There's no holiday rest for the '80s!
Don't fret, '80s nation. Well, all two of you who haven't started your holiday weekend. Though it's Independence Day weekend over here in the U.S., there's no leave of liberty for Stuck in the '80s.
With my personal life in turmoil, my friends all out of town and no plans on the calendar, you can expect regular updates -- Michael Jackson FREE updates -- all weekend long. And ...
A new podcast is on the way. Yes, the horrible hits of 1984 will be online before the night is over.
So, as I turn over a new leaf in life and try to find direction again, here's what I need in return.
YOUR IDEAS: Drop us some comments with podcast ideas. What topics have we been ignoring? What music are you not hearing enough of?
YOUR FAN GREETINGS: The cupboard is bare again! Please use our toll-free line and leave us some new fan greetings to use during the podcast. The number is (866) 371-9605 and it's free inside the United States. You can also record a greeting and e-mail it to stuckinthe80s@tampabay.com.
YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS: Now that my life is suddenly and unexpectedly void of any significant other, what's my next move? Pining away? Woodcarving? Online dating? Priesthood? At least tell me which DVDs to watch while I spend the holiday weekend alone in the Spears Lair.
Thanks again for all the great e-mails you've sent over the last two weeks. It's meant more to me than I can adequately communicate in any medium. Thanks to you, Stuck in the '80s will continue to live on. Viva la '80s.
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:
I agree with Bassnote and Spearsy with the Dino podcast. Would be a good one.
You still need to do more METAL! Metal was all over MTV through teh missle 80's and beyond. Didn't they stop MTV's daily top 10 beacuse it was all metal videos? Since they didn't play them during the day they just kept getting flooded with requests. Hey I could write up the basis for at least 2 shows for you on this subject. Let me know.
Posted by: Mick in Sydney | July 05, 2009 at 09:15 PM
The "dino rock in the '80s" show was something we were already talking about, believe it or not. You can definitely look forward to that sometime this summer.
It'd be interesting to see if I can get an interview to go along with it. Any suggestions on who would be appropriate to talk to?
Posted by: Spears | July 05, 2009 at 09:27 AM
I'll second Bassnote's idea of a "Dino Rock in the '80s" podcast. While I love Genesis and Asia, I know they've been discussed before. But Yes' "90125" comeback is a classic album from the Greatest Decade Ever. Although I am not huge Floyd fan in general (I actually like them better without Waters), I quite like 1987's "A Momentary Lapse of Reason."
I am looking forward to a Psychedelic Furs podcast as their tour gets closer. And one on the film "Running Scared" would be tremendous.
One of these days, I'll leave a fan greeting, if I can think of something witty enough.
Happy Independence Day to my '80s-loving brothers and sisters!
Posted by: Blaine | July 04, 2009 at 09:42 PM
All those Horrible Hits? I love all of them! Shows a lot about my taste in music :P Then again, I'm a young person who only discovered the 80's, I was too young to appreciate the 80's when it was happening.
Posted by: Wistful Writer | July 04, 2009 at 03:27 PM
Just listened to the podcast.Very good.It`s just a shame "Uptown Girl" by Billy Joel didn´t make it to the list.It would be my n#1.
Ideas for podcasts.You know i`ve been asking for The Clash podcast for Years now.Also the best nude scenes in the 80s,obviously.Gotta do that one.
Posted by: Miguel | July 04, 2009 at 02:20 PM
How esoteric do you want to get? The long-lasting effects of David Foster as a producer (St. Elmo's Fire all the way to Josh Groban).
The power of the saxophone in the '80s! Huey Lewis and the News, Hall & Oates, Rob Lowe, every cheezy love scene and dare I say (dare, dare) Kenny G.
As for new interests, I myself am going to learn how to transfer old mixtapes and college jazz tapes to mp3 while I'm on unpaid furlough.
Sending you a little good wishes...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U5gJZh5u2Y
Posted by: Michelle | July 04, 2009 at 01:51 PM
You could do a podcast on movies so bad that they're good. Xandau would certain qualify.
Posted by: 80sfan | July 04, 2009 at 01:09 PM
I love Dominic's podcast idea!
And I started watching BSG 3.0 this weekend...with time out to go see Xanadu at the Beach Theater this morning.
It was Horrible. It was Awesome.
Posted by: Cathy | July 04, 2009 at 12:52 PM
I've been trying to get an interview with the B-52s for that particular show.
Posted by: Spears | July 04, 2009 at 11:36 AM
As I've mentioned before I would love to have a podcast on The B-52's. And how about INXS?
Posted by: 80sfan | July 04, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Dominic's idea sounds good. Don't forget the 80s was the decade in which the Tipper sticker was first used. Tipper Gore overheard her daughter listening to 'Darling Nikki' and a crusade was born.
Posted by: Roy, UK | July 04, 2009 at 04:49 AM
Happy Independence Day Steve and the rest of the gang.
Posted by: DerekT | July 04, 2009 at 03:56 AM
Well Steve, this weekend you can totally nerd out and watch either all three Lord of the Rings films or all 6 of the Star Wars films in order. Or, like me, a Season of Battlestar Galatica or Doctor Who. Since you are feeling a little dark, Battlestar Galatica might be the thing for you (the new version of course).
Show topics: well there are Super Groups of the 80's, like Power Station, The Firm, and Asia to name a few.
Top Power Ballads of the 80's.
Prime Time Soaps, although you might've covered that one already.
You can never go wrong with another Rush podcast.
Bands who are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but should be, from the 80's. (Styx, REO, Genesis, Rush, Kiss, and many many more)
Break Up/Heartbreak songs of the 80's, I know you hit on it a little bit last time, but there are so many more songs like that.
Anything else coming to mind, I will let you know. I would love another interview show, perhaps with the one I had a bad crush on in the 80's, Kathleen Turner.
Keep up the good work
Posted by: DerekT | July 04, 2009 at 03:54 AM
No, I did not get on stage during Berlin's set, but there was a stage hand in a make-shift diaper with "Happy Birthday Terri" written on his chest. When Terri finally noticed him she almost fell over laughing.
Posted by: Bassnote | July 04, 2009 at 12:46 AM
How about the best SciFi/Fantasy movies and TV shows of the '80s vfor an episode suggestion?
Posted by: The Man Known Only as.......Rowan | July 04, 2009 at 12:41 AM
I've suggested it before - and now that Cathy's back it wouldn't be an awkward homoerotic sausage hang - do a podcast on the most perverted songs of the 80s. Solicit suggestions on the blog for songs about sex and come up with a top 10. Instead of playing clips of each song get various people to do "dramatic readings" of the saucy lyrics.
Just imagine Sean dramatically reciting the lyrics to "Sugar Walls," and you'll see what I'm getting at.
Posted by: Dominic | July 04, 2009 at 12:40 AM
I LOVED Midnight Run!
Posted by: GAGirl | July 04, 2009 at 12:20 AM
Did Swordy say he was in a band called Ride The Wild Buddha?!?!?
Posted by: Cathy | July 04, 2009 at 12:11 AM
Watch "Midnight Run." Still one of the funniest movies I have ever seen.
Try a "Dinosaur Bands in the '80s" podcast. The Stones, The Kinks, Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, the Grateful Dead, and other aged bands from the '60s and '70s who reinvented themselves in the '80s, and scored hits.
Posted by: Bassnote | July 04, 2009 at 12:05 AM
my advice is to watch red dawn this weekend. personally i would like more hair metal and punk stuff. i'll have to think of podcast ideas though other than devo. i've been asking for that one already.
Posted by: don in tulsa | July 03, 2009 at 09:54 PM
Hang in there brother. You really need to use this time to "re-invent" yourself. Step out of the box and look to do things you've always wanted to do but never had the chance. A new focus to counter the pain.
You know Steve, back in 1987, I really thought I was going to marry my high school sweetheart. Boy oh boy, I thought the world was going to end when she dumped me. I would go to her window late at night crying my eyes out. I'd approach her mom when she'd come shopping in the grocery store I worked at asking her why Laura dumped me. Hell, I even walked into her Chemistry class (she was a high school senior, I graduated) and gave her flowers. I know a broken heart seems like the end of the world but in due time, you'll recover and find happiness. I sure as heck did.
Hell Steve, I re-invent myself every few years. Go for it.
All the love,
Martinez Family
(MinA)
Posted by: MinA | July 03, 2009 at 09:27 PM
Regarding podcast ideas -- and this ties into "What music are you not hearing enough of?" -- I'd love to hear what songs you and Sean think are underrated or considered lost classics (known songs that aren't played on the radio anymore).
Other possible topics: songs you loved in the '80s but hate now; songs that you hated in the '80s but like now; top two-hit wonders; artists considered one-hit wonders even though they've had multiple top 40 hits.
As for post-breakup recommendations, whenever you're feeling down, watch this video of Falco's version of "Der Kommissar." It's guaranteed to put a smile on anyone's face. (For me, it's the funniest video of the '80s.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w4Xulsjo5I
Beyond that, don't sit around and mope about the past. Focus on doing things you enjoy. This will help you stay positive and, in the long run, you'll feel better.
Posted by: TD | July 03, 2009 at 08:59 PM