Today we are beginning a new series called "Hope Month" as we examine and celebrate the songs that point to a brighter future. What better way to start than with Styx who make a pointed request to the Divine as they scramble for hope: "Show Me The Way."  We (briefly) discuss the band's history and take a deep dive into the meanings behind the song, including an examination of how Dennis DeYoung is able to use his illusion (I and II) to bring himself to higher ground.  Links: Official Video Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

It's our spooky Halloween episode! More show notes to come tomorrow!

Fidelity, Phil Collins, and Draculas - we cover a wide range of topics in this week's episode on Howard Jones' "No One Is To Blame." Besides our customary song analysis, we also revisit Bill and Frank's earlier jobs (in shoes and construction) and the lessons learned from staring at restaurant menus without eating any food. Official Video Howard Jones on Top of the Pops with the mime Rachael Sage cover (Live) Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

Hey now, hey now, we're bringing you one of the most comforting and reassuring songs we know. Dave Kitchen joins us for his 23rd episode (not to be too gauche about it) and we dive into the signature song of Crowded House. Beyond an in depth musical, lyrical, and visual analysis, we also discuss kiwis, a Hallmark movie set in New Zealand, and the feeling of floating down a lazy river to Neil Finn's soothing voice. Helpful links: Official video The live version from their farewell concert Glee version Sixpence None The Richer version Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.  

A video featuring a seat belt outfits and a tattooed buttox might have made this song controversial, but this song has outlasted any naysayers. We dive into Cher's signature hit, "If I Could Turn Back Time," and discuss its history and lasting impact. Themes of regret and second chances speak directly to our heart, while a pitch for a time-travelling film featuring a bagel baker and whale calls speaks directly to our not-so-secret desire to find a career in the Hallmark film industry. In short, this song captures what Bill & Frank's Guilt-Free Pleasures is all about. Links: Official Music Video Cher appears on Will & Grace Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

Our final episode of hate month has Frank bringing Mariah Carey’s “Hero” to the table, and Bill is not happy. Will the podcast survive this song?

Hate month continues with Bill bringing the most controversial song choice to our podcast. There is a lot of hate out there for Nickelback (and Frank “represembles” it in his reaction), but Bill is convinced he is not alone in his celebration of “Far Away.” He hopes you are convinced after this episode to give this song an open-hearted listen - are you ready to take up the challenge? Official Video Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

Hate month continues - this time it is Frank’s turn to bring a song to draw Bill’s ire. “Un-Break My Heart” is Toni Braxton’s signature song and it breaks Frank’s heart every time he hears it. It also causes Bill pain, but in a different way. Thank you for joining us! We’d love to hear where you stand on this tune.  Links: official video Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

In order to shake things up, we are beginning a special series called "Hate Month," where one of us brings a beloved song that the other host hates. Bill draws first blood in this episode with “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls (much to Frank's dismay).  Links (if your podcast provider supports them): Official Video Taylor Swift Duet Buffalo 4th of July Performance Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

Beyond its surface reading, "Take Me Home Tonight" is also about the revival of the careers of Eddie Money and Ronnie Spector. This song is a triumph. In today's episode, we examine the histories of both artists that ultimately converge into this top ten hit, we analyse the song, and we bring back (albeit briefly) the theme of tender-hearted werewolves in a guilt-free pleasure.  Links: Official Video Take Me Home Tonight on Letterman Be My Baby by the Ronettes Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

We recorded this on Frank's birthday and Bill chose this song in his honour. Despite Frank researching the wrong song, we feel it still all comes together. Stay tuned for the surprise birthday wishes at the episode's end! Links: Official Video New South Wales Campaign The Office Clip Schitt's Creek Clip with Noah Reid Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

Mike V joins us to discuss this bonafide jam from 1995. We examine Montell Jordan's background and current status, analyse (and explain) the lyrics, discuss the Phrygian mode, and give an epic mixtape for the ages. We're all about conviviality here, so you can trust us when we say you will enjoy this episode: we never come whack on an old school track!   Links:  Official Video Master Peace Church services Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com to get on our newsletter! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

The ending of a relationship may be painful, but it's far worse for the narrator of Holland-Dozier-Holland's "You Keep Me Hangin' On" - the ending never quite seems to come for this jilted lover. This song has resonated over the decades as evidenced by it's many versions, starting with original Supremes version and all the way up to recent times in Glee. Today we will be celebrating our favourite version: the hi-NRG Kim Wilde 1986 classic! We dive deep into the history of Wilde as well share a close analysis of the song. It can be a tough episode for those who've been burned by love, but that's what we're here for - let us be your soft place to land if you've been hanging on too long. Links: Official Music Video Perfect End Credits Vanilla Fudge on the Ed Sullivan Show Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com to get on our newsletter! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.  

Our friend Kim Desing-McCardle joins us to discuss one of her all-time favourite songs. This is a longer one, but we cannot do this song justice in a brief amount of time. Speaking of doing justice - we valiantly attempt to do our best three part harmony for our version of the chorus and prove that any imitation of this incredible song is second rate. But we certainly tried.  Links: Official Video Angel City Chorale version Weezer version Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com to get on our newsletter! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

Sussudio is an incredible song, but would you sing along with it with your windows down in the car? We're here to help our friend Peter to sing it loud and proud for the whole world to hear! Sussudio may be indebted to Prince's "1999," but it's also it's own awesome thing. Join us as we celebrate Phil Collins' #1 hit! Links: Official Video Howard Stern Version Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com to get on our newsletter! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

It's kind of crazy to realize that this song is now over twenty years old. "Since U Been Gone" still feels fresh for us and we hope you understand why by the end of this episode.  Helpful links: Original Video Kelly Clarkson singing in the rain! Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com to get on our newsletter! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

We cover a range of songs for the ever-expanding mandate of our podcast, but Robbie Nevil's "C'est La Vie" is one of those songs that did very well when it came out, but it has been somewhat lost to time over the past few decades. Bill intends to bring it back to the listening public, while Frank wants to explain its connection to both Baywatch's Hobie Buchannon and Tom Waits "Rain Dogs." Hang on tight for this one!  Top Pops - the true video The "official video Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com to get on our newsletter! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

Perfectly timed to come out on the day of Bill's 13th anniversary with Ashley, "If Ever You're In My Arms Again" perfectly captures their love story. And to add (or subtract?) to an already perfect song, Frank gives us his most heartfelt vocals as he attempts to channel his inner Bryson. We take an in-depth analysis of the song and then we bring back some categories that have laid dormant for the past while. It's time to get back to what this podcast is all about! Helpful Links: Official (?) Video Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com to get on our newsletter! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

"Life Is a Highway" is the ultimate pep talk to get yourself out of your rut and back onto road. Dave Kitchen joins us for his 21st episode to discuss the importance of this song to our young 1990s selves and to Canada as a whole. We cover the song's history as well as its mark in popular culture. We revisit the Tom Cochrane - Bryan Adams war of the early 90s as well. Finally, we return to the Hallmark movie category before we give you an epic road trip mixtape.  Links: Original Video Family Guy Life Is a Highway Freelove Freeway - The Office Rascal Flatts Video Pop-Up Video Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com to get on our newsletter! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.

Adolescent longing is often dismissed, but we remember the pain and suffering of high school infatuation all too well. Meryn Cadell's "The Sweater" captures this with both humour and empathy, and we want to make sure that we bring listeners back to this surprising hit from 1992. We explore Cadell's unique lyrical style, discuss one of the great professional figure skating performances of the 90s, and work through our own teenage pain. Thank you for joining us! Links: Official Video Figure Skating Routine A great article by Mark Edward Randall  Thank you for being part of our journey! Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, etc., or send us an email at BandFGuiltFree@gmail.com to get on our newsletter! We’d love your feedback—please rate and review, and don’t forget to share our podcast with your friends! Our theme music is by the incredibly talented Ian McGlynn.