The 80s-est

Today on Episode 36 of The 80s-est: Pop Singer Lies EXPOSED! Kim Wilde was a kid in the U.K., not America! And Peter “Major Tom” Schilling never achieved a rank higher than Corporal! Keith and Joe show you the truth behind the lies as 7-seed “Kids in America” takes on 10-seed “Major Tom (Coming Home).” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access...

Do you love yourself some Schnitzel? Craving a good pilsner in a big ol’ stein? We can’t help you with that, but we do have a giant plate of German for you, as today’s Episode 35 pits 3-seed “99 Luftballons” by Nena against 14-seed “Der Kommissar” by Falco. Who’s 80s-er? Who’s more Germanic? Let’s find out! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get a...

Irish vs English! Overalls vs lab coats! Violin vs synth, synth, and more synth! In Episode 34, it’s 6-seed “Come On, Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners against 11-seed “She Blinded Me with Science” from Thomas Dolby.  Also, check out Dolby recounting the making of his classic hit that Keith mentions in the show! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or...

Soft Cell! Tears for Fears! Cage match! Two songs enter, one song leaves! [We kid. Both songs will be fine. Don’t worry. No songs were harmed in the recording of this episode. This is just 4-seed “Tainted Love” against 13-seed “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.” It’s a friendly little vote-off. Seriously, don’t be scared!] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other sub...

What seems more 80s to you: social satire or societal outrage? In Episode 32, tongue-in-cheek rock song “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits takes its 5-seed up against Eddy Grant’s singular 12-seed “Electric Avenue.” Here’s the iconic Dire Straits video link that we promised! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit t...

Which kind of men are 80s-er: those at work, or those without hats? Let’s find out together in our 31st episode, as 8-seed “Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats faces off against 9-seed “Who Can It Be Now?” by Men at Work. It’s a close one, y’all.  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

Can a super-positive ditty take out a Norweigan JUGGERNAUT? Probably not, but give a listen anyway. In Episode 30, it’s peppy 16-seed “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves against über-popular “Take on Me” by A-ha. Which will win? Either way, the word “on” is a winner! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...

¿Qué canción es la más 80s? Quelle chanson est la plus années 80s? Welches Lied ist am meisten 80er? In Episode 29, it’s time for the Foreigners (Without Foreigner!) Region! 16 artists from around the world vie for a spot in the next round. It’s like Eurovision, without the camp! Will your favorite songs make it into the tournament? This is their last chance! Listen in real-time to find out, or ch...

Two upbeat, poppy tunes face off in this, our 28th episode. It’s 2-seed “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper versus 15-seed “Break My Stride” by Matthew Wilder. Will the winner be iconoclastic, style-setting Lauper or the…mustache-having Wilder? Two good songs, one hard choice. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episod...

What’s better: a song that expresses affection and desire or a song about raging paranoia? Now’s your chance to decide, as in Episode 27, we pit 10-seed “I Feel for You” by Chaka Khan against 7-seed “Somebody’s Watching Me,” by the mega-star Rockwell. 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

Actor/singer vs comedian/actor/“singer”! Legit voice/problematic lyrics vs generational comedic talent/vanity project! Rick “Noah Drake” Springfield vs Eddie “Axel F” Murphy! It’s 3-seed “Jessie’s Girl” against very generously 14-seeded “Party All the Time.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the80sest.substack....

In Episode 25 it’s amazing percussion versus incredibly bad 80s hair. Sheila E. brings her stand-up drumming against Howard Jones’ mind-blowing orange satin suit as 6-seed “The Glamorous Life” goes against 11-seed “Things Can Only Get Better.” 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

Why does Corey Hart wear sunglasses at night? Just where is Billy Ocean’s lady queen of, anyway? These questions and many more are answered in Episode 24, as we listen to 4-seed “Sunglasses at Night” taking on 13-seed “Caribbean Queen.” 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

In Episode 23, it’s the battle of the raspy blondes! Underdog Kim Carnes pits her 12-seed “Bette Davis Eyes” against powerful 5-seed “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler. Which will win? And what the hell is going on with Tyler’s bonkers video? Do yourself a favor and check out the Total Eclipse literal video as well! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other s...

For Episode 22’s face-off, we’ve got a one-hit wonder versus an 80s hit machine. It’s Baltimora with 8-seeded “Tarzan Boy” versus The Pointer Sisters with number 9 seed, “Automatic.” Will the Sisters automatically win? Not if the Lord of the Jungle has anything to say. Which he probably doesn’t, as he was famously portrayed as being limited in the speechifying department. Please also, as promised,...

For Episode 21, It’s the first match-up of the Singers Region! Top-seeded “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” against 16-seed “Gloria.” Will Laura Branigan get Whammed? I mean, probably. 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

The next region begins here, in Episode 20! Which songs made the grade? Find out as we reveal the 16 competitors in our Singers Region! And, because we know so many of you will be dying to find out: yes, Eddie Murphy made the bracket! #PartyAllTheTime The full bracket is listed visually below, so if you want to be surprised, don’t scroll down to it! Wait for it… Again, stop scrolling if you want t...

What happens when a true classic goes up against the aural equivalent of a peak-Spencer’s-Gifts-era Mall Food Court? Find out in Episode 19 where it’s 2-seed Modern English with “I Melt with You,” doing battle with “Too Shy” by the Beatles of the 80s, 15-seed Kajagoogoo. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit the80s...

 In Episode 18, it’s Supergroup vs Super-who? Number 7-seed The Power Station wield their formidable “Some Like It Hot” against 10-seed “Let’s Go All the Way” by vulpine-themed Sly Fox. 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

What was Aimee Mann like in the 80s? And how exactly does one pronounce “Bananarama”? These questions and others are discussed in episode 17 as Mann’s 3-seed band ‘Til Tuesday pits their “Voices Carry” up against the aforementioned fruit-themed, 14-seed band’s hit, “Cruel Summer.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, vi...

Episode 16: Which song were Keith and Joe cool enough to listen to in the early 80s: 11-seed Violent Femmes’ Gen-X touchstone, “Blister in the Sun” or 6-seed Naked Eyes’ synthy Burt Bacharach cover, “Always Something There to Remind Me”? We think you know the answer to that. But listen anyway! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus...

Episode 15: What’s more 80s: a punk band pivoting to pop or a rock band pivoting to…I guess weird familial issues? It’s 4-seed The Go-Gos with “We Got the Beat” going head-to-head with 13-seed Night Ranger’s classic, “Sister Christian.”  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

In episode 14, it’s a 5-seed against a 12, as Thompson Twins’ classic “Hold Me Now” takes on The Jets’ “Crush on You,” which is also a song! Keith and Joe sift through the 80s-ness of it all. 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

In episode 13, The 80s-est is off its meds! Let’s cover our walls with someone’s picture and covertly observe them through their window, because it’s 8-seed “Obsession” by Animotion, going up against 9-seed “Don’t You Want Me?” by The Human League. 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

Episode 12: They were the newest of waves! In Episode 12 of The 80s-est, it’s 1-seed A Flock of Seagulls’ “I Ran (So Far Away)” versus 16-seed Devo’s “Whip It.” Will the Seagulls run away? Will Devo get whipped? Give it a listen! 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