I went on another book-buying binge. On the way home from Richmond, the new Dave Barry book about bad songs had me laughing so hard tears were rolling down my cheeks. My laughter was nearly hysterical, which was kind of embarrassing since I was on a plane at the time. He's a genius, he really is. His comments on the lyrical content of songs by Neil Diamond, Neil Sedaka, Paul Anka, and Barry Manilow were exceptionally insightful (particularly Neil D.'s problem with the past tense of bring). God, that music was bad enough, but the lyrics were atrocious.
I, like most of America, am a repository for crappy hit music of the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Each Top 40 tune brings back a particular time of life to me. I still seethe with teenage angst and sullenness when I hear certain tunes, chiefly anything by Chicago, Bread, or America. I never have learned to like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Animals, the Moody Blues, or anything popular from about 1969-1977. I'm not talking about whether they were any good, please note, just that I don't like them. I'm trying to think of any songs from then which I like now. Um...well...there must be some, but I sure as heck can't think of any now.
I liked New Wave stuff plenty fine. I loved alternative music prior to the radio playlist era. In fact, I liked most of what came out in the 80's, and I am mildly surprised that more of it wasn't played as nostalgia music until quite recently. But even if I don't like songs I can't forget them. Even now, I can summon the tune to Destination Unknown by Missing Persons, or hum the Fixx's big hits, or do a passable imitation of early Cyndi Lauper. It was so much fun back then. Silly as hell, but fun.
Adam Ant has a lot to answer for, that's all I can say.
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