Episode 189: End of Summer Special 2025 (Part 1) - The Power Station & Bananarama

In the United States, the Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer. Brian and Sarah just aren’t ready to say goodbye to summer yet, so over the holiday weekend, they recorded a couple of episodes featuring songs that invoke the feeling of summer. Each episode in this mini-series will feature one song chosen by Brian and one chosen by Sarah.

The first song up for discussion is the only one without the word “Summer” in the title. However, there’s no question that it makes you think of summer and other sultry situations. Sarah selected the 1985 hit “Some Like It Hot” from supergroup The Power Station.

Sarah shares chart information and reviews for the song, and she also explains the origin of the supergroup and the recording of the song. Brian is quite enthusiastic about Sarah’s choice and shares memories of purchasing the album on cassette and watching the video for “Some Like It Hot” many times back in the day.

As discussion turns to the video, both hosts can’t contain their amusement at some of the promo’s elements; Sarah even provides a bulleted list of the more notable features. 

To wrap up the discussion on “Some Like It Hot,” Sarah shares a bit of ‘extra credit’ information about the song’s use in some network television promotions, back in 1985 but also in the 2020s!

Then it’s time to move on to Brian’s selection. His choice is “Cruel Summer” by British girl group Bananarama (NOT a certain American solo artist). Brian also provides ‘the usual’ information such as chart positions, reviews, the writing and recording of the song, and his personal history.

Discussion of the “Cruel Summer” video reveals a common thread—or should we say line?—between the songs in this episode: cocaine! There’s also a brief James Bond reference made, although it’s from Sarah, rather than Brian!

The episode wraps up with Brian sharing a recent review, which are always read aloud on the show, and always very much appreciated by both hosts.

 

Watch the videos here: "Some Like It Hot" - The Power Station "Cruel Summer" - Bananarama CBS Daytime Drama Promos featuring "Some Like It Hot"

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