marcus132: One dumb move, can blow your groove

Marcus (

marcus132) wrote,
@ 2003-12-16 13:32:00

One dumb move, can blow your groove
Do any of you children of the '80s remember an anti-substance abuse PSA called "One dumb move, can blow your groove"? The whole video was centered around a rap song of the same name. It ran on TV somewhere around 1985-1988.

My 5th grade teachers had an actual record of the song (no doubt supplied by the government, or ABC television, or whoever was behind "just saying no" at the time), and they made us listen to it every afternoon. I still remember some of the lyrics to this day. Apparently I'm the only one, as a Google search for "One dumb move" + "Blow your groove" returns no hits.

Anyway, here's the lyrics I still remember:

Alcohol may cause you no alarm,
until you wake up and find that you are harmed.
You may laugh and think cigarettes are a joke,
but they're a cause of bad breath and something smoke.

When you check out the score in drug abuse,
you will find it's a game you can only lose.
It will soon be 1999,
and some of you may never use your mind.

Rock something something, 2 by 4,
under the spell of rock, not drugs or alcohol!

One dumb move, can blow your groove...

Anybody with me on this one? Anybody? Anybody?

UPDATE 05-12-06: Anonymous provides more accurate lyrics than I could remember in a comment below:

One dumb move....can blow your groove.

Alcohol may cause you no alarm
Until you wake up and find that you are harmed.
You may laugh and think cigarettes are a joke
but is it worth bad breath and health to smoke?

When you check out the score in drug abuse
what you find is a game you can only lose.
It will soon be 1999
and some of you may never use your minds.

Break, spin and rock but do not fall
under the threat of drugs, smokes or alcohol.

One dumb move....
(DRUGS! ALCOHOL!)
One dumb move...

Can anybody find a video/audio file? Anybody? Bueller?

(Post a new comment)

	(Anonymous) 2003-12-16 03:53 pm UTC (link)
	...No. (Reply to this)

	lostidol 2003-12-16 05:05 pm UTC (link)
	I have no clue what you qare talking about. (Reply to this)

	celara 2003-12-16 05:40 pm UTC (link)
	yeah, I've got nothing. sorry. (Reply to this)

webgodd_s
2003-12-16 06:45 pm UTC (link)

With her super hearing finely attuned to the cries for 80's trivia help, the mild mannered Web Goddess ducks into the nearest chat room whilst she removes her glasses dons her super 80's hero disguise costume.

Will she save the (back in the) day? Will she emerge triumphant over the Gen X'ers waning memories soused in bitterness and cynicism? Stay tuned to this comment thread for further developments...

(Reply to this)

	Well grant897 2003-12-16 08:33 pm UTC (link)
	I'm with you on it! I totally remember* that! I laughed every time! *By "remember," I mean I have no idea what the hell you are talking about, but felt like giving you a point for the home team. Go team! (Reply to this)

	agentkinesis 2003-12-16 11:06 pm UTC (link)
	I've never heard it but I'm really intrigued now... given the syllabical breakdown of those lyrics, I can't even begin to guess what kind of rhythm they were written for. When you find the mp3 of course, please share it ^^ (Reply to this)

This reminds me...

atrndm
2003-12-17 01:00 am UTC (link)

This totally reminds me of a similar song from the eighties used in my driver's ed class back when I was in high school. It was also a rap song and was just as cheesy. It went something like...

Buckle up, buckle baby,
before you drive.
Buckle up, buckle baby,
to stay alive.

Buckle up, buckle baby,
don't be a fool...
...(rap beat) DYING AINT COOL!

...and that is when I realized that it wasn't cool to die...

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: This reminds me... (Anonymous) 2003-12-29 09:42 pm UTC (link)
	I always thought it would be cool to die. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	alyssarixam 2008-07-16 06:04 pm UTC (link)
	Or was my high school just an odd place. Nick Kiddle says: May 14th, at pm - Edit I’m glad to see I’m not the only person to loathe Skater Boi with a fiery passion. (Reply to this) (Parent)

Hey kids, don't lie either!
(Anonymous)
2003-12-17 01:49 pm UTC (link)

That sounds vaguely familiar though I don't recall any more details on the song. I do remember a freaky commercial that used to run on Saturday mornings that was from "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." The dancing guys dressed all in black hiding behind free standing walls on some set covered in dry ice used to give me nightmares. Anyone else tormented by the jingle...

When you tell one lie it leads to another
And you tell two lies to cover the other
Then you tell three lies and, oh brother
You've got 'em up to your ears

So you tell four lies to try and protect you
Then you tell five lies so folks don't suspect you
Then you tell six lies and you'll collect
A life filled with worries and fears

'Cause you can't remember how many lies you've told
And half the things you say aren't true
And sometime you'll slip up, you'll trip up and then
Whatever will become of you

So you lie and lie without even trying
And each lie you tell will keep multiplying
'Till the whole wide world will know you're lying
Then you'll be suspected, detected, rejected, neglected, disliked
And you should
When you lie, you're closing the door on everything good

-- Lovin' Rockets

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: Hey kids, don't lie either! (Anonymous) 2003-12-18 07:37 am UTC (link)
	Apparently, Arlo Guthry wrote for the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. Lying always leads to the Group W bench. (Reply to this) (Parent)

marcus132
2003-12-18 10:23 am UTC (link)

Okay, so I am utterly alone on this one. Thanks for trying, everybody.

While we're on the subject of PSAs, does anybody remember the Cigarette Mash?

It had a bunch of totally 80s chicks throwing down massive handfuls of cigarettes and stomping them out with their little pointed shoes.

Now that I've told you 'bout the Cigarette Mash,
Go tell a friend (friend!) about the Cigarette Maaash!
Cigarette mash, cigarette mash!
We don't need 'em anymore!
CIGARETTE MASH!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: cigarette mash (Anonymous) 2004-02-22 10:33 am UTC (link)
	Hey john-jon@att.net here...yeah, I remember that song infact, I popped it into google 5 min ago and that's how I got directed here....you were the only entry on google to natch it...don't know why I was thinking about it, just popped into my head this am...John (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: cigarette mash marcus132 2004-02-22 01:15 pm UTC (link)
	Whoa! I did a little Googlin' of my own, and I found a picture of the pointy shoes I spoke of! Not only that, but in searching for Cigarette Mash, I accidentally found someone else who remembers "One Dumb Move"! (And don't even get me started on "We're Not Candy".) http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/viewmessages.cfm/Forum/73/Topic/26054/page/Old_PSAs_had_more_heart.htm (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Don't drown your food... (Anonymous) 2003-12-19 06:45 am UTC (link)
	While we're on the subject of crappy 80's jingles telling you what to do/not do, "I Love the 80's" reminded me of the little masterpeice about not putting things such as mustard and dressing on your meals. Considering I just saw it a few weeks ago on ILT80, I should know it. All I can remember, though, is laughing for about 5 straight minutes. (Reply to this)

To keep alive the cheesy grade school retro songs...
(Anonymous)
2003-12-26 06:07 am UTC (link)

(in a Bruce Springsteen like scratchy tone)
YO!, Hey YOU, Hey listen to me!,
You have the freedom to choose what to be!
Use your opportunity and don't be a fool,
you have the right, to stay in school.

(chorus - kids singing kind of like the kidz bop crud)
Knowledge is power, I know what I know.
The more you learn the farther you go.
When you get an education, you'll be taking a stand.
Cause knowledge is power, get it while you can

...unfortunately that's all I can remember, I was only 8 at the time, and being forced to hear this as a music class didn't exactly jarr this into memory...

(Reply to this)

Can I play too?

nut_bag
2003-12-29 09:25 am UTC (link)

Hello everyone. Long time reader first time writer.

I wanted to jump on the bandwagon of '80s PSAs.

My favorite character was a little yellow blob by the name of "Timer." Timer's job was to teach kids about eating healthy. Who knows why he was named this, but the point is that he was little, yellow, and a blob. Also, he wore a top hat, as most little debutant yellow blobs should. When they're going to cotillion, that is.

Now, Timer had two different important messages for kids that I can recall.
The first was that kids can eat cheese as a snack. Hence the clever slogan that has resonated in my head for the last 20 years, "I hanker for a hunka cheese!"
The other PSA, and perhaps the one I remember best, was a lesson about making fruit juice popsicles for after-school snacks. As many of you remember, I'm sure, you put the fruit juice in an ice-tray, cover it with plastic wrap, and then poke toothpicks down in. Freeze it, and then you'll have a delicious treat.

In doing some research, I came across this page dedicated to Timer. Thought you might like it. http://www.toontracker.com/timer/timer.htm

I hanker for a hunka cheese.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: Can I play too? marcus132 2003-12-29 10:21 am UTC (link)
	Ahh Nut_Bag! Thanks for being there for me! Nobody else was on this day: http://www.livejournal.com/users/agentkinesis/43320.html (Reply to this) (Parent)

One Dumb Move
(Anonymous)
2006-05-12 07:07 pm UTC (link)

Dude I totally remember this!

One dumb move....can blow your groove.
Alcohol may cause you no alarm
Until you wake up and find that you are harmed.
You may laugh and think cigarettes are a joke
but is it worth bad breath and health to smoke?
When you check out the score in drug abuse
what you find is a game you can only lose.
It will soon be 1999
and some of you may never use your minds.
Break, spin and rock but do not fall
under the threat of drugs, smokes or alcohol.

One dumb move....
(DRUGS! ALCOHOL!)
One dumb move...

(Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: One Dumb Move marcus132 2006-05-12 07:23 pm UTC (link)
	Anonymous, you're the first person ever to know what the hell I'm talking about, and you know the lines I didn't! You are awesome! Who are you? Do you know where I can get some kind of recording of this song? (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: One Dumb Move (Anonymous) 2006-07-13 08:09 pm UTC (link)
	I totally remember the preppy black guy - it started like this: "I didn't come here today to try and tell you about the ABCs or 2+2 I'm professor of the rhyme and I came to your school 'cuz I don't want to see you be a fool." I' ve been trying to find it on Google video, but can't... CB (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: One Dumb Move marcus132 2006-07-18 06:51 pm UTC (link)
	Oh yeah! I remember that! Let me know if you ever find anything! (Reply to this) (Parent)

Re: One Dumb Move
(Anonymous)
2007-04-27 10:04 am UTC (link)

As I recall it, it began....

I didn't come to your school to try to tell you,
About the ABCs or 2 plus 2s,
I'm Professor of the Rap and I came to your school,
Cuz I don't want to see you be a fool,

One dumb move (drugs!).......(alcohol!),
One dumb move can blow your groove,

Alcohol may cause you no alarm,
Until you wake up and find that you are harmed,
You may laugh and play cigarettes are a joke,
But its one bad breath two makes you choke,....

[.... some part later where he chastizes some black kid hanging out in the schoolyard....]

Hey little brother what you've got to say?,
You don't need all the gold and the diamond rings....

When You check out your score in drug abuse,
You will find its a game you can only lose,
It will soon be 1999,
And some of you will never use your minds...

[the rest that I remember was largely mentioned in previous posts]

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: One Dumb Move (Anonymous) 2007-04-27 10:12 am UTC (link)
	And this too....it ends.... So think for yourself and rise to the top, Cuz when your fresh you know you can't be stopped by, ONE DUMB MOVE! -benkin (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Re: One Dumb Move (Anonymous) 2008-04-03 12:32 am UTC (link)
	Man, I forgot I even posted a response. and thanks to the poser below, we got the rest. But I still can't find it on You Tube... (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Re: One Dumb Move (Anonymous) 2008-05-02 06:59 pm UTC (link)
	You are not alone! I was just telling a co-worker about this. All I can remember is, "I'm Professor of the Rap and I came to your school, Cuz I don't want to see you be a fool..." (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: One Dumb Move
(Anonymous)
2008-11-26 04:27 am UTC (link)

Just writing to let you guys know that I have an actual copy of the song One Dumb Move as sung by Professor of Rap Gary Bird. The copy I have was given out to us as students during an anti drug/alcohol concert at our school when I was only in 5th grade! The song is on a Very flimsy vinyl type material but is in perfect condition! I was offered 200 dollars for it awhile ago but found it to nostalgic to let go of! Brandon Bertollini

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: One Dumb Move marcus132 2008-11-26 05:02 am UTC (link)
	Whoa! I wouldn't think to ask you for your actual record, but could you make an mp3 of it to share with us? (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Yes I remember! (Anonymous) 2008-06-11 03:43 pm UTC (link)
	I'm 34 now and I have had this song in my head for at least 20 years (probably 25). Can't find it anywhere. Thanks for getting the lyrics and jogging my memory. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: Yes I remember! (Anonymous) 2009-04-19 09:13 pm UTC (link)
	i used to have the record! i remember it was one of those super floppy records... and for the LONGEST time it was still on my record player, but about 10 years ago, i looked for it and can't find it... i do remeber breakin to the song tho! (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

	Re: Yes I remember! (Anonymous) 2009-06-14 02:38 am UTC (link)
	I remember, too!!! This was a sweeeeet PSA. I am DYING to find it! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	absolutely (Anonymous) 2009-06-26 04:26 am UTC (link)
	i have been going crazy, trying to find someone who knows this thing. in fact, my brother used to have a poster with all the lyrics on it, and stills from the PSA. i'm sure it's long gone but dang- i wish i could get one! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: absolutely marcus132 2009-06-26 05:41 am UTC (link)
	If you ever find that poster, I want photos! (Reply to this) (Parent)

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