1 Hit Wonders

I am so tired this morning. Why you ask? Because last night I got sucked in to watching 100 1 Hit Wonders of the 80’s on VH1 Classic. As a child of the 80’s I am pretty fascinated with anything from that era. I mean I lived it, so I like seeing things from when I was growing up For instance, parachute pants (yes, I had 2 pairs!), jazz shoes, 500 rubber bracelets, bug huge earrings…yep I had it all. And then there were the music videos. To me, still the best music ever. But I guess everyone feels that way no matter era they were a product of…

So last night I could not tear myself away from them! Here were a few of the highlights:

I Ran – A Flock of Seagulls (I saw them in concert at Duke University. Fantastic!)
I Want Candy – Bow Wow Wow
Take On Me – Aha
Shake you Down – Gregory Abbott (Still like this song)
Beat So Lonely – Charlie Sexton (I don’t think I have heard this song since 1985)
They Don’t Know – Tracey Ullman (A goofy song but seriously good!)
True - Spandau Ballet
Beds are Burning – Midnight Oil (A seriously great song)
Buffalo Stance – Neneh Cherry
Video Killed the Radio Star – Buggles (The first video I ever saw, and not on MTV mind you, and still a great tune to sing a long to)
Genius of Love – Tom Tom Club (Complete “Genuis”!)
I Know What Boys Like – The Waitresses
Under the Milky Way – The Church (Still sounds amazing)
Wouldn’t It Be Good - Nick Kershaw
Voices Carry – Til Tuesday (Ok , who didn’t want to stand up in the middle of a crowded theater and sing “Hush, Hush…)

So if you were a child of the 80’s rush over to vh1.com and look for VH1 Classics. You can watch all 100 videos. You won’t be sorry. Just don’t stay up too late! ;-)

Rest in Peace MJ

I was never a HUGE Michael Jackson fan although I liked his music and still do today (Smooth Criminal is an AWESOME song and the video...wow). I didn't have posters of him taped up to the walls (that space was reserved for Duran Duran, the Police and U2) but I remember heading over to the tv to see the debut of the Thriller video.

Michael Jackson and I are from the same place. He was from Gary, I was from Hammond. A few miles apart and all steel mills and refineries. His dad worked at the mills; my grandfathers, uncles and even my dad for a while did too. That is what you did when you were from "the region". I left for NC when I was 8. I think MJ left for CA when he was 9. I don't know why I felt it important to say that. I didn't know him-obviously. But I am proud to be from the Midwest, maybe he was too? Anyway...

I have heard all the stories of all the weirdness and all the scandal-how could you not? Do I believe it all? No, not all of it. Do I think he had some problems...that is an understatement. but of all the bad stuff that has been said, true or not, there is one thing that I always go back to. His children. And if you saw his daughter Paris at the memorial you can see how much they loved and adored him. And that is how it should be. He was obviously a devoted, caring, involved father. And they loved him. And that to me is what ought to be remembered right now. Was he a bad guy? Honestly, I don't know. I guess that is between God and MJ. But I came accross this in an online article:

"And all at once, Jackson wasn't the larger-than-life King of Pop, or Wacko Jacko the tabloid freak. He was a doting father who had left three adoring young children behind.
He was "Daddy."

And to me, that is it. Let his memory and his children be.