Friday, October 12, 2012

Oh Skid Row...I Remember You

Last night, I tortured my oldest son with Rock of Ages. You know...the musical featuring all that great music from the 80s. Back when rock was rock and hair was big and the boys wore more eyeliner than I did.

"Was it a good movie," you ask?

"Well no," I'd say, "but I did know the words to every single song." I could even tell you the name of most of the songs in 4 notes or less and who sang them.

It was easily 30 seconds into the movie the first time I caught Marcus rolling his eyes as I sang along to Sister Christian. Where you goin' what you lookin' for......motorin' what's your price for flight....

Unfortunately, it only took 30 seconds for me to realize the movie folks had done a horrible job casting for the movie. Julianne Hough was the most un-rock-n-roll-like person and her voice was all wrong. I thought by the end maybe she'd be a little more Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Pat Benatar or Patty Smyth but nope, she was still too country/choir girl (and might I add a horrible actress).

Never the less, the music was good and I wanna rock

So despite the awful acting, the bad character casting, and a few factual errors (like the movie is set in 1987 but at least two of the songs I know weren't released till later (I Remember You was 1989 and More than Words was 1990), it was an enjoyable movie that led me down good ole' Memory Lane so without further adieu....here I go again on my own.

The Hair
I embraced the big beautiful hair of the 80s and held onto it for dear life until about 1993. Here I am in 88 (the closest picture I could find to the movie which was set in 1987).
My hair doesn't perm well but curls weren't the objective...damage was. Damage was the only way I could get my hair to go as big as I wanted. Big bangs and "wings" - holding the sides of my hair away from my head, spraying with good ole' AquaNet then blowdrying it to crispy goodness.

The Music.
Where do I start? Well at the beginning...the first song I remember rocking out to was Talk Dirty to Me...Poison of course! It was rebellious (dad forbid me to listen to it). Everyone else in my family loved country but I wanted more! You know you never act the way you should but I like it...

It's really really hard to just focus on one or two songs but bear with me.


I can't fight this feeling any longer and yet, I'm still afraid to let it flow. Not one of my favorite songs but considering it was my first "song" with my first "boyfriend" - it deserves a little recognition. Ben and I met at hunting camp right before the start of school my freshman year. I was moving from 8th grade to freshman and I was growing up. Ben was a senior. We shared our first kiss under the stars on a four-wheeler, worrying that when we got back our parents would know we'd been "making out." Our relationship lasted an entire year and marked a couple of milestones. For example, the first time I snuck out. Or the first time I told my parents I was staying at a friends house (I got busted before I even made it to Ben's house, no worries, I'd try it again my junior year). Ben broke my heart right before prom when he left me for what's-her-name. I  avoided school for days - heartbroke and lovesick.

Well you're a real tough cookie with the long history of breaking little hearts...I can't be the only girl who danced around her bedroom singing this anthem. No boy was going to break my heart. I was tough. Hit me with your best shot....fire away!!

Man, I could list all the songs but I'll stop with a trip to Paradise City. Take me down to the Paradise City where the grass is green and the girls are pretty. ...Gotta love me some Guns N Roses.

The Boys
Here's where my real obsession lies...with the boys. Who didn't have posters of their favorite rockers wallpapered across their walls!

Bon Jovi - Slippery when wet! I have to admit he's even yummier now!!!! Still a crush!

Bret Michaels - please talk dirty to me! Ok, actually don't. When I see you now, I just think STD.

David Coverdale - please don't go on your own - take me with you! Looking at him now though I think maybe he only made the list because he was rich and famous and I really liked his song!

Vince Neil - he's my Dr. Feelgood. Of course to look at him now I think he made one too many visits to Dr. Feelgood but damn, back when he looked good!

Sebastian Bach - He was one of my favorites. I had the most photos of this gorgeous guy...yummy. - I remember you....back when you looked good. Instead of washed up.


You know, looking at this list, I have to wonder what I was thinking. And I'm sure glad that all those daydreams didn't work out or right now I'd be married to a washed-up rocker. 

Unless you mean Bon Jovi...please God, there's still time.......




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