The Radio Star Murders

The Pensky File
The Radio Star Murders

In the 1980s, a crime wave rocked the music world. A new kind of technology enabled the systematic murder of hundreds of musicians, artist’s whose only crime was having a face for radio. In this podcast, internet sleuths Wes and Clay review hundreds of case files in an effort to solve a mystery that has endured for decades: did video kill the radio star? Listen as the duo analyze music videos, looking for any kind of evidence to finally crack the case. Did video kill the radio star, or was it a setup?

  1. 28/08/2019

    blink-182 – All the Small Things

    Our journey through 1999 continues with pop punk sensation blink-182 and their smash hit, "All the Small Things". It's two minutes of romantic pop-punk sensibilities filled with bombastic drum fills and nasally declarations of love. And the video is supremely 1999, even if that means that you won't get half of the references. https://youtu.be/9Ht5RZpzPqw Join Wes and Clay as they talk about a band that neither finds particularly enjoyable and a video that both find to be obnoxiously unfunny and boring. Punk rock has a reputation for subverting cultural values and mocking those in power, and blink-182 adds to that perception by... imitating pop stars from 1999 by dressing up like them and dancing in an airplane hangar? The guys also discuss the importance of having a good drummer, meeting rocks stars as a youth, and why "Damnit" is the best blink-182 song!

    30 min

  2. 31/07/2019

    Eminem – My Name Is

    Our coverage of 1999 continues with the song that The Ringer ranked 22nd on its list of the biggest singles from 1999: Eminem's "My Name Is". It was our introduction to the Slim Shady persona, platinum blond hair, and endless controversies of a young man named Marshall Mathers aka Eminem. https://youtu.be/sNPnbI1arSE Hi kids, do you like Primus/violence? Eminem would later call the song "cheesy", but as an example of what the young star sounded like during his early years it works as an excellent introduction. It's full of cultural references, nods to a difficult childhood, insults, and non-sequitur stories. It's also interesting to look back at what we thought about Eminem when he first appeared on the scene, as opposed to the rap icon who has been lingering in our cultural consciousness for over two decades. Wes and Clay discuss all of this, and they also discuss the first video the podcast has covered where censorship has completely changed meaning and interpretation of the song!

    34 min

  3. 24/07/2019

    Santana Ft. Rob Thomas – Smooth

    In today's episode, Wes and Clay discuss Santana and Rob Thomas' 1999 smash hit, "Smooth"! It's one of the most successful songs of all-time, it brought Santana back into the cultural consciousness, and it allowed Rob Thomas to brag about having a smoking hot Latina for a girlfriend! https://youtu.be/6Whgn_iE5uc The guys discuss yet another video from 1999 and try to figure out who exactly is responsible for the color and exposure that's ruining so many of them. They also break down the story behind the song and try to figure out who should actually be tagged as "featured". Plus, they talk about the cinematic history of apartment building fans, magical incense, and what it takes to write a Latin-flavored song when you're a white guy who looks like Rob Thomas. The oral history of "Smooth" Funny or Die sketch

    28 min

  4. 10/07/2019

    Britney Spears – … Baby One More Time

    Is a desperate plea to keep a lover from slipping away? Or is it the cry of a woman who needs some domestic violence to make herself feel alive? Whatever the case may be, it's a catchy little diddy from 1999 that sparked the career of a pop star who burned too brightly in the early 2000s. It's Britney Spears and the song is "... Baby One More Time". https://youtu.be/C-u5WLJ9Yk4 Oh baby, baby... Our coverage of 1999 continues as we dive into the pop star renaissance that brought us acts like Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, and many others. How manufactured was it? What happened to alternative rock? What was the deal with sexualizing high schoolers? Wes and Clay discuss this and much more in this episode of the show. Enjoy!

    28 min

  5. 26/06/2019

    Smash Mouth – All Star

    SUM BUDDY once told me... To kick off their celebration of the musical styling of 1999, Wes and Clay do a deep dive into "All Star" which entered the public consciousness and has never really found its way out. It was a huge hit for Smash Mouth and was included in numerous film soundtracks, cementing itself into the history books. But is the song good? https://youtu.be/L_jWHffIx5E Hey now, you're an all-star! And more to the point, is the video any good? To both Wes and Clay's surprise, it focuses heavily on the Ben Stiller comedy Mystery Men (with a Doug Jones cameo!) but it otherwise follows a lot of what would become tropes of the era: oversaturated colors, bowling shirts, and hair gel. But the bright, cheery subject matter has kept this song in heavy rotation. Wes and Clay discuss the forgotten clothing of the late '90s, metal bands finding their footing with inoffensive Top 40 pop, and how to properly frost your tips!

    34 min

  6. 15/05/2019

    Ray Parker Jr – Ghostbusters

    I ain't 'fraid of no ghosts! It's the mantra of the 80s, and it's the brain child of Ray Parker Jr. The theme song to Ghostbusters is arguably as important as the film (who doesn't know how to answer "Who you gonna call?) and it's an earworm that you're never able to forget. The music video features a stilted performance from Ray Parker Jr, a lot of neon, and cameos from almost every Hollywood celebrity alive in 1984. Listen as Wes and Clay dissect the music video!

  7. 08/05/2019

    Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On

    Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" was a massive hit that helped to propel James Cameron's Titanic to the top of the box office charts. A simple love song that mimics Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" in both cadence and structure, Dion's mega-hit features vague lyrics, soaring vocals, and a half-assed music video. The video itself is mostly clips from the film, with Celine Dion posing against some poorly lit backdrops. Clay and Wes discuss this relic of the '90s and try to determine if it still holds up today, the influence of Titanic, and the Disney-esque nature of Dion's vocal performance. Also discussed: how to listen to an entire Dion album, songs triggering your memory, and low effort content!

    21 min

  8. 01/05/2019

    AC/DC – Big Gun

    As we continue with our movie-themed music video coverage, we're moving into the mid 90s and the height of Arnold Schwarzenegger! "Big Gun" is an AC/DC song that was written for Last Action Hero - it has not appeared on any of their studio albums. The brawny riffs of one of the greatest rock n' roll bands of all time collides with the brawn of the former Mr. Universe and the resulting explosion creates an absolutely terrific music video. Arnold stomps around on stage with AC/DC, and we're reminded that he's one of the most influential and important actors of all time. Wes and Clay discuss thematically appropriate music videos, the highs and lows of an AC/DC song, and ranking Arnold as an actor!

    22 min
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In the 1980s, a crime wave rocked the music world. A new kind of technology enabled the systematic murder of hundreds of musicians, artist’s whose only crime was having a face for radio. In this podcast, internet sleuths Wes and Clay review hundreds of case files in an effort to solve a mystery that has endured for decades: did video kill the radio star? Listen as the duo analyze music videos, looking for any kind of evidence to finally crack the case. Did video kill the radio star, or was it a setup?

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