Hits of ‘83: Can You Say Mama Sa Mama Coosa?

Dave and Milt celebrate seven years of Past 10s the only way they know how: by embarrassing themselves with old stories, reading listener shout-outs, and convincing everyone to fill out another substitution poll (vote here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GFG7SWG) for an upcoming listener-driven episode. Then it's into the Past Tens time machine for the Billboard Top 10 from the week ending July 30, 1983—a summer that gave us the Pine Tar Game, the debut of Friday Night Videos, National Lampoon's Vacation ruling the box office, and one of the strongest countdowns of the decade.

Along the way, the guys move into Madness' "Our House," marvel at the Prince fingerprints all over Stevie Nicks' "Stand Back," salute Donna Summer's comeback, and take a deep dive into Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"—including the history behind that famous "mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-sa" lyric. They revisit the surreal world of Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams," untangle the title confusion surrounding Duran Duran's "Is There Something I Should Know?", and explain why Sergio Mendes' "Never Gonna Let You Go" may secretly be one of the most ridiculously complicated pop songs ever to crack the Top 10. They also relive the Flashdance phenomenon, explore the real-life inspiration behind Eddy Grant's "Electric Avenue," and debate whether The Police's "Every Breath You Take" is one of the greatest pop songs ever—or simply the most misunderstood stalker anthem in music history.

As always, there are plenty of detours, including Boston's chart dominance, a restroom-attendant story you won't see coming, an Eddie Murphy tangent, a round of ridiculous song questions, and another installment of the increasingly absurd Play Date Quiz. In the end, Dave crowns Duran Duran the champion of the week, while Milt gives the nod to Michael Jackson, wrapping up another trip through one of pop music's greatest summers.

THE SURVEY: Help us re-write this top 10 with songs that were on the charts this week in 1983 but never hit the top 10! CLICK HERE: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GFG7SWG

Topics

00:38 Podcast Anniversary

03:49 Listener Shoutouts

10:00 Substitution Survey Returns

12:01 Time Travel to 1983

13:08 Week in History Context

20:59 No 10 Our House

30:29 No 9 Stand Back

38:21 South Park Mocks Stevie

40:54 Donna Summer Reinvents

42:42 Restroom Attendant Story

47:04 Boston Chart Kings

49:22 MJ Favorite Debate

52:04 Wanna Be Startin Deep Dive

59:23 Eurythmics Sweet Dreams

01:05:58 Duran Duran Title Confusion

01:11:18 Play Date Quiz Begins

01:13:47 Absurd Song Questions

01:17:44 Lightning Round Finish

01:18:56 Never Gonna Let You Go

01:20:38 Complexity Explained

01:24:56 Flashdance What a Feeling

01:29:09 Eddie Murphy Detour

01:31:31 Electric Avenue Origins

01:37:46 Every Breath You Take

01:41:24 Police Band Tensions

01:44:51 Recap Winner and Wrap