I had a babysitter in fourth grade who gave me the gift of New Order (leading later to Depeche Mode, The Cure, Joy Division, etc.) - ever since I've been a little off my demographic in terms of musical tastes.
Instead of being a useful human being yesterday afternoon, I spent a couple of hours finding and downloading nostalgia items from iTunes. Mostly 70s stuff (Mungo Jerry, Steppenwolf, Norman Greenbaum -- who can forget "Spirit in the Sky"?), but I also snagged "Tainted Love" and Tears for Fears' "Mad World."
Oh, wow, did that post ever give me an 80s flashback! (Thanks.)
Great post. My freshman year was 82-83 and I remember transitioning from the Stones and Dylan to the new sounds of U2, REM, and all of those MTV and John Hughes movies new-wave bands.
Wow, your post brought back memories! My freshman year was '82 as well and I still listen to so much 80s music that is scares me. Or, more appropriately, it scares other people. Don't miss the "fashion" but definitely miss the tunes.
(The other day I freaked my students out by telling them I saw U2 in concert in '84.)
Followed you over from Jimbo's place. Wonderful post. It really captures that sense of discovering difference and belonging through music.
Personally, I don't know how people got through adolescence before the Smiths.
There must be some imprinting that goes on at that age. For me, it was also Furs, and I still remember the first time I heard the Pet Shop Boys (I can picture the room - I was 15). It was like someone had a direct line to my brain. Later I discovered the Smiths.
And now nothing else will do.
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