Taylor Dayne is energetic, has catchy tunes, and a strong voice. It's not necessarily poetic, important music, but it was good pop/dance music! --Keith
(Puts on my leg warmers and neon scrunchies and gets out the Caboodles) Oh man, this region is my jam! Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, Jody Watley, Taylor Dane, Milli Vanilli! You even have Martika on there, who I was convinced I might have imagined because I thought no one remembered her but me ("Toy Soldiers" was the very first cassette single I purchased! I'm sure you've got this one down, but make sure to include Eminem's "Like Toy Soldiers" in that episode.) This will be a tough set of decisions for me, for sure.
Also, since Paula Abdul isn't on here, she HAS to be among the Legends. Otherwise I'll personally come to your house with a pitchfork (Keith's house...Joe you're too far away, I'll send a photo of me with a pitchfork). A little disappointed about some of the others that didn't make the cut (I don't like Bobby Brown, but My Prerogative is incredibly 80s -- plus you could've play a clip of Maya Rudolph saying "That you, Bobb-ay BEEEE??"), but this one had a lot to pack in. I'd completely forgotten about "Casanova" too -- didn't know the singer was from Cleveland!
Anyways, this will be all I'm listening to for possibly the rest of my life to avoid existential dread (staved it off for like 10 more minutes writing this comment!). Thanks for your service to the cause!
Oh, believe me, I have got you covered on "Toy Soldiers," kid! I put Paula on the Legends consideration list, just for you! And we will take it under advisement that this is all you will listen to forever, and try to keep the pod going...I maybe have 40 years, at most? Thanks for listening, hang in there! 🤗 --KGM
Since Joe had never heard of it, I think, and I had it so low, it had no real chance. But then I heard how similar to "Casanova" it was, and wow 😮! I'm sure Donny didn't even write the song, and I wouldn't be surprised if Donny was completely unaware of Levert. Regardless, "Soldier" was loved by a teen female demo that propelled it to hit status.
I gotta say, I'm surprised by the number one seed. I totally thought Rick Astley would be the top spot.
I know now everyone thinks of being Rick rolled when it plays, but here's what I think of every time I hear it:
At my dance club when this song came out, where we were all new wavers or punks or goths, the DJ decided to throw on Never Gonna Give You Up. The response was that everyone on the dance floor sat down until he took it off the turntable. It was never played there again.
To this day don't know what that guy was thinking.
We were sincerely mathematical on this one. Mony Mony is #1 because we both had it and it was higher on my list. I had Rick Astley ranked pretty high, but he was near the bottom of Keith's ranking.
I feel like "Never Gonna Give You Up" was just another successful pop song back in those days, clearly remember it, but I rated it based on my memory of it then, trying to divorce it from its successful resurgence as a meme 20 years later.
Well, this region certainly doesn't disappoint! I knew Milli Vanilli would get the love they deserve 😍😂. Too bad Belinda Carlisle didn't make it, I was sure she would... I love the song and it got a new life thanks to Black Mirror's "San Junipero" episode. Can´t wait for the Tiffany / Debbie face-off!
Rick Roll! Rick for the win! Or Tell It to My Heart. Always liked that one.
Taylor Dayne is energetic, has catchy tunes, and a strong voice. It's not necessarily poetic, important music, but it was good pop/dance music! --Keith
(Puts on my leg warmers and neon scrunchies and gets out the Caboodles) Oh man, this region is my jam! Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, Jody Watley, Taylor Dane, Milli Vanilli! You even have Martika on there, who I was convinced I might have imagined because I thought no one remembered her but me ("Toy Soldiers" was the very first cassette single I purchased! I'm sure you've got this one down, but make sure to include Eminem's "Like Toy Soldiers" in that episode.) This will be a tough set of decisions for me, for sure.
Also, since Paula Abdul isn't on here, she HAS to be among the Legends. Otherwise I'll personally come to your house with a pitchfork (Keith's house...Joe you're too far away, I'll send a photo of me with a pitchfork). A little disappointed about some of the others that didn't make the cut (I don't like Bobby Brown, but My Prerogative is incredibly 80s -- plus you could've play a clip of Maya Rudolph saying "That you, Bobb-ay BEEEE??"), but this one had a lot to pack in. I'd completely forgotten about "Casanova" too -- didn't know the singer was from Cleveland!
Anyways, this will be all I'm listening to for possibly the rest of my life to avoid existential dread (staved it off for like 10 more minutes writing this comment!). Thanks for your service to the cause!
Oh, believe me, I have got you covered on "Toy Soldiers," kid! I put Paula on the Legends consideration list, just for you! And we will take it under advisement that this is all you will listen to forever, and try to keep the pod going...I maybe have 40 years, at most? Thanks for listening, hang in there! 🤗 --KGM
Oh man, the Donny Osmond song. I remember that train wreck. How terrible, but probably did deserve a spot in the bracket.
He continues to prove that he is, in fact, not even a little bit rock and roll.
Since Joe had never heard of it, I think, and I had it so low, it had no real chance. But then I heard how similar to "Casanova" it was, and wow 😮! I'm sure Donny didn't even write the song, and I wouldn't be surprised if Donny was completely unaware of Levert. Regardless, "Soldier" was loved by a teen female demo that propelled it to hit status.
Thank god Bobby Brown didn't make the cut. Awful song, and we really don't need to hear Keith make those attempts and funky noises.
hahahahaha love it! and I don't LOVE Bobby Brown either, though I can see the argument for him. --Keith
I just picked up the Japanese pressing of that Scritti Politti album in Kyoto.
Did they have other songs that you knew back then? This was the only song of theirs I know.
--Keith
Oh yeah, that album in particular is great. The other single off that record was Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin), which did well in the clubs.
I gotta say, I'm surprised by the number one seed. I totally thought Rick Astley would be the top spot.
I know now everyone thinks of being Rick rolled when it plays, but here's what I think of every time I hear it:
At my dance club when this song came out, where we were all new wavers or punks or goths, the DJ decided to throw on Never Gonna Give You Up. The response was that everyone on the dance floor sat down until he took it off the turntable. It was never played there again.
To this day don't know what that guy was thinking.
We were sincerely mathematical on this one. Mony Mony is #1 because we both had it and it was higher on my list. I had Rick Astley ranked pretty high, but he was near the bottom of Keith's ranking.
I feel like "Never Gonna Give You Up" was just another successful pop song back in those days, clearly remember it, but I rated it based on my memory of it then, trying to divorce it from its successful resurgence as a meme 20 years later.
I would have contrived Billy Idol vs Tiffany to have the two Tommy James and the Shondells covers against each other.
We most definitely considered that. Ultimately went in the other direction.
And we did set it up so that if the favorites win, the Tommy James songs meet in round 2! --K
Well, this region certainly doesn't disappoint! I knew Milli Vanilli would get the love they deserve 😍😂. Too bad Belinda Carlisle didn't make it, I was sure she would... I love the song and it got a new life thanks to Black Mirror's "San Junipero" episode. Can´t wait for the Tiffany / Debbie face-off!
Belinda was a sad one to lose, I agree! I need to
check out that Black Mirror episode!
Tiffany/Debbie square off in Friday's show! 🤗
--Keith