Bill and Frank’s Guilt-Free Pleasures

There are a lot of different Journey songs that we could have picked, but “Separate Ways” packs a special punch. It is certainly anthemic, but it’s more complicated when considering its musical and lyrical content. And its music video is legendary. Links: Official Video Cillian Murphy reading W.B. Yeats VH1 Behind The Music Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or...

Tabitha VandenEnden returns to help us pay tribute to Peabo Bryson and dive deep into the 1991 classic, "Beauty and the Beast." It is quite the journey! Be our guest as we explore the history and analysis of the song, discuss Gaston's false economy, question whether the Beast looked better before the transformation (he does), and see if we can keep this whole episode on the rails. Links: Official...

This week's episode was a big hit in the UK but not so much in our own continent. Nevertheless, it has endured in our memory and in the the playlist of the cool people we know. One of them is a listener who recommended this song! We take a look at Chesney's life that led him to getting a number one hit at only 19 years of age. We also discuss how this tune helped us accept ourselves, and we hope,...

Dave Kitchen joins us for a wild episode that involves a go-go gadget trenchcoat, a sorryfans website, la petite morte, journals that should have never been written, and the introduction of a new genre: drama rock.  Links: Official Video (Lesser seen UK Version) Official Video (US Version) Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@...

This week we are bringing you one of the key bands to come out of the Queen West music scene. They may not have had quite the same success outside of Canada, but that doesn't diminish the quality of their music. So if you've never heard The Parachute Club, prepare to be lifted up. If you have heard the band, then you know that you're in for a good time! Despite the meanness of Bryan Adams manager,...

Get ready to embrace your inner 80s ballad lover as we take a deep dive into the history, production, and legacy of Chicago's massive 1988 single, "Look Away." We unpack the details of how Diane Warren's heartbreak anthem climbed its way to number one but also set the stage for our own relationship woes. Come join us, open your hearts, and get guilt-free! Links: Original Video Diane Warren live ve...

It is hard to imagine a time when "You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em" didn't exist. We are are now considering (especially with the advent of quantum mechanics) that perhaps it has existed for time eternal. There is so much to discuss with Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler." There's the story of its writing (rest in peace, Don Schlitz). There's many versions. There's the dead muppet...

This song knows how to make podcast pros like us blush. "Betty Davis Eyes" was a gigantic hit when it arrived in 1981. We discuss it's history, its legacy, and our varying degrees of comfort with the subject matter. Links: Video Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com ! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on...

Like Richard Gere and Debra Winger's characters in "An Officer and a Gentleman", "Up Where We Belong" had to persevere against the odds to become the massive hit that it is. We discuss Joe Cocker's redemption, Jennifer Warnes selflessness, the power of a "Sloppy Joe" piano, and so much more. Links: Still Standing Here Today Grammy Performance Official Video Academy Award Performance 1992 Performan...

We finally delve into the iconic rock anthem "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake, a song that has a far more interesting background than neither of us could have imagined. Despite Robert Plant’s insistence that David Coverdale should be called David “Cover singer,” this huge hit is major part of rock n’ roll and music video history – and yes, we will be talking about Tawny Kitaen, too. Like Bill’s cal...

The greatest supergroup EVER! We discuss how it all came together and why this song means so much to us still today. Links: Official Video Concert for George Version The True History of The Traveling Wilburys Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com ! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review on the podcast provider...

This one is a special one for Bill. We hope you enjoy our trip through If I Had Words, beginning with Camille Saint-Saëns' (Organ) Symphony No. 3 in 1886 and arriving at the movie "Babe" in 1995.   Yvonne Keeley & Scott Fitzgerald Video James Cromwell Version Mice Version Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com ! We...

Only Lionel could lead with "I love you" when finding the girl of his dreams. We discuss why he can pull this off and why "Hello" is so amazing. We also do so much more! Get ready for an emotional ride.  Links: The Number Ones by Tom Briehan The Epic Music Video Singing with Jimmy Fallon Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gm...

It's refreshing to hear the bold honesty of Calloway. What do they want? They want to be rich! (And also for/full of love, peace, and happiness.) For this episode, we discuss money, lots and lots of money, we explore some incredible categories (the Hallmark movie is back!), and we also dive into the history of Calloway. From what we've learned, they got their wish in the end. Links:   Official Vid...

We’ve never tried this before, but we’re going for it: today’s song is an instrumental. We kept a slight safety net, since a version with lyrics does exist, but the 'Love Theme from St. Elmo’s Fire' is best known for the way its keys, synths, and sax evoke their own kind of poetry. Join us for a journey involving dewy meadows, aggressive unicorns, and ski movie villains. Buckle up, friends. Link: ...

Dave Kitchen brings us what he feels to be a "quintessential guilt-free pleasure." Joe Jackson's "Steppin' Out" is undeniably of its time, but what a glorious time that was. We discuss the backstory of the song as well give a close reading of its lyrics. We also discuss the New York City of 1982, which is nearly a world away from the NYC of today. Be prepared to be transported back to another time...

This is a big moment for Frank - he's been wanting to do Lou Bega's giant signature tune for a long time. Bill isn't nearly as enthused, but this is not Hate Month, and so it's time to let a little bit of Angela, Pamela, Sandra, Rita, Monica, Erica, Tina, Sandra, Mary, and Jessica into our lives. Ladies and gentleman: here is our episode on "Mambo No. 5!" Link: Official Video Thank you for listeni...

We're very excited to have The Julies back as guests! "Hold Me Now" suits both the aesthetic of our show as well as the taste of our friends. Beyond exploring the musical layers of the Thompson Twins' biggest hit, we unpack the memories tied to the track: namely, Frank's childhood longing for his babysitter.  The Julies have a great new album out. You can find and buy Cherisher here and stream it...

While often remembered as a catchy novelty track, Was (Not Was)’s “Walk the Dinosaur” is actually about our own imminent extinction through nuclear annihilation. Who knew the song would continue to be relevant almost forty years after its release? We trace the band’s humble beginnings in Michigan to their surprising success throughout the 80s, with guest vocalists that included Leonard Cohen, Ozzy...

Mick Hucknall may be a polarising figure in the British media (well, I guess it mostly is only the "hate" pole), but how can anyone deny the power of "Holding Back the Years"? It's a song birthed in a stream of consciousness writing exercise but steeped in a history of childhood sadness. We discuss our own sadness, give a deep analysis of the song and video, and we also discuss why we refuse to pa...

Today, we dive into Dan Hill’s 1977 mega-ballad, "Sometimes When We Touch." Often labeled the ultimate "weeper," this track explores themes of masculine fragility and raw vulnerability. These concepts commonplace today but groundbreaking for the late 1970s. We discuss how a 19-year-old Hill penned these intense lyrics to compete for the affection of a polyamorous woman who was simultaneously datin...

We go deep in this week’s episodes by delving into the complexities of relationship-mending. For example, the only way to keep someone is to let them go. It’s the paradox of Broken Wings, and we are here to learn to fly again. Despite a bad coffee order to start things, we get right on track and discuss the enduring influence of Khalil Gibran on music - or at least on a few Beatles songs and this...

For a good few years, Paula Abdul was an unstoppable force in music. We discuss her beginnings and the creation of her bestselling debut album. It all culminates in this song - her 4th #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit featuring a rapping randy alley cat. It's a natural fact! Links: Official Video Video before rotoscoping Paula Abdul in 1978 - "The Party Song" Thank you for listening! Connect with us on In...

Nathan Holmes rejoins us for an episode that will bring you back those summertime vibes even if it is the coldest time of the year (as it is for us at this moment in Canada). Len's "Steal My Sunshine" holds a special place in our hearts as the three of us all feel personally connected to the song. Bring out your butter tarts and your eight-foot heap slurpees: let's have a million miles of fun as w...

Although written about the world events that marked the end of the 1980s, Seal's "Crazy" can easily be about our own tumultuous times. Join us as we discuss the song's backstory and give our contemporary analysis of its lyrics. So fire up your speedboats and get ready for a montage sequence: it's time to get a little crazy.  Links: Official Video Thank you for listening! Connect with us on Instagr...