On my Saturday afternoon radio show, I play music from the 70s and 80s. One of the features that I do periodically is "The Guilty Pleasure of the Week". Below are 13 songs that I've featured in this segment of my show. It's easy to say that you like artists such as Prince, Steely Dan, Joan Jett, and Public Enemy. However, it takes guts to admit one's admiration for the cheese that I'm about to share with you. You can click on the song title/artist links to listen to the songs. Go ahead, I won't tell.
1. All Out of Love- Air Supply: This is one of my favorite songs by the group that I call the Patron Saints of Musical Guilty Pleasures. I know there are many people who would like to cut off this group's air supply, but you have to admit this is a helluva pop tune! The soft guitar intro, the soaring vocals of Russell Hitchcock (the short dude with the white man's fro) and Graham Russell (the tall blonde guy), the majestic production...
2. Alone Again (Naturally)- Gilbert O'Sullivan: If you ever think your life sucks, put on this #1 hit from 1972. After hearing the suicidal singer's tale of woe (he gets stood up at the altar and both of his parents are dead), you may come to the realization that things in your world aren't so bad after all.
3. Arthur'sTheme (Best That You Can Do)- Christopher Cross: I was once caught between the moon and New York City... it wasn't pretty.
4. Baby I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley (Free Baby)- Will To Power: Frampton meets Skynyrd. If you ever wanna piss off a Lynyrd Skynyrd fan, tell them that Will To Power's version of "Free Bird" smokes the original by the "Sweet Home Alabama" boys.
5. Cover Girl- New Kids On the Block: It has always been easy to cap on a group like New Kids (esp. those flaky dance moves they did in the video for "The Right Stuff"). But "Cover Girl" to me is a catchy ass song.
6. Dance With Me- Orleans: This is one of those songs that associate with going to the doctor's office as a kid. Even though my voice is too deep, that doesn't stop me from trying to hit those high notes on the line that goes "I can take you where you want to go".
7. Eres Tu (Touch the Wind)- Mocedades: I first discovered this song back in the early 90s when I heard it on the 70s Super Hits channel on Music Choice. If you saw the movie "Tommy Boy" with Chris Farley and David Spade, you may remember this song. The two of them sang it in the car during their road trip.
8. Electric Youth- Debbie Gibson: The first song I ever featured in the "Guilty Pleasure of the Week" segment, this is one of those tunes that always puts me in a good mood. It really comes in handy during rush hour traffic. "Don't underestimate the power. Of a lifetime ahead."
9. I Was Made For Dancin'- Leif Garrett: Before he became a "Behind the Music" punchline, Tiger Beat cover boy Leif gave us this strobe light hit. Yes, he was made for dancin'... all-all-all, all night long.
10. Julie, Do Ya Love Me- Bobby Sherman: Here's a blast from the past for all you teenyboppers who used to swoon as you watched Bobby in his role as Jeremy Bolt on "Here Come the Brides". Even those people who think they are too cool for the room can't resist singing along to the chorus of this 1970 hit.
11. Magic- Olivia Newton John: Whenever I hear this song, it takes me back to when I got my first radio back in 1980. Although I might regret it, I wish some cable channel would air the movie it came from (the 1980 mega flop Xanadu) because I've never seen it.
12. My Love- Lionel Richie: When it came to cheesy pop songs, Lionel was the man. I guess you could say he was a Cheese Whiz. When listening to this song, it's hard to believe this is the same guy who sang lead on such funky Commodores' tunes as "Too Hot To Trot" and "Slippery When Wet".
13. Top of the World- The Carpenters: Although I am not a big fan of this duo's music, the steel guitar and Karen's singing on this tune get me every time.
Now that I've burned myself at the musical stake, it's your turn. What songs are you almost ashamed to admit you like?
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62 comments:
I will NOT admit that I like "Bye, Bye, Bye" from NSYC! =)
There are so many that I love and I'm never ashamed of the music I sing along to! :)
http://happywonderer.wordpress.com/2007/10/10/thursday-thirteen-4-photos-of-crosses/
Mine is "Oops, I did it again" by Britney Spears... shhh no telling!
Ashamed? Nah... You have great songs in this list!
My TT shares 13 quotes by W.B. Yeats.
I remember #2 very well. Whatever happened to him?
You should never worry about what other people think of your tastes! I have never in my life listened to any of the people you mention in your intro!
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Everyone around me is mad at you. Why? Because I keep singing (out loud) Julie, Julie, Julie do you love me?
Great post! I think we all have guityly pleasures, one of mine is "Too Shy" by those guys who's names are too hard to spell...
Cheese Whiz! That's fantastic, Malcolm!!!!!
I'll admit to some of those (Orleans), but no way no how will you ever get me to fess up about New Kids. I hated them then, I try not to think about them now.
Happy TT!
"Julie, Julie, Julie do 'ya love me?" is on my iPod. And since you were brave enough to confess, I will, too. I know it's crap, I know it's beneath her, I know it's beneath ME, yet I cannot resist Streisand singing "The Main Event."
Wow. New Kids on The Block? I haven't heard that in awhile! Fun list!
I agree with you on a lot of these, but especially #1. The first record I can remember buying was an Air Supply record (with this song on it) when I was in sixth grade. I'd still listen to it if I had it! It really was a decent record.
Fine!! Call me cheesy but I like alot of those song;) Happy TT. Great list.
Yup! Lovin' this list, too!
Well, when it comes to Christopher Cross, I still get misty-eyed whenever I hear "Sailing." (smile) I have that on 45 somewhere.
Also, I still feel young and want to jump around whenever I hear Olivia Newton John's "Let's Get Physical." But then that pain in my knee reminds me to stop tripping . . .
Wow this was awesome!
Bobby Sherman.... #10.... I think I'm aging myself here. LOL
First, great list! Second, why do I know all the words to All Out of Love!?!
Bobby Sherman? Oh...dude...LOL!
I have lots of music I am a bit ashamed of. NKOTB is some of it. The current version would be backstreet boys! =)
I will not admit anything related to NKOTB!!! LOL
Starting with your nos. 2, 6, and 7, my list is way too long. So, ten more makes 13 (in no particular order):
1. "Reach out in the Darkness," Friend & Lover.
2. "It Wasn't Me," Shaggy.
3. "Midnight Star," Weird Al Yankovic.
4. "Queen of Hearts," Juice Newton.
5. "SOS," Abba.
6. "Bring Me to Life," Evanescence.
7. "Barbie Girl," Aqua.
8. "Foul Owl on the Prowl," Boomer & Travis (In the Heat of the Night soundtrack).
9. "Afternoon Delight," Starland Vocal Band.
10. "Rodeo," 95-South.
The worst with me is that I never remember the title of a song or even the singer, lol !
What a great list!! My teeth are a bit stuck together with its salt water taffy flavor!
I'll never admit to liking Dwight Yokam - never. Or knowing who Joe is... Joe who?? ;)
Happy TT.
I now have almost all of these songs stuck in my head. At the same time.
It's an interesting effect. :)
I do not know 8 ut the rest are great
those take me back. "Dance with Me" is one of mine; I remember it from college. Most of the others I'm too much of a rock chick to admit I know the words to....hey, but I do love the Smiths! :)
We're #50 on the list (you don't have your blog enabled to take links from platforms other than blogspot. :(
Pretty much any 70s cheese does it for me, but I won't admit that in public. I'll admit to a soft spot for Seasons in the Sun though.
And yes, I do still remember all the words to All Out Of Love and Top of the World.
PS I did see Xanadu - it deserved to flop. Blech! It would be fun to see again though, it would probably be really campy viewed through the eyes of 2007.
I don't have any music I'm ashamed of. The fact that I could likely go to the box of stuff at my mom's and put my hands on at least two NKOTB cds doesn't bother me at all. I think I might even have the Xmas album, which just typing that shows there's no shame in my game at all. LOL
Happy Thursday :)
~X
I used to love NKOTB - that took me back!
See now, I would have had a couple Milli Vanilli songs on there!! LOL
P.S. Yes, the brother-in-law -Andy- on WEEDS is something else!! LOL HAPPY TT!
HAHA those are funny and its something for you to admit liking most of them. I admit I love Olivia so #11 is my fav from your list.
Wow, those bring back some memories. Nice list.
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I love ALL of these songs and I am not ashamed to dmit it. I love Just Got Paid by N'Sync ;o)
I love your list and most of them are my guilty pleasure as well :)
There is nothing wrong with admitting to liking some of these groups, because they are on my Ipod, including NKOTB, Debbie, Christopher Cross and shhh Air Supply
I refuse to b be ashamed of my growing love for ELO. Good call on NKOTB--ha!
When ABBA was big I loathed their music! I'd practically run out of the room or would immediately change the station on the radio just to escape them. Now, I own their greatest hits CD and they actually weren't that bad.
Oh, then there's KC and the Sunshine Band.
How about Midnight at the Oasis by Maria Muldaur, and Waterloo by ABBA? And who was that woman that did "Telephone Man"?
But the 70's belong to Disco and I was the disco king or so I thought!
Thanks for stopping by my Thursday Thirteen.
I LOVE this post. I have #'s 1,2,3,5, and 13 on my IPod, and you've inspired me to add a few more. All out of Love is just one of those songs you have to sing at the top of your lungs. And the Carpenters? I'm just obsessed.
If I'm alone and it comes on, I can't help but sing as loud as I can with I'm All Out of Love - but shhhh, that'll be just out secret ;-)
OK, so I'm showing my age, but I remember most of those - well, all except 4, 5, 8, 9, and 11 - and I do sing along when I hear them.
Oh, and I voted in your poll. The Temptations are my all time favorite group. I think I have almost every one of their early albums and several greatest hits compilations - on LP, cassette, and CD.
Happy TT!
Electric Youth and Cover Girl...both lurking in my boxes of cassette tapes. Oh yes, I was the exact right age to fall for the New Kids. My dad actually took my friend and I to wait at 5am to get tickets when they were coming to Houston. I only went to three concerts growing up: 1. Monkees (at Six Flags Astroworld) 2. New Kids on the Block (Summit - now Compaq center) and 3. U2 (Dallas) in college (plus lots of country rodeo concerts). I loved Debbie Gibson as well, and I even learned how to play the song, "Lost in Your Eyes" on the piano.
Malcolm: I will definitely have to make my own list like this next week!!! I have lots of guilty pleasure songs - now I just have to remember them!
You are very brave! Those are some great songs that we have been told we shouldn't like. But we do anyway! I admit to enjoying the Bee Gees and Barry Manelow.
Oh, I have tons of Musical Guilty Pleasures -- some that might even scare you!!! I have to tell you that the Bobby Sherman reference still has me laughing!!! What! No David/Shaun Cassidy? Donny Osmond! Thanks for the great laugh!
Happy TT
Lionel Ritchie...gets to me too...
OMG..that brings back some memories..lol. I don't know if I would have admitted to some of those;)
Well a-ha were one of my guilty pleasures for a long time but now their apparently respectable so I have to fall back on listening to Nik Kershaw instead ;-)
Great list
Hmmmm. Something about this list tells me you either read minds OR we were born around the same year. Happy TT
Chelle Y: Since you've come clean on your NSYNC "GP", mine by them is "Tearing Up My Heart".
Ellen B: If other motorists had an inkling of some of the tunes I was singing along to in my car, they would die!
YH: Britney's music is a natural for making many people's list of guilty pleasures. Thanks for coming clean.
Tink: Thanks for the vote of confidence.
Nicholas: Believe it or not, Gilbert released an album (Scruff of the Heart) this year. "The Guilty Pleasure of the Week" segment on my show has been very liberating, lol.
Barbara: I wouldn't be surprised if those who are mad at me eventually joined you in the Bobby Sherman sing-a-long. They can try and fight it... but it's useless.
Because I know you are a classic rock fan, I hope that people didn't hassle you too much for liking "Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo.
Susan: I'm glad you liked that Cheese Whiz line. I keep getting a picture of a can of that stuff sitting on Lionel's piano while he's composing.
The only reason I didn't hate New Kids is because they were popular during my early 20s. As a result, my girlfriend at the time (who was the same age as me) wasn't in the NKOTB target demo. Had we both been in our teens at the height of New Kids mania, I probably would have had to listen to her go on and on about Joey, Jordan, and the rest of the crew.
The Gal Herself: Bobby Sherman on an iPod. I'll bet he would be touched to know that his music has survived into the digital age.
I loved your build up for your admission to liking "The Main Event". I know how disappointing it can be when your idol lets you down.
Works For Mom: Yeah, "Cover Girl" made my list... but I don't own any of their CDs. I had to draw the line somewhere, lol.
BookMama: I think a lot of people who commented on this post agree with you about Air Supply. "All Out of Love" so far is the most downloaded track on my list of guilty pleasures.
Lori: Thanks for stopping by. We (all of us who like these tunes and will admit it) should form some type of group... since I am not feeling that creative at the moment, the best name I can come up with is The Cheese Appreciation Society.
Lori (from the Old School Mix): Sailing is another GP of mine. "It's not far down to paradise. At least it's not for me." Also, thanks for joining me on the Olivia Newton John bandwagon.
Jackie: I am glad that I was able to conjure up some Bobby Sherman memories for you.
Nap Warden: I am glad you enjoyed the list. Since I have been listening to "All Out of Love" nearly non-stop for the past couple of days, I am memorizing the lyrics myself.
Janet: Don't laugh at my appreciation of Bobby Sherman, lol.
Amy: Thanks for visiting my TT. I appreciate you owning up to The Backstreet Boys. I'll bet that teen idols/boy bands clutter up the lists of many folk's lists of guilty pleasures.
No Nonsense Girl: So you won't admit to liking NKOTB. The lady doth protest too much methinks, lol.
X. Dell: Thanks for joining in. Trust me, my list is way too long also... there will be sequel to this TT sometime next year.
Your list contained some good ones. "Reach Out In the Darkness" is one of my all-time favorite one-hit wonders! Have you ever heard Friend and Lover's follow up single, "If Love Is In Your Heart"?
Gattina: So if I ever make it in the hot seat on WWTBAM, I can't count on you as a "Phone A Friend" if I get stuck on a musical question?
Open Grove Claudia: You better see a dentist... quickly! Are you referring to Joe(y) McIntyre... Joe Diffie... inquiring minds want to know.
Kate: Some would call me a glutton for punishment, but I wish that I could download what's in your brain to hear what all of these songs would sound like at the same time.
Joyismygoal: I hope you took the opportunity to give "Electric Youth" a listen. "Zappin' it to ya
The pressure's everywhere".
Damozel: Thanks for joining me in admitting your appreciation of "Dance With Me". A couple of weeks ago some knucklehead made some racist comments on my blog, so I had to adjust the settings. People can still get to your blog by clicking the link that you left (which takes them to your profile page).
Robin: I remember as a little kid seeing Terry Jacks perform "Seasons In the Sun" on American Bandstand.
Wow, Air Supply's "All Out of Love" is getting much love by a lot of the people commenting on this post! Since it's now a Broadway musical, I wonder if cable channels will start airing the movie version of "Xanadu". I hope so because it's no way that I am going to buy or rent it, lol.
Xakara: I just checked the Shame-o-meter and you are registering a 0.00... congrats and thanks for joining in the discussion!
PJ: Did you have all the NKOTB merch too? I think one of my nieces had a bed spread or something. If I think to, I'll have to ask her about that.
Mishelle: Whether others want to admit it or not, some of that stuff by Milli Vanilli was catchy. I knew it was junk, but that didn't stop me from tapping my feet to it.
Head Gaggler: Now you've gone and done it... caused me to listen to "Magic" through my Napster Player. Not that I needed an excuse, lol.
Amy: Thanks for providing one of your guilty pleasures. My niece's best friend might want to fight you over those comments, lol. He loved the orig. version of "Just Got Paid" by Johnny Kemp and couldn't stand it when NSYNC remade it.
Sparky Duck: Thanks for helping me to hold my head up a little higher.
Lucy R.E.: I am with you on the ELO thing. "Hold On Tight", "Living Thing", I could go on, but you get the idea.
Harlekwin: I am a big fan of ABBA as well (I own their 2-disc Definitive Collection). Me and a friend were talking and I was telling him that we were probably on the short list of straight men who admit to liking ABBA, lol. Also, thanks for admitting that you "Shake, Shake, Shake Your Booty" to KC and the Sunshine Band.
Dane Bramage: Your 3 choices are all worthy of any credible list of guilty pleasures. "Telephone Man" was sung by Meri Wilson. I remember that the local soul station played that song to death when it was out. I can still hear Meri singing, "Hey loddy loddy, hey loddy loddy".
Samantha K: I am glad to hear you enjoyed this TT and that you've been spurred on to expand your guilty pleasure list! On my way home from work tonight I was singing along to "All Out of Love".
Frigga: As I continue to scroll down and read all of the comments on this post, the love that Air Supply is getting is blowing me away. And no, I won't tell.
Denise: Thanks for the admission to your sing along preferences. The Temptations are my all-time favorite group too. I have many of their original albums on CD, as well as the 2-CD set "Anthology" and the boxed set "Emperors of Soul".
Holly: I figured that "Cover Girl" and "Electric Youth" would bring back some memories for you... I am glad to hear that they are good ones (memories that is).
I sometimes kick myself for not going to see The Monkees during one of their reunion tours. By the way, I can't wait to see your TT for next week!
There are absolutely, positively way too many to guilty pleasure to announce. But the one I know you hate comes to mind about "THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED". What were they singing? "Bye Bye Miss American Pie" LOL!!!
i love #3!!!!!!
Amy the Black: I am down with the Bee Gees. Some of their stuff (Run To Me, I Started A Joke, etc.) does fall into "Guilty Pleasure" territory. Although I don't own any songs by Manilow, I won't change the station if "Mandy" comes on.
Lara Angelina: I am glad to hear that the Bobby Sherman reference made you laugh. I almost abbrev. his name using his initials. However, I thought that would imply something I didn't intend. Since there will be a sequel to this TT sometime next year, you can count on David, Shaun, and possibly Donny making the list.
Katherine: Here's another one... "Hello, is it me you're looking for..."
Lori: Admitting it online and over the air is one thing... doing it in person is a whole different animal, lol.
Impworks: Thanks for stopping by. I'll have to pull out my copy of "Wouldn't It Be Good" by Nik Kershaw. I played it on my show awhile back.
Vixen: Yes, I do read minds. When most kids had their own lemonade stands, I was doing palm readings for a nickel a pop.
Pjazzy: This next sentence may surprise you. After so many years of fighting it, I am starting to mellow just a little on my hatred of "American Pie". I can't remember where, but it was playing. Since I wasn't able to turn the station, I had to listen. It was alright. Still, if I am in control of the radio, as soon as I hear "Long, long time ago", you know what's going to happen, lol.
Karen: I was listening/singing along to "Arthur's Theme" in my car on the way home from work yesterday. Although I didn't come close to hitting those notes like Mr. Cross, that didn't stop me from trying. Thanks for stopping by.
Oh, I am such a child of the eighties. And oh how I loved Debbie Gibson and NKTOB. But on your list, where is Tiffany? Samantha Fox? Rico Suave? Just wonderin....
Lulu: Thanks for stopping by. In answer to your questions:
The songs that I listed were ones that I played during "The Guilty Pleasure of the Week" segment on my show. Since I play music from the 70s and 80s, Gerardo wasn't eligible (Rico Suave was a hit in early 1991). Also, I've never featured songs by Tiffany or Samantha Fox during the "Guilty Pleasure of the Week" segment so that's why they weren't on my Thursday Thirteen.
Please also note that since it's the Thursday Thirteen, I wasn't able to include all of my guilty pleasures. There were quite a few that didn't make the cut because there were only 13 slots. I do have plans to do a sequel to this list sometime next year. For the sequel, I may decide not to limit it to just songs from the 70s and 80s. At any rate, I hope you can come back and visit. :-)
I'm with you on 1, 2, 4, and 13 -- anything by the Carpenters really. I wish I had Karen Carpenters voice. *sigh*
Malcolm, you brought back some major memories with this TT! Can you believe "Julie Do You Love Me" was the first record I ever bought?--Eesh, I'm really dating myself!
And as for "Dance with Me"...that one is timeless. Just a really lovely song.
Oh wow! Talk about a stroll down memory lane! Great list, and they're all terrific guilty pleasures!
Air Supply, the Patron Saints of Musical Guilty Pleasures??? HOW DARE YOU, SIR!!
I adore Air Supply and I refuse to feel guilty about that. You may have seen me mention on my blog before that I don't believe in the term "guilty pleasure" at all. I like what I like and make no apologies for it. I'll forgive you for putting some songs in this category. For instance, "Cover Girl" was a great bubblegum song by a horrible group of kids. But ONJ? "Magic" was a great pop song by my long-time childhood idol and I used to rollerskate in my basement to the Xanadu soundtrack on practically a daily basis. Again, HOW DARE YOU, SIR!!
I'm going to go take some deep breaths now. Or maybe I'll just put on an Air Supply CD to calm down...
J. Lynne: You are right about The Carpenters. Another one of theirs that qualifies in my book is "Touch Me When We're Dancing".
Cindy: I'll bet that there are others just like you who can also say that "Julie, Do Ya Love Me" was their 1st 45. In addition to the vocals, I really love the musicianship on "Dance With Me".
Sherry: Thanks for stopping by. I wanted to return the favor, but your profile is on lockdown. :(
BeckEye: Long time no hear. You know, you are pretty sexy when you get "angry", lol.
Air Supply are and will always be my patron saints of guilty pleasures... with ONJ making a strong bid for the title herself. By the way, when you were a kid did you wax your basement floor after scuffing it up with your skates to the sounds of Xanadu?
I can't speak for others, but I don't take the term "guilty pleasure" literally. I'm not going to apologize to anyone for liking any of the songs I listed. But let's be honest... the musical landscape is set up like a high school cafeteria. There are some artists who get to sit at the cool kids' table, while performers like Christopher Cross and Barry Manilow aren't as lucky. They sometimes even suffer the indignation of being tripped on the way to their seat.
Because I have more than 13 musical guilty pleasures, I will definitely be doing a sequel to this list. I can already picture you turning 3 shades of red, lol. Who knows, Air Supply and ONJ might make the second list too...HA!!
By the way, after reading my list of guilty pleasures, which Air Supply tune did you use to calm the savage beast in you? Was it "The One That You Love"? How about "Sweet Dreams"?
Air Supply's Greatest Hits from beginning to end is better than a hot bath and a glass of champagne.
But if I had to pick just one, "Making Love out of Nothing at All" is tops.
I'm a cool kid, and I'd let Russell and Graham sit at my table any day. :)
Beck Eye: Letting Graham and Russell sit at your table... I knew I liked you for a reason. :-)
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