In this radical episode of Past Tens: A Top 10 Time Machine, Dave and Milt hop in their DeLorean — flux capacitor fully operational — and set the date for June 16, 1984. They're not just cruising through the Billboard Top 10; they're living it like extras in Footloose.
The episode kicks off with a heartfelt and totally tubular tribute to Dave’s late father — think The Karate Kid's Mr. Miyagi, but with better dad jokes. From there, it's a parade of parachute pants, popped collars, and personal memories as they discuss the artists who ruled the airwaves: Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Duran Duran, and Cyndi Lauper — basically the Justice League of 1984 pop.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Past Tens without a few twists. There's a Playdate Quiz that would stump even The NeverEnding Story's Atreyu, a musical mashup segment that’s more chaotic than Gremlins after midnight, and their signature song substitution game — think Indiana Jones swapping the idol for a bag of sand, but with Huey Lewis tracks.
Some highlights:
00:54: A heartfelt memorial for Dave’s father, complete with more heart than Kevin Bacon dancing alone in a warehouse.
08:33: Pop Culture Highlights: Ghostbusters hit theaters, Purple Rain was on the horizon, and nobody put Baby in a corner (yet — Dirty Dancing was still a few years away).
15:22: Countdown kicks off — Night Ranger’s “Sister Christian” taught us all what "motoring" really means (spoiler: it’s not what your dad thinks).
38:01: Musical Mashups — imagine Footloose meets Thriller but performed by the cast of Revenge of the Nerds.
39:22: Laura Branigan’s “Self Control” — the unofficial soundtrack to sneaking out past curfew in 1984.
44:54: Huey Lewis reminds everyone that the heart of rock and roll is still beating — even if it’s wearing leg warmers.
59:33: Steve Perry’s “Oh Sherrie,” a ballad so powerful it could get E.T. to phone home twice.
01:19:50: Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” — guaranteed to make even the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man misty-eyed.
01:23:15: Cyndi’s legendary ties to the wrestling world — she could literally have body-slammed a Goonie.
Milt also teases his upcoming trip to Africa, though we're unclear whether he’ll be traveling by Toto song or Temple of Doom bridge.
It’s a journey that’s equal parts nostalgia, musicology, and a John Hughes movie montage. Crank up your Walkman and join the ride — just don’t feed Milt after midnight.
