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Leter Pames Jomax's avatar

Guys, did you know Hitchhiker's Guide was also a BBC radio series? It's amazing!

Can't find the version I'm on about anywhere, but I have it... Hang on

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The 80s-est's avatar

I think I believed it was once a BBC *TV* series, and I am sure I have never heard the radio series, but the book's grandiosity and weirdness lend themselves to a theater-of-the-mind situation like radio! Love it! (Drop me a link if you ever DO find it! 🙂)

-Keith

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Leter Pames Jomax's avatar

The original radio show is next level in mind-theatre compared to the old TV series. Check yr email 😊

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John Booth's avatar

This is the most accurate seeding in this bracket: Both of these songs are so middlin' that it's difficult for me to tap into a strong feeling for either one, so my vote goes to Level 42.

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The 80s-est's avatar

I have a huge love for the Level 42 song, explained further in the show, so I am appreciative of the vote! 😁 --K

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Margaret's avatar

Oh, and 1986 was a non-Todd year. Brian (the future one and only husband) was in '86 and we got married in '87. Good times. Btw, I heard he died of cirrhosis a few years ago, but at least he looked good in our wedding pictures. lol

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The 80s-est's avatar

I don’t think I ever met Brian, or if I did, I have wiped him from memory. I’ll have to check out these wedding pics next time I visit! 😝 (Sorry to hear that he passed, though, that must be weird.) —K

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Margaret's avatar

Great show, guys!

I like both of the songs, but Cutting Crew just edged out Level 42. On the 3M meter (Meg's Melodrama Meter), I'm afraid I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight only rates about a 5. We need some wailing hair band ballads to reach the rarified air of a 10 on the 3M.

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The 80s-est's avatar

I am waiting to hear some of your best hair songs—text me a list this weekend! —K

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Deni's avatar

I didn't have the same difficulty you guys did. Level 42 seems the obvious choice to me.

I have a factoid about Cutting Crew, and this is really the only thing I remember about them but I don't know why it is seared into my brain. I saw an interview with one of them (lead singer?) and said they got their name from their time busking, the sound of the coins going into their bucket (or whatever) would go "cu-ting." So supposedly it was supposed to be pronounced that way (like cha-ching) but announcers or DJs kept fucking it up. It's completely possible I imagined that story.

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The 80s-est's avatar

Ever since reading this TOID(real or imagined), I can’t get that out of my head. From here on out, I will pronounce it like this! 😂 Thanks! —Keith

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Alejandro Saya's avatar

Well, this matchup proved to be more interesting than expected! On the one hand, Level 42 is representative of many similarly good bands (Johnny hates Jazz, Aztec Camera, Prefab Sprout) and the song is a good one (Keith's background story favours it, too!). On the other hand, the melodrama and the air violin in (I just died) in your arms is remarkable. I'll have to go with Cutting Crew, because I haven´t figured out what's going on in the video and we should talk more about it: is the camara a character on its own? Or does it represent the POV of a bird that just sneaked into the set?

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The 80s-est's avatar

I respect the choice of Cutting Crew, obviously it was close for me, too, as it was an 8/9. Regarding that video…I like the idea of the camera being an animal of some kind, maybe a puppy? The way he is exhorting it to chase him is reminiscent of how I act with my dog! And you’re right, the melodrama is palpable in that song! —Keith

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Alejandro Saya's avatar

Maye it's a flying puppy, or a winged monkey from Oz!

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Leter Pames Jomax's avatar

Something About You has that solid 80s synth sound for the win here. I only knew Died in your Arms from a sample used in a beat by a London Grime group in 2006. Type Ruff Sqwad - Died in your arm into youtube and you can see how they used (lifted 😆) the hook for their track.

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The 80s-est's avatar

I love the synthy cool sound of Level 42. And thanks for the grime reference—I went and checked it out. Cool hook. This is where I get to tell you that I have a favorite London Grime artist—Skepta and his song “Shutdown” were big with me back in the day! I was working for NASA and the government kept shutting down (political reasons) and I was looking for good music to make a shutdown megamix, when I stumbled upon Skepta, and then I ended up actually liking him! —Keith

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Leter Pames Jomax's avatar

Amazing!!! NASA, holy macaroni, brother... you're not just a pretty face 😆

Skepta has shown a lot of talent with what he's gone on to do, no doubt. I'm gonna send a link to an early vid he's in from a famous 'hood' dvd. https://youtu.be/1p0mdzuiH2s?si=BfoXEb3aPlhO5WOp

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Dec 12
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The 80s-est's avatar

I love this song so much. --K

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