Happy Birthday Belinda Carlisle - August 17, 2009

While most of the gays celebrate Madonna's birthday (August 16), I practice a different religion. On August 17, 1958, Belinda Carlisle was born. She just turned 51.

She looks pretty damn great for 51, too! This is video that was shot during the Go-Go's recent round of shows back in April. She had just finished her (very brief!) stint on Dancing With the Stars. This video shows that she learned a little something from it. I think her fringe skirt is an homage to her dancing days, look how she shimmies in it.

Vocally, Belinda sounds really good on this clip. I wish the audio was better. It's still fun to watch so please enjoy it!

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."

Belinda Carlisle - Regeneration Tour 2008

File Under: Yet another Belinda Carlisle post

Belinda Carlisle is on tour as part of The Regeneration Tour, a package tour featuring a number of 80's acts including The Human League, ABC and a Flock of Seagulls (or as my friend DeDe said "A Seagull" since there is one original band member remaining). Unfortunately the tour is not making a Chicago stop so I don't have a Belinda fix this summer. Thank Xenu for YouTube and the dedicated fans who know others want to share in the excitement. Here's a clip of Belinda performing the Go-Go's "Vacation." From all accounts, Belinda has been putting on a really amazing, energetic set, I think this is proof. The videographer cut off the last bit of the chorus but you'll get the point.

Again I say, not bad for a gal who's turning 50 on Sunday. Bet you can't wait to see what I post on her birthday? LOL


Thanks to YouTube member SoulPatrol120 for allowing remote linking to his videos.