Bill and Frank’s Guilt-Free Pleasures

It's Jump Month! Each week, we will be covering a different "Jump" guilt-free pleasure. We begin with Van Halen's only #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit, covering the wild history of the David Lee Roth era and the story behind the writing of this single. Get ready for a deep analysis of both the song and video, as well as bizarre story involving Fred Durst. There's so much to talk about when it comes to this band. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did recording it. Also, special thanks to Bill's brother, Dave, for suggesting this special series...

It's our annual spooky episode! Bill's not so sure about this "cult" stuff, and Frank's not so sure that Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy. It all gets sorted out. We also delve into the history of the band, the song, and its impact on popular culture. Don't fear it, because Bill and Frank are your men!

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SNL Cowbell Sketch

Closest thing we could find to a video by the band

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This one has been requested a lot over the years, and we're glad to finally bring our episode on Lisa Loeb's "Stay." We delve into Lisa Loeb's backstory, give a deep analysis of the lyrics, and discuss everything from Reality Bites to Martin Heidegger. We're glad you've been "thrown" into this moment, and we hope you enjoy what you hear!

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Official Video

That 90s Show

Hot Tub Time Machine 2

Dave Grohl's version

Live at Daryl's House

Yusei Kikuchi

Walk Off The Earth's V...

In honour of Frank's birthday (this was recorded in August), we brought together a live studio audience for our deep analysis of Steve Winwood's "Higher Love," which may be a song about seeking spiritual enlightenment or about picking up at a club. This episode has been an editing challenge, and, despite the chaos of the recording, we feel the final result is something we can be proud of. We hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we did recording it!

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Official Video

Dave Letterman performance

Thank you for...

We're back from our rerun break with a big one! The Bangles' irresistible "Eternal Flame" gave them a huge #1 hit, but also signalled the unfortunate downfall of the band (but not forever). Our good friend Stu joins us to discuss all sorts of flames, whether it's a true love, an Elvis memorial, or the Olympic torch. You had one job to do, Stu!!!  

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Official Video

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This is our last rerun episode for the 2026 season! We thought that a perfect way to end this would be with Sade’s “Smooth Operator" - a recommendation from our good friend Jeff from the So Much Crime, So Little Time podcast. (You can find them here!) We learned a lot about Sade back when we recorded this (almost three years ago!), and the band continues to loom large in our guilt-free pantheon. We hope our journey through “Smooth Operator” brings you joy no matter what coast you are listening from, whether it be it the one that harbours L.A., or...

Every once in a while we stumble upon a song that opens up a fascinating world that we have never before visited. Dan Hartman was not just the creator of a memorable guilt-free pleasure from 1984, but an accomplished singer-songwriter-producer who found success in rock with The Edgar Winter Group, in disco as a solo artist, and in soundtrack work throughout the 1980s. It was a thrill to not only dive into "I Can Dream About You," but also to find out how special Dan Hartman was. It's a crime that he's not discussed more in pop music history.

It's a rerun of our "Kiss Me" episode! We want to send our condolences to Sixpence None The Richer on the recent passing of their bassist, Justin Cary.

Here is the original show notes from our original release:

Dave Kitchen comes out of the bearded barley and joins us in the Winchester to discuss one of the sweetest (or most sinister???) songs of the past 30 years!

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Truffaut Video

Hollywood Video

Dave Letterman Interview

Perfect Strangers: Pipe Dreams

Thank you for listening! Connect...

To honour the great Dolly Parton, we are releasing this rerun of our 9 to 5 episode. 

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Official Video

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Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn

Our friend Bruce Soderholm has recommended this week's rerun episode: "Tears Are Not Enough" by Northern Lights (the Canadian supergroup). This one was a joy to make and also an incredible challenge to research and edit. (We are grateful to Mel Bourque for assistance in the French portions of the song.) Enjoy!  

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Superscaled Video

Documentary

Upscaled 40th anniversary doc

A dedicated parody (tribute) version

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Mike V. recommends this one from way back on April 5, 2024. It's a fitting tribute episode as well, since Bonnie Tyler's funeral was this past week. Thank you for joining us for our rerun season! We hope you enjoy the (re)listen!

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Official Video

Dan Band from Old School

Nicki French Hi-NRG extended version

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In honour of network TV, we are running reruns over the next few weeks. These will all begin with a listener recommendation and a bit of a reflection by us before we go into the classic episode. We hope you enjoy the revisit! (We never go whack on an old school episode)

This Is How We Do It Official Video

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This is one of those songs we imagine that many know this melody, but not necessarily the name of the song or its singer. It graced the soundtrack of several movies from the 90s and 00s, but its lyrical content was kind of a mystery. This episode aims to explain it all! Be prepared to find out "Who" Pete Townshend is, how Jesus inspired "Let My Love Open The Door," why we can't stop talking about The Muppets, and what era of music draws Frank's ire. 

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"Official" Video

Dan In Real Life s...

We're not sure that the sentiment has remained the same in recent years, but Jesus Jones' "Right Here, Right Now" captures the hope of the very early 90s, where the fall of the Berlin Wall meant everything good was possible. We not only cover the history of the song and look at its meaning in our lives, but Frank must also decide what he would in his time travel (fictional) biopic. Thanks for joining us!

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Official Video

Bob Dylan in Hamilton, 1986

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Hot Tamale Pearson and Cold Fish Huizer are not stealing a car this week, but we are nevertheless taking you on a "Joyride!" Inspired by a sweet love note from songwriter (and vocalist) Per Gessle, "Joyride" represents Roxette at their peak powers: Per’s lyrically surprising verses, Marie Fredriksson’s powerhouse chorus, and a video for the ages. No wonder its namesake album is one of the best selling in Germany’s history. Special thanks to Benjamin for recommending this one. (Sorry it took us so long!)

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Note: We found out after the recording of thi...

How has it taken us this long to finally cover Tiffany’s massive number-one hit? Well, here we are! Recorded when she was only 14, this track officially marked the first number-one song by an artist born in the 1970s, ushering in a whole new generation of teen pop royalty. Whether you’re Team Tiffany or Team Debbie, join us as we celebrate the dawn of mall pop.

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Official Music Video

Tiffany on Star Search at 12 years old!

Robin Sparkles: "Let's Go To The Mall"

Megapythod vs. Gatoroid

Fu...

Who would’ve guessed the R&B queens of En Vogue could rock this hard? But rock hard they do on this track off their sophomore album, proving they were genre-defying powerhouses. We’re diving into the history, the heavy riffs, and the enduring legacy of an anthem whose message still resonates today (unfortunately). Free Your Mind, and the rest will follow!

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Official Video 

Live Performance 

Calhoun Tubbs

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There are a lot of different Journey songs that we could have picked, but “Separate Ways” packs a special punch. It is certainly anthemic, but it’s more complicated when considering its musical and lyrical content. And its music video is legendary.

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Official Video

Cillian Murphy reading W.B. Yeats

VH1 Behind The Music

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Tabitha VandenEnden returns to help us pay tribute to Peabo Bryson and dive deep into the 1991 classic, "Beauty and the Beast." It is quite the journey! Be our guest as we explore the history and analysis of the song, discuss Gaston's false economy, question whether the Beast looked better before the transformation (he does), and see if we can keep this whole episode on the rails.

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Official Video

Dance Scene from the movie

Howard trailer

Ariana Grande and John Legend Video

Dance Scene from Live Action...

This week's episode was a big hit in the UK but not so much in our own continent. Nevertheless, it has endured in our memory and in the the playlist of the cool people we know. One of them is a listener who recommended this song! We take a look at Chesney's life that led him to getting a number one hit at only 19 years of age. We also discuss how this tune helped us accept ourselves, and we hope, dear listener, you will also use this song as your own mantra.

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UK Video<...

Dave Kitchen joins us for a wild episode that involves a go-go gadget trenchcoat, a sorryfans website, la petite morte, journals that should have never been written, and the introduction of a new genre: drama rock. 

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Official Video (Lesser seen UK Version)

Official Video (US Version)

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This week we are bringing you one of the key bands to come out of the Queen West music scene. They may not have had quite the same success outside of Canada, but that doesn't diminish the quality of their music. So if you've never heard The Parachute Club, prepare to be lifted up. If you have heard the band, then you know that you're in for a good time! Despite the meanness of Bryan Adams manager, we are all going to Rise Up for an incredible guilt-free pleasure!

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Official Video

McCain...

Get ready to embrace your inner 80s ballad lover as we take a deep dive into the history, production, and legacy of Chicago's massive 1988 single, "Look Away." We unpack the details of how Diane Warren's heartbreak anthem climbed its way to number one but also set the stage for our own relationship woes. Come join us, open your hearts, and get guilt-free!

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Original Video

Diane Warren live version (with "I Get Weak")

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It is hard to imagine a time when "You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em" didn't exist. We are are now considering (especially with the advent of quantum mechanics) that perhaps it has existed for time eternal. There is so much to discuss with Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler." There's the story of its writing (rest in peace, Don Schlitz). There's many versions. There's the dead muppet (!). There's the punchouts in all those TV movies. And there's the many lessons to be found in the lyrics. Join us as we work through these and...

This song knows how to make podcast pros like us blush. "Betty Davis Eyes" was a gigantic hit when it arrived in 1981. We discuss it's history, its legacy, and our varying degrees of comfort with the subject matter.

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Video

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Like Richard Gere and Debra Winger's characters in "An Officer and a Gentleman", "Up Where We Belong" had to persevere against the odds to become the massive hit that it is. We discuss Joe Cocker's redemption, Jennifer Warnes selflessness, the power of a "Sloppy Joe" piano, and so much more.

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Still Standing Here Today Grammy Performance

Official Video

Academy Award Performance

1992 Performance

Final Performance

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We finally delve into the iconic rock anthem "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake, a song that has a far more interesting background than neither of us could have imagined. Despite Robert Plant’s insistence that David Coverdale should be called David “Cover singer,” this huge hit is major part of rock n’ roll and music video history – and yes, we will be talking about Tawny Kitaen, too. Like Bill’s calculus class, this episode features a lot of tangents and as Holden Caulfield says, the digressions can be the most interesting parts. This recording was a lot of fun for us...

The greatest supergroup EVER! We discuss how it all came together and why this song means so much to us still today.

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Official Video

Concert for George Version

The True History of The Traveling Wilburys

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This one is a special one for Bill. We hope you enjoy our trip through If I Had Words, beginning with Camille Saint-Saëns' (Organ) Symphony No. 3 in 1886 and arriving at the movie "Babe" in 1995.  

Yvonne Keeley & Scott Fitzgerald Video

James Cromwell Version

Mice Version

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Only Lionel could lead with "I love you" when finding the girl of his dreams. We discuss why he can pull this off and why "Hello" is so amazing. We also do so much more! Get ready for an emotional ride. 

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The Number Ones by Tom Briehan

The Epic Music Video

Singing with Jimmy Fallon

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It's refreshing to hear the bold honesty of Calloway. What do they want? They want to be rich! (And also for/full of love, peace, and happiness.) For this episode, we discuss money, lots and lots of money, we explore some incredible categories (the Hallmark movie is back!), and we also dive into the history of Calloway. From what we've learned, they got their wish in the end.

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Official Video

In Living Color Version

New Version

Flute Edit

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We’ve never tried this before, but we’re going for it: today’s song is an instrumental. We kept a slight safety net, since a version with lyrics does exist, but the 'Love Theme from St. Elmo’s Fire' is best known for the way its keys, synths, and sax evoke their own kind of poetry. Join us for a journey involving dewy meadows, aggressive unicorns, and ski movie villains. Buckle up, friends.

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Promotional Video

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Dave Kitchen brings us what he feels to be a "quintessential guilt-free pleasure." Joe Jackson's "Steppin' Out" is undeniably of its time, but what a glorious time that was. We discuss the backstory of the song as well give a close reading of its lyrics. We also discuss the New York City of 1982, which is nearly a world away from the NYC of today. Be prepared to be transported back to another time as we step out into the night!

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Music Video

Live version with original drum machine

Thank you...

This is a big moment for Frank - he's been wanting to do Lou Bega's giant signature tune for a long time. Bill isn't nearly as enthused, but this is not Hate Month, and so it's time to let a little bit of Angela, Pamela, Sandra, Rita, Monica, Erica, Tina, Sandra, Mary, and Jessica into our lives. Ladies and gentleman: here is our episode on "Mambo No. 5!"

Link:

Official Video

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We're very excited to have The Julies back as guests! "Hold Me Now" suits both the aesthetic of our show as well as the taste of our friends. Beyond exploring the musical layers of the Thompson Twins' biggest hit, we unpack the memories tied to the track: namely, Frank's childhood longing for his babysitter. 

The Julies have a great new album out. You can find and buy Cherisher here and stream it on whatever service you use.

Follow the Julies on Instagram or Facebook!

More helpful links:

Hold Me Now official v...

While often remembered as a catchy novelty track, Was (Not Was)’s “Walk the Dinosaur” is actually about our own imminent extinction through nuclear annihilation. Who knew the song would continue to be relevant almost forty years after its release? We trace the band’s humble beginnings in Michigan to their surprising success throughout the 80s, with guest vocalists that included Leonard Cohen, Ozzy Osbourne, Madonna, Frank Sinatra Jr. and Kim Basinger (!). For us, and maybe to the chagrin of the Was brothers, we believe the highlight of it all is this way smarter-than-people-realize hit whose video was continuously on our T...

Mick Hucknall may be a polarising figure in the British media (well, I guess it mostly is only the "hate" pole), but how can anyone deny the power of "Holding Back the Years"? It's a song birthed in a stream of consciousness writing exercise but steeped in a history of childhood sadness. We discuss our own sadness, give a deep analysis of the song and video, and we also discuss why we refuse to pair a wine with this Simply Red.

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Official Video

Frantic Elevators version

Simply Red Live from...

Today, we dive into Dan Hill’s 1977 mega-ballad, "Sometimes When We Touch." Often labeled the ultimate "weeper," this track explores themes of masculine fragility and raw vulnerability. These concepts commonplace today but groundbreaking for the late 1970s. We discuss how a 19-year-old Hill penned these intense lyrics to compete for the affection of a polyamorous woman who was simultaneously dating a professional football player and a photographer. We also examine the song's unlikely collaboration with songwriter Barry Mann, which helped propel the track to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 during a week otherwise dominated by the Bee Gees. Fr...

We go deep in this week’s episodes by delving into the complexities of relationship-mending. For example, the only way to keep someone is to let them go. It’s the paradox of Broken Wings, and we are here to learn to fly again. Despite a bad coffee order to start things, we get right on track and discuss the enduring influence of Khalil Gibran on music - or at least on a few Beatles songs and this Mr. Mister tune. We discuss redemption, healing, and dangerous blackbirds. Frank also brings a Hallmark movie to possibly end all Hallmark movi...

For a good few years, Paula Abdul was an unstoppable force in music. We discuss her beginnings and the creation of her bestselling debut album. It all culminates in this song - her 4th #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit featuring a rapping randy alley cat. It's a natural fact!

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Official Video

Video before rotoscoping

Paula Abdul in 1978 - "The Party Song"

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