Raised on MTV #3, or Not Born Cool
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That shattering sound you just heard? That would be that hipster facade I've worn for so long, being broken to bits.Journey were the first band I remember hearing on the radio that I looked forward to hearing, so that, while perched in the back of my Mom's car, I'd perk up when their music came on. If you're in your late 30's or older, you remember the songs: "Don't Stop Believin'", "Who's Crying Now", "Open Arms". Loved 'em all. I begged my Mom for months until she relented and bought me their album Escape for Christmas. It didn't leave the record player often that year.I had a friend, my mom's best friend's son, who was more advanced musically than I was. His older brothers had taken good care of him, and he was already deeply in love with XTC and the Boomtown Rats. Well, one night he was over at my house, and I happily played Escape for him. After sitting (quite patiently) through it, he pulled out the album he brought with him: Kings of the Wild Frontier by Adam and the Ants. It was then _my_ turn to sit patiently through what I perceived as so much murky noise. Oh, the shame!Flash forward about three years later. I had MTV now, and was deep in the throes of my Duran Duran crush, and discovering lots of cool new music. Then this song and video came out. What a glorious chunk of Velveeta: the prominent keys (from what was before a hard rock band) cuing their debt to new wave, the mullets, the air-band stances. What a tour de force! Now I wouldn't brag about liking the song, but I did, oh yes.Aw heck, I still have a soft spot for it. I must admit that Steve Perry may not be a looker, but he's still got pipes.Oh go on, click the video, you know you want to. And if it gets stuck in your head, use liberal doses of Maps to extricate; that's what's working for me. ;) Heh.
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