Our weirdo bizarro world connection just keeps getting crazier.

You can still walk out in the street and attempt to hold hands with people if you'd like though.

In any case, I'm a big fan of Suzanne Vega, so it's always nice to see her name brought up. I first heard of her through the wonderful “Marlene on the Wall”, and I've been hooked ever since. I didn't realize they ever released “Solitude Standing” as a single and it's a shame it didn't get any more attention than it did. I agree with you, though…that album is probably my favorite of hers, followed closely by 1996's “Nine Objects of Desire”. As you also point out, her 2000s output is really strong too.

Nice comment this week – loved reading it. But I can't really help you with the Vels. I remember them growing up but only vaguely. I remember them playing in the area but that's really about it.

Hm.

Moving right along, I really can't say anything bad about Luther. I can't particularly say anything great about him, either. I mean, dude had a great voice, and I can enjoy his songs when I hear them, but I don't own any of his material, and couldn't tell you any off the top of my head other than “Stop For Love”(which I love!) and “Here And Now”(that was him, right?) He's just one of those artists that was always “just there” for me and never grabbed me as anything special.

VAN HALEN. Man, 95 weeks of waiting for THE argument, and we don't even really get to have it! haha, unreal. I AM GOING TO START IT ANYWAY, BECAUSE I AM FULL OF DISAPPOINTMENT, AND FEELING RATHER ARGUMENTATIVE TODAY. Not really, I just love all of you popdosers so much and want to hear everyone weigh in. The correct answer, of course, is DIAMOND FUCKING DAVE. Seriously, the Dave era VH is just badassery all around – Dave's crazyfrontman antics, martial arts moves and assless chaps, guitar wizardry from Eddie, Alex's headband, brown M&M's, “that other guy” who I'd later learn was named Michael Anthony. (or Wolfgang, depending on who and when you ask…yikes) “Hot For Teacher” didnt go top 40, but “I'll Wait” did? I'll be damned. Van Hagar gave us nothing but keyboard laden AOR. Sure, some of those songs were great, but really? REALLY?

I'll tell a story which will be surprising to all, in light of my above offering. A few years back, when the rock gods blessed us with the Sam and Dave tour (destined to implode – it did- so I was glad my show was early on the itinerary) I went there superstoked to see Dave play a full set of VH classics. They were rotating headlining slots, and Dave opened my show. I thought to myself, “great, an early night!” And he delivered. NOTHING BUT the hits, classic VH tune after classic VH tune. Sure, it wasn't Eddie shredding (or even Steve Vai, for that matter) but whichever jobber he had up there had more than capable hands. He delivered. I decided, what the hell, and stuck around for Sammy. And I'll be damned if he didn't put on a better show! He just seemed more into it. Dave was more “by the numbers” – rock out, rock out, demonstrate his martial arts weapon prowess, rock out, introduce the band, rock out, thank you goodnight. Sammy was INTO IT. He talked a lot between songs, told stories, interacted with the audience, just gave off an all around awesome vibe. His set wasn't even exclusively VH material. He did a lot of the Van Hagar hits, but then broke out a lot of his solo material, old and new. I didn't know most of it, not being well versed on his stuff outside of “I Can't Drive 55″ and “There's Only One Way to Rock”, both of which I'm happy to report he played. But yeah, color me impressed and surprised.

Vanity. Jesus Christ, I dont remember her music, but I've read The Dirt, and The Heroin Diaries, and oooooh boy, is she batshit nuts or what?

I kinda remember Gino Vannelli's “Wild Horses” but not much else.

“Suzi Found a Weapon” is a great song.

Suzanne Vega is one of my very favorite female singers, “Solitude Standing” being one of her better moments.

I know nothing of The Vels or whatever became of them, and I am from Philly. what gives? Any ideas, Dave?

Venetians are GREAT. I'm really shocked to see them on here, I had no idea they even broke the hot 100.

Oh god, that fucking Billy Vera song. I watched Family Ties religiously, and got real sick of it real fast. Goddamn you, Alex P. Keaton.

Vitamin Z. “Burning Flame” is one of those songs I heard on some new wave/80s themed internet radio station late at night a couple years ago and jumped out of my bed screaming “OH MY GOD, I REMEMBER THIS SONG BUT HAVEN'T HEARD IT IN LIKE 20 YEARS, WHO SINGS IT?” Yeah, I've since added it to my collection. Wussy music at its finest for sure, but there's something about it I love.

And now, my Hands Across America story. I remember exactly where I was and who I was with that day. I was at my friend Marco's(who I recently got in touch with for the first time in nearly 15 years via facebook-turns out he's a DJ as well, so i invited him out and he did a guest set at one of my gigs- good times, what are the odds?) house, and we were around 10. His older cousins and their friends walked with us and we went down to see the spectacle(on Cottman Ave at Frankford Ave, which I post basically for only steed's benefit- you know where I mean? I grew up around Rhawn and Frankford, so it wasnt far). One of the kids we were with was carrying a boom box (because after all, it was 1986- thats what we did back then!) and “We Are the World” was playing, so the people in charge let us get in the line. So yeah, I was part of history that day.

It wasn't til years later that I looked it up and saw just how awful that turned out. They LOST money on the fiasco, kind of a huge EPIC FAIL for something so charitable and well meaning. Speaking of which, have you all heard that new “We Are the World” yet? Oh my god, it's the worst thing I've ever heard. If youre trying to raise money for a good cause, shouldnt the song you're selling be GOOD? It makes me want to trade all the food in my house to one of the starving children for his eardrums, so mine aren't any further polluted. Ouch.

Any chance you'll be repeating this series so people like me who caught you late in the series might be able to hear the songs from the first 3/4 of the series??