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Genevieve's avatar

Everybody cut, everybody cut...Kenny Loggins does transcend the 80's, and I hear everything y'all are saying about Let's Hear It for the Boy...but in an 80's movie music region, it's gotta go to Loggins. (again, too late to vote...here it might actually make it close)

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The 80s-est's avatar

I am counting your vote! This closed an hour ago. It's all good. and this makes it EVEN CLOSER! wow!

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Marcia's avatar

John Bedwell - I'm so with you that "Let's Hear It . . ." is a song I skip/change the station anytime it comes on! I'm definitely not a fan of it. But, I'm actually voting for it because I have to admit: to me, it's a way more 80s song than "Footloose." Kenny Loggins, in particular, transcends the 80s for me. I associate him with 70s yacht rock; and I think his songs are just better than a lot of really 80s songs. Kudos to our hosts on funny comments and great factoids! Joe - I had no idea Deniece Williams sang the Family Ties theme. I looked it up after listening to this episode, and gosh-darn-it, you were right! And I never imagined I'd hear someone say the "golden age of feedlot dancing has passed us by." Great stuff. Thanks for the info and laughs!

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The 80s-est's avatar

Wilson's Mill is a Purina feedlot, right?

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John Booth's avatar

NOOOO! I CLICKED ON THE WRONG GD BUTTON. Can you override that accidental Footloose vote and give it to Deniece? Anyway...as noted: Far from a song about someone who's not worthy, "Let's Hear It for the Boy" is *clearly* an '80s homage to Shakespeare's Sonnet 130. Irony transcends centuries. (Joe, man, I expect more from a scholar of literature. You redeemed yourself with the "Family Ties" factoid, though. Well done.) And how dare you - I SAID HOW *DARE* YOU credit Kenny Loggins for the timeless wonder that is Lindsey Buckingham's "Holiday Road?" At least you both got the vote right, because despite its popularity "Footloose" is nowhere near the '80s-er of these two: It's microwaved '70s casserole.

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The 80s-est's avatar

I cannot reverse your vote. I can only note that if it's close, I will fix the vote by switching 1 for you!

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Amanda Cairns's avatar

I'm with Genna..... I'm 100% for Footloose. (Although I like the entire Footloose track!). They really all scream 80's to me

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The 80s-est's avatar

when i take into account the votes from Facebook, Spotify, and here, (and John Booth's mis-vote, mentioned above, I *think* this is tied, gonna have to re-count! 😮

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Deni's avatar

I'm behind in episodes because I couldn't access while overseas. The voters on this one clearly got it wrong.

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The 80s-est's avatar

I know voting just closed on this one an hour ago, but we have votes to tally from Facebook and Spotify also...so if you want to cast a vote here in the comments, I will count it!

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Deni's avatar

Definitely put me down for Footloose.

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The 80s-est's avatar

With this vote, and some of the others, this could easily come down to one vote! Thanks for being on board, Deni! --Keith

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Betty's avatar

Factoid: Kevin Bacon was like 25ish when he filmed Footloose. Giving my vote to Deniece Williams for the falsetto at the end and despite the video, which, although very '80s, has DW (who would've been around 35 at the time) flirting hard with dozens of underage boys (guessing/hoping that this was not her idea). And sadly no, there's still a lot of ego-boosting and settling going on out there. But I digress! Back to the music.

Fun podcast, guys!

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The 80s-est's avatar

I love your breakdown here. It made me go watch the DW video for the first time. Gave me creepy shades of the Madonna "Open Your Heart" video. Your vote has tied this contest...a real nail-biter!

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John Bedwell's avatar

I spent years changing the channel anytime "Lets Hear it..." started to play, so I reluctantly had to go for Kenny Loggins. Thanks for the tough choice - it makes things interesting!

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Leah LaCivita's avatar

Nevertheless, my vote is for the king of the 80s soundtrack. He was actually hilarious in an episode of Documentary Now

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Leah LaCivita's avatar

Yall, ‘settling’ was a theme for the 80s ladies. Deniece knew what she taking about

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The 80s-est's avatar

Listening back to that song after such a long hiatus, it sure sounded that way! 🤣

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Leter Pames Jomax's avatar

'Let's hear it...' is definitely more 80s, but I simply couldn't vote for it. I hope I'm not wrecking this thing.

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The 80s-est's avatar

Far from wrecking it, this is the whole point! Each person votes based on their own set of criteria! Our arguments are just that, opinions formed by mere mortals. Yes, granted, we SOUND like gods, with our smooth voices and chic viewpoints, but we are just like you.

Also: Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce, all the way from Europe, the international man of mystery, artist, DJ, musician: El Waxo!

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Leter Pames Jomax's avatar

Haha, that's not the first time I've been called that. You're an absoulte legend, Keith, totally blessed to know you B)

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The 80s-est's avatar

I don't deserve you, Wax!

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Joel Domoe's avatar

Kenny Loggins was my favorite artist for a time. He's actually a great songwriter and musician, but I'm of the opinion that by including him you have broken your "artists that belong exclusively to the 80s" rule. Loggins had a complete career in the 70s -especially as half of Loggins and Messina (Your Mama Don't Dance, Danny's Song, House at Pooh Corner, etc) and his career extended well into the 90s, aughts, and beyond as well. I think he's actually in the middle of his final tour (labelled "This Is It") right now.

https://kennyloggins.com/final-concert-tour-this-is-it/

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The 80s-est's avatar

Well, there's not much arguing against your point. I don't know the songs you mention there very well, but I believe they exist, and I know he was a Yacht Rock legend back then. Making up rules and then sticking to them is not one of our strong suits. I think we will do better on "Side B." I am willing to concede that what you and John Booth and John Bedwell have all basically been saying, we should have just picked "Almost Paradise" for this spot. But in our defense, Kenny was the SOUNDTRACK guy of the 80s, but not of the other decades. And I can't name a Loggins 90s song, but I was never the fan that you were...I had my head deep in the Van Halen archives. hahaha! Thanks for listening, Joel!

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Joe Wack's avatar

Listen, I think our arbitrarily deciding when we will and won't stick to the rules is a feature, not a bug. And I won't be bullied by a swing dancer.

I said Good Day, sir!

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Joel Domoe's avatar

Your response reveals that you have great wisdom! I agree it is a feature and indeed never be pushed around by a swing dancer. You would lose all of your after cred!

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John Bedwell's avatar

If there is truly a rule that artists must exclusively belong to the 80s, you should just throw it out. There are too many great artists who started careers well before the 80s, or kept going well beyond the 80s, yet still produced several classic 80s songs. Rick Springfield, Duran Duran, Madonna, David Bowie, and Bryan Adams are all great examples. I think what really matters is whether or not the song "takes you back" to that time, whether it is because the song sounds like the 80s or it helps you relive moments that defined you in the 80s.

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The 80s-est's avatar

Well, don't worry, we bend and break rules all the way through this thing. We will be better prepared for Side B, Season 2! You need to share what moments the songs help you re-live!

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Deni's avatar

That's why I think Footloose is the 80s-est of this bracket, because in the movie bracket nobody is more 80s-est than Kenny.

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Deni's avatar

I meat to say of this matchup, not the whole bracket. Cause the #1 seed here is hard to top.

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The 80s-est's avatar

And the winner of this 8/9 faces #1 in the next round !

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The 80s-est's avatar

He unquestionably ruled the 80s box office, even though he did NOT write "Holiday Road"! So this is as valid a take as any.

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