Friday 80s Flashback for January 29, 2021

 

[Money, Class, and Power] -- After a year like 2020, in which we saw a global pandemic pound the US economy -- but not the stock market -- like few things ever have, no other financial news should shock me, right? But January 2021 keeps things rolling with a group of s***posters screwing Wall Street's big boys at their own ludicrous game.  So, in honor of r/WallStreetBets gaming GameStop's stock, and in recognition of the ever-widening gap between the haves and the have-nots, I've compiled six songs about  money, class, and power. Why twice as many songs as my usual Flashback post? Well, there are two reasons. First, I decided to let each tune speak for itself as opposed to me writing something pithy to justify its inclusion. Second, I couldn't trim the options down any further (I started with nearly 12 tracks). So, what made the cut in this week's double length playlist? Read and hear more after the jump!

The Undoing - HBO Max

Dangrdafne review:

WOW! WOW! WOW!

My mother actually stated this show as a 10 out of 10 for her and along with the story in Entertainment Weekly, and the cast of this show, I knew I wanted to watch it.

It is only 6 hour long episodes and oh my goodness the amount of story that happens in those 6 hours is a massive undertaking and one that David E Kelley can more than handle.

An incredible story told by the most wonderful cast: Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Noah Jupe, Donald Sutherland, and Lily Rabe and a supporting cast of people I hope to see for a long time to come.

It's a mystery wrapped in a courtroom drama wrapped in a family drama. Sooooooo very good.

I can tell you nothing specific because you need to watch it for yourself and enjoy the ride. It is beautifully filmed and the costuming is luscious. Nicole Kidman is a force to watch and I believe there is nothing she can't do at this point. Hugh Grant had me needing to watch Notting Hill after the show so I could clear my brain of his character. Donald Sutherland was pure, intense, heartbreaking, demanding and one of the best roles I have seen him create. But the actor who stole the show for me was the young boy, Noah Jupe. Oh what a joy to watch this young man portray his character. The emotions he had to go through, it was impressive.

Bonus information: the singer of the opening credits song is none other than Nicole Kidman. Simply beautiful.

4 paws and a tail

Friday 80s Flashback for January 22, 2021

Image from How Do You Know You're Doing Science Wrong? 
[scienceblogs.com]

[Better Living Through Science -- Redux] -- Back in January 2011, a mere decade ago, this week's theme was inspired by a fan video that I had recently seen in my Facebook newsfeed. I used that very same video in the original post, and while you'll have to wait until later for specific details about it, I do have to confess that the fan video is no longer available, womp womp. But I did find a replacement, so for now, all I want to say about it is that it took footage from the then current incarnation of an older TV series and set it to a great song from a crazy-fun 80s movie (a movie that inspired a slightly entertaining 90s TV series, but that's a bit tangential even for today). 

"Science," I said to myself the week of 1/21/2011, "is a perfect theme for me to use in an 80s flashback!" And it's still perfect this week! Why is it so perfect? Well, I spent 1982-1986 in what was called the Scientific curriculum at my high school. I then spent the remainder of the 80s pursuing a Physics degree at Penn State. Yes, I was a good little nerd during that seminal decade. So, of course, I love music that is infused with technology -- or music that at least has lyrics influenced by science and technology. It may not be the best stuff for studying how to use bracket notation or matrix computations, but it is the absolute best music for celebrating after surviving another difficult exam.

Or celebrating a long work week. Like, perhaps, this week.  

If you want to know what songs your mad scientist has in the mix today, read and hear more after the jump.

Wonder Woman 1984

 Dangrdafne review:

First viewing - I did not like the movie. Although I think some of it was because we didn't have closed captioning on and I missed a lot of dialogue thereby missing some of the movie context.

I did feel the first viewing was a little lacking and the movie was a bit over the top. But we watched it a second time during the watch along with Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot WITH closed captioning and I liked the move much much more. It hit me differently too. I bought into the meaning and was very moved by it.

My biggest statement, though, I had during the two watches of the movie was "Why does a woman have to always give up everything?" 

SPOILER: 

Even the villain man got his son back at the end. But Diana/Wonder Woman has to give up everything she has.

End spoiler

The movie is definitely eye candy and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman will always make me happy. I had no issue with the Steve Trevor storyline overall and I liked how they made it work. Kristen Wiig as Cheetah was quite the casting choice and she blew me away. I always think that comedians make the best dramatic actors. 

Be sure to stick around for the credit scene. It is brilliant perfection. 

I definitely liked the first Wonder Woman better but I would watch this again (third times a charm) and probably will before our month of HBO Max is over - we signed up just to see Wonder Woman 1984.

3 paws

Friday 80s Flashback for January 15, 2021

 

[This week in 1981] -- I know the past week has been rife with all sorts of emotions, most of them regarding specific events in Washington, DC. So, I wanted this week's Flashback to be a bit of an escape for all y'all. And what better way to escape today than by looking at what was on the charts 40 years ago this very week? (OK, there are plenty of other ways to distract yourself, and maybe some of them are better than this backward glance, but humor me, OK?). During the week that ended on January 17, 1981, Pope John Paul II met with Polish Solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa, Ferdinand Marcos lifted martial law in the Philippines, and a former Beatle was in the midst of a 12-week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. If you want to know what the top three songs were 40 years ago this week, read and hear more after the jump.

Friday 80s Flashback for January 8, 2021

 

[Gen Hexed] -- I missed posting flashbacks for the second half of December and even the very first Friday of this new year. But, in my defense, there's been a bit going on, yeah? So, anyway, I'm back at it this week, and for my first post in this brand new year, new decade even, I'm featuring an album that is celebrating its 40th anniversary this very month. Released in January 1981, Kiss Me Deadly was the third studio album by Generation X. They had rebranded as Gen X, a new name for both their new 1980 lineup and their shift from punk to a more New Romantic look and sound. But this incarnation lasted just past the record release and a gig recorded for BBC Radio. Ego, narcotics, and fatigue have all been cited as contributing to Gen X's breakup. Singer Billy Idol left for a solo career, taking this record's lead single, "Dancing With Myself," to new heights. Bassist Tony James would go on to form Sigue Sigue Sputnik.  Kiss Me Deadly was a commercial failure. For a complete (and recent) review, I direct you to 2 Loud 2 Old Music's 1/4/2019 post. 

I like several of this album's tracks. I invite you to be your own judge. So, here's the full playlist of 2005 remaster (which included five bonus tracks).  

Flashback: Kiss Me Deadly (1981)

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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!