Follow Me
My Dad drove a little brown Datsun when I was a young child. The car had a sunroof and my Dad wore nice shades that made everything look yellow and blocked the sun. He was like a young David Hasselhoff. The car also had an 8-track player and my Dad liked to play John Denver’s greatest hits. As we drove along the beautiful roads in New Hampshire, we sang along to songs like “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and “Sunshine on my Shoulder”. The nature. The beauty. The Hoff. It was all really great, just like my Dad.
My Dad always remarked about what a great sound John Denver had. I wholeheartedly agree. In today’s dose of passion, Mr. Denver pleads with his listeners to join him on Twitter. I, for one, am gladly buying whatever John is selling. Like the intro to “Knight Rider”, the song still gives me goosebumps – even after all these years.
Oh Girl
My first job was as a pizza delivery man for 3 towns I knew next to nothing about. It was before GPS had come out, but I don’t think it would have mattered. After all, I don’t think anything would have gotten a signal to those parts anyway. Not even a map was much use. It was basically a collection of dirt roads without street signs. It usually took me so long to get there, the box would be just about wrecked from all the grease. Okay, it actually only took about 5 minutes for the box to be wrecked by the grease. Still, it took me a long time to figure out where I was supposed to go.
On top of all that, I was driving a mini-van that was about 15 years old. The steering wheel was so off, I could tilt it to about 3 o’clock before I noticed any difference. I knew that the car was going to blow up at any minute. I just didn’t know what minute that would be. I distracted myself from my impending death by listening to music. I was really into Oldies back then. There was one song, in particular, that hit the grease-stained spot during those late nights on the unfamiliar roads. For me, it was about a guy who knew he was losing someone valuable and wasn’t sure how he was gonna make it after she was gone. It didn’t come on Oldies 103.3 very frequently, but, when it did, I sang it with an awareness of being lost in multiple ways and with more heartburn than a pepperoni pizza could ever cause. It is also today’s daily dose of passion.
Just Another Day
There was a day they called “step up day” where the Middle Schoolers visited the High School for a day. I don’t know who was running the show for my step-up day (apparently nobody), because we roamed the halls, ate free popcorn and played basketball in the gym all day long. Basically, we did whatever we wanted. It was then that I realized that High School was going to be the coolest thing ever.
To top it all over, there was an assembly in the theater where they played this kicking song by Jon Secada below. Like the thought of High School on step up day, I immediately loved everything about it. There was so much longing, excitement and desire about it. It was the perfect theme song, really. It also doubles as today’s daily dose of passion.
A Very, Large, Boyfriend
How beautiful is this scene where Scott and Boof walk home? So beautiful, it is the first non-music video to be given the distinction of today’s daily dose of passion. The action picks up around 1:08 in.
I said I loved you… but I lied
I spend about 16 hours per week in the car. Too much music overloads my brain, so I’m always on the lookout for good podcasts. Everyone seems to rave about NPR, so I figured their “Story of the Day” podcast would be a good way for me stay mildly entertained and informed at the same time.
Today’s story (day 3) was about how teleportation could become a reality. They even gave the obligatory nod to Star Trek. At first, I thought it was a joke. It had to be a joke, right? Right? Well, I slowly realized that they were dead serious. Thus ends my 3-day run with the NPR “story of the day” podcast.
I also had a run with audio books, but I’m kind of sick of those as well. I zone out so often, it is hard to keep focus and I get tired of constantly rewinding. Part of the problem is that I don’t want to have to be focused. With all the other demands in the life, I need a break from having to stay too mentally engaged.
For the most part, I am back to music. I am quickly learning a few things about music.
#1. It is good to keep it fresh. A song that meant something to you in 2005, probably won’t have the same meaning in 2010. Some songs just lose their juice. It’s like chewing gum that has been in your mouth for a long time. You can just tell when its time is up and you need a break.
#2. Too much fresh music at once can be overwhelming. I bought a ton of new music a week ago. Half of the time, I don’t even know who is singing the songs I’m listening to. It’s like going to a new school where you don’t know anyone. Nothing is familiar. I don’t even know where the bathrooms are. This isn’t necessarily a good thing either.
#3. Everyone likes certain artists, and they are ashamed to admit it. I don’t care if it is Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber or the Backstreet Boys. I take that back. Some people aren’t ashamed to admit it. And that makes them larger than life.
Who is your guilty pleasure when it comes to music? My guess is that it’s this guy:
Time for your daily dose of passion:
Dancing Like Napoleon
My friend referenced the song “Forever Young” in a Facebook update in memory of his deceased father yesterday. It is a tender song that is, for me, very magical. I don’t know if it is magical for everybody, or only those whose formative years were in the 80′s. If your formative years weren’t in the 80′s, it seems pretty useless to try to explain it. They are one of those things that you’ll never understand, unless you’ve lived through them. Even then, understanding something and being able to communicate it are two different matters.
The song bounced around a few places and eventually made its way into the prom scene in the movie Napoleon Dynamite. To me, that scene captured the magic. There was something quiet about the scene. Quiet and calming. The music is soft and the characters find rest in their romance. Dances need a chance to slow down a bit. Like a fragile fire, they need a chance to breathe. Stirring the adrenaline with songs like “Pump Up the Jam” are fine for awhile, but can only last so long. Like a box of Whoppers, they lack nourishment. They will give you a headache and make you sick.
Now, I must admit something. I have hardly any idea as to what the song “Forever Young” means. After casually reading the lyrics, I was really surprised to find mention of a horse. After carefully reading the lyrics, I still wasn’t sure what was going on. Like many from its era, the video is even more confusing. But, to me, the song is full of peaceful longing and restful hope. Rather than wanting more, the characters have found what they are looking for. The only “more” they want is for the moment to last indefinitely.
In the movie the characters stand there, stiff-armed and so far apart there could be a third dancer in the middle. But, like the 80′s, there is a purity in their awkwardness. The characters are neither cool nor smooth. But they are full of raw passion and eventually find the confidence to be who they are – no matter how unacceptable others might find them. There is something very attractive about awkward people who care very much about something and courageously move toward the object of their affection. They are hardened to the pain of rejection and get to the point where they simply don’t care what others think anymore. When people get to that point, they can’t be stopped. It’s as if they’re saying, “What is the worst you can do to me?” and stick a middle finger in the face of social oneupmanship. When two such offbeat characters find each other, you have an unforgettable picture of uncultured, genuine, and unashamed love.
I was a pretty clumsy kid like that. But, one time, I was at a dance and they started playing “Lady in Red”. Now, I don’t recall dancing with anyone who was wearing red, but there were beautiful women all around me – and many times they treated me so kindly, I was filled with that same feeling of wonderful disbelief as the guy singing the song whose breath was being taken away. That was the “Forever Young” I was talking about. Those were the moments I wanted to last forever. Marky Mark and his Funky Bunch made me good. The difference is that he didn’t make me feel loved.
In the end, I suppose there is a little Napoleon Dynamite in all of us. Awkward people, living in awkward times, struggling to find the courage to get up in front of the class and take our best shot at what has a good chance at ending up in disaster. But that is the kind of courage that others can get behind. After an initial giggle, the crowd sees something true and right and their opinion slowly turns. First, there is only silence. Then, the one so used to being despised starts to see a few faces brighten. A cautious few begin to clap. It catches on. Soon, the whole auditorium is wildly cheering and standing up.
Yes. I see Napoleon Dynamite’s everywhere. People trying their best, desperately in need of applause, and seldom sure how to ask for love.
For me, I miss those dances. They were very special. Forever young, I want to be forever young. Do you want to live forever, forever young?
