Besides the '70s, it is the '90s that I Truly Love

I was driving in my car yesterday and heard the song "Inside Out" by Eve 6 (1998) and then immediately after I heard "Cherub Rock" by The Smashing Pumpkins (1993).   I thought to myself, damn... I really loved the '90s...  

Anyone who knows me, knows that the '70s has always be my favourite decade for music, but now that Cleveland has this new radio station that's been playing a lot of these '90s songs, I am remembering some really great times and even better songs.  And actually, now that I think about it, I really just loved everything about the '90s.  I had my few WILD years (we won't go there in this post), I had both of my kids in the '90s, I loved all of the music, some of my favourite movies came out then (Dances with Wolves, American Beauty, The Last of the Mohicans, American History X), some of my favourite TV shows (Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, Party of Five - just shhhhhhh!) some SERIOUSLY kick-ass music (okay, that was an '80s saying, but think Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden.... they were/are seriously kick-ass), I had such good times with an old group of friends; I did a lot of growing and changing in that decade.

I might be a traitor at this point; the '90s just might be my favourite decade now. 

I was trying to think of the one song that would represent the '90s and it always comes back to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for everyone else, but for me I think it will always have to be "Man In The Box" by Alice In Chains.  I was stunned when I heard that song for the first time.  I received "Facelift" for my 21st birthday and will always remember the shocking feeling I had after listening to it.  I couldn't believe how good they were and how their sound was so different than anything I had ever heard before.  I loved EVERY single song on that album and it is still in my top 10 of all time.

Now I shall leave you with that great song. 

RIP Layne

Game On, Trunk-Dwellers!

Oh yes, game on!  Apparently complaining to my apartment complex about noisy neighbors for two years does nothing.  Perhaps management is too afraid to say anything because what lives above me are actually two elephants who smoke bongs with a screaming baby.  Well, I'm not certain the baby smokes the bong, but I think it should because then it might stop screaming.

I am not really anti-smoking of bongs.  In fact, I encourage it.  Smoke all the bongs you want.  Smoke two at once, if you can.  More power to you.  What I am against is coughing, laughing, pounding, running, screaming, banging and a plethora of other loud, obnoxious noises 24/7.

I am getting old and in my old(er) age, I would really enjoy peace and quiet at this point in my life.  Why is this so hard to achieve?  My thought is that it is time to play the game.  I have been plotting their demise for 2 years now.  Okay, demise might be a little bit harsh, at least too harsh to write on a blog as that would be proof to such a thing.  Me and the elephants have already had several screaming matches and apparently I'm a f#ucking b!tich.  Well, duh... here's a news flash - this isn't a news flash!

I know for a fact they are college students, so we definitely are NOT of the same generation anything and I'm pretty sure that I could be really annoying by playing some of the CDs I have in my collection the next time things start going down. (The fact that I just said I have 'CDs in my collection' is probably proof enough that we are not.... never mind)

Oh, did I mention that the walls are paper thin?  Yes, so thin that I can actually hear their conversations even at a normal tone.  This is quite a lovely notion because that means they can hear mine.  I do hope they like it when I am having perimenopausal rage and discussing my yearly mammogram results with my doctor... but I digress.  So... this leaves me to the only question of WHICH of my CDs at a very high decibel would make them vomit the most?  Here are the top choices I've come up with:

1.  Danzig - Danzig

2.  The Eagles Greatest Hits

3.  Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes

4.  Duran Duran - Decade

5.  Disco Fever - Greatest Hits

Or maybe I should just put them all in on shuffle and go shopping for the afternoon...........

   

Top 10 Songs I'm Ashamed to Love

I was reading one of my newfound blogs the other day, Adventures in Estrogen, and there was a post written called "Top 10 Movies I'm Ashamed to Love".  I was going to do a version of my own list, but I was in the mood for music tonight, so I decided to go with a list of Top 10 Songs instead.  I’m starting with the least shameful to most shameful.  I think.  I guess you can tell me after you read through them.  Here goes:

10.  I Was Made For Dancin' – Leif Garrett
Mr. Garrett sang “Give In” on an episode of CHiPs.  My 9-year-old heart, soul and body were his forever after that (don’t judge me!), but "I Was Made For Dancin'" was my favourite song he sang.  You will also be happy to learn that this is the only disco song I’m going to put in my top 10 because in all seriousness, I could easily come up with a top 10 disco list and I don’t think anyone wants that.

  Surely anyone can see why I instantly fell in love with Leif that night in 1979.

9.  I Want It That Way – The Backstreet Boys
There may be some who could argue that this is indeed a great song.  The problem occurs when you come to realize that I was in my late (really late) 20s when it was released and regularly cranked it driving in my minivan.

8.  Funky Cold Medina – Tone Loc
“I don’t fool around with no Oscar Meyer wiener.  You must be sure that the girl is pure for the Funky Cold Medina."   I mean it was a big old mess when Sheena got undressed.  It’s kind of funny it got that far and I love the cowbell in that song, plus there’s dog humping.

7.  Merry Christmas Darling – The Carpenters
Sentimental value.  Shut your pie holes.

6.  Ice Ice Baby – Vanilla Ice
I have no explanation.  I actually went to his concert in 1990 with my friend (we were 20 at the time) and we felt like two jackasses when we realized everyone there were either 12 or that 12-year-old’s parent.  HAWT!

5.  Leave (Get Out) – Jojo
Good workout song?  That’s all I’ve got.  I feel so creepy liking this one.  Really. 

4.  How You Remind Me – Nickelback
In my defense, it was their first hit.  I had no idea ALL their other songs were going to sound exactly the same.  I still like it though.  

3.  Karma Chameleon – Culture Club
It’s catchy and odd and I can’t stop staring at Boy George.

2.  Lovin’ You – Minnie Riperton
There was a visa commercial a few years ago that destroyed this song for me because I loved it long before that, but it’s embarrassing and no one will ever put up with me listening to this song in the car, so I'm on my own with this one.  How the f#uck does she hit that high note?  It leaves me stupefied.  

 This is a different commercial, but same song / same idea.  It's a crime!

1.  My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
This pains me to write this as my number one (or at all).  If anyone knows me, they will know how embarrassing this is, but this song grabs my heartstrings and runs with them.  I cry every time I hear it.  I just try not to listen to it if I can help it.  I loathe Celine Dion.  LOATHE HER!  But… she sure can sing the hell out of this song.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Actually, It's NOT Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I find it rather ironic that when I turn on my favourite radio station which normally plays 60s and 70s (and they play some 50s, but I hate to admit that because I hate Elvis.  THERE. I SAID IT!!) that instead of hearing something good like Crosby, Stills and Nash or The Doors I am hearing "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" when in fact it's not beginning to look a lot like Christmas at all.  This tomfoolery started days ago and it's not even Thanksgiving yet.  Their facebook page put out this lovely graphic saying "Greatest Holiday Hits - Playing Now!" to announce this quagmire and every comment under it was basically giving them death threats about changing the format so early.  Here were some of the NICER comments:

"not going to listen to magic until jan then...i dont want 6 weeks of christmas music...."

"Goodbye magic!! see you jan1!!"

"Is anyone at magic reading these comments? Obviously it is about their bottom line and the heck with us un-important listeners. Sprinkle a few Christmas songs here and there until 2 weeks before Christmas and then you can beat us over the head with all of those jolly songs."

"See ya later!!!"

"WHY did you bother having a listener 'POLL' if you were going to do this anyway??????? BOOOOOOOOOOO magic! "   

And then my very own -to the point- comment of,   

 "dumb."

You think that might be a clue to you people at the radio station?  Might we have some time to choke on the wishbone from our turkey this Thursday first?  It's still 55° F and sunny here.  I'm still wearing shorts for cryin' out loud.   I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I think I would almost take listening to The King himself over listening to Christmas music this early.   And when I say The King, I'm not talking about baby Jesus here....

Here's my suggestion:  How about playing Christmas music on Christmas?  I could even go as far as Christmas Eve day.  Until then, I want to continue to break on through to the other side, thank you.