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  • Am I the only one who hears "Papa Don't Preach" every time he sings "Sugar Don't Bite"? :)

  • @hollyfigueroaoreilly No, what you hear is "Sugar Don't Bite" every time she sings "Papa Don't Preach". The songwriters of SDB sued and won. There's some trivia for you! :-) Sam's web guy.

  • @SamHarrisCOM Wow! I did NOT know that. Great info! Thank you, I will look more up on this. :)

  • This is absolutely awesome! I can't wait to see this guy at the El Portal Theatre on New Years Eve!

  • Everything instrinsically wrong with the 80's

  • Don't get me wrong, you do the slow songs better than most, but I thought you hadn't had any upbeat songs to crank loud in the car since the 80's... then i found your album Revival, and though it isn't 80's pop it is great music that makes you want to get out of your seat. Thank you, and keep working to get these rereleased.

  • this was a good song, not sure what 'sugar don't bite' means but has a good beat and Sam sounds great, more woman than man as usual but it comes off well here

  • I remember when he won on Star Search... and his Over The Rainbow was OUTRAGEOUS!!! Sam rocks!

  • We don't fet talent like this anymore. A white Michael Jackson?

  • HE IS SO GOODLOOKING!

  • Fear the mullet!

  • I remember watching him on Star Search and winning when I was really little.

  • @amysukie I was less little. HAHAHA

  • I used to luv Sam Harris! I was such a fan of his that I bought this record when I was in High School!! the "B" side track was a slow song that I came to luv! I don't remember the name of the song, but it went like this! "You were caught in a storm, you were battered & torn, your survival will be your revival, and when I took your hand, you were a thousand miles from land & the boat that you were sailing in was sinking" Damn I wish I had more space because i loved this song!!!

  • @NAPTOWNDIVA6886 .. song is called "The Rescue" and was on the first Motown album. However, you might be interested to know he re-recorded it. You can find it at: samtunes.net

    Enjoy!

    Sam's Web Guy

  • @NAPTOWNDIVA6886 I just dug out my old 45 & the flip side is "You Keep Me Hanging On". If I remember correctly (I have some age on me now as I was wayyyy past high school when he was on Star Search),, that's the song that I spent ages tracking down the record for back in 84. I haven't found it on YouTube though.

  • I'm beggin'...

  • SOMEONE needs to cover this SONG!!!!....lol

  • i love it

  • @gfkleopa Sam is brilliant. Lambert and our current Idol are emanating him. Noone beats SAM!

  • Boy could he rock that mullet. Love the tune....great pickup line and memories from it!!! Thanks, Sam!

  • 2:21 - Sam finally sees something he likes.

  • Good god the 80's was an embarrassing decade.

  • Great video....you're awesome!!!

  • unintentionally hilarious!!

  • Nice dancing!!

  • I remember him on Star Search!! I was in love with this song for a little while when it first came out. Man how time flies.

  • @sagwagon1971 You weren't the only one who couldn't get enough of Sugar Don't Bite back in the day. When I grew up, I was like "What was I thinking?". And I glad I was not the only one who noticed the Sugar Don't Bite-Papa Don't Preach connection. When PDP came out, I immediately said to a friend, "Doesn't this sound like 'Sugar Don't Bite'?"

  • I want to thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this video! I wanted to see it so bad when I was younger and couldn't! Now, I thank you for posting this video to relive my childhood!!!

  • Sam I LOVE YOU. Your so cute in this video. You and your vlogs inspire me everyday.

    When have you worked with Madonna?

  • Dude u r a gr8 performer 

  • Dude u r a gr8 performer

  • Here's a gem of "almost forgotten 80's tunes"...Sam had the chops, the video is slick, the people are all pretty, and the tune has a good hook. But what happened? We played the heck out of this song @ the radio station I worked for. I remember there was a follow up song to this, but even I have forgotten what it was called.

  • At this point, Motown was chasing trends and willing to sign anybody to avoid going bankrupt. Sam is an extraordinary talent, but Motown wasn't the right company for him at that time. Arista would have been a real good fit for him.

  • That video was filmed at Studio One ... the gay club in West Hollywood now called Factory.

    Too funny!

  • Oh wow! That took me back to when I heard this song Nov 1984, if I remember right. The red converse tennis shoes... Love it... Very fun to watch took me back to my 11th grade year. This video looks like it took over 5 years to make.Much action going on, and looks like it must have been difficult to make. Love the 1980's.Had to be there to know how cool and strange it was all at the same.. (It was really awesome to speak in 1980's terms) This video brings it right back...Totally Awesome!

  • this was such a great song. i used to play it over and over again. you had that type of music, where you just played it until you wore out the cassette!

  • 2 major LOL moments coming back-to-back: First, the guy that Sam ALMOST dances with at 2:22. Then, the reaction shot from the female dancer at 2:25 which is like, WTF is Sam DOING on this damn dance floor???

  • @BobCubTAC If I'm not mistaken that "female dancer" was actually Tracey Ross who won the Spokesmodel category on Star Search at the time. She later went on to star in the soap opera "Passions".

  • @VirgoDar yes, that is correct, it is her. Actually, there are a LOT of cameos in this video because all of the patrons are friends and people he was working with,

    -- Sam's Web Guy

  • lol extreme 80's dancin moves in video clips^^

  • OMG!! I never in a million years thought I would ever see this video again. This one received heavy airplay on BET's Video Soul back in 1984 which happens to be the last time I ever saw this video.

    Thank you so much for bringing this one back to the spotlight again. This album was also the first CD that I ever purchased before I even had a CD player LOL!!

    Great memories :)

  • Even Sam is like "this video is bull." I think it's meant to be stupid, though. It's a silly pop song, and it's damn catchy. 1980s = the best era for dance music.

  • Love that Dance floor with the 12 channel light bulb banks on the walls! And REAL POLICE LIGHT BEACONS

  • There are 2 beats and 2 rests difference between Madonna and Sam Harris. Doesnt anybody hear it?

  • @RRydnew  I hear it!! Papa Don't Preach

  • what's a semi-crotchet betweeen friends.lol.

  • I was so in love with him. He's still hot as can be... I thought he was the sweetest man I ever saw on television...

  • Of course "Papa Don't Preach" came off of the "True Blue" album a few years later for Madona, I never made that correlation till now, they do sound very similar, almost identical, the material girl wasn't always original is she?!

  • In Madonna's defense, she didn't write "Papa Don't Preach"- so it's not her fault that the two songs are similar.

  • Sam didn't write the song either, loves her and has worked with her. 

    Sam's web guy

  • @SamHarrisCOM I have to tell you I absolutley LOVE Sam. When has Sam worked with Madonna?.

  • @Kevinisaplaceonearth Madonna was a writer on Papa Don't Preach with Brian Elliot

  • That club in the video is Studio One in West Hollywood.

  • does anyone notice the music sounds like "Papa dont preach" by Madonna? goingto try and make a compliation of both in a duet......Sam Harris rulesssssss

  • Papa Don't Preach sounds like Sugar Don't Bite! :-) Yes, the songwriters of SDB noticed, and all I can say is Google it!

    Sam's web guy

  • Looking at the sheet music, yes I have a copy from my piano playing days, there are 2 beats and 2 rests difference between the two songs and I am a rank amateur. No need for googling just reading.

  • @SamHarrisCOM A lot of songs sounded alike, in '84. I even hear a little Bon Jovi "Living On a Prayer" in there...

  • Damnit the 80s were weird ...

  • Not for those of us that were living it, those who were teenagers in just about any decade before or since can reflect back on there youth and say, wow did we really wear that hair style or those clothes? I do not know how old you are, but, one day when they refer to your favorite music as "oldies", you will then think about your question, your era will look odd to the current generation, and so on, and so on!

  • Word up! I lived back then too and it was totally bitchin. Now, the talented of today(and even yesterday) get pushed aside for the mediocre and pathetic. Gnarly.

  • @italobambino43 With one exception - nobody will want to remember current music 'cause it's enormously crappy.

  • the 80's were great! weirdness was cool back in the day...

  • i cant believe its been 25yrs :(

  • I remember being 15 at the time this song came out and I rushed to the record store to buy the single. Plus, I had quite the crush on him.

  • omg finally a video, have this album his first,,,,,,after star search,, love it, he was so awesome, love his voice, his sweetness,

  • I was glued to Star Search every week just waiting for Sam to come on. What a voice! A real cutie too!

  • Wow, I remeber this song. 80's flashback!!

  • does anyone know which is the club on the video?

  • ask sam

  • this song was red hot! i think the flip side of album cover had him in a straight jackety which for some reason i thought was a cool photograph.

    now there is some sugar in dem dere shoes!

  • it was a red hot song.

    now there is some sugar in dem dere shoes.

  • oh my, this is so 80's

  • This song was RED HOT! -- It should've done better on the charts than it did. I think it only reached #36 on the Billboard charts.

  • This is so awesome because I get to finally learn the correct lyrics. I was a kid when this album came out and I played it to death but since the album didn't come with the lyrics I had to figure them out. "Floors are all made out of wood" became "Clothes are all made out of wool." "Bodies dance through the dark to submission" became "But it's thanks to the doctor's submission" and "Commit a misdemeanor, no" became "Cause I'm Mr. Mean I know." How funny to finally learn the correct lyrics. LOL!

  • never heard of the lawsuit and til now never even connected the two as sounding alike, but yeah, Papa is a clone.

  • I think I immediately realized that the chourus to Papa Don't Preach sounded similar to Sugar Don't Bite when Papa came out. Even my friends agreed with me.

  • Sam was such a womanizer.

  • That's a new one!

    Sam's web guy.

  • LOL! :D~

  • Sam was such a womanizer

    SamHarrisCOM (uploader) That's a new one!

    @SamHarrisCOM lol, Yeah him and Elton John

  • @SamHarrisCOM JayDascenzo Sam was such a womanizer

  • I remember the lawsuit between the 2 songs "Papa & Sugar". This video is hilarious. I about peed in laughter. I bet Sam is embarrassed. Funny how he tried to act straight in the video. Other than the overdramatizing and the dancing, the funniest part is in the end of the video where he taps his Chuck Taylors together like Dorothy did with her ruby red slippers in THE WIZARD OF OZ "3:23".

  • This song was and still is the shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttttttt­tttttttttttttttttttt:) best mems man best

  • I must be the only unknown here who was old enough to live through the 80's, but this war between which came first--the Sugar or the Papa--is preposterous. Sugar came out in the latter part of 1984; Papa came out in the summer of 1986. Check the Billboard charts if you must. One cameo I do see here is fellow "Star Search" alumnus Tracey Ross at 2:25 (both she and Sam were in SS's inaugural 1983-84 season). What memories of seeing Sam on SS back in the day--a Sunday night ritual! :-)

  • I loved him on Star Search and this was my cut!! "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "I'd Do It All Again" I like by him. I never realized "Sugar" and "Papa" were similar. I'm glad folks got paid for their work. Most don't.

  • Great video! remember staying up late against my parent's wishes and watching this on NightTracks! Also loved him in THE LIFE!!!!

  • Sugar don't bite...la la la la

    Papa don't preach...la la la la

  • Loved it!

  • great video here, I always loved Sam Harris song

  • Back in high school, a classmate danced to this at a school program. Complete with sequin outfit & white shades. Good times...

  • Now THIS is music. And damn, given the cameo, the price certainly is worth the admission.

  • i had the freakin record, cant believe i found this, havent heard it since like 1984

  • Wow. I fou listing the part when he sings "SUGAR DON´T BITE" the Madonna´s  songs Papa don´t preach from 1986. Interesting. I was a kid in the 80´s.

  • Yes, "Papa Don't Preach" sounds like "Sugar Don't Bite"... not the other way around. :-)

  • Close. Madonna's beat track has 2 extra beats(its on purpose) in a different key but if you dont listen close, it can be confused for each others songs.

  • Close enough for Madonna to get sued for it, and she lost.

    Sam's web guy

  • I still have this music video on an old VHS tape. It was such a fun song. I'll never forget those red tennis shoes with the sparkling silver outfit. So cool. Grammy

  • theyre acctually sequin Chuck Taylor Convers All Stars

  • evilhippiechick, Sam had a bazillion colors and many were custom.

    Sam's web guy

  • JEALOUS!!!

    my brother actually wants a pair of those

  • OMG this song brings back memories..never the seen the video until now.  Thanks for posting!!!

  • I was searching this song and found Sam Harris myspace page. I was sooo dang thrilled, his voice has gotten richer and is just as beautiful as ever. You know I have gotta run out and find everything I have missed over the years. I apologize Sam for losing touch.

  • the chorus melody is the same of PAPA DON'T PREACH (Madonna), and the video clip remember me Michael Jackson videoclip,but the quality is not the same: poor version of MJvideos(about the dance style and direction style).

  • Google "sugar don't bite" "papa don't preach" and "sued".

    And the video looks nothing like anything MJ.

    Webmaster

  • i thought the boy was too darn cute. just wanted to eat his little ass up!!! he had an album cover on which he was in a straight jacket and some paint brushes were thrown about. was this song from that album? anyone know? i recall this song very well and i remember that i had the album with the cover i am asking about but i can't match songs to album covers. anyone know out there?

  • yes...that was the album!! Still a great one even today!!

  • I LOVE THIS SONG!

    damn, wish the audio was better...but it's good to see the video again!

  • looks like Sam and a dozen friends got a crash course at Arthur Murray and decided to make a video at the corner bar. I love it when he clicks his heels like Dorothy! sparkly Chucks!!

  • I love this song, and the entire debut album from which this was released. And of course, had such a crush on Sam. Very handsome man and sexy chest. ;)

  • I remember this great song! -- Did he have any other hits?

  • This proves that disco lived well into the 80's... this was a good dance hit.

  • we all remember his tennis shoes so well....lol

  • I remember seeing this vid. on MTV in 1984 at the age of 17, and got the cassette and ...

    ... the hairstyle. And I have straight hair so I had to get my first and only perm on the top of my head. It looked good, was fun. But it grew out. Ah, those were the days.

  • omg look at taht 80's hair!

  • The Matt-man says "he's a sexy beast"! I would share my hot fudge sundae with him. Yes yes yes!

  • wow sexy back then sexy now!

  • bella, bel ritmo e voce energica....

  • This song was big in D.C. too !! Boy I feel old !! Good song though !!!

  • not only do real men wear pink, have man crushes on famous athletes,or sin they dance too!(well which ever one applies to you

  • This is a classic, man! I remember this getting tons of spins in Wichita, KS. Your song and many others during 1984 made 1984 one of the best years in music. This IS the year that I started buying records like a crazy DJ and I was only 11. Urban radio should have given you some lovin on this record, thankfully BET did! Unforgettable song!

  • I have the original vinyl single in my closet! This song reminds me of a classic Shalamar track. Sam Harris was the original A-Idol!

  • Sam was and still very much is a hot, hot, hottie!

  • Wasnt he on Star Search or something like it?

  • yes, that is where he got his start.

  • Sugar Don't Bite - what classic lyrics. Love it Sam

  • haha, Rock On Sam Harris, you were way ahead of Madonna, this Gay Crow Indian loves your style and also wishes you the very best of all that Life has to offer,Hugs and be well and be Blessed my good man!!!

  • Papa don't pre...sugar don't bite

  • Other way around.

  • Oh, and thanks for posting the lyrics! I've always wondered why clothes were made out of wood ... but I see it is actually the floors that are made out of wood!  LOL!

  • LOL! At least you got part of it right. I used to think it said "clothes are all made out of wool"

  • I read somewhere that this song was not a happy experience for Sam and that later he refused to perform it. But watching this video, which I missed in the '80s, I think the song has passed the test of time very well. Such energy! I have Sam's two Motown LP's in the closet somewhere, both very well played and enjoyed in another time, and I'm sorely tempted to go rummaging for them!

  • contact youtube. sometimes it works, sometimes not.

  • I often wondered what happened to him - he was so awesome and I thoguht for sure he would be a huge star but I am shocked that now I see him being a stand up comedian too? I used to have his first tape and I am glad I found this cause I would love to have a CD now of his old stuff !!!

  • uwishtoo, Sam is not a stand up comedian, though I guess he could be. What you might be referring to are segments of patter mixed in his concerts. Sam has been staring on Broadway, in film and TV for the last few years. Subscribe to catch up!

    _Webmaster

    SamTUBE.com_

  • ahh I misread some stuff then - and I did subscribe to all of his stuff - I dont know what made me think to look for his stuff out here but I did and am thrilled to see him looking so well and still performing!

  • Thanks and Welcome!

    S

  • Wow! I consider myself an 80's music fanatic. And I'm sorry to say that I had completely forgotten about Sam Harris. How could I forget! What a great singer & dancer! Watching this video was like getting in a time machine and seeing it again for the first time. Brought back memories of Star Search too. Great vid! Glad I was lucky enough to stumble upon it in 4gottentraxx's video collection.

  • Ah, that explains a lot.

    Shame on her. :(

  • Hmm...

    The chorus reminds me of a Madonna song, but I can't put my finger on it...

  • BBQjust4u, Google the combination of "Sugar Don't Bite", "Papa Don't Preach" and "sued".

  • I listen and dance to this at least 10 times a day! ;) Love ya, Sam!

  • isn't that buddy, charles friend from charles in charge? ok i know its not him, but its funnier if you imagine it is.

  • OMG!! chucks were THE THING!!! I'm going to have to go through all the archives and catch up!! I just make the "THE Sam Harris of the 80's" to my "Sam Harris- favorite new Youtube acct" connection!!!! What a wonderful thing to see someone so amazing be an even more amazing person in life!! I think I <3 you all over again ;-) Only THIS time I'm not struggling through puberty simultaneously.. lol

  • this is so the 80's how cool!! :)

  • The last time I saw Sam Harris Bevis and Butthead was watching his Over the Rainbow vid and screaming.

  • Waveman617, that's in our favorites! Check the main channel.

  • heh heh cool better chances :-P

  • Sam Harris for prezzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!

  • 100% 80s :)

  • OMG, this is TOTALLY the 80's!

  • i love how tracy got a big close up!!! lol... i miss those days sam... thanks for this one!

  • OMG Sam this brings back so many memories, Thanks for posting it.

  • papa dont preach!!!

    oh...no

  • I love Sam Harris !

  • Sheesh!! I still have this 45 and the picture sleeve - pink tennis shoes and all!

  • Great song & pretty video.....

  • p.s. I ALWAYS HAD A CRUSH, IM A GUY, NO DISPEPCT :-)

  • latintoppapi, Sam is an openly gay man, so I'm sure he takes it as a compliment.. =)

  • amazing video, pure 80's bought back alot of memories for me :-)

  • Sam...of course, like everyone else we all saw the Star Search days, but does everyone have your first 2 LP's. Yes, I have them packed away in my closet somewhere. I'm gonna have to pull them out and convert to .mp3 for my computer/mp3 player.

  • Sam, where those the original Solja Boy Glasses!?

  • Who did the dance step layout. I can not spell the cor. word. Sam who taught you to dance, it is great. You got moves.

  • Hey Sam, Thanks for the Credit on the "Sugar Don't Bite" video. You were a nice guy then and you still are, by the way you sure look good.  G.G.

  • The woman Sam is dancing with found us! Her name is Galyn Gorg, and her YouTube username is "jammingirl1". Say hello!

    _Webmaster

    SamTUBE.com_

  • he has an oober dorky

    enterance but other than

    that it was awesome!

  • I remember this guy fron Star Search back in the day. He surprised everybody by signing with Motown. At that time Motown Records was in decline and did NOT promote their artist very well. I wonder if this guy had gotten a better deal if his career would have been bigger.

  • I found this by accident. Many thanks for posting.

  • oh my god! straight up 80s and it is awesome

  • I like the synth work in 80's songs 80's music is addictive i have this album on vinyl and cassette

  • Sam...I always loved the sound of your voice from waaaaay back on Star Search....this one though...it just isn't a song for you...I know that it was back in the day and was timely....but man, show tunes are for you...rising crescendos and huge powerful songs are your forte...

  • WOW- Shade B93 presents a pretty compelling case for the Madonna rip-in the chorus especially...Jeez

  • It became a "compelling case", you could say!

  • For years, I've always been convinced that Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach" was lifted from "Sugar Don't Bite". The overall feel of her tune is so close and the melody of the hook is an almost direct "cut and paste" job. Thank God you've posted this so I can share this great tune with friends & family.

  • Google the combination of "Sugar Don't Bite", "Papa Don't Preach" and "sued".

  • Thanks for that info. I'm glad to hear that the writers got paid their due for that obvious plagiarism of "Sugar Don't Bite". I know Sam hates the tune, but man, it should've done so much more. The record reps at Motown should've worked this song on up the charts.

  • Just wondering... who directed this video?

  • Sam is giving away a free MP3!

    Go to SamTube.com_ and look for the video "You've Got A Friend". This is a gospel version not found on any of his cds.

    You will find the link to download in the description text to the right of that video.

    Enjoy!

  • love this song, love seeing you perform again

    wonderful