One of the things that annoys me about Farmsville (yes, things actually do annoy me here) is the lack of modern music. I'm not sure what it is about the radio stations around here, but they all play the exact same music today that they played back when I was a kid. Late-70s to early-80s rock and 80s and 90s pop are all you are going to get. Oh, and country. There is plenty of country. Because I don't like being shuttled back through time every time I'm in my car, I never listen to anything other than NPR and my own CDs.
Last night, for reasons unknown to me, I turned on the radio in the Corolla. As I drove into town, I heard "The Search Is Over" by Survivor (see video above -- nice hair and clothes). It was played by a DJ who was dedicating it to a pair of long-lost lovers who had reconnected. Sweet. As I listened to the beginning of the song, I remembered listening to that same dreamy dedication program when I was young. I would lie in bed and secretly hope that someone would call in and say they wanted to play a song for ME. It was like Craigslist's Missed Connections 1985-ish.
I went to the watering hole to meet Spice. When I got there, I sang a few bars of the song. She didn't recognize it. Spice is almost 10 years younger than me, so it wasn't that shocking. So I sang a bit more for her boyfriend, who is only a few years younger than me. Know it? Nothing. REALLY? LIKE FOR REALS? So then a few of the other "older" people in the watering hole also pretended to not know this song. If you can't tell, I totally didn't believe them. I think they were trying to save face or something, but why? Most of them belt out ridiculous songs on a regular basis with no shame. Whatevs.
Just when I thought I had gone through a worm-hole into a different timeline where No One Knew the Song, a girl playing pool started singing along with the jukebox, because of course I had to play it. FINALLY. I mean, come on, Survivor wrote "Eye of the Tiger." I don't believe for ONE MINUTE that the boys in the bar didn't know the band. This is Rocky territory if there ever was one.
I remember swaying to "The Search Is Over" at middle school dances, oh yes I do. I almost grabbed one of the boys at the bar to dance with me, but I knew they would shy away. What happened to those good old days when we could slow dance or roller skate with boys without all of the bullsh*t of the world complicating matters? Oh, to be young. To have not a care in the world other than wearing the right socks so my roller skates didn't give me blisters. Those were GOOD TIMES.
So in honor of my youth, I will now link you to some of the songs that take me back in time. I know you want to be earwormed in this way. DON'T deny it. And yes, I totally played these records on my RECORD PLAYER.
Enjoy!
- Will You Still Love Me? -- Chicago
- More Than a Feeling -- Boston
- Come Sail Away -- Styx
- Jack and Diane -- John "the Coug" Mellencamp
- Can't Fight This Feeling -- REO Speedwagon
- Faithfully -- Journey
- I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight -- Cutting Crew
- Time After Time -- Cindi Lauper
- High Enough -- Damn Yankees
- When I Look into Your Eyes -- Firehouse
- When I See You Smile -- Bad English
Did I miss any of your favorites?
4 comments:
I remember going to a karaoke bar with coworkers and selecting the song London Calling by the Clash. No one had heard of it and I felt like I was from another planet.
It is amazing how music can transport you back to another time.
I have been listening to all that kind of stuff for the past few years while working on my novel. It really does take you back, doesn't it?
they are all liars LOL I am not sure I would recognize the song if someone were to hum a few bars, but certainly when I clicked on your video I was taken right back
This reminds me of how the pubs in Liège (Belgium) used to annoy me when I went partying because they almost only played '80s music (including French cartoon songs, weird!) and only the most recent "top of the charts" pop songs. No decent rock... At least now I recognise a lot of '80s song I didn't know because I didn't pay much attention to music back then! :p
I'm having fun with your playlist. Only ones I didn't know: those by Styx, Damn Yankees, Firehouse and Bad English.
(and I first heard Faithfully on Glee! lol!)
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