The 80s-est

80s-est Note: Due to circumstances entirely within our control, this show went 15 minutes longer than usual…2 stories to start the show, a listener contribution, and who knows what else? We apologize for going long, but hopefully you will enjoy the extra content!? This battle pits two fundamentally different approaches to conquering the 80s: raw nostalgia versus radical reinvention. Bryan Adams' (...

This Monday musical face-off presents a fascinating paradox: a song that deliberately reached backward to capture the innocence of a previous era, versus one that stared directly into the political chaos of its moment. Billy Joel's (8)"Uptown Girl" arrived in 1983 as a loving homage to early-60s pop, complete with doo-wop harmonies and Frankie Valli-inspired vocals. Yet its massive success, and Ch...

We have a mismatch of galactic proportions in our quest to crown the most quintessentially 80s song. The favorite, wearing the crown of the region's top seed, is Madonna's "Like a Virgin,” the ultimate embodiment of 80s pop, with its pulsing synth beats, provocative imagery, and chart-dominating power. Facing off against this pop culture icon is mostly unknown 16-seed "Don't Let's Start" by They M...

Get ready for a grudge match that pits arena rock royalty against each other! In the red corner, wearing the heavyweight belt as our 2-seed, stands Van Halen's "Jump," the song that proved even the kings of hard rock couldn't resist the 80s synth revolution! Eddie Van Halen traded his iconic guitar licks for bouncing keyboards and yet still delivered pure rock euphoria that packed stadiums worldwi...

This bracket battle brings us a fascinating clash between two very different flavors of 80s. It’s the smooth sophistication of established royalty versus the infectious energy of rising stars. In one corner, we have Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You," the (kinda shitty) 7-seed that dominated 1984, proving that even legends could join in on the decade's love affair with synth, drum m...

In today's bracket, we witness what appears to be one of the tournament's most brutal mismatches: 3-seed "Hungry Like the Wolf" preparing to devour 14-seed "Veronica" in what should theoretically be the musical equivalent of a nature documentary's final scene. Duran Duran's 1983 powerhouse didn't just define 80s excess—it practically wrote the instruction manual, complete with exotic locations, ci...

Today's bracket brings us a delicious matchup that proves seeding doesn't always tell the whole story: 6-seed "Free Fallin'" faces off against 11-seed "Edge of Seventeen" in what might be the tournament's most deceptive David-versus-Goliath showdown. And the fact that these two were friends for 40 years makes it even more complicated! Tom Petty's 1989 masterpiece arrives as the higher seed based p...

Welcome to today's episode, where our battle perfectly encapsulates the beautiful chaos of 80s reinvention! In this corner, we have Phil Collins' 1984 powerhouse ballad, 4-seed "Against All Odds,” a song so commercially unstoppable it turned a former Genesis drummer into America's favorite heartbroken crooner, complete with Phil’s signature mix of emotional devastation and pristine production. Fac...

In today's clash of the titans, it’s bangs vs. beards, in a matchup that's absolutely rock royalty. In the blue corner, wearing leather and attitude, it's our 5-seed: Pat Benatar's powerhouse “Hit Me with Your Best Shot,” that had everyone from aerobics instructors to arena crowds “firing away” with finger guns. And in the red corner, sporting cheap sunglasses and the most iconic beards in rock hi...

Alright, '80s college radio lovers, buckle up because we've got ourselves a certified alt-rock-pocalypse brewing! In this corner, it’s our 8-seed, R.E.M.'s caffeinated stream-of-consciousness ramble, “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” that somehow made the end times sound like the most fun you could possibly have—a song so densely packed with rapid-fire references that eve...

In tonight's battle for 80s supremacy, we have the heavyweight champion "Beat It" strutting into the ring with its multi-zippered leather jacket, Eddie Van Halen guitar solo, and that unmistakable Michael Jackson SHAMON swagger. But wait, here comes the scrappy underdog "Head Over Heels," armed with synthesizers, a chimpanzee in a Red Sox jersey (yes, really), and enough new wave quirkiness to mak...

Draped in Irish mystique and enough echo to fill a stadium, we have the 2-seed "With or Without You" – U2's soaring masterpiece that turned Bono into a messianic rock god and made The Edge's guitar delay pedal famous! This atmospheric juggernaut comes loaded with enough existential angst to power a semester of college philosophy classes. But wait – here comes our scrappy 15-seed "Against the Wind,...

Ladies and gentlemen, we've got ourselves a classic 7-vs-10 upset special brewing! Sporting enough hairspray to damage the ozone layer, we have the 7-seed "I'm So Excited" – The Pointer Sisters' caffeinated celebration comes armed with vocals more energetic than a Jazzercise class, and lyrics so enthusiastic they make Tony Robbins look sedated. But don't count out our 10-seed dark horse – "Don't G...

Well, well, well, folks – In the blue corner, weighing in at pure pop perfection, we have the 3-seed "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" – Whitney Houston's unstoppable dance floor anthem that screams "1987" louder than a DeLorean's flux capacitor! This heavyweight contender comes loaded with synthesizers thicker than shoulder pads and enough vocal power to shatter a Rubik's Cube. But hold on, because t...

Is "Out of Touch" more legendary than "Our Lips Are Sealed"? It's the bracket matchup no one saw coming, but everyone's obsessing over! To end the week on "The 80s-est," we're diving into the epic showdown between powerhouse 6-seed Hall & Oates—Oates being the mustachioed maestro of mainstream pop domination—against the scrappy 11-seed Go-Go's, the DIY darlings who crashed the boys' club with thri...

Look, you guys are the one who wanted LEGENDS ONLY! So it’s up to YOU to pick between Journey and Eurythmics. Joe and I can’t help you, you’re on your own! 4-seed “Don’t Stop Believin’” would appear to have a numerical edge on 13-seed “Here Comes the Rain Again,” but in a Legends duel, you can throw away the seeds. Annie and Dave are every bit as 80s as Steve and Neal & the guys…so… flip a coin? G...

Every show, another conundrum! Which of these ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE 80s hits will you select to survive and advance in the LEGENDS bracket? You’ve got one of the biggest songs of the decade in 5-seed “Every Breath You Take” by The Police against, GUESS WHAT, ANOTHER of the biggest songs of the decade in Toto’s 12-seed “Africa”! Will this be a big upset? Only your votes can help us find out! This is a...

Tina was famous in the 60s and re-emerged victorious in the 80s. Queen was a titan of the 70s, and came back in the early 80s. Which of these LEGENDS will survive and advance? VOTE and find out! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the80sest.substack.com

Prince. You know him. He’s purple, he’s androgynous, he’s a musical god. Heart. You know them, too. Big in the 70s, ballads that rocked the 80s. Who will advance? Who will go home? Well, I think we know, but that’s why we VOTE! Also, if you haven’t seen this, and you like Prince, please watch. If you’re impatient, jump to 3:27 for Prince to absolutely melt your face off: This is a public episode....

The Boss has landed! His batch of 64 songs has been pared down to just 16, and now it’s time to reveal the Bruce Springsteen Region, and all of its seeds and songs! The graphical bracket below is a huge spoiler, so let’s not look at it before listening to the episode! I’ll put this picture of The Boss and The Big Man here to draw your attention away! And just below that is the playlist for this re...

The Material Girl and her band of 80s Legends have arrived! This batch of 64 songs has been voted down to 16, and now it’s time to reveal the Madonna Region, and all of its seeds and songs! The graphical bracket below is a huge spoiler, so let’s not look at it before listening to the episode! I’ll put this picture of Madge here to draw your attention away! And just below that is the playlist for t...

The Gloved One and his compatriots are here! This batch of 64 songs has been voted down to 16, and now it’s time to reveal the Michael Jackson Region, and all of its seeds and songs! The graphical bracket below is a huge spoiler, so let’s not look at it before listening to the episode! I’ll put this picture of the King of Pop here to draw your attention away! And just below that is the playlist fo...

The Purple One and his court have arrived! All 64 songs have been voted on, and 16 songs have emerged! It’s time to reveal The Prince Region, and all its seeds and songs! The graphic bracket below is a huge spoiler, so let’s not look at it before listening to the episode! I’ll put this picture of Prince here to distract you! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other su...

We are back, and we are doing this! For 10 months, you’ve heard, “[This act] is too big to be in the game.” And “Maybe one day we will do a Legends bracket.” Dear listener, that day has arrived, as we give you Season 3: Legends Only! Tonight we reveal the 64 artists who have made it into the Legends Bracket. And then, it’s up to you, to some extent, to choose which song represents each of these Le...

All winners will be revealed, along with a few surprises, in this Side B Finale!!! (NO SPOILERS!!) See you in Season 3!! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the80sest.substack.com