Songs of Summertime

"Mad About You" - Belinda Carlisle

During the summer of 1986, I became "Mad About" Belinda.


The demise of The Go-Go's during the spring of 1985 was sad, but the career of the band's lead singer was about to skyrocket. Right away, she was signed as a solo artist, set up with producers and writers, and primped to be the new "it" girl.

Late May 1986 was the first time I heard "Mad About You" on the radio. I was hooked. Different than anything that the Go-Go's released. The song was decidedly pop, Belinda's vocals were soft and sweet. I couldn't wait to hear it again. Here was the voice of my favorite band doing something completely different.

About a month later, my family was taking a road trip to Gatlinburg, TN. We stopped in Louisville for the night. The hotel had a video channel. I turned it on and the next video played was "Mad About You." The Belinda that I knew so well was different. She was slim, her hair was longer and very blonde. She looked amazing. The video was fun...dancing on the beach, dancing with her husband (another change since the band disbanded), hanging out with her pal Charlotte (former bandmate).

I was 19 during the summer of '86. I was taking night classes so I could get ahead with school. I was working full time, and spending my free time just hanging out with my friends.

I remember buying tickets to see Robert Palmer in concert. I had heard that Belinda was on tour with him as his opening act. My sister Georgette and our friend May went to the show with me. Unfortunately Belinda had only committed to playing half of the shows, and my show was the second one she didn't perform. We still enjoyed the show.

To this day, it could be the coldest winter day if I hear "Mad About You," it puts me in a good mood and makes me feel warm all over.

"Something 'bout you, right here beside me, touches the touched part of me like I can't believe."

Songs of Summertime

"Vacation" by The Go-Go's

By the summer of 1982, I was completely enamoured by The Go-Go's. I had played their debut album "Beauty and the Beat" until it was worn and skipping. There was talk on the radio that they band had gone back into the recording studio to record their second album.

Sure enough "Vacation" the album was released, as was it's lead single "Vacation." It's an uptempo song beginning with a flourish of peppy guitars and drums. I was hooked. As is true of many Go-Go's songs, the songs sounded happy, but the lyrics were sad. "Vacation - meant to be spent alone..."

The time period I associate with the song was happy. I had just finished my Freshman year of high school. I had a summer job, working as a file clerk in the Payroll office of Edgewater Hospital. I was excited to be making money and I could finally buy things like a new stereo and Izod shirts.

Today when I hear the song, I still think of summer fun. I saw my first Go-Go's concert in the summer of 1982 and "Vacation" was the song that opened the show. Even when I saw the band back in April, "Vacation" is one of those songs that generates a lot of excitement throughout the venue.

It's definitely one of my essential summer songs.

"A week without you, thought I'd forget. Two weeks without you and I still haven't gotten over you yet."

Summer Music

Music is important to me and certain songs mark events in my life. Other songs remind me of a season. It's summer and there are certain songs that I hear and they remind me of the season. Over the next few weeks I'll revisit some of those songs and tell you what they mean to me.



Today's song is a new song. It doesn't really evoke a memory yet, that just means it's ripe for the picking and at any point, a fun summer memory will be attached to it.



"Waking Up in Vegas" by Katy Perry has such a hook to it. The lyrics are clever and it reminds me of the fun, crazy adventures I've had in Vegas. Maybe I need to plan a trip to Vegas and have that be the song I associate with the trip. :)

"Get up and shake the glitter off your clothes now, that's what you get for waking up in Vegas..."

First CD Purchase of 2009

File Under: Music

I've just purchased my first CD of 2009. Well, I didn't exactly purchase a CD, I downloaded the tracks off of iTunes. And that CD is "Coco" - Colbie Caillat.

Okay, I'm kinda late to the game. It was released in 2007. I've been hearing her a lot lately and I'm enjoying her voice and her music. I decided to check out her website and was impressed with what I read. Every track on her album was co-written by her. She got her start by posting her songs on MySpace and her following grew from there. She's not an artist who came from some talent show, she's not at the mercy of some producer to deliver songs that she doesn't want to sing. This is what music should be about and I am all about supporting an artist who does their own thing.

Her song "Something Special" was featured at the beginning of the movie "Bride Wars." I recognized her voice when I heard the track and it has fast become a song that I'm listening to a lot, these days.

I hope you'll check her out and join me in supporting this talented young artist.

Here's video of Colbie performing her song "Something Special" at a holiday concert in December 2008. Quality isn't fantastic but she sounds good and has a nice stage presence.





Enjoy!

B-52's coming to Chicago

File Under: Party Band!

I found out that the B-52's will be playing a show in Chicago on Thursday May 1. It's the day before my birthday. I think that's a grand way to start a weekend so I'm going to buy myself a ticket for the show, and schedule the next day off from work and kick off a long weekend while enjoying one of my favorite bands.