Mike Nesmith - Rio (1977)

[Alleycat744]

This is hilarious omg MIKE

[HEV29]

Very hard, when you've worked out there's more than this xxx

[follyfoot13]

I love this song, it reminds me of my mum, when we used to work together when i left school.

[grannelle]

When considered, The Monkees were the first actual "boy band," having been brought together by external forces for performance and having little previous knowledge of each other, and were packaged for wholesale entertainment of a young audience. This piece, from the video album, "Elephant Parts," has been a perennial favorite. Many thanks for a great memory!

[adoreslaurel]

Bet it was cold on that beach shoot,no shadows.

[roycawthorne]

just discoved this song after trying for a long time..just great .cawthorneroy.

[beatlesandbeyond]

simple song, but so effective - I love the comedy of the video

[CreepyEyeFilms]

I'm not a fan of country music but Nez made me like it! I really only like his stuff, but he got me to enjoy some kind of country!

[darcat1530]

Nez is my lifelong musical hero.

[askthepublic]

it's only a whimsical notion...

[askthepublic]

i think i will travel to rio, why not?

[DarkMedievalTimes1]

Reminds me of that scene in The Big Lebowski after the dude gets clobbered

[marsbreakfast]

If you are as old as I, you saw the video during an HBO interlude. HBO had music videos before MTV - mostly a camera on a bicycle with Baroque music pad - but every rare once-in-awhile, "something exactly like this.." Actually, music video's per se are as old as sound on film - including "B" roll for band music shorts. Of course Disney's Fantasia is a compilation of music videos.

[mistersmith6000]

This song had a mezmerizing and mystical on me as a 13/14 yr old!

[airbedane]

Go girl Go, Alice flying to Rio at this very moment........learn about film, slay the world, and then come back and be the Lean or Kubrick that you want to be ! so proud of you XXXXX

[24031965GAV]

great producer too,try Ian Mathews "Valley Hi" Album

[karlvorderman]

Allow me to recommend the book 'An Essential Guide To Music In The 1970s' by Johnny Zero.

[flawrinel]

@maxpowercards This was also the first melody i watched from him :)

[morrissquash]

where, oh where, can I buy a copy of this amazing, emotive video??????

[max567893]

@morrissquash The DVD is titled 'Elephant Parts' and is available from Amazon.com

[Yorkie410]

Thanks so much for putting this up - I'd forgotten how much I love this dappy song! :)

[Helismoke]

This was from one of the first music videos ever produced. In 1986 I bought it on Beta Max, and it was called "Elephant Parts". Fans of Ricky Nelson say his was the first music videos, but that was on "Ozzie and Harriet" and were never available to the public until after his death. "Elephant Parts" was a commercial video, filled with blackouts and musical clips. Mike was ahead of his time.

[adoreslaurel]

Sensational song and video,have loved this ever since I first heard it,and that guitar backing is perfect, the girls look sensational too.

[midianholic]

I love this track



[naganokumas]

Perhaps it was just a dream. She complained about the bath stains. I complained about her other stains. She wanted me to clean mine up. Perhaps it's a whimsical notion that I just might.

She must do her part, too. Nesmithing them out won't do.

[Luuuc]

I'm spinning out here. This song popped into my head the other day and I don't think I have heard it since I was about 6. It was in my head again today and I just spent 15 minutes trying to search for it because I had all the lyrics wrong. Wind and the ocean? Nope, whimsical notion. Anyway I made it in the end because I at least had "Rio" correct! Thanks retroj25! I love people who put this retro stuff up on Youtube. Legend!

[bethanycat]

It was featured on Pop Clips.

[pjsage921]

terry wogan played it on his breakfast show when i was 16 and had a job i am 46 now

[crazymuma2]

Rio degenerate

[coomason5]

Absolutely love this video. Mike Nesmith did his best work after he left the group.

[euronick61]

This is excellent,it has always been one of my all time favourite tracks

[mickindanny]

Did I see Freddie Mercury dancing?

[Dust6chap6]

A lot of folks dont know that Mike has made some great music after he left the Monkeys.

[madphilgreenballs]

@Dust6chap6 not only that, but his short lived tv skit show was bloody hilarious. Still remember his p*ss-take of Cole Porter. And some of the other skits were forerunners to the Zucker Bros/Abrahams early comedies, especially Kentucky Fried Movie. Mike has talent without doubt.

[Maxyshadow]

I'm so happy to hear this song again!

[nachodaddy]

The first line is missing, :o(

[sirtinycreep]

Mike looks a bit like Tom Hanks there.

[Thexdar]

I could be wrong but if I remember right Mike Nesmith is thought of as the Daddy of the music video as we know it today ... The first time I saw this video was in Elephant Parts that Mike put out many moons ago ... Also the song Crusin' was in it as well ... I think I still have my VHS tape of "Elephant Parts" ... LoL

[hammeron39]

@Thexdar back when MTV was about music was the era when the Nez owned it , he sold it and its been crap ever since,

[Thexdar]

@hammeron39 Amen to that .... I don't watch MTV anymore ... haven't in many years.... Man it was great to tune in and watch your favorite music vids and discover new music along the way .... That was a good time back then ... Thank goodness for YouTube and the youtubers who post some good oldies and some good new stuff also ...

[aasoder1]

I think of this song a lot (it's only a whimsical notion) and this is the first time I've seen the video in about 30 years. SO awesome.

"Flight 77, to Rio De Janiero, now boarding..."

I'm there.

[whoosh1965]

@aasoder1 : Re: RIO/ Is there a seat for me!! So over todays music. I remember listening to this song in the back seat of my parents Holden,kingswood station wagon, on our way to a family picnic.. A dream for me with so many wonderful memories...so surreal!

[MrGoblin60]

Still agreat piece of music and excellent video production.

[Tull151]

This was the only video 45 I ever had. It was on Beta, with crusin as the flip side. I still have the tape but my Sony beta hi-fi was vcr was stolen many many years ago. If I ever find another Beta vcr, I'll try to upload the entire video of this wonderfull old tune.

[ruandted]

4 poor people are deaf .

[cmsrick]

I loved this song the fist time I saw the video. By the way, I saw the video in 77 or 78 on a show called "Pop Clips". Some other videos on that show were The Lockers (a dance troupe) and some ballerinas doing a piece called "Swine Lake" and a band called Pearl Harbor and the Explosions doing a song called "Drivin". Anyway, Mike is one of my favorite guys ever. The coolness of this clip could not be duplicated, even with today's technology. He was a great writer and performer as well. Thin

[Kryannon]

who was the girl dancing with Michael?...funny video....love Nez

[onecinny]

This was the first music video I ever saw. It was late one nite, it was shown in between movies, as a short. probably 1982. I've never forgotten it, like Delta...Rio dee Jenner-oh...haha! 

[stevesman1]

I forgot how wonderful this song was - note the clincher - I probably won't go to Rio - but then again, I just might...

[mikthebik]

Thanks for posting dude, they don't make them like that any more. Amazing how slow the tempo seems now, compared to my memory - a bit like Burning Down the House compared to the live version.

[mikthebik]

Thanks for posting dude, they don't make them like that any more. Amazing how slow the tempo seems now, compared to my memory - a bit like Burning Down the House compared to the live version.

[beatlesandbeyond]

Great to see and hear this again - clearly a talented man and willing to have fun.

[patton303]

This was on his movie called Elephant Parts...

[tucountry]

Michael Nesmith doesn't get enough credit for his role in the creation of the music video. I remember an interview with him when Rio first came out. He said that video was the future of the music industry and that h was investing his fortune in it. Rio was one of the first videos to show the sheer creative potential of music videos and remember it was done without the aid of modern digital techniques. All credit to Michael Nesmith for his vision.

[BillyIsATwat23]

@tucountry Agreed. This is one of the first videos I know of which was both creative and a deliberate marketing tool (notice the not so subliminal use of the LP cover image at two points during the film...). It still looks good and fun now, and I wonder what people made of it 33 years ago. Great song too.

[cooliohunt]

I also remember this song is great & cool.

[maxpowercardz]

This was the first Music Video I ever watched . Don't remember what show , but this was before Mtv . I hardly ever heard this tune on the radio . Glad I can now enjoy this whenever I visit You Tube .

Mike is much more talented than was ever credited for ! by the way - How on Earth are the Monkees , The Moody Blues , Yes , Kiss , Chicago , Heart and Doobies not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ? I aware there are other very notable groups and performers also being snubbed .Seems Strange ?

[GaryW48]

@maxpowercardz It was Pop Clips on Nickelodeon in the Spring of 1981.

[mjbab73]

@maxpowercardz Since The Monkees were a "mock band", I doubt they're eligible.

[dandamagetoo]

I still have VHS copies of Elephant Parts. Break it out and watch it once in a while. I know it by heart but it gets a giggle out of me. This song has such a good groove too.

[Mojosbigstick]

I've loved that song for years, but had never sen the video before. Wonderful whimsy!

[zapkvr]

Crap song but a nice clip.

[malcfactor]

The pianist in Buffs Wine Bar Hornchurch Essex England ued to play Rio on Friday nights in the 70s...loved it then, still love it today.

[TheDjparagon]

I was a kid '77 I loved this song....and although I never knew it then,there's 2 slide guitars in the solo......Beautiful.

[melodyl52]

We have this on an old Lazar Disc! It is so cute. Thanks for the smile.

[Heavenfirst]

@melodyl52 ~ and, I thank you for the *smile* share dear sister :) What a great song!

Thank you for uploading it, retro25 ~ very nice share :)

God bless you, both!

[AllMixedUp312]

at 1:05, is that the same hat from 33 1/3 Revolutions per Monkee?

[bookat678]

@AllMixedUp312 yeah, it is. The same outfit and everything.

[SalsaAdam]

Touchingly moving, wonderfully daft, a golden miniature

[SOULBOUY1]

Thank you !!!

[EsfahanKellie]

Love it, love it.. love it.

[flipper803]

Sad thing is that most people just think he was a Monkee. Yes his solo stuff is real cool.

[alienhuman]

@dimpledick3inch oh now that is real comedy dimdick. You must be 10 years old.

[pinklesley]

Such a beautiful song. Thanks for sharing this.

[alienhuman]

@dimpledick3inch Funny, he said the same thing of you.

[robthejones]

I bought this recently off Itunes from a whimsy ... much like the song. My father & I used to laugh watching it on countdown and now my partner & I dance to it late on drunken nights. Lots of fun, thanks.

[draven26]

You wanna put a banging donk on it

[misrule64]

Wish you hadn't missed the first part of the song but very glad this is out there, even if incomplete.

[JohnWhapshott]

This is a brilliant video! Really clever and very funny! And a great song too, of course.

[bobhhoffmann]

Nez,:Best thing ever from the 70s. Thanks for the vision.

[sarahwhitinghough]

i thought mike nesmith hated to dance. he didnt dance in the monkees tv show. he's a good dancer. i would liked to dance with him :)

[sarahwhitinghough]

this is a really cool video. i wish i was at rio right now. is rio the island rio de janero?

[draven26]

I thought the first Music Video ever was Bohemian Rhapsody

[coomason5]

I don't understand why this never charted in the US. The competition couldn't have been that great.

[coomason5]

I don't understand why this never charted here in the US.

[mrskcleek]

At the very first Video Music Awards, this video won as best video of the year.

[TheSantana289]

Actually, if I remember rightly, this was also a hit in New Zealand. I remember the video being played here. Sunset Sam also enjoyed popularity here in l'il ole NZ.

[caltommy2]

A wonderful cheesy dancing with the stars gig from my past...

[jonhironimus]

Is it just me or is this song a little reminiscent of Jimmy Buffet's music?

[paddypoke]

no, it's not just you. There's a definate similarity. There;s a kind of "tongue in cheek" element in both styles

[lioneltwain22]

you mean Jimmy Buffet's music is reminiscent of this?

[qweeksdraw]

Say what you will about the quality, but this is in fact the first music video ever made that was specifically made to be a music video. This is the video that made MTV possible.

[tamapalagi]

@qweeksdraw thees is babba looie

[GaryW48]

I believe he piloted a program on Nickelodeon in late 1980 called 'Pop Clips', that was the test bed for gauging the popularity of MTV the following year.

[Sixalienasa]

Wasnt Mike Nexmith in the Chipmunks or something?

[tamapalagi]

@Sixalienasa the monkies.

[Sixalienasa]

Yeah I was a Big Monkees fan. I wuz juss kiddin.

[Born2bRedeemed]

Good song, but I'm sorry -- this video is cheesy

[22Yeller]

@Born2bRedeemed It's SUPPOSED to be cheesy. This is an intelligent man taking the piss out the music industry. He's being ironic !

[Scoobybobble]

I can't believe this is Mike Nesmith, I always loved this song as a kid but I didn't know it was him, wow!

[DONALDALEXANDER50]

top classic song iam from austgreat song

at time 1977

[owg59]

the blonde he's dancing with is hot! good song!

[22Yeller]

@owg59 If the vid was made in '77 that blonde will be nearly 60 years old now !!!

[sweetpea1673]

Why bother to talk about this? Mike will not talk about his time w the Monkees. He FORGOT where he started. I know I was around at that time and the LAST performance in LA when they got the star in Hollywood. He forgets us and we should him.

[Termite58]

Man i so much enjoyed this ! The Nes is to cool !!!

[whoosh65]

I absolutely love this song and video, michael nesmith is brilliant, cool,calm and extremely funny.

The song takes me back when I use to wear the Hawaiian shirts in the mid 70's. Living and loving those times again with songs from the 70's.

[xanya]

He's mastered the bored look, love Mike Nesmith

[CountryBoy4ever]

The first time I heard this was on the demo tape that came with my betamax, in fact I just played that tape today.

[Wellch]

Was there a Nesmith song in which he was driving a convertible around the Earth.. If so, what was the Title of that song?

[djdickfirst]

@Wellch Eldorado to the Moon, i believe

[glasgaman]

I heard it in the 70s 80s 90s 00s it is still awesome. the rythm section, lyrics et al so south american, foot tapping good you can feel the sun on your face on a cold day

[DeltaVeeMu]

I'm 52 & lived in the US all my life. I had seen this video years ago. Yesterday my daughter mentioned Rio (the city, not the song) and I said, "Not Reno, dummy, Rio ... Rio dee Jenner-oh."

She of course looked at me as if the old man was crazy (which I am). That song has stayed with me all this time. Thank you very much for posting it so I could see and hear it again after all these decades.

[msfyn]

I'm with you on this one but I'm from downtown Australia. My fond memory of the Monkees tour just makes me smile so many years over.

"Not Reno .....!!"

Great people like this share.

[coomason5]

@DeltaVeeMu lol! Good comeback.

[kcbob]

@DeltaVeeMu

I'm 50 and have said the same thing to my kids before too! They of course just act like I'm from Mars! :)

[mygreatlovenova]

haven't heard this song for years........ love it

[Janster59]

I just bought a Kia RIO-I know it had sumthin to do with this song......LOL!!!!

[ladydigger]

The kind of song you could listen to all day. Always preferred Nesmith to the other Monkees. He was the only one with real talent Lovely feel to the tune. Think I will stick this on the old Ipod.

[mysteredangkor]

A true sophisticate ! Not just a jumped up media creation .

[ginevras]

I remember seeing this when I was a little girl. I saw this before seeing any Monkees clip and it did take a bit of time to realise that the Mike Nesmith singing Rio is the same Mike from the Monkees

[cdkreturns]

They used to show this on HBO's Video Jukebox in the 80s

[idle44]

Didn't his family own MTV in the early years and invent VJ'ing?

[cynthetica]

dreamy baby

[sqTake2]

The quartet of soloing guitars overlapping like a tapestry was what sold me on this song. Papa Nez, leave the video please.

[vazjam]

A saving grace ( those guitars, I mean), maybe? I remember the released single having a bit more heart and soul...

Good, all the same :)

[Barsopen1970]

Sort of a dorky tune really, so being a music dork myself it was only fitting that i play this quite alot.

Was featured on " Living In The 70s - Vol 5, cd 2 "

[esarfmij]

listen to the lyrics . . . is this not the way your mind works?

[OPS5255]

Whenever I watch "Elephant Parts" I always watch Rio at least twice. The dancer in the green dress facinates me.

[SunnyMissDee]

Nice song. it wasn't a big hit in the UK either - got to about number 32 - but it still gets air play.

[pahrumpdirtnap]

I used to see this video on a show called popclips on early cable. Pre- MTV. One of about 12 videos they had.

[marcello09]

"Popclips" was produced by Pacific Arts, Mike Nesmith's video production company. No surprise that he would stick his own videos in there!

[retroj25]

Mike started up this video show "Popclips" after he visited Australia & NZ and saw how showing video clips could really help the success of a single.

I don't know how much of a viewing Popclips got in the US but "Countdown" in Oz was seen by the whole country on ABC TV, so that the exposure of a partic song was huge & it didn't matter as much if radio refused to play a partic song!!

[BudmanPackfan]

@retroj25 @pahrumpdirtnap I remember Popclips well on Nickelodeon a couple years before MTV came on the "air". We got to see a lot of "off the beaten path" bands like Squeeze, Split Enz, Talking Heads. Noting that many of the acts were from "down under" on that show, I now see the connection that retroj has outlined very nicely. Thanks for sharing! :)

[neurofire]

@retroj25 There was a video jukebox built in the late fifties called the Scopitone. They had a reasonable range of popclips - The Exciters - and I think Ruby and the Romantics - Dion de Mucci. There are still a few Scopitones around but they are museum pieces. The machine held about 30 clips and the mechanism was entirely mechanical and a marvel to watch it loading up 16mm film. I can't remember if the sound was optical or magnetic.

[moxie96]

@coketherealthing very likely because Mike started Nickelodeon... I don't know first hand because I never had cable then and still don't!

[tomlynntigard]

@pahrumpdirtnap

I think the Monkees could have gone another 3 to 5 years...their reruns were aired on all three networks. I think Mike would be the first to admit that he was wrong to take control and produce, also their script writers were not good enough for the last season, and they were all getting too self-centered. It's too bad, because bubble-gum music would hae been fun for the monkees...SUGAR, SUGAR could hae been their next #1 !

[JackMcQuack]

Man! Australia *rules*, then! This should've been a hit up here!