The queen. The legend. The voice of love itself. You couldn’t help but like this song when you were a kid, but when it came on the speakers at the park when you were at work, you couldn’t help but dance. Frankly you still can’t. The lyrics as true now as they were then. Dammit. Whatevs. It’s The Supremes at the top, and Diana Ross. So many great songs of hers filled the car throughout your journeys, but this one was the first and best that latched on to you and wouldn’t let go. Your tastes in music in the 80’s actually stayed consistent – they were most all you knew – but it was the 90’s when everything began to get disjointed. You didn’t care. This came out in 1966 but it’s 90’s to you, and always will be. To be treasured. You wore out the tape.
So many Billy Joel songs, but this narrowly beats out Uptown Girl. Trying to keep it to just one song per artist. This one just seems subdued, but meets exactly what one would want from such a great rhythmic song. Aside from an almost invisible bass, the song is completely vocal. Billy Joel singing all of the parts overlaid. Lighthearted fun. Even the first attempt at karaoke you ever made. Fortunately that was just with a single machine at Flame’s house. She thought you were great. You pretended you weren’t off key.
Whatever. It’s your list. A shame Billy Joel won’t perform this one live anymore after he split with Christie Brinkley. Played in your head constantly at that first job, especially when you worked the tracks. But back then you cruised the park with a broom and dustpan, Adderall neurotically guiding you to rack up raise after raise attacking any trash like it was the Second Battle of the Marne. Odd that you were never close to that guy going after that girl…it was just the song. Whatever. It was great.
Listerine antiseptic. It says what it does, it does what it says. Right out of the Cool Mint Listerine commercial. Just fun. A carryover from middle school that never ran of out style in your retro music sphere. You felt it had a confident sound, and you loved fast-paced rhythms. You felt like swinging through jungles, but running through the woods had to suffice. That would have been sweet though.
In the mornings after you picked up your friend to go to school, in the Walkman when running, on the way to work, you name it. This. Specifically the live version. Heavy beats with flowing rhythm. Bordering on… gasp… country. But especially running. Blaring in your head silently during meets as you burst out of the woods. At the home Cross Country course that part always gave you a boost, which you sorely needed at that point during the meet.
Hauntingly beautiful. Used to remind you of Flame, but now it just reminds you of the youthful optimism you once had…and yet always can have. First ran into it in the movie. Without any Soundtrack (none was released…a heinous crime) and long before YouTube, there was no way to listen to it other than in your mind. Rewinding the tape at that part to listen over and over. You could play it in your head. Still can. Helps sometimes even today. It is never too late to do what you always could have done…
Occasionally something actually contemporary slipped through. Hanging out with the guys on the Cross Country team saw that happen on occasion. This one popped up on the Walkman as you ran the practices alone during class prep period on Fridays that Coach authorized since you needed to work Friday nights.
Driving around with Flame post-accident. You both loved the song, but in time, it began to be overplayed. Eventually, it came on one too many times for your taste and you turned it off. She asked why; you both liked it. You explained. She adopted the same attitude immediately. Not good. You knew even then.
It’s not your fault. With this beat and how easy it becomes an earworm, this was going straight into your favorites. So easy to run to and establish a rhythm with. So annoyingly fun. Seriously, you can’t listen to this song and sing along and not have fun. The second you heard it, you knew both the bad news and good news. Earworm. Early and often. That you’d just love. Reminded you of right angles. Building. You have no idea how though. Just wonderful.
Frankfurt, Germany. Last night of European history vacation with Dad over spring break. Headphones. Couldn’t sleep. Had loads of fun but was ready to come home. Another day and you would have gotten homesick. Got you excited for the prom. At least dancing. Senior year was finishing up and you were Charleston bound. Dreams of good times with great friends you hadn’t yet met.
…………………………………
There were so many. Songs. Memories. Places. Associations. This time was an era in your life, well defined. Bizarrely well-defined to be honest. Prior to the first job at the fun park, Cross Country, and being dragged out of your shell, it was more Aerosmith and Def Leppard. A weird stage from 92-94 as you were finally coming out of massive introversion from your accident and finally gaining the slightest level of independence. And then when Fall 95 hit, everything changed as you were away from home for the first time and your whole world opened up – for better and worse, as it is with growing up. Oddly enough, that’s when your interests widened to discover The Ventures, Enya, and a world of music tied to various sources of gaming. Soundtracks, Scores, and a world of creativity, along with the crashing realization that the rest of life would not be as easy to sleepwalk through and succeed at as high school.
Senior Year. You miss that time. Even more, you miss that you. Confident, capable, energetic. ESTJ. All American attitude. Winning smile. Maybe a bit too innocent, but not necessarily naïve. You’ve only felt like that – really felt like that – once in the past many years. In an airport. Before nervousness kicked in. The open realm of possibility – of knowing the future was going to be bright. Of enjoying the ride, but ready to return to what you dreamed the wonder of tomorrow would be like.
Find that kid. He can help. 🙂
It’s Not a Frame of Mind 