Formative Years

This past weekend, some friends and I were laughing and reminiscing about our younger days- the formative years. When I see the colors draping the racks in department stores and the neon stars and lightening bolts in the jewelry stores - it hits me- 20 plus years ago I was wearing this stuff. I remember my mom telling me that every 20 years or so, the styles would come back.... and they did.

For me- hair, makeup, movies and music make up my memories.

If you will indulge me, over the next few days, I hope to take you down a musical memory lane - the sounds and sounds that truly shaped me. These are listed as my all-time favorite songs from probably (10 - 17 years of age.) Here is my first installment and my memories associated!



Oh Basia - I used to sing this song at the top of my lungs while getting ready for school. This song came out when I was in the 9th grade (freshman) in high school. True actually came out when I was in the 5th grade, which I find signifigant because 5th grade was the year I got really serious into my music and my dance classes. I started buying record albums, and of course, preparing for middle school. What kid in the 80s can't sing this song by heart? Every time I hear it - I start singing immediately. Typically if with a group of people, you naturally fall into back up or lead vocals without even an ounce of discussion. ;-) This song remains my FAVORITE Culture Club song of all time. I bought the cassette in the 5th or 6th grade and would dance and sing in my room everyday! Man.. good stuff. Another song from that definitive 5th grade year - PYT. MY FAVORITE Michael Jackson song. I used to love to roller skate to this at Olympia Skating Center in Macon or Durr's Skating Rink (oh yeah locals.. blast from the past... right?) Oh how I wanted to be Sheila E!! I always loved the drums and I was in love with the lyrics. LOL.. Too bad I did not understand the lyrics back then.. but to me.. it was about become famous one day. hahahahaa... Another freshman year song! Oh my word.. nothing like falling in love when you are 14/15 and this song comes on... ha ha ha.. My dear bestie and neighbor (Dee) & I used to take her big silver boom box and walk around our neighborhood's lake blasting this song. Oh.. we were too cool.. you better believe it. Don't laugh - but I once wanted to be a Solid Gold Dancer. Well.. this song came out, I grabbed some of my old ballet costumes and choreographed a dance to this song. Then I would pretend I was on Solid Gold and dance.. oh yeah. ;-) Duran Duran was my all time favorite band throughout elementary and high school. (Even saw them in concert!) A group of friends and I were die hard Duran2 fans.. and we all came up with nick names based on something with the group. My bestie, Dee, was Arena (off the album of the same name,) and my nickname was Rio. Oh yeah. I can't make this stuff up. I had Olivia Newton John's album and would sing the entire thing as if I was having a concert. Just know.. this song brought my invisible audience to their feet! ;-) My favorite crush of all time.. (no names needed)..... this.. to this day... reminds me of him! I always liked Tears for Fears, but did not realize until I was much older how genius their lyrics were! Another one for the memory book! Simple Minds were classic 80s!! For me, The Pet Shops Boys revolutionized the type of music I listened to... when I first heard this song.. I was in love. I have always loved this song.... Still hope and plan to visit Bangkok! My dance class (from Modern Dance Academy) actually did a choreographed dance to this. If I remember right.. we performed this for some community thing! Finally - Laura was AWESOME.

Of course, I have tons more to share.. but I wanted to start off with a small sampling for you to enjoy. If you were a child/teen/young adult in the 80s - I hope this music brought back great memories for you also. I realized most of this is earlier in my formative pre-pubescent years.. up thru my freshman year in high school. I hope to share with you guys the later 80s (my official high school years..)

What did you listen to in the mid 80s? If you weren't around, you really should take a moment and listen to the music.. check out the fashion.. and just enjoy the culture! :-)

Until next time...