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Deni's avatar

You guys have me super concerned about your taste/sanity. That's a lot of love shown to what is probably the most mediocre band of the 80s. INXS is, along with Led Zeppelin and Radiohead, one of the most overrated bands in the history of music. Don't Change is probably the only thing worth listening to in their discography.

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Dec 12
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The 80s-est's avatar

Man, poor Night Ranger, catching strays over here! 😂

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Deni's avatar

There is a difference between mediocrity and complete shitiness.

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The 80s-est's avatar

We will have to disagree on this one, which is cool, because if we were all the same, it would be boring! 😁. (I also like Radiohead!🤣 ) --Keith

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Joe Wack's avatar

It’s kind of reassuring when you are so incredibly wrong about something, man.

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Alejandro Saya's avatar

Congrats on a very interesting episode, Joe and Keith! I also believe that Michael Hutchence's hair puts all the rest to shame 😃 He was a true rock star, and INXS sounds amazing in every song. Kick is a fantastic album. When it came out there was obviously no internet, and since it didn't include the lyrics, I misunderstood or made up many lines: "I'd make wine from your tears" was sung by me as "I'll make wild promises" for many years. My friends and I used to make up a lot of lyrics! Needless to say, my vote goes for "Never tear us apart", a fantastic song in an album full of kick ass songs. INXS definitely belongs in the legends bracket (Maybe "Need you tonight?).

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The 80s-est's avatar

Thanks, man!

I bet we could do a full episode about misheard 80s lyrics! I love it 😂

Also, thanks for your nomination of "Need You Tonight," will take it under advisement!

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Chris Jacobs's avatar

INXS was very memorable 80s pop and they put on a good show (not necessarily memorable songwriters or musicians - I think Deni would agree). My younger sisters were dying to see them but my parents wouldn't let them go alone because neither of them were even 15 yet, so I actually saw them live in Cincinnati in the late 80s. And hopefully my sisters have fond memories of that night.

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The 80s-est's avatar

So was that enough to secure your vote for INXS, or did you go the other way? I love picturing you rolling your eyes all night as you drive and chaperone your tween sisters to a show you don't want to be at! 😂 Thanks for sharing!

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John Booth's avatar

Thanks for the invitation to contribute. And while "Forever Young" *is* my favorite song, this was a super-close vote for me, because everything about INXS' Kick album is Totally '80s. (It's also a damn near flawless record, no matter what Deni says, as evidenced by the fact that when they toured in support of their next album, X, they *still* played every song from Kick.)

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Genevieve's avatar

GodDAMN Booth! I barely know this song but after listening to you talk about it, I WANT it to be my favorite song. I want to make a movie using your description of this song and star in it just to see what it feels like.

Keith and Joe, it's true that it's unfair because he does use words for a living, but you're right -- he made you guys look really bad. 😂 Can I not vote for a song this time and just vote for John? Loved Jenny's perspective too!

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John Booth's avatar

Aw, thanks!

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The 80s-est's avatar

You can vote for John, sure! But keep in mind, I lobbed him a softball by giving him his favorite song. Let's see if he can move you to tears with his analysis of Samantha Fox! 🦊 😂 (Great work, Booth! 😘) --K

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Margaret's avatar

I get Journey! lol

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Genevieve's avatar

I like this idea! If you go to bat for your favorite song, you also have to write a love letter to a terrible song and convince us it’s great.

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The 80s-est's avatar

Gen, do you want to chat up any of the ladies from earlier regions in Round 2? Martika? (assuming advancement)

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Genevieve's avatar

Don't know if I can do it justice, but I could probably at least rep whoever wins the Tiffany/Gibson matchup from a completely different perspective than yours and Joe's. (Being that I was not an 18-year-old dude at the time. :) ) I also stan Roxette but not sure if I could give a compelling story on them, they're just the best in general.

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The 80s-est's avatar

You are HIRED! 😂 I'll be in touch!

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Deni's avatar

I'll take back the INXS bashing if you promise to never play Jay-Z ever again. :)

Oof, I had posted my comment right after I started listening, not knowing there was going to be a really sweet, heartfelt ode to INXS from your friend/listener. So I managed to look like a real dick. (But let's face it, wasn't the first time, won't be the last)

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The 80s-est's avatar

Oh dude, I won't play any more Jay-Z! 😂

And don't worry about it--if you don't like 'em, you don't like 'em! But Jenny's thing was sweet, wasn't it? As was John's. When are you gonna record one for us? --K

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Deni's avatar

I could see myself doing that if The Cure makes the next round, but that's not looking likely. I could also see doing it for Psych Furs or OMD (I have no idea who is ahead on that one since I refused to vote on that pairing).

But, I mean it may be more on brand for me to record one about why a song sucks and should die.

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The 80s-est's avatar

We will be in touch in the next week or so--Round 2 will start the week of Christmas, so we would love to get something from you then! --K

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Margaret's avatar

Benny Hill!!!! Love it. We used to stay up late at Grandma Gossiaux's lying on the living room floor and watching TV, waiting to see if Grandma and Grandpa would fall asleep on the couch and we could watch Benny! Very titillating for 10-12 year-olds. lol

Garbage?? That's a great Rod Stewart song! And, I still remember Baby Bro Joe's graduation when they played it as the grads left the auditorium. So awesome. I cried.

Michael. So hot. Especially that hair. Swoon. Wasn't he compared in the press to Jim Morrison?

Forever Young did not ring a bell until I heard it again, and I think I only heard it a couple times in the 80's, but, what a good song. Reminds me of one of my favorite all-time songs, "Who Wants to Live Forever" by Queen (Highlander). But, sorry, still have to go with INXS.

John, you brought me to tears, dude.

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Deni's avatar

About that Forever Young song by Rod Stewart. It was such a blatant ripoff of the Bob Dylan song of the same name (which is brilliant) that they had to give him a songwriting credit.

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The 80s-est's avatar

hahahaha! THAT sounds about right! With apologies to his fans, there were a couple Rod Stewart songs that I kinda half-liked, but generally, he was an artist I was very meh on, personally.

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Deni's avatar

The Rod Stewart of the Jeff Beck Group and of The Faces was awesome, as was his early solo work, especially the album Every Picture Tells A Story and the single Maggie May, which is one of the greatest songs of the era. But, yeah, then came "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" Rod, and that version of him is pretty bad.

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The 80s-est's avatar

"Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" onward is what I know of his, sadly.

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Janet Gbur's avatar

Keith - Jenny J's sister would play that song, I swear, every other time I was over. It's a weird guilty pleasure type song. But, agree, Maggie Mag is fantastic!

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The 80s-est's avatar

hahaha 😂 definitely the right time frame, and her sister was what, class of '85?

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Janet Gbur's avatar

She was '84

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The 80s-est's avatar

Wait, I do know Maggie May!

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Joe Wack's avatar

Of COURSE you do, man. All she did was wreck his bed, and in the morning kick him in the head.

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