Sunday's live chat: Anthems of the '80s
YOU MISSED IT?: This week's chat is now history, but the transcript is still here. Just click on the comments link below too see what we talked about.
THE CHAT TOPIC: Anthems of the 80s. We had some great suggestions, which I'll use our choices for a future podcast. (Personal fave remains Queen's "Radio Ga Ga")
PODCAST: This week's podcast -- Top TV theme songs of the 80s -- which went online Saturday. I'll be releasing the full ranking on Monday or Tuesday. Plenty of time left for you to lobby me to get your picks in there. (What will be No. 11 on the list? Magnum or Night Court?)
GET-TOGETHER UPDATE: Don't forget the Aug. 2 Regeneration Tour stop in Las Vegas and the July 30 Journey/Cheap Trick/Heart show in Tampa. E-mail me and ask me for details on either gathering.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
Rock You Like a Hurricane, Scorpions
Here I Go Again, Whitesnake
Right Now, Van Hagar/Halen
and I hate to admit, After the Rain by Nelson
Posted by: Michelle | May 12, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Sorry I disappeared last night. I sat back on the couch for two seconds and feel fast asleep.
I'm not much of a night owl. Unlike Daly, I can't stomach gallons of Red Bull either.
Great suggestions. I think we have enough for the ultimate list.
Posted by: Spears | May 12, 2008 at 07:15 AM
hm, I'd add This Corrosion by The Sisters Of Mercy to the list... magnificent live anthem...
Posted by: Dennis | May 12, 2008 at 04:44 AM
ok, one other thing i forgot...Mallrats is not a great flick, but I do have an authentic Mallrats movie poster autographed by Stan Lee. Its nice to see him get the love this late in his life.
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | May 12, 2008 at 12:41 AM
Late to the game, as usual, but here's my 2 cents:
ok, Nirvana doesn't suck. Very important band for a lot of reasons, chief of which was that their coming signalled the deathknell of the 80s.
after reading through all 400 plus posts I have to say London Calling and Once In A Lifetime deserve a shot at the final list.
And for Spearsy I'll add California Uber Alles from the Dead Kennedys
that is all.
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | May 12, 2008 at 12:39 AM
Night all.
Posted by: Bassnote | May 12, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Well folks, I gotta go running with flat-bellied kids half my age in 7 hours (the things I do for your tax dollars!), so I better turn in.
This was fun. Let me throw out a topic for next Sunday:
"If you would have told me back in the 80's that (insert current truth here), I never would have believed you."
Like Arnold and Jesse Ventura being governors, or 4 GB hard drives you can hide in a book of matches.
Or me spending my weekend chatting with culturally relevant diaspora.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | May 12, 2008 at 12:07 AM
I think the Wild Turkey has taken it's toll on our fearless leader
Posted by: Tom | May 12, 2008 at 12:05 AM
True Jeff. The Mats are the ultimate anti-anthem band.
Posted by: Bassnote | May 11, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Steve are you still around?
Posted by: Bassnote | May 11, 2008 at 11:53 PM
Bassnote,
I love the Mats, but I can't bring myself to consider them anthemic.
The big, self-indulgent, lighter-waving spectacle is everything they're not.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | May 11, 2008 at 11:53 PM
Here's an anthem for the Vegas trip:
Have A Drink On Me - AC/DC
Posted by: Bassnote | May 11, 2008 at 11:53 PM
Come on, that's three in row from me, and my connection is so slow I get posts hand delivered to me from a Jamaican guy on a scooter.
Where did everyone go?
I'm about to declare Baltimora's "Tarzan Boy" the ultimate 80's anthem!
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | May 11, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Love Bastards of Young by the Mats. I'll throw in Can't Hardly Wait and Hold My Life.
Posted by: Bassnote | May 11, 2008 at 11:49 PM
I should be thinking about getting some sleep, but for some strange reason, tomorrow morning's workout has been moved back to 7:00 AM.
I'm sure I'll appreciate the extra hour of sleep, but it's already pretty freakin' hot by then.
I'm going to be sweating like a Daly!
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | May 11, 2008 at 11:44 PM
That should be "how you love", not "who you love".
Although I have an inkling or two about that as well!
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | May 11, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Riss,
Are you laying in wait to pounce on post 400?
I know who you love those round numbers!
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | May 11, 2008 at 11:38 PM
folks, i guess i better get along to bed as well. 4.30 is gonna come real quick like.
Posted by: chad | May 11, 2008 at 11:37 PM
how about unchained by van halen
Posted by: chad | May 11, 2008 at 11:34 PM
that'll be cool if she does hang a bit.
Posted by: chad | May 11, 2008 at 11:32 PM
393
Posted by: Marissa | May 11, 2008 at 11:31 PM
"Jump" is a great choice especially since the Cubs used it on their '84 telecasts on WGN. BTW, I hate Steve Garvey.
Posted by: Tom | May 11, 2008 at 11:31 PM
"Sun City" gets the same comment I gave "Free Nelson Mandela". Just because it's no longer politically relevant it can still be a great tune.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | May 11, 2008 at 11:30 PM
cool video, thanks jeff. i forgot about the keytar though.
Posted by: chad | May 11, 2008 at 11:30 PM
Jeff - I'm just listening to the retro-active music channel from my cable TV provider.
Though I do want to get Sirius, so I can listen to my buddy Martha Quinn.
Hopefully she'll be in Vegas to hang out with us. She e-mailed me about it already. She's in talks to be there. And she already said she'd hang with us.
Posted by: Spears | May 11, 2008 at 11:28 PM
deja vu
Posted by: Marissa | May 11, 2008 at 11:28 PM
What? No love for Frank Zappa?
VALLEY GIRL is the 80s anthem, people.
Posted by: Doug | May 11, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Spearsy,
Are you XM or Sirius?
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | May 11, 2008 at 11:26 PM
"Sun City" is a little gem from the ensemble era of the 80's.
Posted by: Tom | May 11, 2008 at 11:26 PM
Jeff shows again the reason why our government trust him with a sidearm.
Posted by: Spears | May 11, 2008 at 11:24 PM
Good night, Miguel
Posted by: Marissa | May 11, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Bastards of Young -- excellent. One of my fave 'Mats tunes.
Posted by: jane | May 11, 2008 at 11:23 PM
I've been waiting for someone to throw VH's "Jump" onto the altar, because I've got some good snark locked and loaded. Since no one's taking the bait, I'll just let it fly:
Picking a song with an Eddie Van Halen keyboard solo is like picking Michael Jordan as your favorite baseball player.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | May 11, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Hey Jeff -- "Someone Somewhere in Summertime" just came on.
Posted by: Spears | May 11, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Good lord,it`s almost 4:30 am here.I`m sorry,but i have to go to bed.
My final pic is London Calling.
It was fun,80s freaks!
Good night,everybody!
Posted by: Miguel | May 11, 2008 at 11:23 PM
Enola Gay is a classic pick.
I loves me the OMD.
I give it another five minutes til my neighbors knock on the door, telling me to turn down the Air Supply.
Posted by: Spears | May 11, 2008 at 11:22 PM
I say if we aren't all familiar with it there's no way it can be an anthem of a generation. Just sayin'.
Posted by: Marissa | May 11, 2008 at 11:22 PM
There's only 40 minutes until the end of today!
Posted by: ian | May 11, 2008 at 11:22 PM
24 Hour Party People. Happy Mondays.
Senses Working Overtime. XTC.
Like Wow - Wipeout. Hoodoo Gurus.
Posted by: jane | May 11, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Once in a Lifetime is an iconic song/video.
Weird Science-Oingo Boingo
How's that Steve?
Posted by: Tom | May 11, 2008 at 11:21 PM
bad reputation by joan jett?
or perhaps something from Urgh! or SLC Punk?
total eclipse - klaus nomi
enola gay - omd
ain't this the life - oingo boingo
Posted by: Tonianne | May 11, 2008 at 11:20 PM
I`m almost finishing my Scotch!
Whiskey is always my number one choice
Posted by: Miguel | May 11, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Bastards of Young -- Replacements.
Posted by: Spears | May 11, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Hey, I said "Burnin' Down the House" earlier.
And does it have to be decided upon tonight?
Posted by: Marissa | May 11, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Oh hell, Air Supply's "The One That You Love" just came on here. And I can't turn it off.
I'm singing, and drinking, at the same time...
Posted by: Spears | May 11, 2008 at 11:19 PM
I had to think of something!
I wasn't into punk back then.
Posted by: ian | May 11, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Add It Up. Definitely. Great song.
I Will Dare. The Replacements.
Could You Be the One. Husker Du.
The Cutter. Echo & the Bunnymen.
Posted by: jane | May 11, 2008 at 11:18 PM
By the way, Chad, it's time to renew yourself with the glory that is the Producers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=katOCMHLofM
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | May 11, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Gin and Fresca! It's the drink of the 80s. Well, not really. But it's the drink of tonight, ever since I ran out of Wild Turkey.
Posted by: Spears | May 11, 2008 at 11:18 PM
never got into punk, was more of a rock kinda guy
Posted by: chad | May 11, 2008 at 11:17 PM