Bill and Frank’s Guilt-Free Pleasures

What do Hobie Buchannon and Tom Waits "Rain Dogs" have to do with Robbie Nevil's "C'est La Vie?" Only Frank knows! (But he does his best to explain.) Top Pops - the true video The "official video (more show notes and chapters forthcoming)

Perfectly timed to come out on the day of Bill's 13th anniversary with Ashley, "If Ever You're In My Arms Again" perfectly captures their love story. And to add (or subtract?) to an already perfect song, Frank gives us his most heartfelt vocals as he attempts to channel his inner Bryson. We take an in-depth analysis of the song and then we bring back some categories that have laid dormant for the past while. It's time to get back to what this podcast is all about! Helpful Links: Official (?) Video Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com to get on our newsletter! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

"Life Is a Highway" is the ultimate pep talk to get yourself out of your rut and back onto road. Dave Kitchen joins us for his 21st episode to discuss the importance of this song to our young 1990s selves and to Canada as a whole. We cover the song's history as well as its mark in popular culture. We revisit the Tom Cochrane - Bryan Adams war of the early 90s as well. Finally, we return to the Hallmark movie category before we give you an epic road trip mixtape. Links: Original Video Family Guy Life Is a Highway Freelove Freeway - The Office Rascal Flatts Video Pop-Up Video Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com to get on our newsletter! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

Adolescent longing is often dismissed, but we remember the pain and suffering of high school infatuation all too well. Meryn Cadell's "The Sweater" captures this with both humour and empathy, and we want to make sure that we bring listeners back to this surprising hit from 1992. We explore Cadell's unique lyrical style, discuss one of the great professional figure skating performances of the 90s, and work through our own teenage pain. Thank you for joining us! Links: Official Video Figure Skating Routine A great article by Mark Edward Randall Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com to get on our newsletter! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

Inspired by a Heather's request, we are delving into the beloved 1987 hit “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” by Belinda Carlisle. We do our best to unravel the magic behind this quintessential pop anthem (but of course, the magic always remains). From the fascinating story behind the creation of the tune to Carlisle’s signature vibrato to the irresistible production and bizarre video, we cover everything we can for you! Official Music Video Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com to get on our newsletter! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

In this episode, we record in the early morning to celebrate a song that embodies both power and vulnerability: ‘A Little Respect’ by Erasure. Join us as we embrace the early hour to discuss the profound nature of Erasure's anthemic ode to love, vulnerability, and acceptance. The dynamic between Bell and Clarke, with Clarke’s meticulous compositions (and impressive previous history) complemented by Bell’s soaring vocals (and soulful lyrics), set the stage for a powerful partnership that has spanned nearly four decades. We hope you catch the joyful vibe. Links: Official Video That live version from the early 1990s Bjorn Again Version Wheatus Version Yazoo's Only You Depeche Mode with a happy Vince Clarke Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, or via email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com (we'll start a newsletter if you sent us your email!). We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

We discuss Pat Benatar's memorable anthem "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and it's unlikely beginnings - at a pillow punching therapy session in Toronto. We also discuss our own misadventures with punching and what it means to be in the cultural zeitgeist. Thank you for listening! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen, but more importantly - share our show with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn

"There are two types of people in this world: Those who like Neil Diamond, and those who don't." - Dr. Bob Wiley, author of the renowned memoir Death Therapy. As Dr. Bob suggests, you can divide the world into two (hopefully unequal) parts. You’ll find Bill and Frank on the bright side of the world where Neil Diamond is adored. This episode sees the return of Dan Ducroix, who fell in love with the music of Neil Diamond over 25 years ago, leading him for a brief period to emulate the 1970s style of the smouldering version of Neil. He may have abandoned the belt buckles and mutton chops, but not his love for the music of the Jewish Elvis. We celebrate the most ubiquitous (ubonkquitous?) of the Diamond catalogue: "Sweet Caroline." We discuss not only the history of the song, but also reflect on singalong culture and dangers of writing a song inspired by E.T. Thank you for listening! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen, but more importantly - share our show with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn

“Sweet City Woman” is a quintessential Canadian song - it contains both English and French lyrics and it celebrates Toronto while using the language of the countryside. "Official" Video SCTV Canadian Film Going Down The Road - Yonge St

It's hard to believe that this is a song from 1989 as Roy Orbison is an icon from the early days of Rock n' Roll, and his voice sounds just as powerful as it did 30 years before. We are glad to bring this song to you. We hope you (like us) are transcended to a higher plain when you hear his voice! Official Video Clips of the recording process of You Got It You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen, but more importantly - share our show with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

There is something thrilling about a long-established band having a hit late in their career. They say pop music is for the youth of the day, so seeing a group of 40-year-olds continue to run with the wildebeests warms the heart. The Whispers proved that they can certainly “Rock Steady” with their younger peers. It also certainly didn’t hurt to be gifted an incredible jam by the soon-to-be legendary songwriting team of Babyface and L.A. Reid. We’re glad you’ve joined us for our celebration of The Whispers legendary hit, “Rock Steady!” Links: Official Video Babyface Demo Babyface live performance Babyface's Re-imagined "Rock Steady" You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen, but more importantly - share our show with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

In today’s milestone episode, we celebrate Dave Kitchen's 20th appearance on Bill and Frank's Guilt-Free Pleasures, featuring The Cure’s iconic “Friday I’m in Love.” We recall the polarizing debates amongst our peers at the high school cafeteria over whether The Cure sold out (they didn't!), and Kitch brings us back to recognizing the unique duality of The Cure, reminding us how the band has regularly oscillated between pop elegance and goth melancholy. (Stay tuned to the very end for a very special version of "A Whole New World" featuring Frank with some backing vocals by Bill.) Links: Official Video Natalie Imbruglia's Version You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen, but more importantly - share our show with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

In today’s episode, we revisit the 80s pop sensation Taylor Dane and her iconic hit "Love Will Lead You Back." We delve into Dane’s overlooked legacy (seven top 10 hits over two albums!) and explore the emotional power of Frank’s favourite Taylor Dayne song. Even though Bill would have preferred to discuss “Tell it To My Heart” instead, he shares his evolving appreciation for today’s song, while Frank highlights its themes of hope and love's resilience – as well as somehow once again recounting the time he went 4-for-4 from the three-point line during a ninth-grade basketball game. “Love Will Lead You Back” brings back lots of memories and forces us to come to terms with our own relationship breakdowns. Despite all these complicated feelings, love still leads us back to bringing these songs to you each week! Links: Official Video Tig Notaro's story of meeting Taylor Dayne You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

In this week’s episode, we jump into a song that's more than just a nostalgic tune—it's a fascinating slice of pop culture with an equally intriguing backstory. Prepare to delve into “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You,” a hit brought to life by Glenn Medeiros, whose music video might just be one of the most dangerous ever made—a song that sends us spiraling into conversations about love, nostalgia, and the odd memories we have tied to the Muppets. We would like to also remind listeners just how much we appreciate their support, reaffirming the sentiment of this week’s featured track: that love in all its forms is something to be cherished—and nothing’s going to change that. Links: Official Video You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

In this episode we explore the sultry magic of Barry White, focusing on his iconic track "You're the First, the Last, My Everything." We discuss Barry's rise from the streets of Watts to his status as a soul legend, we unravel themes of love and seduction, we dive into the passionate lyrics and lush arrangements that define White’s sound, and we celebrate his artistry as both a vocalist and innovative producer. Prepare yourself for an unforgettable journey through love's essence! Links: 1970s performance Ally McBeal performance Ally McBeal bathroom dance You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

It's hard to believe that it's taken us this long to do "Karma Chameleon," but maybe we needed to be at our A-game to handle a song this amazing. If you were alive in 1983, you would have heard this tune everywhere and you would have loved it! We go deep into the background of the band and the song, and we find out that it's a lot darker than we realized. Nevertheless, the joys of the song endure as our memories of 1983 come and go, come and go. Links: Official Music Video Live acoustic from 1983 You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

We explore the DNA remix of Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner" by taking a deep dive into the song's history and cultural significance, particularly how the original version became an integral part of the MP3 narrative. We also discuss the themes embedded within the lyrics - a stream-of-consciousness portrayal of someone experiencing life through a pane of glass, which gives us not only a time capsule of 1980s New York City, but also triggers our own bittersweet (painful) memories. Additionally, you’ll hear about the worst bartender in St. Catharines, a chaotic mixtape, and about the recognition of our own branding: Bill as the know-it-all and Frank as the sexy bad boy. Welcome to an episode featuring the intersection of music, technology, and personal memory – pretty much a good summation of what we do here! Thank you for joining us. Here are some helpful links to further your enjoyment of the episode: First known recorded version of "Tom’s Diner" The original video for the released version of "Tom’s Diner" The DNA video for "Tom’s Diner" (the one you probably know best) Tom’s Essay by Suzanne Vega And, finally, this is incredible: "Tom's Diner" Live at Royal Albert Hall, 1986 You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

From Rad to Knuckles, Real Life’s “Send Me An Angel” sets a perfect t scene. We hope you enjoy our discussion of the history and analysis of an 80s classic! Helpful Links Werewolf Video 89 Video You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

The Human League's "Human" is both irresistible and ridiculous. Despite the reprehensible content, Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam create an earworm of a melody, and when combined with the not-quite-as-robotic-as-before vocals of Philip Oakey (which we continually mispronounce as "Oakley"), we can't help but return repeatedly to the tune. We discuss the history of the band, the song, and whether we can ever deem this to be a "guilt-free pleasure." Thank you for joining us! Links: The Official Video

An incredible song with an absolutely ridiculous video, "The Warrior" is pure guilt-free pleasure. Besides discussing the history of the band, the song, and the video, we also explore Knuckles from Sonic The Hedgehog and its significance in Bill's life. And most importantly, we examine what it means to be a warrior in the world of love. Links: The Warrior video Bon Jovi video with Scandal: Love's Got A Line On You You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, and our website. You can email us at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com, too. We'd love to hear from you. Please rate and review us wherever you listen! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.