5 Reasons Zack Attack Is Better Than Hot Sundae
Beatles or Stones? Biggie or Tupac? Zack Attack or Hot Sundae? When comparing behemoths of music, how does one choose? In the case of Biggie vs Tupac it may come down to tone of voice, flow style or even geographic location. Yet most music debates seem pedestrian compared to the intricacies that come with choosing between Zack Attack and Hot Sundae.
It’s been almost thirty years since the Rockumentary episode of Saved by the Bell premiered on NBC introducing us to Zack Attack. The comparisons to Hot Sundae immediately began. After years of personal turmoil over the subject, I feel confident stating Zack Attack is in fact better than Hot Sundae. Here are five reasons why:
Zack Morris
I challenge you to find a better front man than Zack Morris. Jim Morrison? Never. Freddie Mecury? Boring! Kurt Cobain? Yawn.
No one can compare to Zach Morris when it comes to charisma, vocals, and badass electric guitar playing. Not to mention his insane good looks. I mean have you seen him? Zack’s leadership qualities also make him indispensable to Zack Attack. (The band is literally named after him and they practice in his parents garage.)
Does Hot Sundae even have a leader? If memory serves, Zack was the one who reigned things in when a certain member of the group was out of her mind on drugs.
Did We Ever Have a Chance
What’s the most perfect ballad performed by a fictional band for a television show? We all know the answer is Did We Ever Have a Chance. It may be the most perfect ballad ever, but that’s a different discussion.
This heartbreaking story of love gone wrong stuck a chord with viewers everywhere and is still one of my most viewed YouTube videos.
The track not only showcases former lovers Zack and Kelly, but gives Lisa Turtle and AC Slater the chance to shine with their own powerful vocals. Try not to cry while listening. I double dare you.
Messaging
Friendship or eating disorders?
The song that put Zack Attack on the map is a stirring pop rock ode to friendship and loyalty. Friends Forever offers the listener a warm hug with lyrics focused on looking back and moving forward together.
Go For It is a love song to the act of working out. With lyrics like “1, 2, 3, bend. 1, 2, 3 stretch” and “put your mind to it, go for it, get down and break a sweat,” I wonder about the psychological impact on impressionable youth?
The music video shows Kelly Kapowski, Lisa Turtle and Jessie Spano wearing tight workout apparel while doing aerobics. What if someone can’t “get down and break a sweat” due to physical limitations? This music video furthers the narrative that skinny is beautiful and working out is what must happen if you want to be like Hot Sundae. Seems pretty toxic to me.
Original Songs
Hot Sundae did give us the banger Go For It (triggering issues aside), but the rest of their catalogue consists only of cover songs. While their one original was a hit, failing to provide a successor left fans disappointed and wanting more.
Zack attack gave us THREE original songs — Friends Forever, Did We Ever Have a Chance and the controversial, Let’s Stay Together. All three songs were penned by members of Zack Attack.
Who wrote Go For It for Hot Sundae? You guessed it! Zack Morris. Even offstage Zack was the star of both groups.
No Jessie Spano
The biggest reason!
When there’s an unreliable pill popper in the group, it’s hard to reach the top. Jessie’s short lived music career reads just like an episode of the VH1 docuseries Behind the Music. Who knows what Hot Sundae could’ve been without Jessie’s pill addiction? Unfortunately her actions led to the downfall of the entire group.
Zack learned from this and formed Zack Attack with the rest of the gang, excluding Spano. Kelly and Lisa thrived in their new group proving they didn’t need her overpowering vocals to be successful.
While Zack Attack did fall victim to the pitfalls of fame for a short period of time, they pulled it together and got back on track. The gang proved Friends Forever wasn’t just a song title and continued to make music. Hot Sundae on the other hand is a one hit wonder in a sea of made for television bands.
