Toni Basil (on "Mickey", Dance, Reese Witherspoon, Tina Turner, Bowie, Bette Midler, & Her Epic Career)!

Oh Mickey, you’re so fine. You’re so fine, you blow my mind. Hey Mickey, Hey Mickey. You know the rest. Everyone knows the rest! Toni Basil steps Behind The Rope. Yup, THAT Toni Basil who broke many records with one of the biggest hits and most catchy songs, well, ever. Toni is here to chat about her entire career, a career that has spanned a whopping six decades and still going strong. A career that includes dancing, choreographing, singing, and acting. We start at the beginning, Toni was drawn to the business at a young age with parents who were entertainers, taking up dance and cheering while in High School. Toni’s passion for dance, she was one of the seven original Lockers, landed her premiere gigs as a choreographer working with musical icons like Tina Tuner and David Bowie. Toni opens up about what working with each was like and what music legends she would still like to work with. Toni has also choreographed many of our fav films including “My Best Friends Wedding” - we chat about what working with Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz was like - and “Legally Blond” - we chat about the joys of teaching Reese Witherspoon moves and the infamous “bend and snap”. One Icon Toni has, not only worked with, but became close lifelong friends with is Bette Midler. Toni chats about what working with Bette is like and what it is like to be BFF’s with one of the most recognized women in the world. Toni chats about how she went from choreographer behind the camera to singer with “Mickey”, a song that tops every Top 100 songs of the 80’s list ever made. Toni chats about what it was like to be a singer in the early 1980s when contemporaries like Madonna were rising up the musical scene as well. We discuss the influence of MTV in helping make a singer’s career in the early 80s and the concept, dance, and look - she wore her original high school cheerleading sweater - she created for “Mickey” which helped make it one of the most played videos in MTV’s early days. A triple threat, Toni has also starred in many movies and TV shows working with greats like Robert Downy, Jr. and Penny Marshall. Toni chats about how the business has changed over the years, what she thinks of current music, who she would like to play her in the movie of her life, and what is next for the woman who just doesn’t want to slow down. Finally, we need to know about the last time she hit the town with BFF Bette Midler and just what do these two lifelong friends do for a girls night out. (For Part I of our chat With Toni Basil, See Air Date June 25th, 2021). @officialtonibasil @behindvelvetrope @davidyontef BONUS EPISODES at - https://www.patreon.com/behindthevelvetrope Brought to you by BETTER HELP - https://www.betterhelp.com/velvetrope (10% Off First Month - Use Code “Velvet Rope") MERCH AVAILABLE at - https://www.teepublic.com/stores/behind-the-velvet-rope?ref_id=13198 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices