnation of the Rutles, in 1976.

Sinéad O'Connor

2008-12-08T01:50:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Sinéad O'Connor, born this day in 1966! Here's her 1989-ish video for "I Want Your Hands On Me," guest-starring MC Lyte.

Paul Rutherford

2008-12-08T01:50:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Paul Rutherford, born this day in 1959! Here's his 1990-or-so video for "Oh World."

Claudia Brücken

2008-12-07T01:49:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday to Claudia Brücken, born this day in 1963! Here she is in Act's 1987 video for "Snobbery and Decay."

Tom Waits

2008-12-07T01:49:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Tom Waits, born this day in 1949! Here he is playing "The Heart of Saturday Night" on TV in 1975.

Matthew Shipp

2008-12-07T01:48:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Matthew Shipp, born this day in 1960! Here he is playing what I'm pretty sure is an improvisation in Budapest earlier this year.

Chris Stamey

2008-12-06T01:46:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to Chris Stamey, born this day in 1954! Here's the Emily Hubley-directed video for the dBs' "Big Brown Eyes," from 1982.

Willie Hutch

2008-12-06T01:45:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to the late Willie Hutch, born this day in 1944! Here he is singing "Slick" in 1973.