Stuff I'm Listening To - Talk Talk

Artist: Talk Talk

Title: It's My Life

Lyrics: 
It's my life.
Don't you forget, 
It's my life.
It never ends. 

Why?: Leave it to a visionary like Mark Hollis to have left us a lesson in physical* distancing 36 years ago. Pay close attention! His hands are firmly planted in his pockets so he's not touching anything. He's also gone to the zoo but he's pretty much all by himself. Even his band mates aren't to be seen anywhere! There are in fact, people around, but he's keeping his distance... like football pitch distances, to the closest people. Physical distancing pioneer!

A reassuring wink and smile from him at the end of the video is sign that things will be all right in the end anyway.

It's not easy for people isolate. Years of evolution have made us the social animals that we are. But years of evolution also made our brains as big as they are, and gave us a greater understanding of the world around us. Mind over matter. We can do this.

Now's also a great time to sit back, relax, and appreciate David Attenborough's and the BBC's great documentary skills. Hey perfect, here's Talk Talk's video, filled with awesome animal documentary footage... Especially good if a: You're a Talk Talk fan, and b: You have a short attention span.

But if you have a good attention span, I recommend watching any nature documentary. They're all pretty amazing. And for the record, I'm still not sure why, with all the technology we have, that I can't have the option to have a channel of all nature documentaries with our choice of narration by David Attenbororugh or David Suzuki, and choice of Talk Talk music as the soundtrack. Hook me up! 

Link to the World Health Organization information about COVID-19: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Link to my original non-COVID-19, rambly blog post about this song here: https://motorcyclepeanut.blogspot.com/2018/08/stuff-im-listening-to-2.html

*So apparently they've reworked the term 'social' distancing to 'physical' distancing to clarify that you don't have to turn yourself into a hermit. You just need to keep your distance from each other. Screaming across the street at your neighbours? Perfectly acceptable.

Stuff I'm Listening To - Howard Jones

Artist: Howard Jones

Title: Things Can Only Get Better

Favourite Lyrics: 

Treating today as though it was the last, the final show
Get to sixty and feel no regret
It may take a little time a lonely path, an uphill climb
Success or failure will not alter it

And do you feel scared, I do
But I won't stop and falter
And if we threw it all away
Things can only get better

Why?: If we are careful, we can control the rate of infection and things will get better.  These are dark times. You're right to feel upset, anxious and worried. We've never experienced anything remotely similar to this in our lifetimes. But we're fortunate. We know enough on how to effectively deal with it, so long as one follows the rules.

For me, I like to deal with my anxiety by reading up on the pathology of this virus. The science behind all of this is truly fascinating. And in many ways, it's very calming for me. It's very much a case of 'knowledge is power'. For example, you've probably heard that the virus is mutating. The problem here is most of us associate 'mutation' with negative connotations, unless you're a comic book reader. The way this virus mutates is, however, not dramatic enough to require a new vaccine every year (like influenza). Any vaccine developed will be able to be used for the long term and still be effective. 

I detest misinformation. Some of it is downright dangerous! Please! Don't take your cousin's sister in-law's best friend's half-brother's dog-groomer's boyfriend's nephew's babysitter's dad who never graduated from high school's advice on how to make your own hand-sanitizer from olive juice and tea tree oil. Just don't! Making your own hand sanitizer gives you a false sense of security. You are better off carrying a water bottle and bar of soap!

Remember, mental health is important too. Do things to cheer yourself up. I've always liked this song by Howard Jones. So catchy, cheerful, hopeful. 80s pop has always been my go to if in need of some cheering up. 

Link to WHO for COVID-19 updates and information: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Educate yourself! Don't panic! Stay safe. Wash your hands! 
 
 

Stuff I'm Listening To - Peter Gabriel

Artist: Peter Gabriel

Title: In Your Eyes

Lyrics: 

Love, I don't like to see so much pain

So much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away
I get so tired of working so hard for our survival
I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive

Why?: So more practice on social distancing. This has more to do with that scene in the movie 'Say Anything' than the actual song. But the song is great. Peter Gabriel is great. But let's just learn from John Cusack's character, who is demonstrating perfect social distancing by serenading with his boom box.

Stuff I'm Listening To - the Police

Artist: the Police

Title: Don't Stand So Close To Me

Lyrics:

Young teacher the subject
Of schoolgirl fantasy
She wants him so badly
Knows what she wants to be
Inside her there's no room
This girl's an open page
Book marking she's so close now
This girl is half his age

Don't stand so close to me

 
Why?: This song has popped up about as many times as R.E.M.'s song has in my social media. Like yesterday's tune, here's your lesson, this time, in social distancing. And also a lesson not having a romantic relationship with your students because that's just awkward and stuff. 

Mind you... if Mr. Sumner was my teacher... and we'll just leave it at that. 

SOCIAL DISTANCING! DO IT!

Stuff I'm Listening To - Georgia Satellites

Artist: Georgia Satellites

Title: Keep Your Hands To Yourself

Lyrics: 
She said don't hand me no lines and keep your hands to yourself

Why?: If you haven't figured it out yet, I have a terrible sense of humour. I know horrible things are happening in the world at the moment. I know people are scared and rumours are running around like crazy. I strongly recommend if you are going to get your facts straight, the best sites to gather information from will be from reputable health organizations. I strongly recommend WHO. Laughter is the best medicine and we need some levity right now. Picking out this play-list made me laugh or gave me some pause for thought, and I hope you're at least lightly amused by it or at least enjoying the great tunes.

So here is song 1 of my COVID-19 play-list.

Oh, and wash your hands!

Stuff I'm Listening To #101 - Guilty Pleasures #7 - Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies

Artist: Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies

Title: Over the Rainbow

Why?: I noticed when it came to new punk bands (and some old ones) a cover meant you're playing the song twice as fast, with pumping guitars. I remember working my second job, in publishing, and a co-worker (Thanks Jeremy!) had introduced me and my best friend to them, along with a couple of compilations called Punk Chartbusters, which were exactly what I described above. Songs you know, played faster and louder. The result, this glorious cacophonous mess of delightful punkified karaoke. 

My days in publishing are long gone, the company I worked for got rid of their print department in favour of pushing their online product. 

But I met some really great people during my time there and whenever I hear a punk cover I'm brought back to those super late nights, during my earlier days there when they were located up near Yorkdale Mall. Late night server crashes, moody plate machines. Our downtime was like school. Rolled up pieces of film became baseball bats, hockey sticks or lightsabres. We smoked in the courtyard and had snowball fights. I once decided to see how many paperclips fit in someone's legendary hair. Someone allegedly moved around artwork late one night to see if anyone would notice. Super marathon shifts (72 hours for my supervisor, 19 hours was my record).

Trader peeps? You were the best. I have fond memories of those days because of you guys.

Stuff I'm Listening To #100 - Guilty Pleasures #6 - Demos - Caralyn - Mark Hollis (the Reaction)

Caralyn by the Reaction (Mark Hollis) from Finn on Vimeo.
Artist: the Reaction/Mark Hollis*

Title: Caralyn (or I'm Telling You)**

Favourite Lyrics: 
Caralyn, let me take you into a brand new world
You won’t go without
Get a car. Get a great big house
Never need


Why?: I feel like I've posted this before. If not, I'm surprised because ever since this was shared with me I'd fallen in love with it. It became my favourite song by Mark Hollis because he was clearly at the start of his song writing career here. You'll almost tire of the fact that so many people will tell you 'Spirit of Eden' or the 'Colour of Spring' was a masterpiece. Funny... I absolutely love 'the Party's Over' and I I tend to toss 'Laughing Stock' on more than I do 'Spirit of Eden'. But Mark Hollis' earlier stuff shouldn't be ignored despite the fact it is not the stuff that most Talk Talk fans will tell you was the best stuff he'd ever done.

There's a freshness and spontaneity about them that gets lost in the glossy and heavily produced debut and sophomore albums that happen later. This is a large part of why I love demos (which I've noted before). I've heard a handful of demos and I really like them. There's something about hearing a band at the start of their career that's simply adorable, like looking at one's baby pictures. If you listen closely, you can hear greatness at its conception. Like birth, it can be a little messy, it most likely needs to be cleaned up, but simply miraculous in it's own right. 

The thing with unsigned bands demos are: they're new to the business; they're usually pretty young and they're putting their best stuff out as quickly as possible and as cheaply as possible. It must be impressive enough to the record company so they can get that deal and potentially start their career. A lot is riding on those recordings.

There's a lovely interview excerpt (Part III) with Viviane Morrison where Mark does a little reminiscing about the first days in the studio, where he drops this comment about how time was precious in the recording studio and if you took time to stop for tea, you had just wasted ￡10. I only bring it up because that statement is just so... British and adorable. :) Thanks @Alla for finding the interview (Part I and Part II linked here for your reference). For me, this interview was great because it was simply amazing for me to hear him discussing his time in the Reaction.

Footnotes: 
*It sounds like this could haven been a demo for the Reaction, but without any supporting evidence to say for sure, I can only say for sure Mark Hollis had a hand in writing and performing it. There's no date or anything attached to the demo to verify anything else.

**Again, there's no evidence for the song title. Some people have a copy of this demo labelled "I'm Telling You" and others have it listed as "Caralyn". I almost suspect it is called the later and the first name was adapted in order to avoid confusion with "Does Caroline Know?" 

Finally, special thanks to the 'Professor', one of the more knowledgeable Talk Talk fans I know, who was kind enough to share the demo with me before I located this copy on Vimeo. He remains anonymous because while he never gave me explicit instructions not to reveal that he had shared it, I didn't think he wanted everyone to bother him to share what he had.

Stuff I'm Listening to #99 - Guilty Pleasures #5 - Mash-Ups

Artists: Nine Inch Nails vs. the Beatles

Title: Come Closer Together

Why?: Remember how I've mentioned I've got this mind that goes off in a multitude of different directions to those irrelevant tangents? Well, sometimes those trains of thought come back and meet, bump fists and continue, or crash together outright and you're left with the carnages that are my blog posts. My mind is such that it's incredibly hard for me to focus at times.

It is this lack of focus that made me attempt (and fail) to sync up Rustin Man's 'Drift Code' in some meaningful way with '2001: A Space Odyssey' the other day. For what it's worth, 'Euphonium Dream' works super well with the second appearance of the monolith on the moon just like I thought it would. The screaming pre-humans part... meh... not so much. 

Mash-ups are these weird attempts to get two songs, often unrelated, overlaid and working together in a way you probably never expected. Most of them use the instrumental track overlaid with someone else's vocals. Because they are weird and familiar at the same time I like them. You wouldn't think Guns and Roses vs the Beatles would work, but it does. Kraftwerk vs the Beastie Boys? Yes! And linked below, potentially one of the weirdest mash-ups where I sat there stunned by how surprisingly well they worked together. Beyonce and Andy Griffith.

There are, from what I've seen, zero good Talk Talk mash-ups in my opinion, in case you were wondering.

Stuff I'm Listening to #98 - Guilty Pleasures #4 - Tonight - NKOTB

Artist: New Kids on the Block

Title: Tonight, Tonight

Choice Lyrics: 
Remember when we said, "Girl, please don't go"
And how I'd be loving you forever
Taught you 'bout hangin' tough
As long as you've got the right stuff

Why?: I'm not going to bother defending myself. I was never a huge NKOTB fan. Just a casual fan who happened to like their singles. They are one of those polished, over processed bands I was talking about. I don't have a problem admitting I like their songs. What I take issue with is everyone assuming I was a giant fan of the band. I was never a fan like that. I didn't think they were hot. I didn't have a favourite. If pressed, I suppose it was Jonathan. The shy, gay one, of course! His shyness made him cute to me. 

So for all the songs I could have chosen, why this one? Because it kinda sounds like a Beatles song, and I really like the Beatles. If you wanted a deeper reason, I can't give you one. It's a guilty pleasure after all. 

For what it's worth, I did see these guys in concert back in 1990, at Exhibition Stadium, a venue that has long since been torn down. I went along because it was a group of us and tickets were reasonably priced, but up in the nose bleeds.

They put on a reasonably entertaining dance routine. What was brutally obvious was how badly they were lip syncing. But it didn't matter. There's something pretty amazing about a stadium filled with screaming pre-teen and teenage girls. There is no energy in the world like it. It's... terrifying.

Stuff I'm Listening To #97 - Guilty Pleasures #3 - Faith of the Heart - Russel Watson

Artist: Russell Watson

Title: Faith of the Heart

Favourite Lyrics:

Cause I've got faith of the heart.
I'm going where my heart will take me.
I've got faith to believe.
I can do anything.

Why?: I am a total sap when it comes to certain television theme songs. There are some really good ones out there. I could create you an entire playlist of some great songs and instrumental pieces that were featured as television show theme songs. And if they weren't tied to the show, you might still enjoy them. This is one of those songs.

When 'Enterprise' premièred, I actually enjoyed the show. I wasn't particularly attached to the original series and have no real attachment to it. I was attached to 'Star Trek, the Next Generation' which was now gone for a few years, and I was eager for something new. (Yes, yes, there was Deep Space Nine and Voyager, but I'd missed so many episodes, I lost interest. Kids... that's what life was like before the internet and Netflix. If you missed and episode, you had to set your VCR to record it during re-runs.

I quite enjoyed the show, until I fell into the same, missed too many episodes and lost track of what was going on scenario. And I really fell in love with the theme song. The song itself is this wonderful feel good song about accomplishments. What's not to love about it? And it's not Rod Stewart singing it though I understand he does do a cover of it.

Given that there's a slight possibility we might get shut down entirely because of Covid-19. I may opt to binge on this show. But that's a lot of Scott Bakula and Connor Trinneer to take in at once. :D

Faith of the Heart - Full Track:

Stuff I'm Listening To #96 - Guilty Pleasures #2 - Haddaway

Artist: Haddaway

Title: What Is Love? 

Favourite Lyrics: 

What is love?
Baby don't hurt me
Don't hurt me
No more

Why?: 
I actually don't know the song outside of this Saturday Night Live sketch and the movie 'Night At The Roxbury'. I do have a vague memory of this song being blasted on repeat from all the Cameros, IROC-Zs and Mustangs that cruised along the Danforth (Greektown) in Toronto, all with all the other Eurobeat songs that reigned in Greektown and Woodbridge.
This was 1992 after all. I detested the song at the time as I had started to bury myself firmly in the middle of punk. So I was anti-establishment and this song was, in my head, part of the establishment. I hated the mainstream. I hated the whole preppies scene. I found I needed to label myself, and mod became that label, though looking back, I was probably something in between an emo, goth and mod.

So here I was, stuck in my beaten down 1987 Ford Mustang with a 2.3L engine, trying to out aggress the big boys and their souped up machines. What I lacked in horsepower I made up in loud punk and ska. And weirdly, Japan and Duran Duran, blasting from the stock speakers that my brother had already blown when he owned the car. But this SNL sketch came along, and turned the whole preppie scene on it's head and made it funny. Now the song was funny.

Today, you will see me, in my TARDIS blue Honda Civic, occasionally blasting this hated song, doing that head thing because it's funny. It's fun to be stopped at a set of lights and see the car next to you doing the head thing with you. It's also fun to be on your motorcycle and have a car load of people blasting said song and you join them in your head bobbing because nothing seems to unite Canadians better than a reasonably funny comedy sketch.

Stuff I'm Listening To #95 - Guilty Pleasures Week #1 - Psy

Artist: 싸이 (Psy)

Title: 강남스타일 (Gangnam Style)

Lyrics: 
정숙해 보이지만 놀 땐 노는 여자
이때다 싶으면 묶었던 머리 푸는 여자
가렸지만 웬만한 노출보다 야한 여자
그런 감각적인 여자

(A girl who seems good but plays when she plays
A girl who puts her hair down when the right time comes
A girl who covers herself but is more sexy than a girl who exposes it all
A sensible girl like that)

Why?: This was a difficult list to compile. I am generally not ashamed of anything on my playlists. So while other people might deny knowing how certain questionable tunes somehow magically appeared on their playlists, me? Not so much. I have weird tastes and am very much one of those people that will gravitate towards the those songs that everyone else is already sick of because they're overplayed, overproduced, annoyingly catchy, ear worms. 

I like all manner of strange things. Mash-ups, some remixes, covers, commercial jingles, TV show theme songs... was it set to music? I probably liked it. 

I'm sure you all know Psy. You can't have existed in 2012 and not known about this song. Suffice to say, I can't explain much except it was Korean, it was hilarious and I made fun of everyone who mispronounced "Gangnam". Plus, there is something that needs to be noted about being able to teach the chief of the UN your signature Gangnam Style moves. I would have dressed up like Psy for Hallowe'en that year, except do you know how hard it was to find a powder blue tuxedo that year? 

Ban Ki Moon with Psy in 2012

Stuff I'm Listening To - #94 - Joan Jett - Bad Reputation

Artist: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Title: Bad Reputation

Favourite Lyrics:

I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation
Living in the past, it's a new generation
A girl can do what she wants to do and that's what I'm gonna do

An' I don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation
Oh no, not me

Why?: Sorry for the lateness of my post today. After being out all day on my motorcycle (it was a beautiful day today, so it was inevitable that I was going to ride from one end of the city to the other), I decided this was going to be the song du jour. Happy International Women's Day.

Stuff I'm Listening to - #93 - James - Laid

Artist: James

Title: Laid

Lyrics:

This bed is on fire with passionate love
The neighbours complain about the noises above
But she only comes when she's on top

 
Why?: I must sadly admit, if I know any other songs by James, I don't realise that it's them. Feel free to toss your favourite James song at me (outside of this one) in the comments. More than happy to expand my knowledge. When this song came out, I was listening to the main alternative rock station in Toronto heavily at the time and you couldn't escape this song which was played at least four times a day, one with each shift change. It's a great tune. Catchy. I fully admit the CD was purchased in a Columbia House contract fulfilment order; I was buying it solely for the single. *Hangs head in shame* Yeah... I'm one of THOSE people.

I still love this song, even though it's the source of much cringing at any establishment which serves too much alcohol when it comes on (even when it's not karaoke night) with everyone trying to hit those falsetto notes (including me)... and failing miserably. Mind you, I make zero apologies if I'm doing my motorcycle karaoke and belting out this song. Remember. I don't care if I sound like a crow in heat. You shouldn't be that close to me that you can actually hear me (attempting to) sing over my pipes anyway.

Stuff I'm Listening To #92 - Divinyls - I Touch Myself

Artist: Divinyls

Title: I Touch Myself

Lyrics:

You're the one who makes me come runnin'
You're the sun who makes me shine
When you're around, I'm always laughin'
I want to make you mine

 
Why?: During the winter, I'm safely encapsulated in the car, windows up and stereo on bust. I can't even hear myself singing. I like to sing. I'm probably the last person on earth you want to hear sing. I don't have a phenomenal voice and will William Shatner the fuck out of any song if forced to do actual karaoke.  

During the other three seasons of the year, if it isn't pouring rain out, I often forget I'm wearing headphones and that people can hear me when I'm singing on my motorcycle and stopped at a light. The last time that happened, I was at Dundas Square and got some strange looks from an older couple on the sidewalk. 

"I'm singing to my bike. She likes it." I hissed and that statement may or may not have been entirely true at that moment. 

Stuff I'm Listening To #91 - Billy Idol - Dancing With Myself

Artist: Billy Idol

Title: Dancing With Myself

Favourite Lyrics: 

When there's no one else in sight,
In crowded lonely night
Well, I wait so long for my love vibration
And I'm dancing with myself

Why?: Remember how Cyndi knew how kids would think her song was about dancing and not quite figure out the double entendres until they were a little more mature? I don't know if that was Billy's intention but it was the same. 

The euphemisms were a bit lost on my parents, who's first language was not English (for the record, it wasn't their second neither). Third language in, English was never going to be a strong point for them (but you'd never know it). I certainly didn't understand the lyrics to be too different than what Cyndi's video was about. To me, Billy was clearly an outsider and the chances of him finding someone weird like himself weren't good, so damnit, he'll just enjoy his own company and be himself. I remember older kids giggling when I'd belt out songs like this, 'She Bop' and 'Like a Virgin'. And older kids being the way they are, weren't about to explain to some kid why there were laughing. I'm pretty sure they didn't quite understand themselves, they just laughed because kids older than themselves were laughing and they needed to fit in.

But a good tune is universal. It's the reason that music has the ability to transcend borders. Also, Billy isn't exactly a profound poet by any means, but he's Billy Idol and likely one of the few people able to get away with 'love vibration' without sounding too cheesy. 

I still take my original interpretation of the lyrics to heart. 'Dancing With Myself' isn't a euphemism for me. It's about having the house to myself, blasting my stereo and grooving without tripping over my pets. But there's a theme going here this week, and this song most certainly fits. Happy Friday (or Saturday) everyone!

Stuff I'm Listening To #90 - Peaches - Diddle My Skittle

Artist: Peaches

Title: Diddle My Skittle

Lyrics:
I'm not so brittle
Come diddle my skittle 

Why?: Peaches is not for everyone. I should probably point this out now if you haven't already figured that out. I discovered her when she supported Nine Inch Nails in 2006. She put on such great show I kind of totally forgot that Bauhaus had also supported Nine Inch Nails at that show as well. If you like Nine Inch Nails, I can't, for a moment, figure out why you wouldn't like Peaches, just saying.

I was pleasantly pleased to find out Peaches is from Toronto. And, true to form, that tidbit of information came from my older brother! Older brothers are a wealth of knowledge and guidance, and mine is no exception to this rule. He pointed out that if there was an older guy in the audience that clearly did not fit as a Bauhaus, or Nine Inch Nails fan that Peaches was singing to; that gentleman was her dad! Kudos to her dad for being there for her! He totally rocks.

Stuff I'm Listening To - #89 - Prince - Darling Nikki

Artist: Prince and the Revolution

Title: Darling Nikki

Lyrics:

I knew a girl named Nikki I guess you could say she was a sex fiend,
I met her in a hotel lobby masturbating with a magazine,
She said how'd you like to waste some time and I could not resist when I saw little Nikki grind.

Why?:
You know the problem with having a song with your name in it? It usually ends up being the last thing you want to hear. Pity all the girls named Nikki or Roxanne. The 80s were hell for them. 

I have no real memory of this song from the 80s. Truth be told, it would be a punk cover by a band called Apocalypse Hoboken that introduced me to this song. 

What? You were expecting more? Sometimes one decides to keep their counsel.  I could have said ‘a lady never reveals her secrets, but eff that. You all know by now I’m no lady🤣.

Stuff I'm Listening To #88 - Green Day - Long View

Artist: Green Day

Title: Longview

Lyrics: 
Bite my lip and close my eyes
Take me away to paradise
I'm so damn bored, I'm going blind
And I smell like shit

Why?: I like Green Day. I'm not quite sure why everyone else seemed to have a problem with them back in the day. There's something weird about being a successful punk band. The goal is to become successful in music, yet, if you do, you're somehow a sellout and no longer punk? I remember sometimes people would scoff at me because apparently, Green Day wasn't real punk anymore because they'd become too famous... (and I fully admit I got caught up in that mentality too at the time). Even Siouxsie Sioux took issue with Green Day because they were singing with fake cockney accents to try to sound more punk, according to her. Aww... Siouxsie! Why you gotta hate? 

For what it's worth, this is one of those few songs that firms roots itself into a fixed point in time for me. I don't consume music chronologically so I find it hard to place songs close to their specified 'eras'. That song came out when I was at the midst of post-teenage angst. I was in University and not having any of it. I was this song's description. Restless, bored, with no direction in my life and suffering for it because of pressure from everyone (i.e. I'm Asian, so the very fact I was questioning my career path of their choice (A Lawyer who was also a Doctor and Physicist on the side) was enough to have my parents upset with me.). Once I figured out what the hell he was singing about, I made this song my anthem. Even my ennui had to be funny. What better way than to have a song to sing about it?

What else are you going to do as a bored twenty something still living at home?

Stuff I'm Listening To #87 - Cyndi Lauper - She Bop

Artist: Cyndi Lauper

Title: She Bop

Lyrics:
Wehell I see them every night in tight blue jeans
In the pages of a Blue Boy magazine
Hey I've been thinking of a new sensation
I'm picking up good vibration
Ooh she bop, she bop
 
Why?: I remember belting this song out loud when I was a kid with no clue and not a care in the world. Over 30 years later and I can still be caught belting out this song should it pop into my playlist. Only this time round, very much aware of what the song is about, but still not a care in the world (while I'm singing anyway). And that's apparently exactly what Cyndi wanted; a song kids would think was about dancing and would eventually grow up and figure it was something very different. I read in a couple of places in my travels on the internet that she recorded this song either topless or in the nude and was tickling herself... I guess there's something about clothing and shoes that make it hard to sing?** But I digress.

I loved that Cyndi Lauper was unapologetically weird. After all, her debut album title said it all "She's So Unusual". I think what I always liked most about Cyndi was that she always seemed to be mostly in control and having fun. 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' made it clear, life wasn't only about finding a guy. And if there was going to be a guy, he'd best give her space, because she wasn't going to have time for his jealous and possessive bullshit.

I remember at the age of nine really enjoying the video for 'She Bop' because it was amusing and it had this lovely non-conformist message that I latched onto. That message: It was ok to be myself.

For what it's worth, the video is still pretty awesome despite its age. Kudos for the 'Beefcake Charlys', quite possibly the best fake MC name ever.

I should point out that it was with some difficulty to chose the best favourite lyrics. These got chosen because they are personally topical at the moment, due to some thoughtful discussion between my friends about these guys who happened to be wearing a lot of double denim. 

**In the last month, I've read the following people (Mark Hollis, Shayne Carter, Michael Stipe, Martin Gore and now Cyndi Lauper) somehow got in to various states of undress to sing... from as little as taking their shoes off on stage (Mark Hollis) to only being in your socks (Shayne Carter) and to Michael Stipe ('Losing My Religion'), Martin Gore ('Somebody') and Cyndi Lauper ('She Bop') being completely naked recording their vocals. Hey... whatever works right?