Thursday, July 06, 2006
We Are The World
We have a driver every day to work, which is great. His radio is almost always tuned to a station that plays mostly 70s and 80s music. But not like they play 70s and 80s in LA. Oh no. The 80s stuff in LA has mostly just become annoying. If I have to hear "I Ran" by f***ing Flock of Seagulls one more time, I will hurt someone. And "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell was fun when it FIRST CAME OUT IN 1981.
This radio station is different. It's like someone has been rooting around in my emotional/musical attic and found just the right songs to transport me back to 14 and 15 and 16. Critical, life forming years. The years of study hall and note passing and neon clothes and cassette tapes and dances and soccer fielding (wow, only Kevin is going to understand that one) and first kisses. Powerful stuff. What are these magical songs? "Urgent" by Foreigner. "My Sharona" by the Knack. "Lady" by Kenny Rogers. There was some Carpenters and Abba thrown in for good measure. (Hey, ease up, I grew up on Maui and we only had 2 AM radio stations and one decent record store.)
One morning there was "One Step Beyond" by Madness. That was a tough one because it took me right back to Jai's living room and her stack of records she brought from Oahu (The big city!). I was introduced to Ska and Rockabilly and Adam Ant and U2 and Madness. I still have all the albums, but I don't have Jai.
But the cream of the crop on this magical radio station has to be "We Are The World" by USA 4 AFRICA. Remember that song? Of course you do. Can you hear it? More importantly, can you see it in all it's early MTV, Rock-Stars-Doing-Good glory? I have heard it twice in the past two days. That's more times than I've heard it in the past 10 years. Here is a photo to help jog your memory:
This radio station is like an alternate version of the song "Killing Me Softly." What memories will be stirred up today?
PS -- I wrote this entry late last night and early this morning, before coming to work. So with great anticipation I got into the car. The first song was "Midnight Special" by Credence Clearwater Revival. Not too mind jarring, a smooth transition to the ride. But the next song. Oh boy. "Don't Stand So Close To Me" by the Police. Total high school. I had a mad mad mad crush on more than one handsome older male teacher at school. Oh the drive was going to be good. But just as "Don't Stand" was ending, our driver switched to another station! He turned to classical, which in the end was fine. Very soothing to drive on the freeway in the pre-dawn hours with that kind of music. My memory banks needed a rest anyway.
This radio station is different. It's like someone has been rooting around in my emotional/musical attic and found just the right songs to transport me back to 14 and 15 and 16. Critical, life forming years. The years of study hall and note passing and neon clothes and cassette tapes and dances and soccer fielding (wow, only Kevin is going to understand that one) and first kisses. Powerful stuff. What are these magical songs? "Urgent" by Foreigner. "My Sharona" by the Knack. "Lady" by Kenny Rogers. There was some Carpenters and Abba thrown in for good measure. (Hey, ease up, I grew up on Maui and we only had 2 AM radio stations and one decent record store.)
One morning there was "One Step Beyond" by Madness. That was a tough one because it took me right back to Jai's living room and her stack of records she brought from Oahu (The big city!). I was introduced to Ska and Rockabilly and Adam Ant and U2 and Madness. I still have all the albums, but I don't have Jai.
But the cream of the crop on this magical radio station has to be "We Are The World" by USA 4 AFRICA. Remember that song? Of course you do. Can you hear it? More importantly, can you see it in all it's early MTV, Rock-Stars-Doing-Good glory? I have heard it twice in the past two days. That's more times than I've heard it in the past 10 years. Here is a photo to help jog your memory:
This radio station is like an alternate version of the song "Killing Me Softly." What memories will be stirred up today?
PS -- I wrote this entry late last night and early this morning, before coming to work. So with great anticipation I got into the car. The first song was "Midnight Special" by Credence Clearwater Revival. Not too mind jarring, a smooth transition to the ride. But the next song. Oh boy. "Don't Stand So Close To Me" by the Police. Total high school. I had a mad mad mad crush on more than one handsome older male teacher at school. Oh the drive was going to be good. But just as "Don't Stand" was ending, our driver switched to another station! He turned to classical, which in the end was fine. Very soothing to drive on the freeway in the pre-dawn hours with that kind of music. My memory banks needed a rest anyway.
Permalink posted by Julia @ 7/06/2006 03:30:00 AM 
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We are the World -- Yes that is a time warp. Remember back when we thought Michael Jackson WAS the King of Pop? And ONLY the King of Pop -- nothing else? Ahh, THOSE were the days.
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