The 80s-est

It’s Round 2 of the Bands Region! In this episode, Ready for the World brings their 8-seed “Oh Sheila” up against 16-seed “ Everybody Have Fun Tonight” from Wang Chung. Then, in our second matchup, we have Mister Mister’s 4-seed “Broken Wings” taking on Cameo, with 12-seed “Word Up.” It’s the last 80s-est of 2024 and it’s a good one! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with...

It’s our landmark 100th episode! That’s right: Keith and Joe have been screaming their opinions in your ears for a whole hund-o! You might want to get your hearing checked! Speaking of people with hearing loss, this show marks the beginning of our Hair Metal Mini-Game! In this preview episode, we tell you which giant-haired bands made it in and who was left to pull their spandex pants out of the c...

Merry Christmas from everyone at The 80s-est! We’re filling your stocking with songs from the back half of the Movie Region. You might find Berlin under your tree, with the 3-seed “Take My Breath Away” from Top Gun as it battles against 6-seed “Who’s Johnny” by El Debarge from the classic Short Circuit . Or you might unwrap Tim Capello with “I Still Believe,” his sax-tastic 7-seed from Lost Boys g...

In this episode, we kick off Round 2 of Side B! We journey back to the Movies Region, as top-seed “If You Leave” ( Pretty in Pink ) by OMD takes on 9-seed “At This Moment” ( Family Ties ) from Billy Vera and the Beaters. Then, it’s Real Life’s 4-seed, “Send Me an Angel” from the cinematic masterpiece Rad taking on both Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes with “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” from Dirt...

Merry Christmas, Happy Winter, Happy New Year, Joyous Solstice, Happy Festivus, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, Healthy Saturnalia—whatever you celebrate, we are down with it. But in the era and place that we grew up, 80s Decembers were filled with Christmas & winter music by our favorite artists! Join us in taking a winter break from Side B between rounds one and two, as we take you on an adventur...

This is it! The final episode of Round 1! It’s Briton against Briton! It’s Escape Club versus Swing Out Sister! It’s two-seed “Wild Wild West” against fifteen-seed “Breakout”! Which will come out on top? How do I know, what am I, a clairvoyant? Hey! What if you had someone with extra-sensory powers and her name was Claire Voyant? Wouldn’t that be cool? This video kind of blows, but you gotta watch...

It’s Episode 36 of Side B! It’s two meh songs. It’s a meh-pisode! Seriously, we’re pitting seven-seed “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” by Glass Tiger against ten-seed “Heart and Soul” by T’Pau. Are these the most amazing songs in this region? No! Do we still have opinions about them? Yes! Should you listen? Look, normally, I’d say I can’t answer that for you, but here? Hell yes, you should listen...

Cue the fake horns! It’s time for us to gorge ourselves on a banquet of cheese! Three-seed The Final Countdown from the Swedish band Europe breaks down the doors of propriety and demands that you listen to it now! Who would dare to take on this Velveeta Icon? A little outfit called Love and Rockets, that’s who! They bring their fourteen-seed challenger “So Alive” to the table. Give it a listen. Th...

Today’s matchup features a video which contains the most 80s footwear imaginable. Seriously, check out the shoe/sock combo worn by the guitarist of The Outfield. Their six-seed “Your Love” goes up against eleven-seed “The Promise” by When in Rome, who aren’t wearing super-80s shoes, but do have some amazing hair going for them. Or maybe you’ll just want to listen to the music. This is a public epi...

You know those matchups where people are all pissed off because it’s two songs they really like and they’re forced to vote on them in the first round and then a song they like is out just like that? Yeah, this is one of those. It’s four-seed “Never Tear Us Apart” by legendary Australian group INXS against German synth-poppers Alphaville, with thirteen-seed “Forever Young.” Happy shitty choice day,...

In our third episode of Side B’s Foreigners (Still without Foreigner) Region, we’ve got five-seed “The Look” by Swedish pop duo Roxette taking on British rock band New Order with “Bizarre Love Triangle.” Say, you know what would be a really bizarre love triangle? If two clams both fell in love with the same starfish. How on earth would they work it out? This is a public episode. If you would like...

Which makes you more uncomfortable, a weird, menacing clown-man in a yellow plaid suit or a singer who is about to sexually assault the camera? Two seriously odd videos; two pretty solid songs. Jazz-funksters Level 42 give us eight-seed “Something About You” to go up against nine-seed “(I Just) Died in Your Arms” from rock outfit Cutting Crew. Let us know your thoughts! This is a public episode. I...

 Let’s! Get! Gothy! No, seriously, it’s time to slather on your pale foundation, throw some eyeliner under those peepers and get ready for The Cure! (Also Pet Shop Boys.) Seriously, though, two great bands, two amazing songs, as top-seeded “West End Girls” by Brit synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys takes on woefully under-rated sixteen-seed “Just Like Heaven” from Robert Smith and The Cure. Give it a lis...

Here it is: the last region of Side B! And, folks, we saved the best for last. There’s not an “Iko Iko” in sight as we bring you the region preview for the Foreigners (STILL Without Foreigner) Region. So. Many. Great. Songs! Seriously, this one’s good. Give a listen! SCROLL NO FURTHER IF YOU WISH TO AVOID REGION SPOILERS! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subsc...

The Singers Region comes to a thunderous conclusion as the massive talent of Nu Shooz goes up against the god-like singing prowess of Milli Vanilli! It’s two-seed “I Can’t Wait” against fifteen-seed “Girl You Know It’s True.” And let’s pause a second to ask ourselves: does she know it’s true? How can we be sure? All this, plus: an ending so epic, you have to listen to it to believe it. Wow. This i...

Leslie Wunderman or Ho-Jo, who’s your preference? What’s that? You have no idea who I’m talking about? What if I ask about Taylor Dayne and Howard Jones? Do those names ring a bell? You’re goddamn right they do. In this episode, we have Taylor’s seven-seed “Tell It to My Heart” against Ho-Jo’s ten-seed “No One Is to Blame.” Well, Ho-Jo, *I* blame you …for being awesome! Here’s the Taylor Dane bit...

 Hey 80s-est Listeners! You’re about to get…Rick Rolled! What is a Rick Roll, you ask? Happy to tell you: at my favorite local sushi place, a Rick Roll is a sweet-potato tempura and asparagus maki with Kewpie mayo. It’s pretty good. Anyway, today’s show has three-seed “Never Gonna Give You Up” from Rick Astley taking on fourteen-seed “Naughty Girls (Need Love, Too)” from Samantha Fox. 🦊 This is a...

Episode 25 finds us considering two of the most high-powered acts of the 80s. Seriously, they didn’t come more ground-breaking and popular than Scritti Politti and Stacy Q. The Politti boys bring their six-seed “Perfect Way” up against Ms. Q’s eleven-seed “Two of Hearts,” which, if you know anything about anything, you realize are two hearts that beat as one. Get your heart beating by listening to...

 In this episode: two songs Joe had no idea about the meaning of in the 80s! Seriously, you may think you know what four-seed “Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)” is about, but you’re almost certainly wrong. And if you knew that thirteen-seed “Toy Soldiers” is about cocaine abuse, then you were paying way more attention than us in 1989. Come listen to Mike + the Mechanics +Martika and then let u...

In this episode, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam with Full Force take on Robert Robert and WomenBots with Gyrations. It’s five-seed “Head to Toe” from Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam against twelve-seed “Simply Irresistible” from Robert Palmer. Which video will appeal to you? Boring performance with some neon or blatant sexism? Tough call! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subsc...

It’s our MALL EPISODE! That’s right, the ultimate 80s destination awaits you. Grab a book from B. Dalton; snag a novelty t-shirt in Spencer’s Gifts; grab a pretzel from Auntie Anne’s and then sit down and listen to 8-seed “I Think We’re Alone Now” from Tiffany as it takes on 9-seed “Only in My Dreams” from Debbie Gibson. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscr...

 Punk-ish or R&B-ish, these pop hits run the gamut. In today’s show, 1-seed “Mony Mony” from Billy Idol goes up against Jody Watley and her 16-seed “I’m Lookin’ for a New Love.” Whether you like bleached hair and sneers or big ol’ hoop earrings and cool outfits, this episode has something for you! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to b...

The back half of Side B starts here! It’s the Singers* Region! Which golden-throated pop gods made it in? It’s all laid out here, man! Sixteen huge hits! One contrived matchup! Naughty girls! Cold War paranoia! Lip syncing! This one has ‘em all! Dive into the Singers* Region! [*Plus a band or two] ***SPOILERS AS TO WHICH SONGS ARE IN THE REGION AHEAD*** This is a public episode. If you would like...

Two good songs. One of a piece with 80s pop. One pointing the way to a new decade, the last decade of the millennium. Which song is more important? Neither, they’re pop songs, man. But whatever. It’s Crowded House with 2-seed “Don’t Dream It’s Over” against Living Colour’s 15-seed “Cult of Personality.” Which one is more your 80s? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with ot...

What’s your 80s aesthetic? Are you a Peewee’s Playhouse type or just a generic high school person? Do you like porkpie hats or hair dyed in a way that nobody ever did? Will you be more of a fan of Breakfast Club’s 7-seed “Right on Track” or Pretty Poison’s 10-seed, “Catch Me (I’m Falling)”? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus ep...