Surely You Can't Be Serious Podcast

When the Netflix show Stranger Things was released in 2016 it created a surge in interest for all things 80s including the music. Today we dive deep on the songs included in Season 1, Episode 1: "The Vanishing of Will Byers". The stories behind these songs are amazing! There is murder, suicide, drugs, an attempt to drug the President of the United States, a hang glider accident (it's true!) along with several iconic songs. So put the kick stand and your dirt bike down and join us for the first in our series on Stranger Things: The Music!

This week we get the extra special privilege of interviewing "Ninety Days in the 90s" author, Andy Frye. We discuss his new novel in which the main character, Darby, discovers a way to travel through time and reconnect with old friends, relive all of the old concerts, and take a second shot at love. We had a blast discussing the book with Andy, along with more 90s pop culture. Stick around for our list of time travel concerts and sporting events that we would love to see!

In September of 1992, Stone Temple Pilots released their debut album, "Core" and solidified themselves as one of the next big bands of the 90s. With songs like "Wicked Garden", "Creep" and "Plush" the were darlings of MTV and radio. Their albums sold like crazy but money, fame and addiction would end up being their downfall. Come with us and go track by track through one of the great albums of the 90s and stay for the tragic epilogue.

On September 29, 1992 Stone Temple Pilots released their best seller, "Core". With tons of hits and great songs it became a favorite for a new generation. Four guys from different parts of the country came together to make some of the most memorable songs of the 90s. In this episode we will explore the history of the band leading up to that album in 1992. Are you smelling like a rose?

30 years ago, grunge music made its way into the mainstream music charts as well as MTV. Alice in Chains' stormed to the top of the charts with their second album that combined rock guitars and introspective lyrics and became a huge hit for the band. Please go down in a hole with us on the 30th anniversary of this album as we go track by track discussing the stories behind each of the songs!

When grunge hit the music scene in the early 90s, Alice in Chains was one of the bands at the forefront. Led by Jerry Cantrell's aggressive guitars and Layne Staley's growling vocals, the band quickly became one of the biggest of that generation. In this episode we will deep dive in their glam past, their rise to fame and the impact or drugs on their career.

During the summer of 1987 the fourth of the Jaws movies was released and has been called on of the worst movies of all time. This week we dive into "Jaws the Revenge" with our friends from the AFilmBy Podcast and ask the important questions. Do sharks have ESP? How do sharks travel a few thousand miles in just a few days? Can sharks roar? Join us as discuss these crazy questions and give away the Craptastic Crown to either "Superman IV" or "Jaws the Revenge"!

The summer of 1987 gave us two of the biggest box office stinkers of the 1980s in "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace" and "Jaws the Revenge". Over the next two weeks, we will discuss, debate and dissect these two movies and ask the question "What the heck happened?" This week we dive into "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace". With Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman and Mark McClure all back again what could possible go wrong? Turns out, it's a lot. Join us and our friends Jeff and Brad from the "A Film By" Podcast for the fun!

35 years after the original Predator, Dan Trachtenberg gives us the prequel to the franchise. The reaction to this Hulu movie has been overwhelmingly positive, but does it really hold up to the hype? Join us as we discuss how this movie came to be and all the incredible, crazy, and hilarious stories about the cast, crew, music composer, and production of the film. And, finally, our judgment about where this movie ranks among to all the other Predator movies. Do it! Do it NOW!#preymovie #prey #predator #comanche #ambermidthunder #dantrachtenberg #hulu #sarahschachner

For action movie fans, the summer of 1987 was epic! Robocop and Predator both introduced us to some of the most iconic and successful characters and franchises of the decade. Jump back in to our discussion where we conclude with our own final judgment between these two giants. Also, always remember: if it bleeds, we can kill it!

During the summer of 1987, two movies were released that defined 80's action movies, John McTiernan's "Predator" and Paul Verhoeven's "Robocop". Both of these became iconic franchises that spawned multiple sequels, outshoots and now prequels. One of these had a cast of macho 80s alpha action stars and one had virtual unknowns. This week we give you the stories behind the making of these two movies. Which do you choose? Your move, creep!

Despite being in the grips of addiction, during the summer of 1987 Mötley Crüe managed to release their most commercially successful album to that point, "Girls, Girls, Girls". Not only did the album reach the #2 position on the sales charts in the US (Nikki Sixx claims the album should have been #1) they also managed to provide an anthem for strippers everywhere! Join us, along with special guest James Buckley, as we go track by track through this album discussing the stories behind each song and deciding whether is a rocker, a skipper or a song about strippers! After that we will decide how it matches up to Whitesnake's "1987".

After two years of delays, fights, surgery and recovery, the dream team of David Coverdale, John Sykes, John Kalodner, released the long awaited self titled Whitesnake album (also known as "1987"). It contained some of the biggest and most beloved hair metal songs of the 80s including "Still of the Night", "Here I Go Again" and "Is This Love". With these songs were included some of the most iconic music videos of the 80s that included the beautiful Tawny Kitaen doing gymnastics on the hood of David Coverdale's white Jaguar! Join us as we go track by track down the only road we've ever known telling the story behind each of these amazing songs!

In the Spring of 1986, David Coverdale was practically unknown in America, 3 million dollars in debt and pushing his broken down white Jaguar out of an intersection in LA. But things were looking up, he had recently recovered from sinus surgery, he was finishing up long overdue Whitesnake album and he was on a date with a lovely new woman in his life, Tawny Kitaen. That's when the story gets really interesting. Join us as we begin our series on the Summer of 1987 covering the history of Whitesnake up to their release of their self titled album (or more commonly known as "1987". If you have a tape or CD, we suggest you (ahem) slide it in after the podcast!

After 5 long years away, Def Leppard triumphantly returned in the summer of 1987 with their comeback album, "Hysteria". The album was a slow burn for much of '87 but really took hold in 1988 to become one of the biggest selling albums of the 1980s. Step inside, walk this way and join us as we go track by track through the album, a rerelease of a podcast from Season 1, and get us ready to discuss the summer of 1987. Hey! Hey!Get 20% OFF @manscaped + FREE SHIPPING with promo code SERIOUS20 at MANSCAPED.COM ! #ad #manscaped

In 1983, Def Leppard released the mega-selling smash hit album, "Pyromania". With the combination of catchy, irresistible radio friendly rock songs, youthful good looks and the new music television channel MTV, the album propelled the band to new heights. Join us as we go track by track through this album, a rerelease of a podcast from Season 1, discussing all the stories behind the music and fun of this album. Rock! Rock!Get 20% OFF @manscaped + Free Shipping with promo code SERIOUS20 at www.mascaped.com ! #ad #manscapedpod

Great Balls of Fire! This week we do an aileron roll right into the Top Gun (1986) soundtrack breaking down each song track by track. Along with the unforgettable classics such as "Danger Zone, Playing with the Boys" and "Take My Breath Away' we also cover four bonus songs including "You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin'", "Great Balls of Fire", "Hold My Hand" and "I Ain't Afraid". Which song will claim the coveted Top Gun trophy as the best song? Grab your Aviator sunglasses, some coconut oil and a volleyball and join us!

Join us this week for our epic conclusion as we finish our comparison of three classics released in June of 1982. This week we discuss the big questions! Is Deckard a replicant? Which of the remaining guys is "The Thing"? Why are there so many versions of Blade Runner? Is E.T. a Jedi? We tackle these fun questions and offer our own final judgment! Grab your Reeses Pieces and Beeeeee Goooood!

June of 1982 was one of the greatest movie months of the 80s! This week we further our discussion of the behind the scenes stories involving the production and filming of E.T., Blade Runner and The Thing. We also discuss the cast, performances and little known facts from behind the scenes. This episode is so interesting it will make your heart glow red and make you want to kiss the prettiest girl in school!

June of 1982 gave us three of the greatest science fiction movies of the 1980's (and maybe all time)! Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" and John Carpenter's "The Thing" may have gotten buried at the box office by Steven Spielberg's "E.T." but they have since become appreciated as 80s classics finding their audience through cable and VHS. This episode we deep dive into the origins of these movies telling the stories of how they came to be. We also cover some of the unexpected connections between these films. Grab your flame thrower and join us for the fun!

If you are like us, you've been waiting for this movie since the summer of 1986. After the release date was pushed back 5 times, "Top Gun: Maverick" is finally in theaters. In this episode we discuss the history and behind the scenes of Maverick (before we watched it), then we give our opinion after we watched the movie. Check us out before you watch, we'll make sure to tell you when you are entering the spoiler zone!

During the summer of 1986, Tom Cruise entered the Danger Zone and flew movie audiences up with the best of the best. Come join us as we give the behind the scenes stories with the US Navy's Top Gun program, the actors and actresses that became stars from this film, and the ultimate crash and burn of Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. We also cover the iconic soundtrack! Now, its time to Buzz the Tower! Great balls of fire!

In 1977, fueled with the power of the Bee Gees and tremendous disco songs, the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack was released. Since its release it has sold more than 40 million copies showcasing the pinnacle songs of the disco era. In this episode we discuss the incredible success of the album, the rise, fall and revival of the Bee Gees and celebrate songs that make you want try to understand the New York times effect on man. Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin' and get the wings of heaven on your shoes for this episode!

This week we tackle the fourth best selling albums of the 1980s! This album contains iconic top ten hits from the 50s, 60s and 80s but the stories behind the music will blow you away! This week we run the gamut covering triumph, tragedy and true crime. We even sprinkle in tidbits from the Beach boys to early hip hop as we cover the best selling soundtrack of the 80s! Nobody puts Surely in a corner!

Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother you will enjoy this week's podcast matching up two pop culture nuclear bombs! This week we dive into the fascinating stories of the production, release and legacy of these two iconic films. You might not have the wings of heaven on your shoes and you may not be able to lift your dancing partner high in the air, but you can still join us and have the time of your life!

In 1977 Disco got a second life after the surprise success of the film "Saturday Night Fever". This pop culture nuclear bomb also made John Travolta a movie star.  Similarly in 1987, "Dirty Dancing" was surprise success that vaulted Patrick Swayze to A list movie star. Join us as we celebrate the 45th and 35th anniversaries of these iconic, impactful movies. We discuss their beginnings, the castings and the incredible stories behind the scenes! It'll make you feel like dancing!

In 1982, Duran Duran released their second album, "Rio". Sparked by wonderful, catchy pop songs and fueled by some of the first creative videos on MTV, the album would make them superstars. Join us this week as we venture to Anitgua, Sri Lanka and everywhere in between to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of the album, while exploring the stories behind the making of these ageless songs and videos. Don't say a prayer for us now. Save 'til the morning after!

When Duran Duran hit the airwaves of MTV in 1981 it was a marriage made in heaven (despite having the first video banned by MTV). Join us as we discuss each of the Fab Five, how the ended up as the house band at the Rum Runner and ultimately how they took America by storm in 1982. Along the way they dated famous women, were the favorite band of a Princess, gave us one of the best Bond songs of all time and were nearly collateral damage in an international assassination plot! Save a prayer and stay for their ultimate comeback in the 90's.

The guys in Toto, who may have done more to shape the sound of the 80's than anyone else, set out in 1982 to make an album with a "produce hits or else" mission. The album that they released, "Toto IV" (reaching its 40th birthday in April of 2022) includes some of the most enduring songs of that generation. Join us as we take a deep dive into the stories behind songs like "Africa", "Rosanna" and "I Won't Hold You Back" and why they still endure today. We also also discuss the production of the Thriller album on which they played and the tragic premature death of the leader of the band, Jeff Porcaro.

Toto is one of the great under appreciated bands in all of the 80's. While playing as session musicians they impacted countless albums and artists before creating some of the most unforgettable 80's classics themselves. Join us as we take a deep dive into their history, discussing the crazy stories along the way, the famous people they impacted along the way, before ultimately ending up in a make or break situation before their smash, "Toto IV" and possibly the most viral song from the 80's!

Fifty years ago in 1972, modern cinema was changed with the release of "The Godfather". In this episode we will continue our conversation discussing and comparing "The Godfather" vs. "The Godfather Pt 2" vs. "Goodfellas". Join us and weigh your own opinion on which of these is the great. Just remember, always keep your mouth shut and never rat on your friends!

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. This week we tackle some of the greatest movies of all time as The Godfather reaches it's 50th anniversary! We will discuss the incredible behind the scenes stories and the amazing efforts it took to get these films made. We will discuss the cast (including one of the best casts ever assembled) and the what ifs involved. Join us as we tackle these epic groundbreaking movies!

Near Next to Perfect on Rotten Tomatoes?? Do not watch The Batman until you have checked out this episode! We have put together all the background info you want, seen the movie, and will give you the full review including our judgment on how this Batman ranks up next to Batman '89 and The Dark Knight! Hear everything you need to know before you see The Batman. #TheBatman

We are back again with bats in our belfry for episode 3 of our comparison of Batman (1989) vs. The Dark Knight (2008). In this episode we wrap up our discussion covering the key composers, picking apart the problems that we have with each movie, and finally giving our final judgement! And...here...we...GO!

Oh we've got a live one here! Which of these classic iconic 80's Batman movies do you like most? In the episode we dive into the casting of both movies and the drama and controversy that that caused. (Beetlejuice as Batman, anyone?!). We also take a look a what could've been with different personnel. The stories will give you a grin, again and again!

Have you ever danced with the Devil by the pale moonlight? This episode we tackle the Caped Crusader and his nemesis, the Joker! We discuss a little bit of Batman comics history, how comics became mainstream and how Batman '89 came to be. Join us for Episode 1 of 3, as we discuss all things Batman and Joker!  We may even discuss 2022's "The Batman"!

We are less than a month away from the world's biggest sporting event, The Super Bowl! Some people watch for the football, some people watch for the commercials, and some watch for the iconic musical performances (and the mishaps that sometimes happen). Join us on this bonus episode as we break down and discuss the best, the most iconic and the most infamous musical performances in Super Bowl History (and who we want to see take the stage next)!

In 1985 the Chicago Bears were the biggest, baddest, meanest football team in the NFL so they decide to rap, sing, and dance in a music video! Join us as we revisit the "Super Bowl Shuffle" 36 years after its release! We ain't here to cause no trouble...

Oh Fudge! Home Alone and A Christmas Story are holiday favorites now but how did they do during their initial run at the theaters? We will dive into the stories behind the production and ultimate performance at the theaters. After that we will give our final judgment between these two along with our ranking of the five Christmas movies/shows that we have covered so far during this, our season finale.

"A Christmas Story" and "Home Alone" have become some of the most beloved holiday classics of all time! They are both played relentlessly during the Christmas season. This week we dive into the stories behind their creation, the actors who almost got the parts (some of the names are incredible) and their battle to get to the big screen. It's the time of year to eat junk, watch rubbish and listen to part one of this podcast!

In 1986, Run-DMC, along with visionary producer Rick Rubin, changed the face of popular music by fusing Rock and Rap in the game changing "Walk This Way" remake. This song, along with other classics on this album, cemented rap as a genre that was here to stay for generations to come. Join us on this episode as we explore the stories behind the songs from Run-DMC's groundbreaking album, "Raising Hell"!

Now put your hands in the air! And wave ‘em like you just don’t care! Join us today as we discuss the History of Hip hop and Run DMC with our special guest, hip hop guru, David Wright aka Def Dave. Learn the exact moment that rap was born and how three young men brought it into the mainstream scene!You can check out Dave's books here: www.galahadsdoom.com

In 1986, three young white rappers took MTV by storm, releasing the party anthem of the 80's! This week we again welcome hip hop expert, DefDave as we discuss the Beastie Boys (in the process we missed two classes with no homework). Were these guys an obnoxious flash in the pan or true artists with staying power? We ponder this question while going track by track through Capital Records best selling album of all-time, "Licensed to Ill"! Hold it now, HIT IT

In 1986, Hip-hop hit the mainstream. Two bands changed the face of music, Run DMC and the Beastie Boys. It started way back in history... but how? Join us and special guest, author David Wright, (aka DefDave) as we discuss the rise of the Beastie Boys from hardcore punk wannabes to hip-hop legends with the release of their debut album "Licensed to Ill" (35 years ago this week!)Over the next episodes we will discuss "Licenced to Ill" track by track and then the story of Run DMC and the release of their album "Raising Hell." How do these albums influence the History of Rap? Join us to find out ...and to determine which of these two amazing albums is the best.For books by David Wright, be sure to check out - galahadsdoom.com!Surely showcase guest: Cameron Eckert

We both agree that the best movie era was before the days of Y2K, but that doesn't mean that there weren't great movies since we flipped to the new millennium! Join us on this special 100th episode of the Surely You Can't Be Serious Podcast as we both give lists of our Top 10 movies released since Y2K. Make your own list and compare!

The legends of Billy the Kid and Wyatt Earp were forged in the the year 1881, 140 years ago. This week we dive in for part two of our discussion regards the movies "Young Guns", "Young Guns II" and "Tombstone". Which of these three modern cowboy tales is your huckleberry? After all, they're all daisies!

In the year 1881 there were two events that shaped the legend of the old west and the imagination of many for years to come. Those events were the shootout at the OK Corral and Pat Garrett shooting Billy the Kid in the back (allegedly). A little over a hundred years later we get three great movies that recreate those events. In this episode we breakdown these three great movies. How do you rank these three? Regulators! Let's ride!

During this Halloween season we are breaking down two of the best werewolf movies of all time, that just happened to be released within six months of each other in 1981. In this episode we discuss the impact of these movies on culture, the music from each and our own final judgment. Grab your silver bullets and beware the moon!

1981 was the year of the werewolf! During that year there were four major werewolf movies released including "An American Werewolf in London" and "The Howling". During this episode, we will discuss the incredible transformation, the hiring of the cast and the cultural impact of these two classics. Beware the moon!

When these three movies were released they chilled people to the bone! Some people described these films as dark, morbid, even grotesque! Join us as we take a deep dive into these three chilling thrillers with our good friend at the 30something Movie Podcast. Fava beans and chianti are optional!