I live among the creatures of the night. 80s pop music expert, shooting at the walls of heartache. Former contributing editor for AfterElton, The Backlot, and New Now Next.https://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlzg6kjf7s2iIt's SNL Season Finale time! @desertazj.bsky.social @earsgato.bsky.social @ashcampion.bsky.social17 May 2026 03:28 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlzg6kjf7s2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlys4ceors2gRoni can't make it for SNL season finale tonight, so i'm in charge.🤨 I run a tight ship, so prepare for inspection😈 @desertazj.bsky.social @earsgato.bsky.social @ashcampion.bsky.social @roni1133.bsky.social16 May 2026 21:28 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlys4ceors2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlwgk2ej422wshould we wait til Roni is back to do drag race, or should i put up a thread at 8/7? @roni1133.bsky.social @cmr2.bsky.social @morganruble.bsky.social15 May 2026 22:56 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlwgk2ej422whttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mltplzruas2a#ArtistFave15 #MusicChallenge #1 The "3rd Album Curse" hit Debbie Gibson hard (see also Cyndi Lauper). "Anything Is Possible" hit #41 on the album chart in 1990 ("Electric Youth" hit #1 less than 2 years earlier), and the title track only hit #26. I still love it🤷‍♂️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS0_RqBQc5014 May 2026 21:00 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mltplzruas2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlr74dmclk2e#ArtistFave15 #MusicChallenge Celebrating singer/songwriter/producer/80s teen queen/mega shark wrangler DEBBIE GIBSON!😊 #2 The title track from her 1989 multi-platinum second album reached #11 This may be the most late 80s video ever made🤭🤓 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqAOB143KqY13 May 2026 21:00 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlr74dmclk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlqbelreec2jMe when i open Bsky in the morning and prepare myself for all your daily attacks😢 @cmr2.bsky.social @morganruble.bsky.social @roni1133.bsky.social @axfrommn.bsky.social @tvdean.bsky.social @ashcampion.bsky.social @earsgato.bsky.social @cosmiclad.bsky.social @bluegreen118.bsky.social13 May 2026 12:08 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlqbelreec2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlpj3aeo4c27#EcksteinsMonthOfMusic #MusicChallenge Day 13 - An historical event I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IT'S REAL! They left out the best verse: "And that, Marjorie, just so you will know, and your children will someday know, is the night the lights went out in Georgia!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8638tPK1BZY13 May 2026 04:53 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlpj3aeo4c27https://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mloryarkhk2lWe're going to meet Tommy, but hopefully Billy will appear🤞 I think it's too much to ask for Agatha's ghost.😒 @cmr2.bsky.social @morganruble.bsky.social @roni1133.bsky.social @axfrommn.bsky.social @tvdean.bsky.social @bluegreen118.bsky.social @cosmiclad.bsky.social https://deadline.com/2026/05/visionquest-october-premiere-date-disney-plus-1236899963/12 May 2026 22:00 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mloryarkhk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlopfpyvzk2g#ArtistFave15 #MusicChallenge Celebrating singer/songwriter/producer/80s teen queen/mega shark wrangler DEBBIE GIBSON!😊 #3 The fabulous first single from 1993's "Body Mind Soul" (her 4th and final album for Atlantic Records) hit #86 and was her last hot 100 entry😭 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy5ygmqseSk12 May 2026 21:13 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlopfpyvzk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlmxuxczv22a#EcksteinsMonthOfMusic #MusicChallenge Day 12 - A song with a male name in the title Reaching #13 in the U.S. in 1976, "Fernando" was one of ABBA's biggest selling singles around the world, including spending 14 weeks at #1 in Australia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQsjAbZDx-412 May 2026 04:40 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlmxuxczv22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlm6orbfrs2f#ArtistFave15 #MusicChallenge Celebrating singer/songwriter/producer/80s teen queen/mega shark wrangler DEBBIE GIBSON!😊 #4 The first single from her #1 second album, 1989's "Electric Youth", became her biggest hit song, spending three weeks at #1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ms3mJFkSeg11 May 2026 21:09 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlm6orbfrs2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlm673kb522fSure, why not?🤷‍♂️😵‍💫 https://www.joemygod.com/2026/05/trump-taps-kari-lake-as-us-ambassador-to-jamaica/11 May 2026 21:00 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlm673kb522fhttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mllmhsakpk2zHAPPY BIRTHDAY @cosmiclad.bsky.social! 🎉🥳 I hope you know how special you are to all of us. Have a great day!🤗11 May 2026 15:43 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mllmhsakpk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlkq5lf7ks2q#EcksteinsMonthOfMusic #MusicChallenge Day 11 - A song with a female name in the title I never understood why this wasn't a bigger hit, but British band Marillion's "Kayleigh" only reached #74 in 1985 (but it did hit #2 in the UK). Still a great song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiM0JiE0h5I11 May 2026 07:16 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlkq5lf7ks2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mljp5fqikc24#ArtistFave15 #MusicChallenge Celebrating singer/songwriter/producer/80s teen queen/mega shark wrangler DEBBIE GIBSON!😊 #5 Our introduction to 16-year-old Debbie, it reached #4 in 1987, the first of many hits to come. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T1t5OFOYDU10 May 2026 21:25 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mljp5fqikc24https://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mljevkuo5s2eCarlos, how long before you leave his sinking ship. And who will be your next MAGA meal ticket? Benny? Corey? @cmr2.bsky.social @morganruble.bsky.social @roni1133.bsky.social @axfrommn.bsky.social @tvdean.bsky.social @ashcampion.bsky.social @earsgato.bsky.social https://www.joemygod.com/2026/05/inside-the-slo-mo-meltdown-of-ben-shapiros-empire/10 May 2026 18:22 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mljevkuo5s2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlhza7tkts2z#EcksteinsMonthOfMusic #MusicChallenge Day 10 - A song about mothers The opening track of Laura Branigan's final studio album, 1993's "Over My Heart". A devastating tribute to a mother's love🫶 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O-ivfslR7U10 May 2026 05:21 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlhza7tkts2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlhyl36als2zNow we know why @morganruble.bsky.social disappeared this week. I hope that $100 of haunted tchotchkes at the thrift store was worth selling your soul 😒 @cmr2.bsky.social @roni1133.bsky.social @axfrommn.bsky.social @tvdean.bsky.social @ashcampion.bsky.social https://www.joemygod.com/2026/05/iowa-lobbyist-offered-100-cash-to-attend-vance-rally/10 May 2026 05:09 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlhyl36als2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlh6u535ec2m#ArtistFave15 #MusicChallenge Celebrating singer/songwriter/producer/80s teen queen/mega shark wrangler DEBBIE GIBSON!😊 #6 The title track from her multi-platinum 1987 debut was her third consecutive top 5 hit, reaching #3. Very Shirley Partridge at the keyboard🤭 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D80VtTDOk0g09 May 2026 21:29 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlh6u535ec2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlexsuigbs2l#EcksteinsMonthOfMusic #MusicChallenge Day 8 - Favorite artist of the 2010s I had the pleasure of interviewing Adam when his 2nd album "Trespassing" came out and he became the first openly gay man to reach #1 on the album chart. He's still the champion, my friends https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg31XQR22zg09 May 2026 00:17 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlexsuigbs2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlenjojxok2i#ArtistFave15 #MusicChallenge Celebrating singer/songwriter/producer/80s teen queen/mega shark wrangler DEBBIE GIBSON!😊 #7 The fourth single from her debut album became her first chart topper. She became the youngest artist to write, produce, and perform a #1 song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf8BoWKeHow08 May 2026 21:13 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlenjojxok2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlemh2xji22iFANTASTIC🥹 @cmr2.bsky.social @morganruble.bsky.social @roni1133.bsky.social @axfrommn.bsky.social @tvdean.bsky.social @ashcampion.bsky.social @bluegreen118.bsky.social @earsgato.bsky.social @cosmiclad.bsky.social @mooreak.bsky.social https://deadline.com/2026/05/price-is-right-contestant-wins-record-prize-watch-video-1236887028/08 May 2026 20:54 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlemh2xji22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlcspbk43k2p#EcksteinsMonthOfMusic #MusicChallenge Day 7 - Favorite artist of the 2000s I pretty much gave up on pop music after the 90s, but there were some bright spots after 2000, starting with Lady Gaga. Her 2008 #1 was the first time I saw her. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bESGLojNYSo08 May 2026 03:41 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlcspbk43k2phttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlcqk3wkrs23I've been waiting five seasons to see this on Hacks @cmr2.bsky.social @morganruble.bsky.social @axfrommn.bsky.social @tvdean.bsky.social @ashcampion.bsky.social @earsgato.bsky.social @cosmiclad.bsky.social @mooreak.bsky.social08 May 2026 03:02 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlcqk3wkrs23https://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlchblhdks2zMorgan, please check your chat and acknowledge🤨 @morganruble.bsky.social08 May 2026 00:16 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlchblhdks2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlcghhoz7c22NO NO NO. Don't even think about it🤬 @cmr2.bsky.social @morganruble.bsky.social @roni1133.bsky.social @axfrommn.bsky.social @tvdean.bsky.social @earsgato.bsky.social @giovannif7.bsky.social @allanj69.bsky.social @ashcampion.bsky.social @cosmiclad.bsky.social https://deadline.com/2026/05/bonnie-tyler-coma-surgery-1236886983/08 May 2026 00:01 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlcghhoz7c22https://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlc4t6g5b22b#ArtistFave15 #MusicChallenge Celebrating singer/songwriter/producer/80s teen queen/mega shark wrangler DEBBIE GIBSON!😊 #8 The second single from 1987's "Out Of The Blue" followed "Only In My Dreams" into the top five, proving she was no one-hit wonder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv1YwsbIxDw07 May 2026 21:09 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlc4t6g5b22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3mlachq2jrs2s#EcksteinsMonthOfMusic #MusicChallenge Day 6 - Favorite artist of the 90s So many i could choose from, but it came down to Celine Dion or Concrete Blonde (as i'm sure it did for most people). I went with the latter because Johnette Napolitano never got her due. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJqeuOmbEzk07 May 2026 03:45 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlachq2jrs2shttps://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3ml7z2azq3222You all pretend not to notice, but this all of you when i finally come back from my sickbed🥹 @cmr2.bsky.social @morganruble.bsky.social @roni1133.bsky.social @axfrommn.bsky.social @tvdean.bsky.social @ashcampion.bsky.social @earsgato.bsky.social @cosmiclad.bsky.social @bluegreen118.bsky.social07 May 2026 00:56 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml7z2azq3222https://bsky.app/profile/therealsnicks.bsky.social/post/3ml7lxo25bk2e#ArtistFave15 #MusicChallenge Celebrating singer/songwriter/producer/80s teen queen/mega shark wrangler DEBBIE GIBSON!😊 #9 The third single from "Electric Youth" (and her penultimate top 40 hit) reached #17 in 1989. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnRWQOhQJEs06 May 2026 21:02 +0000at://did:plc:kncaaeeongdt7zzkytgsvljh/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml7lxo25bk2e