Bookended by Cats was named after Milo and Otis. They are the short, orange, and furry brothers who, upon entering our lives in 2003, often bookended us on our couch. And who are we? We're a geek couple living in PA. We love music, movies, TV, comics, books, and comic cons. And, from time to time, we'll share our thoughts on these nerdy things.

Friday, January 20, 2017

Friday 80s Flashback for January 20, 2017

 

[Politics Schmolotics] -- After the November 2010 midterm election, I was looking for inspiration. Inspiration to help me write a Flashback post, and to help me move on from the election results. Now, I had heard arguments that all the best protest songs had been written and recorded in the 60s and 70s. That might be true, but I can assure you the 80s did not lack for politically charged passion or activist rhetoric. So, with this in mind, I assembled a politically minded set of Flashbacks tunes. Of course, your gut reaction to the word "protest" might very well be to add "against" after it. That's understandable. We're usually treated to, and entreated to engage in, protests against something. But you can also protest for something. You can use protest as a form of support for a cause. And the 80s tunes I highlighted back in 2010 still resonate for me in both regards of "protest," particularly in the wake of a rather vitriolic presidential election. Maybe even more so after a week of confirmation hearings for the most unqualified cabinet nominees ever assembled (not that qualifications guarantee success, but come on). Anyway, I'm still hopeful. Sure, I'm scared, too. Change is scary. There are people who are happy about this change, and there are people who are energized to fight what they perceive this change represents. Either way, if you want some 80s tunes that might help you through this transition, then read and hear more after the jump.

Friday, January 6, 2017

Friday 80s Flashback for January 6, 2017


[First Flashback of the New Year] -- I've missed the last two weeks of 80s blogging. Travel and family obligations over the holiday season ganged up on me. And I'm sure there was some wasted time in there as well. But that's in the past, just like the whole of 2016 itself. We have a new year, brimming with possibility, and, perhaps, just a slight aroma of despair. So, I will do my best to move forward ... in my honoring of a past decade. Speaking of past decades, the calendar for 1989 is a dead ringer for that of 2017. That means you can expect me to mine 1989 for blogging content. Just like I did today. The Flashback for 1/6/2017 revisits the top three songs on the Billboard Hot 100 for 1/7/1989.  Do you remember what topped the charts 28 years ago this week? Well, read and hear more after the break to remind yourself! (But I think my accompanying image might have provided a clue or three).