Episode 787: When people talk about the summer movies of 1986, the conversation usually starts with Top Gun and ends somewhere around Aliens, The Karate Kid Part II, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It was one of the strongest movie summers of the decade, packed with blockbusters that still dominate pop-culture conversations 40 years later.

But every great movie season leaves a few worthy titles behind.

Ready for the ultimate nostalgia vacation? Join us aboard The 80s Cruise, the world's greatest floating celebration of 1980s music and pop culture. Sail with legendary artists, enjoy exclusive events, and hang out with fellow fans who still know every word to their favorite '80s songs.

Use promo code STUCK when booking and receive $250 in onboard credit per cabin.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 786: From sci-fi parodies and comedy catchphrases to political satire and celebrity rap records, the ’80s produced some truly unforgettable novelty hits. Steve and Chuck revisit songs that were silly, bizarre, occasionally controversial—and somehow impossible to forget.

In this episode, they discuss:

• "Star Trekkin'" by The Firm, the cult classic that became a No. 1 hit in the United Kingdom

• "You Look Marvelous" by Billy Crystal, inspired by his legendary Saturday Night Live character Fernando

• "Rappin' Rodney" by Rodney Dangerfield, one of the most unlikely rap records of the MTV era

• "Bomb Iran" by Vince Vance & the Valiants, the political parody song inspired by the Iran hostage crisis

Along the way, they explore the role of Dr. Demento, the rise of novelty records in the MTV era, memorable music videos, comedy albums, and why some of the weirdest songs of the decade continue to live rent-free in our heads decades later.

Plus, Steve and Chuck share their memories of discovering these songs, discuss how novelty music fit into the larger pop culture landscape of the 1980s, and debate whether today's music world could ever produce anything quite like them again.

This episode is brought to you by our friends at The 80s Cruise. Join your favorite artists, fellow fans, and the Stuck in the ’80s crew aboard the ultimate floating celebration of the decade. Visit The 80s Cruise and use promo code STUCK when booking to receive a $250 cabin credit.

We also thank our Patreon supporters, whose generosity helps keep the longest-running ’80s pop culture podcast alive and thriving. To learn more about supporting the show, visit our Patreon page.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some songs don’t just define a decade — they instantly improve your mood the second they begin playing. Few tracks from the MTV era carry that kind of joyful energy quite like Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast, Steve sits down with frontwoman Katrina Leskanich for a lively conversation about music, touring and the remarkable twists and turns of her career.

The episode begins with Katrina reflecting on her experiences aboard The 80s Cruise, where she not only performed for fans of the MTV generation but also hosted one of the ship’s beloved trivia competitions. Spearsy and Katrina discuss the uniquely emotional atmosphere of the cruise, where artists and fans reconnect through the shared soundtrack of their youth.

Along the way, Katrina revisits the creation of Walking on Sunshine and reflects on recording with legendary producer Scott Litt at the famous Power Station studio in New York. The conversation explores how the band evolved from London’s gritty club scene into international pop success during the height of the MTV era.

Katrina also discusses the dramatic transition from struggling musician to major-label artist after signing with Capitol Records and the strange realities of navigating the music industry during the 1980s. Like many artists from the era, she experienced both the excitement and pressure of sudden mainstream success.

The interview also revisits Katrina’s surprising second chapter as a Eurovision champion after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997 with Love Shine a Light — a career milestone that helped launch her solo career and introduced her music to an entirely new international audience.

Toward the end of the episode, Spearsy and Katrina discuss her upcoming appearances on the Lost 80's Live tour and why audiences continue responding so emotionally to the music of the 1980s. Like many great Stuck in the ’80s interviews, the conversation becomes less about nostalgia itself and more about the joy, connection and shared memories these songs continue creating decades later.

If you love new wave, MTV nostalgia, unforgettable one-hit wonders that deserved to be much bigger and behind-the-scenes stories from one of the most uplifting voices of the decade, this episode belongs in your playlist.

The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.