Prince could have easily had 8-10 options that would all have been legit. Kiss, Raspberry Beret, U Got the Look, I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man, Pop Life. That's just off the top of my head for songs that could have been there. Hell, I think even Batdance was a big hit (not that I'm arguing for that one)
I think I would have gone with Kiss and Raspberry Beret in place of two of the Purple Rain tracks, as hard as that would be to choose which to cut. (since I voted for the title track already I know that's the one I would have kept). You could have a Prince-only mini bracket. But I suppose the same could be said of Madonna and MJ.
I wasn't as into Madonna or MJ, but looking at the sheer number of songs that I could sing along to, you're right. Same for me with Springsteen, who I listened to more than MJ and Madonna. I actually had Madonna second in my list because she was so insanely prolific compared to MJ. I was aware of approximately 2x the Madonna songs of the era vs. MJ. MJ's hits were massive and iconic, but his other songs are completely off my radar. Madonna's also-ran songs, I still somehow know. 🤷🏼♂️
Well, Springsteen is a god who spans so many eras. He could be the winner of a Legends bracket for the 70s as well as the 80s.
If you want to hear something really fun check out alt-country artist Robbie Fulks's album Happy. It's a collection of 13 MJ covers, including some Jackson 5 era. Not done jokey or ironically, or to make fun of MJ. Just incredible interpretations.
Look, man. The quality isn't what it was in the 70s, but these songs were HUGE on the charts. And, personally, a couple of those Heart songs bring me RIGHT back to my high school cafeteria.
C'mon, there were some great Heart songs in the 80's! They reinvented their sound to fit the times. The really didn't start to go downhill until the 90s :).
Damn, I just realized how much I missed voting! I decided to go with my first hunch and to not overthink my vote. We'll see what Mónica does... Also, I'm glad both Hall AND Oates made it to the legends!
Let's hope not! but I think Mónica will have stronger opinions this season, given that she probably knows most of the artists. I'm curious about which Whitney song she will choose.
I too, am wondering who MY wife, Marcia, is voting for!! I'm hoping we don't disagree too much. I can also see her trading me her Van Halen vote for my Pat Benatar vote! Which is HIGHLY ILLEGAL, do NOT do this!!! 😂
Ok, so out of the gate I'm going to spank you guys for the U2 song choices. Three off of Joshua Tree and a weak ass song off a weak ass album? Sunday Bloody Sunday and Pride (In the Name of Love) should both be here. Oof, major fail on the U2 songs.
I agree that those are awesome songs! I did my nominations almost entirely by size of hits on Billboard Hot 100. (To try to eliminate my own bias on what I liked the most). So I nominated a #1, #1, and #3. And Joe had one or two of those in common and picked the final one, a #13, I believe. But there's definitely something to the idea of spreading nominations out across the albums despite the other hits being bigger… but then we would probably get slapped for not having the biggest hits?
So I am saying you're right, especially “Pride,” which charted at #33, could have been in there, but that's my explanation.
Hey guys, I agree that there are many other songs that could have been chosen because they were better representations of the influence these artists had on the era. However, I do like the methodology. For the most part, the popular tracks are the ones that will resonate with most people. The so-called "deep cuts" are more suited to those who spent more time listening in depth to a particular artist or album. It is certainly hard to see that some of my favorites are missing, but I understand why. So even though there are choices clearly missing, I can also agree that the songs presented are generally more recognizable to most people. Looking forward to how this plays out!
I think we mentioned in the show that we really did try to spread it out between albums, for the most part. Didn't with these guys. But, as Keith said, these were some of their biggest hits.
I feel I need to make a special note that the 80s-est quality that I based my vote for “Every Breath You Take” on was the 80s creep/stalker dude vibe. I know that’s not what the song is about (and I do like Sting/The Police) but it does fit up there with some of the songs mentioned in previous seasons.
And my vote for Maneater was based on it being my choice as a walk-up song in an alternate universe where I was a professional athlete (but Hall & Oates were still a thing).
Prince could have easily had 8-10 options that would all have been legit. Kiss, Raspberry Beret, U Got the Look, I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man, Pop Life. That's just off the top of my head for songs that could have been there. Hell, I think even Batdance was a big hit (not that I'm arguing for that one)
he had 16 top 40s to choose from. And yes, Batdance was a top-40, and was discussed VERY briefly 😂
Kiss was next closest to making it, along with Delirious and Little Red Corvette… all so good and all could have been in these top 4.
I think I would have gone with Kiss and Raspberry Beret in place of two of the Purple Rain tracks, as hard as that would be to choose which to cut. (since I voted for the title track already I know that's the one I would have kept). You could have a Prince-only mini bracket. But I suppose the same could be said of Madonna and MJ.
I wasn't as into Madonna or MJ, but looking at the sheer number of songs that I could sing along to, you're right. Same for me with Springsteen, who I listened to more than MJ and Madonna. I actually had Madonna second in my list because she was so insanely prolific compared to MJ. I was aware of approximately 2x the Madonna songs of the era vs. MJ. MJ's hits were massive and iconic, but his other songs are completely off my radar. Madonna's also-ran songs, I still somehow know. 🤷🏼♂️
I am sure that's due to my local radio station.
Well, Springsteen is a god who spans so many eras. He could be the winner of a Legends bracket for the 70s as well as the 80s.
If you want to hear something really fun check out alt-country artist Robbie Fulks's album Happy. It's a collection of 13 MJ covers, including some Jackson 5 era. Not done jokey or ironically, or to make fun of MJ. Just incredible interpretations.
Have Fulks queued up for tomorrow! Thanks! (Listening to Billie Jean now, though)!
Okay, so I have both Billboard and a terrible decade to blame for the Heart selections.
Look, man. The quality isn't what it was in the 70s, but these songs were HUGE on the charts. And, personally, a couple of those Heart songs bring me RIGHT back to my high school cafeteria.
I mean, okay. I'm just not a huge power ballad guy, but you're right, it's not like we're talking Starship...
Starship was, I believe, on Joe's list! We all came dangerously close to a "We Built This City" vs. "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" standoff! 🚀
C'mon, there were some great Heart songs in the 80's! They reinvented their sound to fit the times. The really didn't start to go downhill until the 90s :).
Damn, I just realized how much I missed voting! I decided to go with my first hunch and to not overthink my vote. We'll see what Mónica does... Also, I'm glad both Hall AND Oates made it to the legends!
We tried finding just an Oates song. Couldn't track one down.
Finding an Oates song is like finding an Andrew Ridgley song...never gonna happen!
I hope the voting doesn't cause any marital strife in your household! 😂
Let's hope not! but I think Mónica will have stronger opinions this season, given that she probably knows most of the artists. I'm curious about which Whitney song she will choose.
I too, am wondering who MY wife, Marcia, is voting for!! I'm hoping we don't disagree too much. I can also see her trading me her Van Halen vote for my Pat Benatar vote! Which is HIGHLY ILLEGAL, do NOT do this!!! 😂
Ok, so out of the gate I'm going to spank you guys for the U2 song choices. Three off of Joshua Tree and a weak ass song off a weak ass album? Sunday Bloody Sunday and Pride (In the Name of Love) should both be here. Oof, major fail on the U2 songs.
And here I figured you’d have strong opinions about the Bob Seger selections.
🤭
Thanks for listening, Deni!
I agree that those are awesome songs! I did my nominations almost entirely by size of hits on Billboard Hot 100. (To try to eliminate my own bias on what I liked the most). So I nominated a #1, #1, and #3. And Joe had one or two of those in common and picked the final one, a #13, I believe. But there's definitely something to the idea of spreading nominations out across the albums despite the other hits being bigger… but then we would probably get slapped for not having the biggest hits?
So I am saying you're right, especially “Pride,” which charted at #33, could have been in there, but that's my explanation.
--Keith
Hey guys, I agree that there are many other songs that could have been chosen because they were better representations of the influence these artists had on the era. However, I do like the methodology. For the most part, the popular tracks are the ones that will resonate with most people. The so-called "deep cuts" are more suited to those who spent more time listening in depth to a particular artist or album. It is certainly hard to see that some of my favorites are missing, but I understand why. So even though there are choices clearly missing, I can also agree that the songs presented are generally more recognizable to most people. Looking forward to how this plays out!
Thanks, John! It's really eye-opening when you look at only what were hits, and you're like, "how is that super-well-known song NOT a top-40?"
Kind of a tough task, and one that we will get right some of time and fuck up some of the time! 😂
Thanks!
--Keith
I think we mentioned in the show that we really did try to spread it out between albums, for the most part. Didn't with these guys. But, as Keith said, these were some of their biggest hits.
I feel I need to make a special note that the 80s-est quality that I based my vote for “Every Breath You Take” on was the 80s creep/stalker dude vibe. I know that’s not what the song is about (and I do like Sting/The Police) but it does fit up there with some of the songs mentioned in previous seasons.
And my vote for Maneater was based on it being my choice as a walk-up song in an alternate universe where I was a professional athlete (but Hall & Oates were still a thing).