Indiana Jones: the first new wave star? courtesy Paramount Home Media Distribution

Time -- well, a lack of time -- prevented me from some long-winded appreciation of Indiana Jones pegged to "Raiders of the Lost Ark"'s return to theaters. Some indulgent commentary about how the sound of Indy's gun was so much grander than the pop of other cinematic firearms. Or the self-deprecating glee with which Steven/George created a larger-than-life hero with regular guy phobias and a penchant for getting clobbered in dramatic fashion. But again, time . . .

When "Raiders" was released in 1981 I was too young to appreciate it beyond the bookends of rolling boulders and melting faces. I regarded it as thrilling film and found myself wanting to become an archaeologist . . . so long as it involved adventure and guns that made big booms. It wasn't until a friend posted a video today on my Facebook page that I realized it wasn't just kids in eastern Kentucky who were influenced by "Raiders." MTV, the fledgling TV channel that once upon a time paired M(usic) to TV, was clearly under the spell of the snake-fearing archaeologist as well. To wit . . .

Toto's "Africa" from 1983

Asia's "Don't Cry" from 1983

And, of course, Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf" from 1982

And unrelated to "Raiders" but VERY related to Toto is Steve Almond's excellent breakdown of "Africa":