Middle-aged Dummies are back and bursting at the "themes" to get going! Full theme ahead! (2 Viewers)

[Eephus]

I still think of Adele as kind of a new artist even though she had her first hit 17 1/2 ago.

Interesting that you think of her as so contemporary. She's sort of a distant memory for me. I remember listening to her, but really can't remember what the songs were or how they went. I think I used to listen to her back when I was working out in, like, 2011 (I was late to the game with Adele) when I still lived in Connecticut. Anyway, she has a singular voice and you're right about the soulful aspect of her singing. She brings it.

Adele's first album preceded the debuts of only 7 of my 31 artists and I think my list was probably above the mean in terms of newer music.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I was going to buy one ticket to each, but the restaurant one gives an error every time.

The restaurants are in Houston. You would have to visit. There are reviews in the Houston Chronicle for at least a couple of them. I reckon @bigbottom will show up to let us know soon.

 

[krista4]

I was going to buy one ticket to each, but the restaurant one gives an error every time.

The restaurants are in Houston. You would have to visit. There are reviews in the Houston Chronicle for at least a couple of them. I reckon @bigbottom will show up to let us know soon.

Yes, I'm aware. I looked at the websites for all of them to see if I'd want to make the trip. But I was thinking I'd sell them and make additional charitable donations. ETA: to be clear, would donate all of whatever I made in selling them.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I was going to buy one ticket to each, but the restaurant one gives an error every time.

The restaurants are in Houston. You would have to visit. There are reviews in the Houston Chronicle for at least a couple of them. I reckon @bigbottom will show up to let us know soon.

Yes, I'm aware. I looked at the websites for all of them to see if I'd want to make the trip. But I was thinking I'd sell them and make additional charitable donations.

I know you are a foodie. You might really want to go.

 

[El Floppo]

I was going to buy one ticket to each, but the restaurant one gives an error every time.

The restaurants are in Houston. You would have to visit. There are reviews in the Houston Chronicle for at least a couple of them. I reckon @bigbottom will show up to let us know soon.

Yes, I'm aware. I looked at the websites for all of them to see if I'd want to make the trip. But I was thinking I'd sell them and make additional charitable donations.

I know you are a foodie. You might really want to go.

is one of them Katz's?

we're talking about the street, right?

 

[krista4]

I was going to buy one ticket to each, but the restaurant one gives an error every time.

The restaurants are in Houston. You would have to visit. There are reviews in the Houston Chronicle for at least a couple of them. I reckon @bigbottom will show up to let us know soon.

Yes, I'm aware. I looked at the websites for all of them to see if I'd want to make the trip. But I was thinking I'd sell them and make additional charitable donations.

I know you are a foodie. You might really want to go.

The Indian one and the Mediterranean one looked particularly good.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Catching up with the metal musings..

Good too see both of us cheating on the dates to get stuff we wanted on the playlists. I also had Slayer, but stuck with the title track to Seasons in the Abyss. That is still one of my all-time metal albums and a favorite song. I used to try to play along to the video. Not on a set, mind you - we didn't have the money for that. Instead, it was pillows and couch cushions. I like the deeper tracks like Temptation and Spirit in Black as well.

Seasons In The Abyss

Slayer · Seasons In The Abyss · Song · 1990

open.spotify.com

I also went back to the grunge well again with some Soundgarden. They were my favorite of the Seattle bands, and Badmotorfinger is still a favorite album from that era. Side 2 gets overlooked by the mega hits that open the album, so I wanted something on the playlist from the back half.

Room A Thousand Years Wide - Remastered 2016

Soundgarden · Badmotorfinger (25th Anniversary Remaster) · Song · 1991

open.spotify.com

The 3rd and last song we had the same was Suicidal Tendencies. Almost mandatory angry teen anthem here. With tracks like this and Institutionalized they new how to tap into that energy so well. I know I had this album and the one before along with some Infectious Grooves, but nothing ever hit near the height of this song for me. It makes sense this is one we both had.

You Can't Bring Me Down

Suicidal Tendencies · Lights...Camera...Revolution · Song · 1990

open.spotify.com

 

[titusbramble]

Not gonna lie, I thought it would take a while to work out, but thought it might have been worked out sooner given the excessively long artist/song for #31, then things typically getting shorter. If you pick that trend then look back and think "wait, JX and ZZ Top seem big counterexamples, what is going on here", I think it gets found. If it wasn't worked out today I think it's definitely worked out once the #1 is revealed.

As for the track selections themselves, I wanted to try to put something together where I can just put a few tracks into the forum that I like from bands that don't have the material for a full MAD artist countdown, and then just fill out the rest of things with whatever I can find. I'll leave it to the reader to speculate what is the killer and what is the filler. Oddly enough the low end of the playlist was probably the hardest. I think in terms of a guessing game that a traditional theme would likely have been guessed very quickly, so I needed to pick something different like I did. This wasn't the first idea I had - the initial plan was to have the last letter of an artist be the first letter of the next, and I had a great start where the first three tracks would point very, very strongly at a completely unrelated theme (which I won't detail as I might use it myself if we redo this in the future), but couldn't really get a satisfactory playlist that didn't loop to a lot of S's.

Also glad the Gun selection didn't send anyone on a completely unrelated cover version rabbit hole right at the death, I just don't know another track of theirs

 

[Yambag]

Catching up with the metal musings..

Good too see both of us cheating on the dates to get stuff we wanted on the playlists. I also had Slayer, but stuck with the title track to Seasons in the Abyss. That is still one of my all-time metal albums and a favorite song. I used to try to play along to the video. Not on a set, mind you - we didn't have the money for that. Instead, it was pillows and couch cushions. I like the deeper tracks like Temptation and Spirit in Black as well.

Seasons In The Abyss

Slayer · Seasons In The Abyss · Song · 1990

open.spotify.com

I also went back to the grunge well again with some Soundgarden. They were my favorite of the Seattle bands, and Badmotorfinger is still a favorite album from that era. Side 2 gets overlooked by the mega hits that open the album, so I wanted something on the playlist from the back half.

Room A Thousand Years Wide - Remastered 2016

Soundgarden · Badmotorfinger (25th Anniversary Remaster) · Song · 1991

open.spotify.com

The 3rd and last song we had the same was Suicidal Tendencies. Almost mandatory angry teen anthem here. With tracks like this and Institutionalized they new how to tap into that energy so well. I know I had this album and the one before along with some Infectious Grooves, but nothing ever hit near the height of this song for me. It makes sense this is one we both had.

You Can't Bring Me Down

Suicidal Tendencies · Lights...Camera...Revolution · Song · 1990

open.spotify.com

One Slayer album that was on repeat for me was Decade of Aggression, such a great live album and technically I could have used that to get Raining Blood in the 5 year timeline. And yes, Spirit in Black is fantastic!

I never really got into Soundgarden. Love Chris Cornell, but for some reason, found their stuff a bit boring.

 

[titusbramble]

Round 3 - Schrei Nach Leibe - Die Ärzte

Another three dot band, this time from Germany. They picked the name when one of the members realised the "a" bin in record stores was mostly empty. Rock on.

Used these in the round the world countdown, only know them from a phase where my work radio was a Hamburg-based röck station.

And now that the dictator's theme is out, I believe that the #1 artist at least used some of the same methodology when coming to name themselves...

 

[bigbottom]

Raffle tickets are on sale again. Get 'em while they're hot! (Couldn't find a better link.)

I was going to buy one ticket to each, but the restaurant one gives an error every time. Probably why no tickets have been purchased to that one. @bigbottom

If I win the raffle, I'll have to figure out what to do. I'm not looking to "profit" from this contest.

Thanks for the note! There was some sort of system error. I am told it should be working now. Thanks for the support and you should come to Houston if you win. Lots of good food and we can hang out!

 

[bigbottom]

I was going to buy one ticket to each, but the restaurant one gives an error every time.

The restaurants are in Houston. You would have to visit. There are reviews in the Houston Chronicle for at least a couple of them. I reckon @bigbottom will show up to let us know soon.

Yes, I'm aware. I looked at the websites for all of them to see if I'd want to make the trip. But I was thinking I'd sell them and make additional charitable donations.

I know you are a foodie. You might really want to go.

Agree!

 

[bigbottom]

Think I opted for @bigbottom ‘s Chance for Hope the last time that I won the MAD charity contest. Let’s do it again.

Raffle tickets are on sale again. Get 'em while they're hot! (Couldn't find a better link.)

Thank you so much Mrs. R! Any chance I can talk you into coming out for the event? House of Blues Downtown. It’s a party!

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Think I opted for @bigbottom ‘s Chance for Hope the last time that I won the MAD charity contest. Let’s do it again.

Raffle tickets are on sale again. Get 'em while they're hot! (Couldn't find a better link.)

Thank you so much Mrs. R! Any chance I can talk you into coming out for the event? House of Blues Downtown. It’s a party!

Mr R starts work at 4PM and goes until 3 or 4AM, so it's not really a thing. Sorry.

And, no, he isn't working for Wicked SImon of Legree. He works for a bank, from home. Much of the time, he's doing something eise while files run. It's great. The job description is changing in the fall, so options may open up then.

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

Scrabble?
Scrabble????

This is worse than the final episodes of a lot of TV shows discussed in the other thread

Doesnt help that im useless at Scrabble and Ive never beaten my wife in 25 years of playing her.
Even all my children beat me at this stupid game.
Ban Scrabble.

 

[krista4]

Ive never beaten my wife in 25 years

This is good.

 

[Mt. Man]

So the possible romance involved Scrabble. Isn't that just Words with Friends with Benefits?

More seriously, grats to DonQuixote for getting the theme, and thanks to titusbramble for the puzzle. I don't think I was in the ballpark, but I might have been in the same ZIP code.

 

[-OZ-]

Maybe a weird idea for a countdown but maybe we can do a location based countdown? Meaning, someone who loves the motor city could do Detroit or Michigan, while a southerner does Nashville, could do Western Europe, or whatever.

Written as I listen to a fairly new Alabama band I’m really enjoying lately.

 

[Don Quixote]

Maybe a weird idea for a countdown but maybe we can do a location based countdown? Meaning, someone who loves the motor city could do Detroit or Michigan, while a southerner does Nashville, could do Western Europe, or whatever.

Written as I listen to a fairly new Alabama band I’m really enjoying lately.

I might be out of favorite songs from Africa.

 

[Yambag]

3s

New Songs That Caught My Attention
Die Arzte: Schrei nach Liebe
Ebo Tayler: Atwer Abroba
Spandau Ballet: Gold
TV On The Radio: Wolf Like Me
Hans Zimmer: Man of Steel
La Luz: Sure as Spring
Laura Jane Grace: I Hate Chicago
Evanescence: My Immortal

Known Songs
Gene Kelly: Singin' In The Rain
Robert Morse: The Best Things In Life Are Free
Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb
Derek & The Dominos: Layla
Florence and the Machine: Dog Days Are Over
Dolly Parton: 9 to 5
Bad Company: Shooting Star
Dire Straits: Money for Nothing
Oasis: Slide Away
Van Morrison: Into the Mystic
Nirvana: Something in the Way
ZZ Top: La Grange
U2: I Will Follow
Queensryche: Silent Lucidity
Billy Joel: NY State of Mind
Cure: Just Like Heaven
Sia: Chandelier

 

[shuke]

3s

shukelist appearances!
JMLs secret identity – Layla (Spotify) - Derek and the Dominos
rockaction - Sweet Soul Music - Arthur Conley
MrsKarmaPolice – Wolf Like Me - TV on the Radio
Tau837 – Silent Lucidity - Queensryche (acutally courtesy @Mrs. Rannous from a previous countdown)

Saxy!
Don Quixote – Atwer Abroba (Spotify) - Ebo Taylor
DrIanMalcolm – New York State of Mind - Billy Joel

New to me favorites
Pip’s Invitation – A Beautiful Song - Nazz - Holy **** what is this??
Chaos34 - Sure As Spring - La Luz

Other favs
Dr. Octopus – Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd - just want to say that I've really appreciated these being live selections
KarmaPolice – All Across the Country - Atomic Rooster - another one in the list queue, but what I currently have slated is a different song
-OZ- - Dog Days Are Over - Florence + The Machine
Ilov80s - Take Me to the River (Live) - Talking Heads
John Maddens Lunchbox – Something in the Way (Spotify) – Nirvana
El Floppo – I Will Follow - U2 - I hate to be that guy but pre-Joshua Tree U2 just hits differently for me
Zegras11 – Just like Heaven - The Cure

 

[Mt. Man]

Finally catching up with The #5s! Still shuffled, ‘cause why not?

Known Numbers:
When Doves Cry - Prince
Us and Them - Pink Floyd
You Keep Me Hangin’ On - Vanilla Fudge
Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne
Across 110th Street - Bobby Womack

Total Surprises:
Stratford-On-Guy - Liz Phair
Empty Trainload of Sky - Gilian Welch & David Rawlings
Soul Makossa - Manu Dibango
Hyperballad - Bjork
Without U - Beach Goons

Go Figure:

I was planning on going in another direction before shuffle put David Bowie’s “Rock and Roll Suicide” followed by “All the Young Dudes” as covered by Mott the Hoople. I was just amused enough that it felt right to include this pair.

 

[krista4]

#2 songs

kupcho1 – rain

Purple Rain – Prince


Eephus – Single (Named) Ladies

Irreplaceable - Beyoncé


Charlie Steiner – songs from Mad Men

Is That All There Is? - Peggy Lee


simey – train songs

Slow Train - The Staple Singers


Yambag – Metal songs from 1988-1992 that became the gateway into the world of music for a young Yambag

Return to Serenity - Testament


Dr. Octopus – guitarists I’ve seen live

That's What Love WIll Make You Do - Jerry Garcia Band (Jerry Garcia)


Yo Mama – World’s Worst Superheroes

Stupid Girl - Garbage


Mrs. Rannous – umlauts

Ice Machine – Röyksopp


KarmaPolice – songs from artists not on shuke’s list

Gamin' on Ya - People Under the Stairs


Don Quixote – Afrobeat

No Agreement (Spotify) - Fela Kuti & Afrika ‘70 (Nigeria)


JMLs secret identity – songs in D#Minor, the saddest key of all

Killing In The Name (Spotify) - Rage Against The Machine


-OZ- - song / music moments from the Marvel cinematic universe

Bye Bye Bye - *NSYNC


Mt. Man – Number, Please

4° - Tool


Pip’s Invitation – songs from albums produced and/or engineered by Todd Rundgren

The Road to Utopia - Utopia


falguy – songs by 31 different Canadian artists

Animal I Have Become - Three Days Grace


Raging weasel – name-checking Beatles or their songs

Never Been to Spain - Three Dog Night


jwb – songs that sound great on a decent 2-channel system

In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (Filmore East Version) – Allman Brothers


scorchy – songs by Manchester(-ish) artists

Shoplifters Of The World Unite - The Smiths


titusbramble – Grand Theft Auto, specifically the 3D era

Hold The Line - Toto (SA - K-DST)


shuke – Saxytime

Year Of The Cat (Spotify) - Al Stewart


Ilov80s - One song from each of the 31 best albums of 1984

Persephone - Cocteau Twins


John Maddens Lunchbox – Batman

Batdance (Spotify) - Prince


Mister CIA – Texas Places in Song Titles

El Paso - Marty Robbins


El Floppo – Mallet Rock

Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix


landrys hat - favorite Side 2 Track 1s from my record collection

Heroin - Velvet Underground - Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)


rockaction - Songs that state the genre they’re in

Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bob Dylan


ditkaburgers - Girl Groups X Boy Bands

Power - Little Mix


MrsKarmaPolice – Animal Kingdom

Animal - Miike Snow


Tau837 – Hair metal

Rock Me - Great White


DrIanMalcolm – Songs about New York

Living for the City - Stevie Wonder


higgins – Instrumentals with places in the title

Above the World - Andy Summers


Zegras11 – New wave

Nowhere Girl - B-Movie


Chaos34 - Post Surf Rock Surf Rockish (80s fwd)

Busman’s Holiday - Allah-Las


krista4 – Chicagoland

Lincoln Park Pirates – Steve Goodman


Anonymous Mystery Theme Dictator - Artist's position in the countdown is what the artist name would score in Scrabble

Born In The North - Us


MAC_32 – Songs to play during (and after) a funeral

Simple Man (acoustic) - Shinedown

 

[krista4]

#2 Playlist

 

[rockaction]

Oh, Eephus fooled us. Beyoncé is there after all! Our long national nightmare is over.

To the left to the left

Ne-yo penned the track, Beyoncé owned it.

 

[-OZ-]

-OZ- - song / music moments from the Marvel cinematic universe

Bye Bye Bye - *NSYNC

The factor is high Here and this was the worst Deadpool movie, but the song deserves a spot on the list.


I, I'm doing this tonight
You're probably gonna start a fight

I loved you endlessly
When you weren't there for me
So now it's time to leave and make it alone
I know that I can't take no more
It ain't no lie
I want to see you out that door
Baby, bye, bye, bye (bye, bye)
Don't wanna be a fool for you
Just another player in your game for two
You may hate me, but it ain't no lie
Baby, bye, bye, bye (bye, bye)
Don't really want to make it tough
I just wanna tell you that I've had enough
It might sound crazy, but it ain't no lie
Baby, bye, bye, bye

“Bye Bye Bye” by *NSYNC and Deadpool might seem like an unlikely pairing, but there’s an interesting connection between the two that centers around pop culture, nostalgia, and subversive humor. *NSYNC, *one of the most iconic boy bands of the late ’90s and early 2000s, took the world by storm with their infectious melodies and synchronized dance moves. Their song “Bye Bye Bye,” released in 2000 as part of their album No Strings Attached, became an anthem for a generation. The song’s catchy beat and emotionally charged lyrics about breaking up with someone mirrored the angst and rebellion of the time. In many ways, NSYNC’s music was the soundtrack to the exuberance and drama of adolescence.

Meanwhile, Deadpool, the 2016 superhero movie starring Ryan Reynolds, also broke from the traditional mold, just as NSYNC did within the pop music landscape. Deadpool is a superhero film, but it’s far from a conventional one. Its use of dark humor, irreverence, and breaking the fourth wall made it stand out in the sea of traditional superhero flicks. One of the more memorable moments in Deadpool is its playful and often unexpected use of pop culture references, including *NSYNC. The movie opens with Deadpool (Wade Wilson) listening to “Take Me On” by a-ha, but it’s the inclusion of NSYNC later on that gives a glimpse into the irreverent tone of the film. In particular, “Bye Bye Bye” is used as a fun, chaotic soundtrack to one of the movie’s fight scenes, mixing nostalgia with violence and dark humor.

The inclusion of NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” in Deadpool is a perfect example of how the film subverts expectations. The song, known for its energetic pop sound, is an odd choice for a gritty and action-packed moment in a superhero movie. But that’s the magic of Deadpool. It embraces the absurdity and turns it into something uniquely entertaining. It’s a reflection of the film’s overall tone: unpredictable, self-aware, and always ready to poke fun at the seriousness of traditional superhero films. The juxtaposition of a boy band hit from the turn of the millennium against a violent and chaotic scene adds an extra layer of irony that only enhances the film’s appeal.

In a way, both NSYNC and Deadpool represent a break from the norm in their respective fields. NSYNC pushed the boundaries of what boy bands could do, with their tight choreography and emotionally charged lyrics, challenging the expectations of pop music at the time. Similarly, Deadpool disrupted the superhero genre, blending comedy with intense action and pushing the boundaries of what was considered acceptable for a mainstream movie. Both were reactions to their environments, whether it was the pop music scene or the world of superhero cinema, and both achieved tremendous success by playing with their audiences’ expectations.

What also links NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” and Deadpool is their cultural impact. “Bye Bye Bye” wasn’t just a song; it was an event. It marked a moment in time when NSYNC was at their peak, and the song itself became a symbol of youthful rebellion and breaking free from the past. Similarly, Deadpool was a cultural touchstone in the superhero genre, becoming a major box office success and spawning sequels. Both tapped into the energy of their respective times, but in different ways. While NSYNC channeled the optimism and youthful exuberance of the early 2000s, Deadpool leaned into the cynicism and anti-hero trend that would define much of the 2010s.

In the end, both NSYNC and Deadpool have found a lasting place in popular culture, albeit in different ways. NSYNC’s influence can still be felt in the boy band landscape, with their catchy tunes and slick choreography being a blueprint for later groups. Their songs, like “Bye Bye Bye,” continue to resonate with fans who grew up with them. Deadpool, on the other hand, has transformed the superhero genre, setting a new standard for irreverence and meta-humor in comic book films. The blending of these two cultural icons in Deadpool—with “Bye Bye Bye” blaring during a fight scene—serves as a testament to how both have left their mark on the cultural zeitgeist, proving that even in the most unexpected of pairings, there’s a connection to be found.

Next and final up - a bit of a curve ball, awesome song written by a guy with my name (not ozzy) AFAIK the band hasn’t been included in this countdown yet. Which might be worse than no Beyoncé.

 

[rockaction]

2. Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bob Dylan, or if he'd been on Twitter, Dob Billin' (hey, he can still join X)

I don't even need quotes around this one it's so obvious which is the song and who is the artist. Ever since I saw the video that accompanied this track (as a high schooler or college kid), I've been enthralled by the honky tonkin' guitars, dexterous wordplay, harmonica, and the upbeat pace of this down home rock n' roll blues jam. There's just the right amount of paranoia in the lyrics (with talk of bugged phones and district attorney busts) and a thumb in the eye of authority that seems fitting in this day and age, never mind '65 when this was released.

Wiki page here full of interesting material.

Dylan just exudes cool here in the video, which was shot as a promo for a then-upcoming documentary. Allen Ginsberg hangs out in the background like a sherpa or shepherd or something talking to Bob Neuwirth, Dylan's sort of road companion.

So it's not an ode to the blues, but the epitome of the rockin' ones, in my estimation. Next we will see the ultimate ode to a genre that I happen to dig for its lyricism and homage qualities.

 

[Don Quixote]

Don Quixote – Afrobeat

No Agreement (Spotify) - Fela Kuti & Afrika ‘70 (Nigeria)

Well, I’ve mentioned Fela Kuti a number of times in my write-ups and he played sax on the Tony Allen selection that was previously included, but this is the first time that he’s appeared on the list. Didn’t think I’d leave him out, did ya? I decided to just keep him to one song, because, while I enjoy his music, I thought too many 15 minute songs like this might wear out the welcome, and thought folks might enjoy more my mixing it up with some of the Afrofunk and Afrorock that have included along the way.

I included his “Zombie” on my MAD 31 rest of world list. I decided to change it up with “No Agreement” here — one of his best rhythms. Features Tony Allen on the drums and Lester Bowie on the trumpet.

While it is instrumental until around 11 minutes in, he does eventually make his political statement, with “no agreement” meaning his refusal to compromise with the Nigerian government if any agreement would lead to anything that would make his brother hungry or homeless. This was after the Nigerian government burned down his compound in reaction to “Zombie”.

I did use Fela Kuti to stand-in for all Kuti’s (as Eephus mentioned earlier, his sons Femi and Seun have continued on his music and become great musicians in their own right), but may put some on the playlist wrap at the end. For new release fans, Seun Kuti released a new song today: a new version of his song Stand Well Well with Pos of De La Soul.

Stand Well Well - Grand Stand Version

Seun Kuti, Egypt 80, De La Soul · Stand Well Well (Grand Stand Version) · Song · 2025

open.spotify.com

 

[Charlie Steiner]

2. Is That All There Is - Peggy Lee

You know what? You're filthy rich. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. - Peggy Olson (to Joan)- season 7, episode 8, Severance

Coming into this exercise, all I knew of Peggy Lee was her song Fever. Just browsing her Wikipedia page showed me how much more there was to her; in addition to recording songs in multiple genres, she also wrote, and acted and voice acted, all this after going from local radio in her home state of North Dakota to Hollywood where she took on jobs ranging from short order cook to carnival barker before landing singing gigs. It was through her early gigs at rowdy venues that she found her style:

I knew I couldn't sing over them, so I decided to sing under them. The more noise they made, the more softly I sang. When they discovered they couldn't hear me, they began to look at me. Then, they began to listen. As I sang, I kept thinking, 'softly with feeling'. The noise dropped to a hum; the hum gave way to silence. I had learned how to reach and hold my audience—softly, with feeling.

She performed from the mid 30s until her last appearance in 2000, landing top 40 songs each decade from the 40s-90s. She won a Grammy for Is That All There Is in 1969, which came just 22 years after her last #1 song, Manana (is Soon Enough for Me). She also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995.

Reaching #1 was no small accomplishment for Is That All There Is; other music released at the same time includes The Beatles' Abbey Road, The Rolling Stones' Let it Bleed and Led Zeppelin II.

Her acting career included co-starring with Danny Thomas in a remake of The Jazz Singer. She received an Oscar nomination for her performance in Pete Kelly's Blues, and voiced multiple roles in the animated version 101 Dalmatians (including both Siamese cats) as well as co-writing all the original songs used in the movie. She also co-wrote the lyrics for the song Johnny Guitar from the movie of the same name.

Spoiler: Spoiler

In Severance, we see that for most of the guys, the transition to working for McCann is pretty smooth, like Wilkinson smooth, while Joan and Peggy learn that advertising is still a man's world when their presentation to McCann asking for help marketing Joan's client is received with nothing but lewd comments. The quote that begins this write up came from the end of that scene, and I believe it's when Joan emotionally severs her connection with her job.

Ken Cosgrove is fired in this episode as well, but I love the scene of his firing:

Ken: You wanted to see me?

Roger: You know Ferguson Donnelly from McCann.

Ken: Of course. Ferg, good to see you.

Ferg: Been a while.

Ken: Is this about the Topaz department store route? I think it's a great idea.

Ferg: I don't know what you're talking about.

Roger: Did you send Ed Baxter a $200 set of MacGregor golf clubs from the firm?

Ken: Actually, I hand-delivered it. It was a retirement gift.

Roger: I've got some bad news for you. Pete's gonna take over Dow.

Ken: Because of the clubs?

Roger: No, because McCann doesn't want you on the business.

Ken: Just 'cause Ed's retiring doesn't mean I can't get along with his replacement. I know Greg from metals.

Ferg: I don't care if you know a girl from Kalamazoo. We don't want you on the business because we don't want you on any business.

Ken: Look, Ferg, you're not still mad at me for leaving? That was six years ago. And you never hired me anyway. When you bought Putnam, Powell & Lowe, I came with the furniture.

Ferg: People come in and out of our doors all the time, Ken, but they don't walk out with $4 million of Birds Eye products.

Ken: Of course they do.

Ferg: Fine. They don't walk around the office like their **** doesn't stink and then go out
and tell the world we're, what, a bunch of black Irish (for context:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Irish_(folklore) thugs?

Ken: You're gonna fire me because I hurt Ferg's feelings? It's what he is. Look at him.

Roger: How about a little dignity?

Ken: You're firing me!

Roger: Yes, but you'll get a generous severance package if you help Pete secure all of your accounts, including Dow.

Ferg: Roger said he'd be glad to recommend you.

Ken: Thank you, Roger. I appreciate your loyalty.

Finally, I want to circle back to the linked scene, where Don is auditioning models for Wilkinson razors. It wasn't until I previewed the link that I saw a resemblance between the model in the scene and Megan. Don revisits this scene as well when he dreams that Rachel Menkin auditions as well, which is what prompted him to attempt to re-connect with her and learns that she recently passed away.

 

[KarmaPolice]

@Uruk-Hai - you catch that playlist/song title? I didn't realize it was a Parliament song until this morning. Makes a lot of sense, and makes the selection even more fitting.

 

[-OZ-]

MAC_32 – Songs to play during (and after) a funeral

Simple Man (acoustic) - Shinedown

Love this song! I had it on while driving back from vacation with 3 of my sons, and I commented about having them play it at my funeral. My oldest didn’t like hearing that but he likes the song - Skynard more so, but this version hits.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

@Uruk-Hai - you catch that playlist/song title? I didn't realize it was a Parliament song until this morning. Makes a lot of sense, and makes the selection even more fitting.

I did, and it was a ***** leaving that off of my list last MAD.

 

[Zegras11]

extended version... was shocked when it appeared before It's one of my faves from the era. Love the opening.

Nowhere Girl - Extended

B-Movie · Nowhere Girl - EP · Song · 2016

open.spotify.com

"Nowhere Girl" is a single by English new wave band B-Movie. It was originally released on 2 November 1980, and later re-released in 1982, reaching No. 67 in the UK and No. 20 in Sweden The song has been described as a tale of alienation It later appeared re-recorded on the band's first studio album, the Sire Records release Forever Running in 1985. It became a chart-topping single across Europe and received much airplay at the time and was performed on the Spanish TV show Tocata.The band also re-recorded the song in 2016 for their newest album Climate of Fear released by Cleopatra Records

 

[Yambag]

#2 songs

Yambag – Metal songs from 1988-1992 that became the gateway into the world of music for a young Yambag

Return to Serenity - Testament

Summary: Testament is an American thrash metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983 under the name Legacy. They are often credited as one of the most popular and influential bands of the thrash metal scene, as well as one of the leaders of the second wave of the genre of the late 1980s. Testament is considered a significant member of the so-called "Big Six of Bay Area thrash metal".

Times Seen Live in Concert: 1 = 1990 (with Megadeth and Judas Priest)

Personal Connection: My first exposure to testament was when I purchased 1988’s Practice What You Preach, which quickly became a favorite of mine. I was pretty disappointed with their follow up, 1990’s Souls of Black but they returned to form in 1992 with The Ritual. I chose what is chartwise their biggest hit, Return to Serenity as they were noted for strong power ballads, starting with 1988’s aptly titled The Ballad which was in heavy rotation on MTV. This is a band that I liked better back then and don’t find myself listening to much anymore.

Other songs to consider: Electric Crown, The Ballad

 

[shuke]

Tau837 – Hair metal

We voted for this to be our class song senior year of highschool. The powers that be gave us Wind Beneath My Wings instead

That's how we ended up with "Year of the Cat". Ick.

shuke – Saxytime

Year Of The Cat (Spotify) - Al Stewart

 

[KarmaPolice]

Tau837 – Hair metal

We voted for this to be our class song senior year of highschool. The powers that be gave us Wind Beneath My Wings instead

That's how we ended up with "Year of the Cat". Ick.

shuke – Saxytime

Year Of The Cat (Spotify) - Al Stewart

Oops.

 

[kupcho1]

kupcho1 – rain

Purple Rain – Prince

This isn't my favorite Prince song, but it's up there.

I've got to believe this is a repeat from somebody's MAD countdown (probably multiple countdowns), but no matter. I needed a colorful rain song. Plus, it's timely. From Google AI:

Prince's "Purple Rain" lyrics, while open to interpretation, generally convey themes of love, salvation, and enduring faith, particularly in the face of hardship or the end of the world.

Honey, I know, I know, I know times are changing
It's time we all reach out for something new
That means you, too
You say you want a leader
But you can't seem to make up your mind
I think you better close it
And let me guide you to the purple rain

 

[Pip's Invitation]

2. The Road to Utopia
Artist: Utopia
Album: Adventures in Utopia (1979)
Todd's role(s): co-producer, engineer, guitar, co-lead vocals
Writer(s): Todd Rundgren, Roger Powell, Kasim Sulton and John "Willie" Wilcox

The song: If I picked what I thought was their best song for the track to represent Utopia, it would probably be a really long prog thing and most of you would have skipped it. So instead I am going for a track that I like that perhaps most represents the Utopia sound, at least the aspect of their sound that Todd Rundgren recreated on some records that he produced in the '80s.

Utopia began as a prog/jazz-rock fusion act but by 1979 had morphed into a new wave band. "The Road to Utopia," the opener to their second new wave/fifth overall album Adventures in Utopia, begins with sound effects and spacey instrumentation, which gives way to soaring guitar lines from Rundgren -- wait, I thought they weren't a prog band anymore. But starting at 1:30, the main riff and the rest of the arrangement is all new wave. The melody is extremely sing-songy on the verses and the choruses, and the instruments just bop along. When they get to "on the road to Utopia" at the end of the chorus, the layered harmonies that can be heard on almost every '80s song I picked for this countdown are there. The final stretch of song explodes with a bevy of harmonies, which give way to some more instrumental noodling on the fadeout.

Rundgren (who does most of the singing) and bassist Kasim Sulton (who sings the bridge) pronounce the word "utopia" correctly when they sing it here, but it's funny to hear live recordings where, during banter with his thick Philly accent, Rundgren pronounces it "yew-TOPE-yuh."

The album: Starting with their third album Ra (1977), Utopia became a democratic band with all four members taking songwriting and lead vocal duties. Starting with their fourth album Oops! Wrong Planet (1977), they became a new wave band. Adventures in Utopia, released at the very end of 1979, was their first record crediting production to "Todd Rundgren and Utopia" instead of Rundgren alone, and the first to credit all four members with writing every song instead of doling out individual writing credits.

Reflecting the apparent harmony, this is where the new wave version of Utopia was at the top of their game, including nine worthy songs and one track that sounds like a bad Queen outtake. It was also their most commercially successful release, achieving the group's highest spot on the album charts at #32, and producing its only top 40 single, the Sulton-sung "Set Me Free." (Oops! Wrong Planet's "Love Is the Answer" was a major hit for England Dan and John Ford Coley, but Utopia's version failed to chart.)

You Might Also Like: "Second Nature," sung by Rundgren in a higher register than what we usually hear from him, sounds nothing at all like a typical Rundgren/Utopia production, but more like Steely Dan: https://open.spotify.com/track/37OkL1KemLj9VpkkPfz1oj?si=b9a7c61c4d6e4410

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Been busy (and, on Monday, sick), so here are my known-and-liked songs for three playlists:

#4:


kupcho1 – rain

It's Raining Again – Supertramp


Eephus – Single (Named) Ladies

By Your Side - Sade


Charlie Steiner – songs from Mad Men

My Way - Frank Sinatra


simey – train songs

Wabash Cannonball - Willie Nelson


Yambag – Metal songs from 1988-1992 that became the gateway into the world of music for a young Yambag

Raining Blood - Slayer


Dr. Octopus – guitarists I’ve seen live

Jessica - Allman Brothers Band (Dicky Betts)


Yo Mama – World’s Worst Superheroes

Crackerman - Stone Temple Pilots


KarmaPolice – songs from artists not on shuke’s list

Pokin' Around - Mudhoney


Raging weasel – name-checking Beatles or their songs

The Seeker - The Who


jwb – songs that sound great on a decent 2-channel system

The Sound of Silence (Acoustic Version) – Simon and Garfunkel


titusbramble – Grand Theft Auto, specifically the 3D era

It Was A Good Day - Ice Cube (SA - Radio Los Santos)


shuke – Saxytime

National Anthem (Spotify) – Radiohead


John Maddens Lunchbox – Batman

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me (Spotify) - U2


landrys hat - favorite Side 2 Track 1s from my record collection

Everyday People - Sly & the Family Stone - Stand (1969)


ditkaburgers - Girl Groups X Boy Bands

Cool It Now - New Edition


MrsKarmaPolice – Animal Kingdom

Weird Fishes / Arpeggi - Radiohead


Tau837 – Hair metal

Photograph - Def Leppard


DrIanMalcolm – Songs about New York

Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters - Elton John


Zegras11 – New wave

I Ran (So Far Away) - A Flock Of Seagulls


#3:


kupcho1 – rain

Singin' In The Rain - Gene Kelly


Dr. Octopus – guitarists I’ve seen live

Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd (David Gilmour)


Yo Mama – World’s Worst Superheroes

The Analog Kid - Rush


JMLs secret identity – songs in D#Minor, the saddest key of all

Layla (Spotify) - Derek and the Dominos


-OZ- - song / music moments from the Marvel cinematic universe

Dog Days Are Over - Florence + The Machine


Mt. Man – Number, Please

9 to 5 - Dolly Parton


Raging weasel – name-checking Beatles or their songs

Shooting Star - Bad Company


jwb – songs that sound great on a decent 2-channel system

Money for Nothing – Dire Straits


scorchy – songs by Manchester(-ish) artists

Slide Away – Oasis


titusbramble – Grand Theft Auto, specifically the 3D era

Gold - Spandau Ballet (VC - Wave 103)


shuke – Saxytime

Into The Mystic (Spotify) - Van Morrison


Ilov80s - One song from each of the 31 best albums of 1984

Take Me to the River (Live) - Talking Heads


John Maddens Lunchbox – Batman

Something in the Way (Spotify) – Nirvana


Mister CIA – Texas Places in Song Titles

LaGrange - ZZ Top


El Floppo – Mallet Rock

I Will Follow - U2


landrys hat - favorite Side 2 Track 1s from my record collection

Lay, Lady, Lay - Bob Dylan - Nashville Skyline (1969)


rockaction - Songs that state the genre they’re in

Sweet Soul Music - Arthur Conley

MrsKarmaPolice – Animal Kingdom

Wolf Like Me - TV on the Radio


Tau837 – Hair metal

Silent Lucidity - Queensryche


DrIanMalcolm – Songs about New York

New York State of Mind - Billy Joel

Zegras11 – New wave

Just like Heaven - The Cure

Anonymous Mystery Theme Dictator - ???

Chandelier - Sia


#2:


kupcho1 – rain

Purple Rain – Prince


Eephus – Single (Named) Ladies

Irreplaceable - Beyoncé


Charlie Steiner – songs from Mad Men

Is That All There Is? - Peggy Lee


Yo Mama – World’s Worst Superheroes

Stupid Girl - Garbage


Mt. Man – Number, Please

4° - Tool


Raging weasel – name-checking Beatles or their songs

Never Been to Spain - Three Dog Night


jwb – songs that sound great on a decent 2-channel system

In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (Filmore East Version) – Allman Brothers


scorchy – songs by Manchester(-ish) artists

Shoplifters Of The World Unite - The Smiths


titusbramble – Grand Theft Auto, specifically the 3D era

Hold The Line - Toto (SA - K-DST)


shuke – Saxytime

Year Of The Cat (Spotify) - Al Stewart


John Maddens Lunchbox – Batman

Batdance (Spotify) - Prince


Mister CIA – Texas Places in Song Titles

El Paso - Marty Robbins


El Floppo – Mallet Rock

Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix


landrys hat - favorite Side 2 Track 1s from my record collection

Heroin - Velvet Underground - Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)


rockaction - Songs that state the genre they’re in

Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bob Dylan


DrIanMalcolm – Songs about New York

Living for the City - Stevie Wonder

 

[Dr. Octopus]

2.

Who? – Jerry Garcia

What? – Grateful Dead / Jerry Garcia Band

Where? – Madison Square Garden, Giants Stadium, Brendon Byrne Arena, Nassau Coliseum

When? – Approximately 30 times from 1987-1994

Why? – There’s nothing like a Grateful Dead show and the main draw was Jerry. His jangly improvisational style has been often imitated never duplicated.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Round 2 - Ice Machine - Röyksopp

Norwegian EDM- what could be finer?

 

[Pip's Invitation]

New-to-me songs from #4 that caught my ear:

Mrs. Rannous – umlauts

It's A Miracle – Crashdïet



Don Quixote – Afrobeat

It’s Not Easy (Spotify) - Ofege (Nigeria)



JMLs secret identity – songs in D#Minor, the saddest key of all

Enola Gay (Spotify) - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark



falguy – songs by 31 different Canadian artists

Blown Wide Open - Big Wreck



scorchy – songs by Manchester(-ish) artists

Dreams Never End - New Order



Ilov80s - One song from each of the 31 best albums of 1984

Escape (I Need a Break) - Whodini



Mister CIA – Texas Places in Song Titles

Amarillo by Morning - George Strait



Chaos34 - Post Surf Rock Surf Rockish (80s fwd)

Everything Turns Grey - Agent Orange


krista4 – Chicagoland

Lake Shore Drive – Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah


Anonymous Mystery Theme Dictator - ???

Word Up - Gun

 

[jwb]

jwb – songs that sound great on a decent 2-channel system

In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (Filmore East Version) – Allman Brothers

Again with the "hear the entire band" thing. The Allmans are great for this regardless, but this in particular resonates with me. It's a little long, but unlike the Neil/Horse song I posted a few rounds ago, I feel this one won't wear out its welcome with most. It's a great song, and this is the definitive version for me. I can listen to it over and over and just focus on different instruments - both drummers, Gregg's keyboard, the amazing bass line (it is amazing too). But I really, really love the two lead guitars. It starts off with Dickey's mournful beginning on the right while Duane plays a barely-there rhythm. But around 1:40 or so, when Duane joins in on the left, it really hits its stride. And it's glorious. One of my all time favorite "speaker" songs.

 

[Yo Mama]

World’s Worst Superheroes #2

Stupid Girl
Artist - Garbage (1995)

Strengths - Blissful ignorance; an innate ability to get out of speeding tickets and to never have to pay for drinks

Weaknesses - Long division; streaming service logins; finding the right Mr. Right


There Goes My Hero

Situation - You, AKA Stupid Girl, have a BA in Finance from Cornell (Summa Cum Laude) and an MBA in Economics from Harvard. To break into the industry, you took an entry level assistant job at EnormoCorp. In your brief time there, your boss Fortunate Son (editor’s note: not in top 31 rankings) has been promoted from Manager to Director to Regional VP thanks to your valuable insights and ideas. In that same time, your title has changed from Office Administrator to Admin Assistant to Jr Executive Assistant - all with no increase in salary.

Fortunate Son: “Hey hot stuff, we’ve got a meeting with the CFO in 2 minutes.”

Stupid Girl: [shoving papers into her briefcase] “That’s great! I’ve got a number of great ideas on the upcoming acquisition that. . . “

FS: “Sure, sure, that’s neat. Hey, next time maybe wear that one sweater that I like. And maybe we can grab some drinks and talk through those ideas some time after work. OK we’re here.”

Mr. Big: [CFO - also not in top 31 - motions them in and hangs up phone] “Come in. Sit, sit.”

Fortunate Son: “Paul, this is my assistant Suzy. She’s here to take notes.”

Stupid Girl: “Actually, it’s Suzanne. And I think if we were to leverage some short term debt with the upcoming acquisition of . . . “

Mr. Big: “Aw, that’s cute. Can you get us some coffee real quick? Thanks hun.”

[SG storms out and sees her coworker at the coffee maker.]

Just a Girl (#23 in rankings): “How do you put up with that garbage? I can’t believe you fake it.”

[SG returns to the office with a tray of coffee.]

Fortunate Son: “. . . so like I was saying, if we were to leverage some short term debt with the upcoming acquisition of . . . “

Stupid Girl: [throws coffee on her boss] “I QUIT!!!”

Fortunate Son: “No, you’re fired! All you had you wasted!!”

Stupid Girl goes on to become a Tik Tok influencer called Gold Digger (also not ranked) and makes over $100K a week.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

#2 songs

Yambag – Metal songs from 1988-1992 that became the gateway into the world of music for a young Yambag

Return to Serenity - Testament

Summary: Testament is an American thrash metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983 under the name Legacy. They are often credited as one of the most popular and influential bands of the thrash metal scene, as well as one of the leaders of the second wave of the genre of the late 1980s. Testament is considered a significant member of the so-called "Big Six of Bay Area thrash metal".

Times Seen Live in Concert: 1 = 1990 (with Megadeth and Judas Priest)

Personal Connection: My first exposure to testament was when I purchased 1988’s Practice What You Preach, which quickly became a favorite of mine. I was pretty disappointed with their follow up, 1990’s Souls of Black but they returned to form in 1992 with The Ritual. I chose what is chartwise their biggest hit, Return to Serenity as they were noted for strong power ballads, starting with 1988’s aptly titled The Ballad which was in heavy rotation on MTV. This is a band that I liked better back then and don’t find myself listening to much anymore.

Other songs to consider: Electric Crown, The Ballad

I always thought Testament was underrated. Chuck Billy could really sing and Alex Skolnick was an excellent guitarist.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

ditkaburgers - Girl Groups X Boy Bands

Power - Little Mix

This will wake you up. Love it.

 

[krista4]

krista4 – Chicagoland

Lincoln Park Pirates – Steve Goodman

Artist connection to Chicago (1-5 scale): 5 - Steve Goodman was as Chicago as Lincoln Park Towing. Wait, what, you ask? OK, he was as Chicago as the Cubs' billy goat curse.
Song connection to Chicago (1-10 scale): 10

A few years after I moved to Chicago, I bought my first condo, the top floor of a three-flat. On the first floor was an art gallery, which was owned by Francois, a truly despicable Frenchman who hated me because I wouldn't replace the wood floors in my unit with carpeting.

Anyway, the condo came with a parking space in back, which I mostly didn't use but occasionally rented a car for one reason or another and parked it there. One day I went out to get in the car and it was gone. I supposed it could have been stolen, but I knew that Lincoln Park Towing trucks roamed the neighborhood, so I thought I'd try them first. Called and learned that indeed they had my car.

Lincoln Towing Service required you to go to a tow lot on the far west side of the city, unpleasant not only because it was a long cab ride but was also located in one of the worst areas of Chicago. Sure that I could correct their mistake of accidentally towing my car from my own spot, I brought my purchase paperwork showing I owned the condo, which also showed that I had been parked in the spot owned by me. Oh, how young and naive I was!

The total for towing, storage, and whatever the hell they made up was something like $230. Picture me, earnestly certain that they will want to acknowledge their mistake and release the car to me. Then picture a big fat Chicago guy, through a small window in a big metal cage, with the strongest "Da Bears" accent imaginable, responding to my pleas with, "Yeah, yeah, maybe it's your spot, but that'll still be $230." And they also make you sign something saying you won't protest it on your credit card.

This, my friends, is Lincoln Towing Service. That Wikipedia page might read pretty amazingly for anyone who hasn't lived here. State agencies, alderpeople, various mayors - everyone has tried to stop what's called their "reign of terror," but nothing helps. Steve Goodman recorded this song about them in 1972! A few years ago, the state temporarily revoked their license for some of these practices, but they just changed their name for a while, and now they're back to being Lincoln Towing again, randomly towing cars, stripping them for parts, or demanding exorbitant amounts to return them. It's the most Chicago-y thing in any of the songs I've selected.

I did consider two other songs from Goodman: "A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request" or the Cubs anthem "Go Cubs Go." But not everyone here is a Cubs fan, while everyone here has probably interacted with Lincoln Towing. Consider this a "body of work" selection for Goodman, though.

By the way, I knew that he also wrote "City of New Orleans" but didn't realize until putting together this list that he had written "You Never Even Called Me by My Name." What a sad loss of talent when he died of leukemia at age 36.

Total: 15

 

[simey]

simey – train songs

Slow Train - The Staple Singers

This song is off The Staple Singers' 1968 album Soul Folk In Action. The album was produced by Steve Cropper. It is the first album by The Staple Singers on the Stax label. TSS at this time were made up of Roebuck (Pops), and his kids Mavis, Pervis and Cleotha. They joined the label at a time when things were going rough for Stax. The label's partnership with Atlantic ended in 1967, and Atlantic got ownership of Stax master recordings from 1960 to 1967. Otis Redding, who was their biggest star, died in a plane crash, and then in 1968 MLK was assassinated, and the Civil Rights Movement was at its boiling point. It wasn't easy finding artists that wanted to come and record in Memphis. Al Bell, the then new president of Stax, knew The Staple Singers had ties to MLK, and they had become a soul folk group singing and writing message songs. The Staple Singers, who were Chicago based, met MLK in 1963, and became friends with him and decided to change from mainly gospel to soul folk, although the blues and especially gospel was always mixed in their music. They joined the Movement for equality and freedom, and even met with MLK several times at the hotel he was murdered at. They weren't scared to record in Memphis, and they signed with Stax, and Al Bell surrounded them with the great house band Booker T and the MGs and also The Memphis Horns.

Soul Folk in Action is my favorite album by them, and though it wasn't their most successful album with Stax, it was a turning point for them, because their music and their message was now being heard by more people. The album has a lot of wonderful message songs on it, and it also has two great covers of The Band's "The Weight" and Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay." The songs are filled with groovy, folky, funky, gospely and bluesy soul. My favorite song on the album is "Slow Train." It was written by Steve Cropper and William Bell specifically for TSS. Pops and Cropper are both on guitar. I love the organ in the song, which is Marvell Thomas. He is the son of Rufus (who was on the countdown earlier) and brother of Carla Thomas. Marvell is the first person to ever play keyboards for the Stax label, and was a regular on albums by various artists. The Staple Singers are on vocals, and the lead vocal by Mavis is so emotionally powerful. It makes you not just hear the song, it makes you listen to the song. It'll stop you in your tracks.

It's a slow, slow, train
But it's moving on

 

[John Maddens Lunchbox]

kupcho1 – rain

Purple Rain – Prince

In tough competition, My fave Prince song. So epic, so beautiful.

shuke – Saxytime

Year Of The Cat (Spotify) - Al Stewart


Ilov80s - One song from each of the 31 best albums of 1984

Persephone - Cocteau Twins

Year of the Cat is such a sweet amazing somg. I could listen to it forever

As to Cocteau Twins, always wonderful to hear Elizabeth Frasers amazing voice.
I wish they had songs that hit the public consciousness so more people would have heard of her

Round 2 - Ice Machine - Röyksopp

Norwegian EDM- what could be finer?

What a pleasant surprise.
I had this song at #14 in my Röyksopp MAD countdown
The perfect combination of the wonderful norwegians Röyksopp, the glorious voice of Susanne Sundfør and a cover of a Vince Clarke written Depeche Mode B Side.
Thank you

extended version... was shocked when it appeared before It's one of my faves from the era. Love the opening.

Nowhere Girl - Extended

B-Movie · Nowhere Girl - EP · Song · 2016

open.spotify.com

"Nowhere Girl" is a single by English new wave band B-Movie. It was originally released on 2 November 1980, and later re-released in 1982, reaching No. 67 in the UK and No. 20 in Sweden The song has been described as a tale of alienation It later appeared re-recorded on the band's first studio album, the Sire Records release Forever Running in 1985. It became a chart-topping single across Europe and received much airplay at the time and was performed on the Spanish TV show Tocata.The band also re-recorded the song in 2016 for their newest album Climate of Fear released by Cleopatra Records

Ok, you got me here.
I have never heard of this delightful song.
How on earth did you come across it?

 

[Yo Mama]

Nice to see superhero alumni Nowhere Girl and Simple Man make an appearance this round.