Do you remember using the phrase "bangin" in the 80's? To describe something really awesome? What about "clutch?" If you did, what area were you in?

Think Tank! What 80's bands contained siblings in their line-up?

Reading an article about The Bangles gave me a show idea. Susanna said there's an extra-special blend to their harmonies because they have sisters (Vicki and Deb Peterson) in the band. "If you look at the Beach Boys and other bands that have had family members singing together, there's a really cool thing that happens." Off the top of my head- The Kinks, Heart, Crowded House, Bangles, AC/DC...any more??? 

I've been collecting fave 80's words and phrases, and it's interesting how many were regional. If you were in Texas, did you say "danked" for snatched or stole? In NY we said, "scapped" as in "he scapped the rest of my popcorn!" How about "bow-head" for preppie? Also, on the east coast I don't remember this, but did you use the word "Brody" or "Five-O" to describe police officers? What was your favorite 80's phrase? Do you think it was regional, national, or gotten from the media ie: Neo maxi zoom dweebie??? xoxoxo, martha

Features the female 80's MTV Artists who got the most responses to the question, "Which 80's MTV Artist would you most like to Pour Some Sugar On You?"

This show came about when I posed the following question on my website and Facebook page: Which 80’s MTV artist would you most have liked to Pour Some Sugar On You? What follows is a countdown of 80’s crushes from the guys perspective. From honorable mentions to the number 1, tune in for wall-to-wall female 80’s MTV Artists guys thought of when they sang along to Sometime, Anytime, Sugar Me Sweet! 

Thanks to everyone who voted and made the show possible. There were counts, re-counts, forgotta counts, hanging chads...it was a crazy scene but worth it! Thanks to you all it's a great show! xoxo, m 

See who the most yearned for Lady of the 80's is according to your votes! This weekend on Martha Quinn Presents!

Happy Birthday Madonna! Oh icon of the MTV Generation! Who can forget your troubled teen years when you had to tell your Dad Danny Aiello you were pregnant, or your cone boustier you wore when u needed to take that night job, how you pulled yourself up by your bootstraps and had Keith Carradine offering you diamonds. Today you deserve a Holiday. Celebrate!

Because today, all these years later, I'm lucky enough to receive an e-mail like this one. Steve, thank you  so much for taking the time to send this memory to me. It's an honor to be part of one of your life's definitive moments! My very best wishes. xoxoxo,  Martha 

Subject: Re: You started the 80's for me. 

Martha,
 


I tell this story over and over again, whenever anybody brings up the 80’s.  San Diego stadium (before It was Jack Murphy), three acts.  The first was virtually unknown guy known as John Cougar.  He was the warm-up act. The second was a group that I thought would have stuck around longer, Loverboy. Of course, the headline was my favorite group of the time, The Who.  Between Loverboy and The Who you came on and said, “Hello, My name is Martha Quinn, and this is MTV.”



This was a clear and definitive moment in my life, like watching the Berlin Wall come down and 9/11.    Lasers shot off and John Cougar’s ‘Hurt So Good” was on the overhead monitor. I know it was probably part of a very long publicity tour for you to help kick off the new channel, and I know it may sound shallow of me to say this, but it really was one of those moments that left a lasting impression on me.  I don’t care if it was a corporate promotion, to me that was the official kick-off to an era.


I  just listened to the  “Stuck in the 80’s” interview you were on, and I have to say it was one of the best interviews I’ve ever heard.   I loved how you broke down if you’re east coast you’re Bon Jovi and Areosmith. West Coast it’s Oingo Boingo and Depeche Mode. And you mentioned KROQ. Yeah, I totally got you! I actually had a chance to meet Richard Blade back in the 80’s, he was the nicest guy you could imagine.



I  liked how you summed up the 80’s but I can add one more thing if I could.  To me the music of the 80s were definitive different sounds, and a lot of untested ideas. Today, the music pretty much sounds the same because they work on ideas that have worked in the past. We are part of an innovative generation, that time and time again has proven to have changed the world.


-Steve



BTW, true to form I have to say this, I have never stopped having a crush on you, and when you are 105 and all your hair has fallen out, I will still have the biggest crush on you!  Thank you Martha!

Come visit my facebook page, I've been posting great Michael Jackson pieces, and even some vintage mtv clips!

As crazy as he was, as deteriorated as he got, I didn't see this coming. I can't stop thinking about his kids. So little interaction with the outside world. Their one constant gone. I feel so sad for them.

It's a tricky thing, mourning for Michael. Grief with a disclaimer: The following sadness is for Michael Jackson The Entertainer Please Don’t Think I’m Condoning or Ignoring Wrongdoings I’m Affected Because He’s Been An Entertainment Goliath In Our Lives Since ABC Came Out 1970 When He Sang Like He Was Channeling God. 

Here are two pieces from former MTV'ers that were touching, heartfelt, and insightful. First is from Liz Nealon who was at MTV before we even went on the air, the second is from the beautiful Downtown Julie Brown.

From Liz:

I grieved for Michael Jackson a long time ago......when I was young I thought that he'd be with us our entire lives, making new music, reinventing himself, delighting us all the way (I mean, really - how lucky are you when Michael Jackson is a kid like you, though impossibly talented, and as we grew up he just kept getting better!). I'm sorry to hear about his death, but I've missed him for a long time. 

From Julie:

Sweetheart I am in Italy. The news sucks! I can't believe it. He was way to young. Really. Just takes me back to when I first met you and the rest of the MTV gang..when he was at his very best. Always disliked those who ragged on him. He was simply the best as an artist in music. 
This morning I went to the piccola pasticceria in this tiny town where I have my summer home and of course I had on a black sequin fedora and a sequin t-shirt in honor of the King of Pop! They are playing his music everywhere ...in the supermarkets, the gas stations, the gelateria's..it's fantastic to see that the fans never lost any love for MJ. My daughter woke me up to tell me the news...she was in a panic..and she is only 15. Very sweet.


You know me Martha...I am a MJ fan even before I came to MTV but it was there that I got to meet him. I will never forget that day.


Once again I dislike the way the press has already shown pictures of him laying dead on the stretcher. Do him proud Martha on your radio show.


much love,

ciao

Julie X

Woke up this cloudy morning to the most heart-melting sounds of a Lego creation being played with quietly next to me. Hushed "whooshes" as a soldier steals the diamond that can stop all energy. Muted "tap tap tap" sounds as the good guys wrestle the diamond from the soldier. Pretending I'm still asleep so as not to break the spell, I spy the good guys speeding to their hideout, narrowly missing the deadly spider web.

My friend Nick Jaroff recently posed the question: Name 5 Things You Can Grab from Where You're Sitting: No cheating! What are yours?

ok mine are: 1 golden retriever, 1 german shepherd, 1 cup of coffee, and, because my husband just asked me, "where do these go?", 2 tape measures. xoxo, m 

Yes it's true, I've succumbed to Facebook. I used guffaw when friends would tell me how they hooked up with Joe Schmoe from third grade day camp and his big post was about that morning's bagel. "What in the world do you need to clutter your mind with that for," I'd chortle.

One night my husband and I, full disclosure a glass of wine was involved, logged in to the playground for idle hands, Facebook. I'm hooked. I like hearing about old pals and their kids' proms and bar mitzvahs! I enjoy reading the musings of Ossinning High alum, every day I hear from the MTV crew is like Christmas, and I treasure getting back in touch with Duran Duran fans from back in the day. I even connected with a gal who used to send me tons of trivia questions in the Dr. Pepper era. Hi Elaine!

But if you haven't Facebooked yet, I'm posting my recent reflections here.

xoxoxo, martha

Oh my god. if you’re visiting my website, I commend you. It’s like you were brave enough to venture into the abandoned house at the end of the street!


Usually at 11:00 at night I think, tomorrow I’ve got to update my website.

Then morning comes, and I’m immediately sucked into the vortex of Motherhood. Getting lunches packed, scheduling appointments to get teeth cleaned and warts removed, searching under every piece of furniture in the house for a Lego pirate sword, attempting to make a dent in the mountain of dishes in the sink, get my 3 giant dogs fed and yard cleaned up after they’ve digested (my husband lamented the other day, oh why can’t a coyote jump over the fence and eat these guys), throwing the laundry in the dryer and hoping the heat will remedy that left-in-the-washing-machine-too-long aroma, perusing my kid's novels to make sure they're PG and not PG-13, and tossing the withered brown bananas in the trash at last because I don’t have time to make banana bread today either.

Thus the virtual weeds on this page!

Great to touch base with you.
xoxoxo, Martha