Popdose - Latest Comments in Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

Frank — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:37:29 -0000

Being the nerd that I am, of course I'm going to defend John Denver. There have been some interesting comments about image vs. music in these posts, and I think John's image undermined any critic taking him seriously. I found him to be very sincere, and sincerity never goes over with critics (they throw words like "maudlin" and "nauseating" at sincerity). John wrote some pretty powerful songs, along with a few pieces of crap, but what singer/songwriter doesn't have a few pieces of crap in their oeurve?

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

Ray — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 06:09:27 -0000

Yikes... a Canadian Christian band named Deliverance??? I think it's safe to say there aren't any recordings of them with the lyrics "bend over and squeal like a pig, boy!"

Also, I'm pretty sure the name of the artist performing the duet "Love Again" with John Denver is actually Sylvie Vartan. I went to college with a girl named Sylvie and you did NOT want to call her Sylvia!

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

A2Z — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:23:03 -0000

my fav section i look forward to each week thank you.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

WaGaGa — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:23:28 -0000

Love Dexys. "The Celtic Soul Brothers" is a great song, but an odd single choice to follow-up "Come On Eileen". I was in the 3rd grade when I got that LP as a gift on Easter (just a few weeks before "Come On Eileen" went #1). My Mom LOVED "Jackie Wilson Said" and a few other songs. Too-Rye-Ay is a great album. One of my all-time favs, in fact.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

ETL — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:39:14 -0000

"Theme from Dr. Detroit" is my favorite Devo song. Sad how nobody remembers it.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

DwDunphy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:22:24 -0000

Mark Mothersbaugh has gone on record many times saying he had no intention of being a pop star. Mission accomplished.

"Gut Feeling" is still a piece of genius though.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

DwDunphy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:20:30 -0000

Yikes! That Deliverance song totally threw me for a loop. There is yet another Christian band called Deliverance, but they're not from Canada and they were thrash metal. From the moment I first heard that bargain basement Toots harmonica, I knew something was amiss.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

Eric S. — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:15:52 -0000

Three quickies:
1) Trust your first impression of John Denver. There wasn't anybody less cool and more ridiculed in the 70's
2) Where's the Devo video from? It looks like a high school talent show
3) Don't apologize for Mr. Roboto being your gateway to appreciating Styx. Kilroy's not their best work, but "Don't Let It End" from that album is my favorite non-rocker by the band

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

DavidMedsker — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:42:45 -0000

I had COMPLETELY forgotten about "Don't Wait for Heroes." Sounds like Christian pop now. Maybe it's the similarity to the Stryper singer...

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

steed — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:28:09 -0000

I agree - not the worst week we've had - but it's not a stellar group of songs.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

steed — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:27:23 -0000

Yes, I'm surprised both Devo and Depeche Mode didn't have more songs charts.

You are entitled to be wrong in your opinion of Styx. :)

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

steed — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:24:38 -0000

Deliverance - I didn't really hear that before you said it here - but there are certain parts that are a bit like "Sara".

3:38 for Autograph. Plays in full for me.

"Boomchild" did not chart.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

wags — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:39:05 -0000

Wow -- tough week here.

I must say that John Denver song reminds me a lot of Donovan's "There Is a Mountain" for some reason -- musically, not just in the lyrics.

I appreciated the Devo and Depeche Mode quite a bit. MTV had quite a bit to do with my taste in music in the 80s.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

DavidMedsker — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:52:39 -0000

God, I love "Master and Servant." Was never sure if that charted. I love that they forgot to insert the snare drum track in the final segment, and then decided to leave it out.

I am shocked that Devo didn't have more songs enter the Top 40, like "Freedom of Choice," "Through Being Cool," "Peek a Boo" or "Beautiful World."

As for that Deliverance song, I'm sure their mothers love them very much.

That DeSario/KC cover is pointless and bland...but I still like it better than the Bowie/Jagger version.

P.S. Styx sucks. :)

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

scrumble — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:46:21 -0000

The masses in certain places embraced Depeche Mode--there's a whole movie about that, actually, 'Depeche Mode 101' ... another case where the Hot 100 is fairly useless as a retrospect measure of popularity, and why a Modern Rock chart was created by Billboard in 1988.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

Dan — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:09:30 -0000

Don't like John Denver, but do like Dennis DeYoung? Ok.........

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

Jeff — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:53:00 -0000

I personally never cared much for John Denver, but I do understand his appeal. However, and god help me, I just downloaded 'Dancing with the Mountains'.

Re: Bottom Feeders: The Ass End of the ’80s, Part 24

WHarrisBullzEye — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:14:51 -0000

Random thoughts:

* Uh, is it me, or does that song by Deliverance sound a lot like Starship's "Sara" at times?

* I really like John Denver's "Autograph" (if not so much the other tracks), but I think the MP3 is incomplete, isn't it? Or maybe my internet connected is hosed.

* Seeing that all three singles from Depeche Mode's "Music for the Masses" missed making it into the Top 40 is both surprising and not. It's surprising because I know them backwards and forwards and feel as though I always have, but given that "Music for the Masses" was a formative album in my introduction into the world of so-called "alternative music," it shouldn't be shocked that the masses (ho-ho) never truly embraced it.

* I am absolutely loving that Device song. That's definitely my favorite of the week, I think.

* For the record, I, too, like Devo's "Smooth Noodle Maps." Or, at least, I used to. I probably haven't heard it in 15 years.

* Lastly, was Dennis DeYoung's single, "Boomchild," a top-40 hit, or did it not chart at all? I just remember the video for it and I thought it was catchy, but I have no idea as to how successful it actually was.