780: Pac-Man Fever
Summary
Host Bob Mackey is joined by Henry Gilbert and Drew Drumecki to analyze Buckner and Garcia’s 1982 novelty album, Pac-Man Fever. The trio explores the duo’s background in jingle writing, the rapid two-week creation of the album, and its cultural impact during the arcade golden age. They also discuss related video game songs, including Weird Al’s unreleased Pac-Man parody and competing tracks about the movie E.T., while sharing personal anecdotes about retro gaming conventions and kitsch music.
Topics discussed
Introduction to Pac-Man Fever and Buckner & Garcia
Hosts' personal experiences with the song and album
The origins of Buckner & Garcia as jingle writers
The rapid creation of the Pac-Man Fever album
Comparison with Weird Al's Pac-Man parody
Analysis of the song 'E.T. I Love You'
Reviewing other tracks: Frogger, Centipede, and Donkey Kong
Legal issues regarding sampling video game music
Deep dive into 'Froggy's Lament' and its lyrics
The theatrical style of 'Ode to a Centipede'
The dance craze format of 'Do the Donkey Kong'
Critique of 'Astro, Defender' and 'Mousetrap'
Analysis of 'Going Berserk' and the album's conclusion
Final thoughts, legacy, and podcast outro
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