About this episode

Dave and Milt explore the top hits from April 3, 1982, discussing the cultural context and iconic songs of the time.

Dave and Milt fire up the Top 10 Time Machine and land squarely in April 3, 1982—a week where the Falklands War is just getting started, Space Shuttle Columbia is touching down in the desert like it missed its exit, Michael Jordan is hitting that NCAA shot, and America is somehow supporting both Porky's and Chariots of Fire at the same time. A simpler, weirder time. The boys break down a Top 10 that is equal parts iconic and “wait… really?”—from Key Largo (featuring a sidebar into Bertie Higgins’ unexpected second act as a political hype man), to Pac-Man Fever (because yes, we once made hit songs about video games and no one stopped us), to Rick Springfield doing Rick Springfield things—plus a completely unnecessary but deeply committed detour into French lyrics in pop music. Elsewhere, the The J. Geils Band bring the camera clicks with “Freeze-Frame,” Vangelis makes jogging feel important with “Chariots of Fire,” and Olivia Newton-John sneaks in with a perfectly fine song riding the coattails of her other perfectly fine global takeover. Then it gets serious: Stevie Wonder shows up with “That Girl,” the The Go-Go’s officially announce their arrival with “We Got the Beat” (your…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dave, Milt

Topics covered

• 1980s music
• pop culture
• top 10 hits
• nostalgia
• iconic songs
• music commentary

Keywords

• 1982 music
• top 10
• pop music
• nostalgia
• hits
• Stevie Wonder
• Joan Jett
• Rick Springfield
• The Go-Go’s
• Michael Jordan

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The J. Geils Band, The Go-Go’s, Journey

Books & works: Porky's, Chariots of Fire, Pac-Man Fever, Open Arms, We Got the Beat, Freeze-Frame

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