Friday, May 16, 2008

Flashback Friday!

For the past month our 2 minute commute to Libbey's school has been set to "Outrigger Island," which is the music for this summer's VBS. Last night I drove home from Bible study with the radio on XM Channel 8, the "80's,"which I adore, so that's what was playing when I started the momvan, I mean minivan. Instantly the opening strains of Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" filled the vehicle and I told Libbey, "This song was popular when I was about your age." She replied, "Yes ma'am, I know...you've told me that before." Redundancy is often my middle name.

As soon as Libbey hopped out at school, Caroline and I trekked into town for Hardees Breakfast Friday. The next tune up was "Wild, Wild Life," by the Talking Heads. (Remember that awesome video? John Goodman? Good stuff.) I felt a Molly Ringwald fix coming on and I know a viewing of either Pretty in Pink or Sixteen Candles will be on my elliptical agenda sometime this weekend. Immediately I thought to myself, "If the next song is a Cyndi Lauper tune, it's freakin' on, man!" Alas, it wasn't Cyndi, but Chaka..."I feeeeeeel for you...I think I luuuuuuuvv you..." Stevie, you play that harmonica like it ain't nobody's business. Meanwhile I'll be reliving all those times around the rink at Olympia Skate Center. Yes, those were the days. Right, Tori?

We paid for our "just a butter biscuit, please" and headed home. The next song up was "Is It Love" by Mr. Mister, they of great power-ballad fame. (Tell me you didn't love "Broken Wings." It rocks.) By this time I was just feeling the 80's this morning and loving every minute of it. My intended post today was not about songs made popular over 20 years ago, however love for the music of my formative years guided me in a different direction. And here we are!

Those of you who know me and/or have been reading this blog for any amount of time realize that I have a thing for music. All kinds. From all decades. Music, books and gardening...my 3 favorite things in the world. (Outside of God, my husband, my girls and family--duh, peeps!) For those of you new readers (welcome--so glad to have y'all here--ain't we havin' fun?!?) I reckon I just spelled it out here for you. I. Love. Music. Especially 80's era stuff. Michael Jackson, Culture Club, Wham!, Duran Duran, Madonna, Prince, Air Supply (do NOT make fun!), Bananarama, the Go-Go's...songs by these artists just flood my already overloaded brain with memories.

My morning started off rather swell because it featured bits of the soundtrack of my life. Here's an assignment for all you fabulous readers. FABULOUS...let me state it again. What songs take you back to your childhood and/or teen years? Some of you gals might have to go as far back as the 70's (and I'm right there with ya--the first album I ever bought--VINYL, of course--was by Blondie. The second was Rita Coolidge. Again, do not make fun.), while you younguns might claim the 90's as your decade du jour. What songs would play in heavy rotation if your childhood was set to music?


Such a shame that we have to age. Still an awesome song, though!

9 comments:

Tori said...

Oh... I have several songs that just take me back instantly to my childhood, but the two that really stick out at me....

Sweet Child O' Mine- Gotta love Guns N Roses! I hear this and I immediately am transported back to the lake. Immediately. Such good memories there.

Beth by Kiss - Here I immediately think of the summer of 8th grade and going to Myrtle Beach. Jennifer and I listened to this a hundred times while people watching (ok... guy watching) from the deck of the beach house.

Unknown said...

oh, sherry. no idea why, but that's what i have to say. i'm thinking early eighties, riding around in the back of a van.

Lula! said...

Tori, I always think of you whenever "We Are The World" is referenced...because we taped it off MTV & watched it about 4 million times. Remember???? Or as Caroline says, " 'Member?'" Oh, and anything by the Bangles reminds me of you, too, because we listened to them non-stop while at the lake one summer. Remember me getting stuck in the middle of Blackshear? My jet ski ran out of gas and there I was. But you know my enormous big mouth was able to scream for help. "MR. MALLORY! MR. MALLORY! COME GET ME!" He came to get me. Sigh...good times.

Pinky Roth said...

I am too old to compete w/you guys, so I will say I like the oldie but goodies songs from the
50s and 60s. One that I loved was Soldier Boy and Sherry...

Mom

Tiffany said...

I am with you sister! I just heard Jesse's Girl today...love me some Rick Springfield. I am a HIUGE Go-Go's fan as well..

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

Oh, the days of Adam And and Duran Duran. How can you not sing along with the '80s. Right now I am hearing (in my head...but I ought to go and put it on my playlist) the Psychedelic Furs singing "Pretty in Pink." Or how about Simple Minds doing "Don't forget about me." Or Peter Gabriel...

Tori said...

LOL! I just heard that Bangles on the radio the other day. Too funny. And yes... those lake days were GOOD times. I seriously miss them.

Debbie said...

Prince and "1999," Red Corvette, and Purple Rain, Tears for Fears,
Madonna, Janet Jackson, Flock of Seagulls, Phil Collins, oh the list goes on...only I was in college when they were popular. I'm so old.

Candid Carrie said...

I totally owned that entire decade!

Rick Springfield played an open air concert in our city a few years back, so did Peter Frampton and I was in the audience both times. I felt twenty years younger and about fifty pounds lighter. It was so cool. I was so cool.

I'd bet that both Peter and Rick remember me because of I was flashing them with my geriatric globes ;)