# The Joys of Air Supply

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 12, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864 "2004-02-12T16:29:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![N.Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@N.Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N.Sane)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/1 "2004-02-12T16:29:15Z")

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You remember Air Supply, right? They recorded some of the sappiest ballads ever. Horrible music. And yet my sister and I are sitting here at the office with her new Air Supply compilation CD singing out loud. 😃

When she and her high school boyfriend broke up the first time, she remembers playing the cassette tape over and over, singing, amidst sobs, "Just when I thought I was over you, just when I thought I could stand on my own . . . "

And I remember singing “two less lonely people in the world, and it’s gonna be fine,” when I met some guy I dated for a few weeks.

I also remember learning how to play “Making Love out of Nothing at All” on the piano. Those thunderous, crashing chords that drove everyone out of the house while I played.

So c’mon, anyone else remember Air Supply with such fondness mingled with such antipathy? I do realize how horrible this music is, and the inaninity of the lyrics and lush music makes me laugh even while I can’t help singing aloud.

And if not Air Supply, what? Spill your dirty secrets about teenage love lost and found and the songs that just totally expressed your thoughts like nothing else!

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/2 "2004-02-12T16:49:00Z")

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Let’s be clear on this: Air Supply is crap. Crap, crap, crap.

I can barely tolerate being seen to have posted to this thread, but there is a pretty funny digression on Air Supply in a thread I started about Music Snobs (yeah, I have MS - it’s true).

I tried to do a search on that post, but the SDMB is running particularly slow for me right now. Search for it yourself when you get a chance, under Music Snob within Cafe Society…

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**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/3 "2004-02-12T17:42:58Z")

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Okay, I’ll be the one…My name is Dung Beetle and I too enjoy Air Supply! I keep their greatest hits in my car. I could go for some “Sweet Dreams” right now. “Close your eyes, I wanna ride the skies…” Ahhh…it’s sixth grade all over again!

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**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/4 "2004-02-12T18:50:28Z")

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The first album I ever bought for myself, back when I was 10 or 11, was a collection of Air Supply’s greatest hits (at the time). I’m pretty sure I don’t own it anymore, and I sincerely doubt I could listen to the whole thing all the way through. The snatches of Air Supply I’ve heard since, well, they don’t hold up to my remembered affection.

Also, I discovered recently that my favorite Air Supply single, “Pilot of the Airwaves,” was not in fact an Air Supply song. That was a surprise. Gotta love memories.

(On the other hand, the first single I bought was “The Tide Is High,” so I wasn’t a complete lost cause.)

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**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/5 "2004-02-12T23:56:24Z")

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I’m pretty much the least hip guy on this message board. I actually enjoy all that stuff that the more sophisticated folks here realize is total crap. Celine Dion. Shania Twain. Chicago from the mid-to-late 80’s.

And Air Supply.

I won’t apologize for it. “Making Love Out of Nothing At All” still bowls me over, especially that middle part. The imagery of “Every star in the sky taking aim at your eye like a spotlight”…beautiful.

I proposed to my wife with that. Clearly, I did something right.

I’m pretty sure that on this message board, my only saving grace in artistic taste is that I like South Park, Simpsons and Futurama. Aside from that…well…

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**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/6 "2004-02-13T00:30:22Z")

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> [@cmkeller](#):
>
> I’m pretty much the least hip guy on this message board. I actually enjoy all that stuff that the more sophisticated folks here realize is total crap. Celine Dion. Shania Twain. Chicago from the mid-to-late 80’s.
> 
> And Air Supply.

Chicago from the mid-to-late 80’s _is_ Air Supply. Here is an entry from my journal dated Jan 20th in which I rant about this very subject:

\*I’m listening to a best of Chicago CD. I love Chicago-- ass-kicking horns, beautiful harmonies and funky as all get out. But suddenly they turned into Air Supply.

Sure, they always sang love ballads. Color My World has a flute solo for sappiness’ sake. Yet Color My World has muscle. I like it. Then came Peter’s hold on lead singer.

Hard To Say I’m Sorry  
Hard Habit to Break  
You’re The Inspiration  
Under normal circumstances I’d probably love these songs. I like sappy love songs. I even like Air Supply-- but not at the expense of Chicago!

I really don’t know what caused the Airsupplification of Chicago, but there’s Peter’s voice front and center.  
YOU RUINED ONE OF MY FAVORITE BANDS, PETER CETERA!!! I HATE YOU!!!  
\*

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**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/7 "2004-02-13T00:52:37Z")

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I too did the Air Supply eye roll. I too was far, far too cool for Air Supply.

Until: the late eighties/early nineties I was in a van with friends and acquaintances while two girls nattered on about Air Supply. The rest of our group was going to an out of state amusement park for rides, fun and chasing each other, playing grab ass, while these two boobs were going to see Air Supply – in some incarnation, who were now at the end of their “run” & were now reduced to playing amusement parks – no one was louder than me teasing the girls.

Then we arrived and I saw the sign out front “_Air Supply Cancelled_”. My heart fell. I realized I had teased the girls because I hated my inner-Air Supply lover. Imade sure from then on I asked myself why I react to stuff the way I do – very valuable lesson for me. So now older and wiser due to this group I can sayon the SDMB:  
Yes **N.Sane \*\* I too love Air Supply. Hail to thee comrade** cmkeller\*\*! Long live Air Supply.

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**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/8 "2004-02-13T01:21:20Z")

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I’m _still_ too cool for Air Supply. 🆒 😛

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**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/9 "2004-02-13T02:21:42Z")

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Ohhh, Air Supply. The very name conjures up horrible memories of family road trips from Atlanta to Chrleston, West Virginia. We’d be in the big ol’ station wagon, me and my brother in the “way-back,” riding backward through the mountains all night while my stepfather cheerfully played _Air Supply’s Greatest Hits_ over and over and freaking OVER on the tape deck.

Reading this thread (I _had_ to read it, of course) has made me cringe, almost physically, at every quoted lyric.

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**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/10 "2004-02-13T02:39:44Z")

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Wait a moment here, horrible music? Sounds like blasphemy to me! 😉

Confession time: I’m a hopeless Air Supply fanatic. I listen to Air Supply day and night. The second I saw this thread, I had to put in their _Definitive Collection_ DVD. (However, I’m not such a fan of their post-1991 stuff – as far as I am concerned, the album _The Earth Is…_ is about the end of their good stuff, with the exception of the song _Goodbye_, released in the mid-90s).

The funny thing is, Air Supply was big when I was too young to remember them very well. I only rediscovered their music in 2000, and have been hooked ever since.

By the way, for the rest of you Air Supply fans/detractors, they are still [alive and well](http://www.airsupplymusic.com).

PS: Not hip, **cmkeller**? Pfft, I’ve always adored your taste in music! 😃

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**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/11 "2004-02-13T02:42:40Z")

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Air Supply. Got even with you there didn’t we?

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**Author:** ![Globe-trotter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cab0a1/32.png) [@Globe-trotter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Globe-trotter)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/12 "2004-02-13T02:43:36Z")

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Air Supply conjures up memories of the first time I had sex. All the bf would play was Air Supply and Heart. Repeatedly. After a few hours I threatened to leave if he didn’t play something else.

Led Zep being more to my liking, I stuck around. 😃

So no, I’m not a fan of Air Supply. Or Heart for that matter.

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**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/13 "2004-02-13T06:10:00Z")

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“I’m all out of drugs, I’m so lost without them…”

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**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/14 "2004-02-13T06:38:51Z")

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Air Supply sucks. Air, on the other hand, is a fucking great band.

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**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/15 "2004-02-13T10:41:41Z")

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I freely admit I have no taste in music and I’m still trying to find out Janet Jackson lasted this long, so I have no problem admitting I liked Air Supply, and I spent far too much time singing along with them.

CJ

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**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/16 "2004-02-13T17:12:38Z")

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**Auntie Em** , although eclectic in taste (after all, she did jump the broom with this pinkish personage), finds most of her musical anchors in funk, so her eyes are constantly stuck up North whenever she sees me pulling out the Air Supply and Chicago CDs.

And records. And 8-Tracks. 🙂

Air Supply has always been sappy and pop-ish; Chicago, however, rocked well early on, and thanks to the '80s albums, I was led to their '70s offerings. But I love 'em all, despite pressure from **WordMan** and others of his evil ilk. 😛

I’m glad to be in the company of **lel** , **cmkeller** and **Siege**!

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/17 "2004-02-13T17:39:38Z")

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> [@SkipMagic](#):
>
> **WordMan** and others of his evil ilk.

[Darth Vader Voice]

MWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA!!! You _WILL_ obey me - your dark Music Snob Lord and Master!!!

Come to the Dark Side - release your anger - acknowledge the weakness of your precious Air Supply and listen to…Metallica’s Master of Puppets!!!

[/Darth Vader Voice]

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**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/18 "2004-02-13T17:54:25Z")

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One of my favourite Family Guy moments was from the episode where Stewie was going on a ‘Fantastic Voyage’ through Peter.

> [@](#):
>
> Engines. Check.  
> Fuel supply. Check.  
> Air Supply. _I’m lost in love…_

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**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/19 "2004-02-13T18:30:20Z")

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Last night (Thursday) on the Late Show, Letterman was requesting Paul Schaeffer to play Air Supply songs all night. I had almost forgotten those songs, but when Schaeffer started playing a few, all the painful memories came back.

It’s a funny coincidence that both you, **N. Sane** , and Letterman were reminiscing about Air Supply yesterday.

But Air Supply are still crap.

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**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-air-supply/228864/20 "2004-02-13T20:13:18Z")

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> [@WordMan](#):
>
> [Darth Vader Voice]
> 
> MWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA!!! You _WILL_ obey me - your dark Music Snob Lord and Master!!!
> 
> Come to the Dark Side - release your anger - acknowledge the weakness of your precious Air Supply and listen to…Metallica’s Master of Puppets!!!
> 
> [/Darth Vader Voice]

Nah, can’t stand Metallica. But I will take Def Leppard’s _Hysteria_.  
😃