Friday 80s Flashback for February 26, 2021

 

[40 Year Dog] -- 40 years ago this week, Rick Springfield released his third studio album in the US (and his fifth studio album overall). Working Class Dog hit the charts on February 24, 1981. This record marked an all-time high in Springfield's career with a #1 hit, "Jessie's Girl," that sold a million copies and won the 1982 Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. (Note: I know it's a beloved song, but like many so-called love songs, "Jessie's Girl" has problematic lyrics ... as shown in this clip, From Jessie's Girl's perspective). Another single from the album, "Love Is Alright Tonite," was later featured in the 2001 comedy film, "Wet Hot American Summer." 

Working Class Dog peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and ended the year at #31. Of the three singles, only "Jessie's Girl" and "I've Done Everything for You" got the music video treatment. But YouTube does have a live 1982 performance. Instead of grabbing three tracks from the album, I'll continue my recent activity of embedding a playlist for the full album. Enjoy! 

Flashback: Working Class Dog (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!

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

 Dangrdafne review:

I LOVE this movie (most of it). I LOVE Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. I LOVE all the supporting women. I did NOT love Ewan McGregor ... at all. In fact, I called him Ewwwwan after this movie. I wish it was because he was such a good villain that I didn't like him but it was that he was so horrible in this role. Bland, ridiculous, boring and just plain bad. Basically I wish they had just dumped the males in this movie and just let it be all the women and some unknown males. 

My favorite part of the movie was how I felt watching it - I felt like I was in a comic book and it was a wild, crazy, fun ride. I just loved watching this movie. I loved the insanity of it all. Just give in and enjoy it. Girl power!! I hope there is more Birds of Prey to come, I am ready.

3 paws with Ewwwwan

4 paws without Ewwwwan :)

Friday 80s Flashback for February 19, 2021

 

[Don't You Forget Breakfast] -- The Breakfast Club, the second of John Hughes' teen coming-of-age films, hit theaters on February 7, 1985. Later that same month, on February 19, 1985 -- 36 years ago this very week -- The Breakfast Club (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) hit stores and charts. British pop musician Keith Forsey produced the album, in addition to writing and performing on several tracks. This soundtrack album peaked at #17 on the US Billboard 200 chart, probably propelled by Simple Minds' recording of the song "Don't You (Forget About Me)." I mean, that one track practically leapt from the soundtrack and became the anthem of the film itself. The tune is an aural bookend, with Keith Forsey's demo playing as the film opens and the Simple Minds version playing over the close and end credits. 

But I have to ask: Do you recall anything else from this record? The only other artist on the album with name recognition for me is Wang Chung, but their contribution didn't leave much of an impression on me. Other tracks might have me recall specific moments of the film, but I don't think I'll be humming them later. Still, in re-exploring the album, I do find the entire effort to be worthy of, at least, background music while doing other reading or work. Let me know what you think. 

Flashback: The Breakfast Club (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

For this week's post, I've embedded the soundtrack's full playlist via YouTube. There are 10 tracks:

1. "Don't You (Forget About Me)" — Simple Minds
2. "Waiting" — Elizabeth Daily
3. "Fire in the Twilight" — Wang Chung
4. "I'm the Dude" — Keith Forsey
5. "Heart Too Hot to Hold" — Jesse Johnson & Stephanie Spruill
6. "Dream Montage" — Gary Chang
7. "We Are Not Alone" — Karla DeVito
8. "The Reggae" — Keith Forsey
9. "Didn't I Tell You" — Joyce Kennedy
10. "Love Theme" — Keith Forsey

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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!

Big Little Lies Season 2 - HBO Max

 Dangrdafne Review:

Not sure where to start with this one. My mother and sister liked this season more than the first. I was reluctant even before hearing this information as I really LOVED the first season and really didn't think they needed to do more. I was satisfied with season one and the ending. I did not need more... but they made more and it was reportedly better.

I am very late to watching it but since we had HBO Max still I decided to binge it. I will start with if you like the characters in the first season then you should watch the second. It is an excellent show and the acting is superb. I mean Meryl Streep is almost unrecognizable at times to me. Incredible cast and a good continuation of the story.

But I will add, for myself, I wish I had not watched it. I really did not like season 2 BUT at the same time I know that it is incredible. I know that sounds contradictory and it is but I can see the genius of the show and the cast but I was just so annoyed by it all. I really wish I had just let the story be but I had heard how good it was, and better than season 1 so I tried it.

Again, the cast is spectacular and Meryl Streep is perfection but I think the show was just too slow and after watching so many other shows lately that moved along it was very difficult to get into. And even though I liked the characters, this time their quirks were not so lovable to me in season 2. In fact, the quirks were distracting and it made it hard for me to take the characters seriously. Case in point, Laura Dern's character was almost a caricature for most of the episodes, it finally paid off in the final hour and it was almost too late for me but I cheered her on and felt like I was able to exorcise the season watching her.

I hear there is talk of season 3. I will definitely let others watch it first, if it happens, and then decide what to do. I am a glutton for punishment at times... especially when some of my favorite actors are involved.

2 paws

although I really know it is 4 paws

Friday 80s Flashback for February 12, 2021

 

[RIP Chick Corea, 6/12/1941 - 2/9/2021] -- Keyboardist, composer and bandleader Chick Corea died this week. My late father introduced me to Corea's music, and he has since remained one of my fave artists. Still, I must admit that I do not own, and I have not even heard, the entirety of Chick Corea's catalog. It is immense: 81 studio albums, 17 live albums, and eight compilation albums (per Wikipedia). As a leader, he released 21 records between 1980 and 1990. So, even if I simply focused on his 1980s output, I would be hard pressed to select a trio of tracks as a suitable retrospective. So, how am I to honor his musical memory? Well, read and hear more after the jump. 

Lovecraft Country - HBO Max

 Dangrdafne review:

Should I or shouldn't I watch this show? It is horror. It is scary. It is amazing according to many of my friends. I figured I watched Preacher, so how much horror could it be? Enough :)

Yes, it was extremely violent and gross and hard to watch but at the same time it made sense and I didn't feel like it was gratuitous. It fit the story and was even needed at times. I survived ;)

What an extremely thought provoking show. I had so many questions not only just about the story but about the history and the use of black actors in traditionally white roles. It was refreshing to see sci-fi and horror turned on its head. The cast was incredible and I would love to sit down with them to discuss the show and their thoughts on it all. 

I love that I had to live in their world and realize that sci-fi was a part of their world. That Lovecraft Country was real and that is not what they were surprised to learn about as the story went on. It was a great mystery story and again a beautiful family story. I really really love stories of families that are either by blood or even more so by choice. Such subtle things happen within the overall global story and I was enthralled with it all. 

I get why people loved this show so much. It is different, intriguing, thought provoking, horrific, glorious and timely. I am on board if there is a season 2 but I am also ok if this is all the story they get to tell. Although I think I would rather it continues so we all get to see the upside down sci-fi world of Lovecraft Country and make it the norm. 

4 paws

Friday 80s Flashback for February 5, 2021

 

[Workin' -- Redux] -- Two years ago today, I lost my day job. It was the the second time in my 25+ year corporate career that my position had been terminated. And so, just as when Friday of that week rolled around, I find myself thinking about working and employment. Both in terms of having work to do and being unemployed (or even underemployed). It's all we can do to stay one step ahead of the mortgage/rent, utilities, and healthcare bills, right? And all those things continue to be major concerns as the wealth gap keeps increasing and we find ourselves nearly one year into a global pandemic impacting the US. I don't recall if healthcare costs were problematic in the 80s, but finding and keeping decent jobs was definitely high on the social anxiety meter. The more things change, the more they stay the same, eh? So, with this still in mind, I opted to repeat the songs from the 2/8/2019 Flashback post today. Once again, we have songs about work and working in the Flashback. There are no party anthems like Loverboy's "Working the the Weekend." But this week's playlist isn't strictly somber, either. So, which workhorse tracks made the cut this week? Read and hear more after the jump!

Doom Patrol - HBO Max

 Dangrdafne review:

So after signing up for HBO Max to watch Wonder Woman we wanted to see what else we could watch before our month was up. I found Doom Patrol. I know my hubby loves Doom Patrol so I knew he would want to watch it. What I didn't know was how much I would love it too.

What an incredible cast to start! Each person is just perfect in their role and I am completely in deep with their lives and well being now. 

The one odd thing I will say, is I am glad I can't see Brendan Frasier in his role, I mean I am glad he is covered up because I am having a hard time believing it is him and the role he has to play. Mind you, it is because he is amazing but if I could see his sweet face I am not sure I would be as sold or I might even be mad he has to play such a role. I really mean no disrespect to Brendan, he is amazing and I am forever grateful he is in this role.

Diane Guerrero is one of my favorite actresses and she is incredible as Jane (and I love that she used to play the best friend to Jane in Jane the Virgin). She portrays multiple personalities to perfection. I once worked with someone with this situation and I often envisioned what she was going through exactly how it is portrayed for this Jane in Doom Patrol. 

April Bowlby as Rita Farr is by far my favorite, if not only because I just adore her red hair and her lovely accented voice. She portrays her character like she has known her all her life, and she just may have, although I hope not. 

And we can't forget Matt Bomer as Larry Trainor... although it might be easy too because you don't actually get to SEE Matt Bomer too often in the show. AND I can't help hearing his voice as Rob Lowe's for some reason when you don't see him. BUT at the same time he is excellent in the role. 

I hate that I wanted to watch this and think about how messed up they all were but really all I could do in the end was see myself in each of them. If ever there was a show to make a plea for mental healthcare, it is this one. 

I love family shows and what I mean by that is a show about a family and my favorite families are those comprised of friends and unexpected beings (human or otherwise), not necessarily blood families. 

We watched everything that is available for the show and eagerly await the next season. I highly recommend this show, even if you don't know Doom Patrol (as I did not) but love comic book stories. It is clever, different, timely and very well done. 

4 paws