Archive for May, 2010
5 Big Hair Ballads
Written by Suzanne on May 28, 2010 – 7:44 am -
Did I mention I am forty years old now? Oh yes, I think I did. Back in the day, my day meaning the 80’s, it was all about big hair and of course ballads. The 80’s had a lot going on when it came to music mixed with pop culture. Some flaunted Madonna lace and gloves; others were rocking the Newro style. Prince and the Revolution followers wore purple, layered coats and ruffles while the long haired rockers smoked in the boy’s room.
It was an eclectic mix of musically inspired fashion but today I’m focusing on the Big Hair Ballads. The love songs millions could raise their cigarette lighters to with pride. This was a staple to the 80’s like Aqua Net and eyeliner. Here they are:
Still Loving You—Scorpions
Back when I was dating Mr. HIH, way back when this song was a big hit, he loved dedicating “Still Loving You” to me. Isn’t that retro romantic?
Nobody’s Fool—Cinderella
This is a ballad and power anthem all in one. It’s the perfect song to sing just before breaking up with your significant other.
Bringing on the Heartbreak—Def Leppard
Turn this one full blast and cry your eyes out!
Close My Eyes Forever—Lita Ford & Ozzy Osbourne
It wasn’t just the boys with big hair back in the day. Lita Ford adds a feminine quality to this duet with Ozzy.
The Price—Twisted Sister
Sometimes ballads are about loving life itself and because this video intro is priceless, here’s Twisted Sister performing The Price.
“The 80’s are about f’&*%$# partying! That’s what makes it so much fun!”
WARNING: bad words
As always it’s tough to pick just five but I named it The 5 on Friday so here we are. What are your favorite big hair love songs from the decade of decadence?
I Can Do Anything Good
Written by Suzanne on May 19, 2010 – 10:09 am -Thanks to Jillian Michaels and her Facebook page for this fun find. I might try adding this sort of thing to my morning routine, minus standing on the bathroom counter.
Speaking of Jillian Michaels, you might know her best from The Biggest Loser series, I just fnished her book Master Your Metabolism. Great information in there. She gives her audience 3 secrets to help balance hormone levels for a “hot and healthy body”. Now all I have to do is practice what she preaches and see how I feel. Easier said than done but like the little girl in the video says, “I can do anything good!”
Click here for information about Master Your Metabolism.
Five 40’s in Pop Culture
Written by Suzanne on May 14, 2010 – 12:00 am - 
You might be wondering, why 40’s? On Sunday May 16, I’m going to be 40 years old. According to the Collins Dictionary age 40 is the start of middle age. I’ll go with the Oxford English Dictionary instead, “… the period between youth and old age, about 45 to 60″.
I got to thinking about the number 40 in pop culture. Some say 40 is a magical number. If anything it occurs frequently in literature. Take the idiom forty winks, or “forty days and forty nights”. How about all those thieves and Ali Baba, there were 40 of them remember?
There’s the spray lubricant WD-40 and the food dye Red 40. Here’s Five more 40’s in Pop Culture I found interesting.
American Top 40
When I was a kiddo I faithfully tuned in to hear the American Top 40 with Casey Kasem. His weekly countdown show was right up there with Solid Gold on my coolness meter.
“Now, on with the countdown!”—Casey Kasem
American Top 40 was born the same year I was in 1970. The show is still around today as At 40 with Ryan Seacrest. Visit http://www.at40.com for more info.
Casey Kasem is one smooth talker. He used his voice over talents for commercials and TV shows, including being the voice of Robin from Super Friends and Shaggy from Scooby Doo.
Hey look at this via YouTube! It’s a faux Shaggy voicing Casey Kasem’s famous rant:
Warning-bad words!
U.S. Route 40
Historical roads have a way of making their way through pop culture. Listen to Brak from Space Ghost fame & Freddie Prinze Jr.’s duet with “Highway 40” and Ricky Skaggs sing “Highway 40 Blues”.
Visit http://route40.net for history, info and even more songs about Highway 40.
The 40 Year Old Virgin
This “screwball comedy” was a big hit back in 2005. It also had a major impact on men getting their chests waxed. Ouch!
Click here if you’re not too squeamish.
Purchase The 40 Year Old Virgin on DVD via Amazon.
40 by U2
A song by U2 from 1983, enough said on this one.
UB40
UB40 had some big hits during my favorite decade, The 80’s. One of them was “Red Red Wine”. I remember hearing it for the first time over the intercom in 7th grade home room. It was a strange scene, all the 13 year olds bopping their heads to a song about wine consumption. I’ve never been a wine person myself, unless I can eat a whole pound of brie while sipping.
Click here for video.
- UB40 —2008
Visit http://www.ub40.co.uk/ for upcoming tour dates and album information.
Posted in The 5 on Friday
Super True Stephen
Written by Suzanne on May 11, 2010 – 10:56 am -Do you know Stephen Kramer Glickman? I bet you do. If you watch Nickelodeon you know him from the series Big Time Rush. You know the show with all the Teen Bop looking guys? Okay, well Stephen isn’t one of them but he plays Gustavo in the series. Gustavo… GUUUSTAVO…GuSTAVo. Such a fun name to say isn’t it?
Gustavo Rocque is the record producer hoping for a Big Time hit with hockey players turned boy band. He reminds me of Donald Duck meets Mr. Kincaid (Partridge Family). Parenthesis for peeps not acquainted with retro reruns.
I did an interview with Stephen Kramer Glickman before Big Time Rush aired. Check out this link to go back in time and hear what Stephen had to say:
http://www.housewifeinhollywood.com/stephen-kramer-glickman/
Stephen told me about a web series he was working on called Super True Story. Now we can watch the series via YouTube. Here’s part one:
If you haven’t seen Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush you can click here to find show times and more info. Yeah I know a lot of clicking today, but I think you can handle it.
5 Favorite TV Moms
Written by Suzanne on May 7, 2010 – 12:00 am -Rochelle
Chris Rock had a show loosely based on his real life family and the character named Rochelle is his mother in Everybody Hates Chris. You can watch the show via Nick at Nite, click here for more info.
Rochelle knows how to keep her family going. She also knows how to take time for herself by sneaking Turtles, her favorite chocolate confection, or gossiping it up at the salon. She fixes every ailment with Robitussin and has some great sayings like:
“Why you acting so suspicious?”
“I do not need this. My man has two jobs!”
“I ain’t raisin’ no babies!”
Roseanne Conner
I was on a Roseanne kick for quite some time. Roseanne was great whipping up Stove Top while her kiddos argued in the kitchen. She was a domestic goddess with a smart remark for every dumb thing her family did.
Click here for Mother’s Day Roseanne style.
Find out what comedian Roseanne Barr is up to these days, visit her official blog http://www.roseanneworld.com
Samantha Stevens
Oh if only I could wriggle my nose and get the whole house clean while I sat in the backyard with a good book. Samantha Stevens had everything going for her, except her annoying mother, wild cousin and pesky neighbors.
“What is it now Gladys?”
“Oh Abner come see!”
Click here to watch the first episode of Bewitched via Crackle.
Mother Bear
Back when my kiddo was just a little thing she loved watching Little Bear. When I was young, I loved the books by Maurice Sendak. So many fun characters in the Little Bear series but I’ve always liked Mother Bear. She could get things done, have Little Bear finish his chores and let him pretend to his heart’s content without ever raising her voice.
Watch Little Bear clips at Nick Jr., click here.
Mrs. Cunningham, a.k.a. Mrs. C
Even The Fonz couldn’t backtalk Mrs. Cunningham from Happy Days. She was a fun loving yet concerned mother that made sure everyone, including Fonzie, washed their hands before having dinner.
Did you know the very first Happy Days was piloted on one of my favorite shows when I was a kiddo? That’s right for whatever reason I loved Love American Style.
Here’s Marion Ross, the actress that played Mrs. C promoting Vicks products a couple years ago.
Posted in The 5 on Friday
Cinco De Mayo 2010
Written by Suzanne on May 4, 2010 – 9:54 pm -Okay time to get in a Cinco De Mayo mood. Doesn’t take much for me, some guacamole, some lime, some salsa and some Mexican music. How about Los Lobos, Linda Ronstadt, and Mariachi Vargas:
