15 Comments
User's avatar
Alejandro Saya's avatar

The real final should be a battle of falsettos! Joe's rendition of Air Supply goes hand in hand with Keith's The Outfield or Europe. Since that is unlikely to happen, I foresee two possible scenarios: either Madonna vs Cyndi, or Peter Gabriel vs Lionel Richie. If you ask me, "All night long" is as 80s as it gets!

I also think this podcast should encourage Air Supply, REO Speedwagon, Bryan Adams and Richard Marx to go on tour together. Now, that would be money well spent!

Expand full comment
The 80s-est's avatar

I would relish a vote on dueling falsettos, though! This is an epic idea!

I think your Madonna vs. Cyndi scenario is more likely than Gabriel v Lionel, but I am excited to find out!

I would CONSIDER going to this hypothetical Ballad Brigade tour! We could reach maximum mellowness! WAIT: we could call it "The Sappy Hour Tour"! or "Right Here Waiting for the Fucking Chorus Tour" 🤣

Expand full comment
Deni's avatar

And right out of the gate the voters got it so very very wrong. Like A Prayer was her most important and transformational song, on her best album. And just when the conservatives thought she couldn't offend them any more than they had already, she upped her game with that video.

Expand full comment
Margaret's avatar

Correct. That is actually one of my all time favorite songs.

Expand full comment
Joe Wack's avatar

I will say that Like a Prayer is the song I like best out of these four, but was not, to me, the most 80s song.

Expand full comment
The 80s-est's avatar

Like A Prayer: agree with everything you said here, Deni. I can see the argument for Virgin being more of the 80s, and a breakout moment for her, though.

Expand full comment
Genevieve's avatar

-Why didn't you call this the Not-Foreigners (with Foreigner) Region? After all this time without Foreigner...

-Who wouldn't' STILL make out to Heaven, if given the opportunity?

-I loved Madonna growing up. I had every word to Like a Prayer memorized when I was 9 or 10. One of my best friends and I have to call each other any time it comes on, no matter where we are (I once sent her a video of me singing along in a hardware store). But I'm with Joe, it's not the 80s-est here. (I went Material Girl.)

Expand full comment
The 80s-est's avatar

Opportunity MISSED! Perhaps I can still correct this wrongdoing!

I WOULD still make out to that song! (Heaven)

You went as Madonna for Halloween, right? I mean the demographics basically make it a certainty, right?

Expand full comment
Deni's avatar

I am disappointed that Sugar Walls didn't make it because we would have had a second Prince song in the tournament.

Expand full comment
The 80s-est's avatar

I was feeling that also... but you may still see Prince AGAIN in this season!

Expand full comment
Deni's avatar

It makes no sense that the Billy Joel song representing Glass Houses wasn't It's Still Rock and Roll to Me.

Expand full comment
Joe Wack's avatar

That's a good point.

Expand full comment
Margaret's avatar

Sorry, but I still love Air Supply. I don't seek them out, but I don't turn them off. They deserved timpani. Shame on you.

Voted for "Drive" even though I knew it wouldn't win. Bummer.

"Here's the thing..." never heard any of those TMBG songs, Joe. Legends? Nope. Sorry, baby bro.

Also still love REO. Sing that shit at the top of my lungs in the car. "Keep on Loving You" should have won.

Still love "Shock the Monkey"...and still have no clue what it means.

"Wuv. Twuuu wuuuv. Will fowwow wu fawevvahh."

Expand full comment
Joe Wack's avatar

Don't apologize for loving Air Supply! Just know that we're all silently judging you.

Expand full comment
The 80s-est's avatar

Drive is a great tune, and definitely put me in the mood of that decade. You Might Think was just a little more production, a little bigger hit, video bigger impact, etc. But choosing between those 4 was tough for me.

I tend to agree the TMBG are not 80s Legends, but I am going to try to not give Joe too much shit for it this season.

REO is a guilty pleasure for me, and man everyone seems to hate them--how did they ever sell a record? 🤣

Expand full comment