I haven't listened yet to learn why these are seeded as such, but this is a real mismatch: Bizarre Love Triangle by a mile. Roxette is perfectly OK, but I think "The Look" is really an ahead-of-the-curve '90s tune.
Essentially the reason is that Joe and I both had a rating for "The Look," Joe 16, me 33. But "Bizarre Love Triangle" was rated 19 by me, but unrated by Joe. Hence the points differential. Joe's algorithm, of checking the year-end charts, led him to hitting some of the songs I forgot about, but missing a few classics (songs he loves and is voting for) that didn't perform as well on the charts. My algorithm was essentially just my memory and some of my playlists. So this region, as you will see, is 4 songs we both rated, and 12 songs (many of which must not have been big hits) that only I rated. This region ended up being the catch-all for this type of song, and so it also makes a lot of impossible votes. --Keith
First, did Joe say the Jon Cryer vehicle "Holding" Out instead of Hiding Out?
This is New Order all the way for me. Not even close, and I LOVE Roxette. Check out a later cut called "How Do You Do? that was not a hit but super awesome, and she looks super hot in the video. RIP Marie Fredriksson. :(
Keith, start with New Order's Substance record. This was the collection of 12-inch versions (mostly) of 12 songs, and True Faith was the new track on this album. Then look for albums like Brotherhood and Technique, and especially tracks like Love Vigilantes and Regret.
Bizarre Love Triangle is a legendary track for the teen clubs. I'm not sure many nights there went by without it playing. And it was predictable how a bunch of moody, melodramatic, suburban teen New Wavers. "...I get down on my on my knees and pray.." got every kid in the club doing the same thing, much like you can predict what everyone is going to do when "Shout" from Animal House plays.
Give a break to Roxette about the lyrics. Rock & Roll has a well paved history of nonsensical lyrics and it's awesome.
I also think this matchup is proof of charts not necessarily being the barometer of a band's greatness. New Order is absolutely legend status. Roxette was a great duo but they don't come close to New Order.
Thanks for the primer on New Order, man, I will start listening to Substance tonight while exercising!
Regarding lyrics, I was kinda just busting Roxette's balls for this, because I always think with the better bands that there is some deeper meaning to the words, and then I try to FIND meaning in those songs, and then I end up making some connections that are just a reflection of myself in there. It's actually kind of cool that famous musicians are just like us--they sometimes make up some temporary thing and then fall in love with it, which I have done countless times in short stories, movies, song parodies, whatever. So I was being mostly funny with my criticism here, but it is nice to see a glimpse of humanity...and in a lot of cases (not Rockwell), these folks are so talented, it's hard to even identify with them, and this makes it easier.
Regarding the matchup, this is absolutely one of those cases for me where the chart-hitting magnitude and radio ubiquity didn't matter--the impact of "Bizarre Love Triangle" was just so much greater on me, personally. But I can see the case for The Look even if I can't vote for it here--I could see voting for it over other tunes.
As good as The Look's nonsensical lyrics are, my favorite nonsensical song of all time is by the Italian singer Adriano Celentano (I believe the biggest selling musician in Italian history), a song called Prisencolinensinainciusol. He wrote it to sound like he was singing in American English but everything is gibberish except for the times that the phrase "all right" shows up.
Wow! I just watched it, and the whole thing is one big ridiculous production that sounds like I should understand it, but don't! 😂 Thanks for sharing! I have never heard of this song or this artist! --K
Just watched that again(I have seen the entire series) and not having known the song prior, it just whizzed right over my head. Thanks for pointing this out! --K
And yeah, Joe did say "Holding Out" hahahaha, in his defense, we cold-read the intros(me) and outros(him), so he was seeing it for the first time! (And I did just check to see if it was wrong in the script, and it's OK there, just a small flub.) --K
It's not just possible I'm full of shit, it's entirely probable. Actually, I just looked at the clip...I was wrong about the emcee guy saying it like that. But, I wasn't thinking of him; I was thinking of the dwarf guy (Master of Master/Blaster) saying it. I found it in a clip. Good to know I'm not losing my mind...today.
Sorry, guys. I never even heard the Bizarre Love Triangle. Besides, I'd vote for Roxette just because of her awesome hair.
Thanks for the research into MadMax, maybe I will grab that clip for the show! 😝 Not YET insane: ✅
OK Marie Fredriksson's hair and style and "look," coincidentally, is really fucking cool. She was always striking and powerful and her stage presence is hard to deny!
I also forgot to throw out a couple of more recommendations if you have any more interest in Joy Division/New Order. The movie 24 Hour Party People is about the "Madchester" scene of Manchester UK starting in the late 70s and stars Steve Coogan as Factory Records founder Tony Wilson. Andy Serkis is also in it as legendary Joy Division and New Order producer (and all around crazy fucker) Martin Hannett. Among other things it covers the time of Ian's suicide and the transition to New Order.
This is a tough matchup for me, and I tell you guys why:
- Roxette was huge in South America, their songs were all aver the place by the late 80s, and we would dance to "The Look" at every party. - About 14 years ago, me and Mónica, my wife, went to a Roxette show in Córdoba while we were expecting our daughter, and it was fucking awesome! - For some reason, radio DJs feel compelled to specify when a band is from Sweden: "The Look, by swedish duo Roxette", "Super Trouper, by swedish band ABBA" "All that She Wants, by swedish pop group Ace of Base". I don´t know why they do that, but I find it hilarious. - Marie Fredrikson had a fantastic stage presence, a kick ass voice and lots of charisma. Sadly, she passed away about 5 years ago.
- "Bizarre love triangle" is an awesome and very 80s song. I could listen to it all day.
But in the end, I have to play the experiential card on this one, and go with "The Look". That will make two votes for the swedish duo, since Mónica is 100% voting for them too!
This kind of comment is exactly what I love reading! The show takes you back in some way to some time in your life, and I love that! 😁 Regarding the obsession with saying the nationality, I guess since every band was either American or English, it was novel to have a handful of Swedish ones? The experiential card is a perfectly valid card to play! And oh, by the way, does your wife listen also? Does she vote, or do you want me to tally “one extra” when the final is reached? 😆 —Keith
Mónica listens sporadically, but she votes! What we do is, I tell her about each match up and she then votes from her phone. It´s a fun habit! I can tell she will choose INXS in the next round...
Man these two are dripping in 80sness, Bizarre Love just edged. Had never heard the other one before, kinda funkaaah. Loving the eps, u guys are going IN on this, some serious TLC (but we'll save that for the 90siest pod 😅) given.
Ah, Roxette was not big for you, apparently! They seemed to have been really big in the US for a shooting-star length of time, but made a significant impact during that 18 months. And thanks for the kind words and for spending your time on this podcast, I really appreciate the ear! —Keith. P.S. Don’t go chasing waterfalls! 😂
I haven't listened yet to learn why these are seeded as such, but this is a real mismatch: Bizarre Love Triangle by a mile. Roxette is perfectly OK, but I think "The Look" is really an ahead-of-the-curve '90s tune.
Essentially the reason is that Joe and I both had a rating for "The Look," Joe 16, me 33. But "Bizarre Love Triangle" was rated 19 by me, but unrated by Joe. Hence the points differential. Joe's algorithm, of checking the year-end charts, led him to hitting some of the songs I forgot about, but missing a few classics (songs he loves and is voting for) that didn't perform as well on the charts. My algorithm was essentially just my memory and some of my playlists. So this region, as you will see, is 4 songs we both rated, and 12 songs (many of which must not have been big hits) that only I rated. This region ended up being the catch-all for this type of song, and so it also makes a lot of impossible votes. --Keith
First, did Joe say the Jon Cryer vehicle "Holding" Out instead of Hiding Out?
This is New Order all the way for me. Not even close, and I LOVE Roxette. Check out a later cut called "How Do You Do? that was not a hit but super awesome, and she looks super hot in the video. RIP Marie Fredriksson. :(
Keith, start with New Order's Substance record. This was the collection of 12-inch versions (mostly) of 12 songs, and True Faith was the new track on this album. Then look for albums like Brotherhood and Technique, and especially tracks like Love Vigilantes and Regret.
Bizarre Love Triangle is a legendary track for the teen clubs. I'm not sure many nights there went by without it playing. And it was predictable how a bunch of moody, melodramatic, suburban teen New Wavers. "...I get down on my on my knees and pray.." got every kid in the club doing the same thing, much like you can predict what everyone is going to do when "Shout" from Animal House plays.
Give a break to Roxette about the lyrics. Rock & Roll has a well paved history of nonsensical lyrics and it's awesome.
I also think this matchup is proof of charts not necessarily being the barometer of a band's greatness. New Order is absolutely legend status. Roxette was a great duo but they don't come close to New Order.
Thanks for the primer on New Order, man, I will start listening to Substance tonight while exercising!
Regarding lyrics, I was kinda just busting Roxette's balls for this, because I always think with the better bands that there is some deeper meaning to the words, and then I try to FIND meaning in those songs, and then I end up making some connections that are just a reflection of myself in there. It's actually kind of cool that famous musicians are just like us--they sometimes make up some temporary thing and then fall in love with it, which I have done countless times in short stories, movies, song parodies, whatever. So I was being mostly funny with my criticism here, but it is nice to see a glimpse of humanity...and in a lot of cases (not Rockwell), these folks are so talented, it's hard to even identify with them, and this makes it easier.
Regarding the matchup, this is absolutely one of those cases for me where the chart-hitting magnitude and radio ubiquity didn't matter--the impact of "Bizarre Love Triangle" was just so much greater on me, personally. But I can see the case for The Look even if I can't vote for it here--I could see voting for it over other tunes.
--Keith
As good as The Look's nonsensical lyrics are, my favorite nonsensical song of all time is by the Italian singer Adriano Celentano (I believe the biggest selling musician in Italian history), a song called Prisencolinensinainciusol. He wrote it to sound like he was singing in American English but everything is gibberish except for the times that the phrase "all right" shows up.
https://youtu.be/7Yj_N5_P5qI?si=XVOVpv70RbGGpKlb&t=96
Wow! I just watched it, and the whole thing is one big ridiculous production that sounds like I should understand it, but don't! 😂 Thanks for sharing! I have never heard of this song or this artist! --K
I heard about this song years ago on NPR, and it got a boost in recent years when it was used on Ted Lasso. https://youtu.be/o45b2G9d_AQ?si=4qcEEr89vVCy3y78&t=38
Just watched that again(I have seen the entire series) and not having known the song prior, it just whizzed right over my head. Thanks for pointing this out! --K
And yeah, Joe did say "Holding Out" hahahaha, in his defense, we cold-read the intros(me) and outros(him), so he was seeing it for the first time! (And I did just check to see if it was wrong in the script, and it's OK there, just a small flub.) --K
It's not just possible I'm full of shit, it's entirely probable. Actually, I just looked at the clip...I was wrong about the emcee guy saying it like that. But, I wasn't thinking of him; I was thinking of the dwarf guy (Master of Master/Blaster) saying it. I found it in a clip. Good to know I'm not losing my mind...today.
Sorry, guys. I never even heard the Bizarre Love Triangle. Besides, I'd vote for Roxette just because of her awesome hair.
Thanks for the research into MadMax, maybe I will grab that clip for the show! 😝 Not YET insane: ✅
OK Marie Fredriksson's hair and style and "look," coincidentally, is really fucking cool. She was always striking and powerful and her stage presence is hard to deny!
--Keith
I also forgot to throw out a couple of more recommendations if you have any more interest in Joy Division/New Order. The movie 24 Hour Party People is about the "Madchester" scene of Manchester UK starting in the late 70s and stars Steve Coogan as Factory Records founder Tony Wilson. Andy Serkis is also in it as legendary Joy Division and New Order producer (and all around crazy fucker) Martin Hannett. Among other things it covers the time of Ian's suicide and the transition to New Order.
Also, the documentary Joy Division.
Oh, this sounds cool, love the title already! I will see if it has a home in the streaming universe, thanks! --K
It is on Prime, just added it to my queue!
This is a tough matchup for me, and I tell you guys why:
- Roxette was huge in South America, their songs were all aver the place by the late 80s, and we would dance to "The Look" at every party. - About 14 years ago, me and Mónica, my wife, went to a Roxette show in Córdoba while we were expecting our daughter, and it was fucking awesome! - For some reason, radio DJs feel compelled to specify when a band is from Sweden: "The Look, by swedish duo Roxette", "Super Trouper, by swedish band ABBA" "All that She Wants, by swedish pop group Ace of Base". I don´t know why they do that, but I find it hilarious. - Marie Fredrikson had a fantastic stage presence, a kick ass voice and lots of charisma. Sadly, she passed away about 5 years ago.
- "Bizarre love triangle" is an awesome and very 80s song. I could listen to it all day.
But in the end, I have to play the experiential card on this one, and go with "The Look". That will make two votes for the swedish duo, since Mónica is 100% voting for them too!
This kind of comment is exactly what I love reading! The show takes you back in some way to some time in your life, and I love that! 😁 Regarding the obsession with saying the nationality, I guess since every band was either American or English, it was novel to have a handful of Swedish ones? The experiential card is a perfectly valid card to play! And oh, by the way, does your wife listen also? Does she vote, or do you want me to tally “one extra” when the final is reached? 😆 —Keith
Mónica listens sporadically, but she votes! What we do is, I tell her about each match up and she then votes from her phone. It´s a fun habit! I can tell she will choose INXS in the next round...
Man these two are dripping in 80sness, Bizarre Love just edged. Had never heard the other one before, kinda funkaaah. Loving the eps, u guys are going IN on this, some serious TLC (but we'll save that for the 90siest pod 😅) given.
Ah, Roxette was not big for you, apparently! They seemed to have been really big in the US for a shooting-star length of time, but made a significant impact during that 18 months. And thanks for the kind words and for spending your time on this podcast, I really appreciate the ear! —Keith. P.S. Don’t go chasing waterfalls! 😂
😂😂.. please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to.
I had never heard Roxette, but that doesn't mean people in UK didn't, I would've been a knee nipper during those times.