[Post Comic-Con Blues] -- I have them. My wife has them. And over 150,000 other people probably have them, too. I'm talking about those blues that settle in after attending an epic event like the San Diego International Comic-Con (SDCC). Comic-Con ended this past Sunday, but it's hard to return to the mundane world after being embedded with so many fanpeeps at quite possibly the largest celebration of comic books and pop culture. (By the by, there was a specially curated Flashback post for Comic-Con last week).
My initial plan for today was to create a playlist of sad goodbye songs. But we don't need sad songs. We need to get pumped up! So, I chose more upbeat songs to help us chase those blues away. Now, each of the three songs this week has a fairly obvious connection to this week's theme, but there is a more subtle connection for one of them. Can you find it? I'll take the names of all the folks who provide a correct answer, and I'll select a random winner to receive a geeky prize. I hope that motivates you to post a comment ... when you read and hear more after the jump.
My initial plan for today was to create a playlist of sad goodbye songs. But we don't need sad songs. We need to get pumped up! So, I chose more upbeat songs to help us chase those blues away. Now, each of the three songs this week has a fairly obvious connection to this week's theme, but there is a more subtle connection for one of them. Can you find it? I'll take the names of all the folks who provide a correct answer, and I'll select a random winner to receive a geeky prize. I hope that motivates you to post a comment ... when you read and hear more after the jump.
Flashback #1: "I am the warrior."
I heard "The Warrior" in the office cafeteria today and it completely changed my plan for this week's Flashback. How could I not think about all the superheroes and other warrior types (not just in the physical, of course) that populated Comic-Con last week? And, as I thought about them and bopped along with this tune, how could I not smile? And the music video's post-apocalyptic theme is also still relevant today considering how much mileage creators are still getting out of that particular trope. "The Warrior" by Scandal (featuring Patty Smyth) was released in August 1984. It was the first single released off the band's first, and only, full length album, Warrior (1984). In the US, it peaked at #7 and #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Album Rock Tracks respectively. This song might not be #1 in your heart, but I hope it makes you smile.
Flashback #2: "We can be invincible."
In the summer of 1985, actress Helen Slater had her second appearance as a leading character on the big screen with The Legend of Billie Jean. This was one year after she had brought the Maid of Might to life in the TriStar release of Supergirl. And, of course, Helen Slater has more recently portrayed Dr. Eliza Danvers, Supergirl's adoptive mother on the CW's Supergirl TV series! But pivoting from our leading lady to the Billie Jean soundtrack, our second Flashback this week is "Invincible" -- which is also known as "Invincible (Theme from The Legend of Billie Jean)." It was the lead single off Pat Benatar's sixth solo album, Seven the Hard Way (1985). It topped charts around the globe, and it received a Grammy nomination. "Invincible" helped Benatar sell over 500,000 copies of Seven the Hard Way, and it probably would have driven sales of an official Billie Jean soundtrack if one had been released. Sadly, no such collection of popular songs and score exists. But we still have this single, and its reminder that we geeks (nerds, outsiders, whatever) are invincible when we stand for what's right.
Flashback #3: "The glamour boys whole life is a gamble."
"Glamour Boys" was the third of five singles released from Living Colour's debut album, Vivid (1988). "Glamour Boys" was a top 40 song in the US, and it earned Living Colour a Grammy nod for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1990. "Glamour Boys" is pretty much about young men obsessed with clothing and parties. (And then, of course, it has a chorus denying that very label, "I'm fierce!"). Now, it's kind of a stretch to link this song with Comic-Con. Although if you think about the flashy cosplays and the after parties of SDCC, maybe the connection isn't too sparse. And, yes, I supposed that did influence me a little in choosing this song to anchor this week's 80s post. However, there is a more direct connection to my Comic-Con theme, and you'll have to watch the music video closely to find it. Go on, see if you can find it!
Once again, I remind you that the rule of three applies when doing Flashbacks. As I've made my three offerings, that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
I'll see you in seven!
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