From Zero To 60, Part 3:

Ten Songs From My ” Twenties” Years

Over the summer, I invite you to join me by celebrating a song from each year to the present. These 60 songs may not all deserve 10’s on our TNOCS scale, but they all mean something to me. And I look forward to sharing them with you.

Part 3:
In our 60-year timesweep, we’re up to the early 1980s.

It was the decade of the megastar.

And several of them are represented this time around as I move through my 20s.

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1983:

I bought MJ’s “Thriller” despite the first single, rather than because of it: “The Girl Is Mine” still ranks as one of the biggest wastes of major talents. (I’ll admit I like “Say, Say, Say,” though.)

Still, the first time I heard the follow-up, I knew we were in for something big – although I had no idea how big. Every party from January through June included this rccord, “Wanna Be Startin’ Something,” or both in its mix. Every time, people stopped talking and started dancing.

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1984:

Those same parties featured “1999” and “D.M.S.R.” (usually Michael provided the warm-up, and Prince, the follow-through). By the time “the Prince movie” came out, we were primed. Never mind how ridiculous Apollonia was, nor how Prince and his band’s charisma covered a lot of acting flaws.

“Purple Rain” not only was a must-see and must-play, but a must-buy for our new videocassette players. As for the song itself, I grabbed a 12-inch version on purple vinyl and still cherish it. Why ever listen to the 45?

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1985:

This is where most of TNOCS and I part ways. I guess most object because they assess it as a song – sappy lyrics, repetitive chorus, etc. The first time I heard it, I knew it was an experience. Where else would you hear Willie Nelson, Dionne Warwick, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder on the same track? The call-and-response between Stevie and Bruce gets me every time I hear it.

Our consumerist society put its “buy now” mentality to an altruistic purpose, with significant effect. When I analyze this record, I use a different metric – because it deserves one. Always a 10 for me. 

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1986:

Whitney and I were born the same month and year, and I remember being aware of that early on. I never felt that way about Michael Jackson, Madonna or Prince, though they were only a few years older. Although her torchier songs made her seem older, this track from her debut captured all the excitement and insecurities of young adulthood. That she made it seem fun was all the sweeter.

I also loved the video, for all its dorkiness (Whitney dances as well as I do, another part of why I loved her). And its shout-out to aunt Aretha at the end is the icing on the cake. 

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1987:

I don’t recall when I bought Winwood’s biggest-selling album. It might have been when “The Finer Things” came out. (Often, if I liked three singles, I bought the album, for convenience’s sake.) I remember how much I also liked the tracks that weren’t singles – “Wake Me Up on Judgment Day,” “My Love’s Leavin,’” “Split Decision.”

I remember thinking the first time I heard this song, “Why didn’t they release this as a single?” Then, when they finally did, I was shocked it didn’t go Top 10. Maybe it was too adult for Top 40. And on the edge of 24, was I?

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1988:

If Winwood had me thinking I was old at 24, his fellow Brit put that to rest. Or did he? As much as I enjoyed bopping around to Astley’s debut, I found myself spending more time listening to “It Would Take a Strong, Strong Man” or his take on “When I Fall in Love.”

Oh, well. If I were to embrace being an adult contemporary fan (or, really, just acknowledge it … Looking Glass and Michael Johnson, anyone?)… best to have a cute baritone as my guide.

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1989:

Personal charts don’t lie. This song debuted in late September 1989, as the destructive relationship I once detailed on the mothership was developing. At the time, I focused on Sharleen Spiteri’s main line. Within six months, I’d realize the wisdom of the bridge:

“You don’t even care about what I’m saying
You don’t even think what you’re doing
All you see is what you want it to be
There’s just no room in there for me.”

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1990:

First loves can be great, awful or a bit of both. It’s all the stickier when “first loves” don’t turn out to be that. By summer 1990, it had been half a year since that relationship ceased. As I was still in the same job, “letting go” was easier said than done.

Jude Cole’s second hit seemed to put my every thought to music, and as I sang along throughout the fall, I found myself feeling better each time the song ended.

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1991:

After the drama of 1989 and 1990, it was fun to dig into songs that let me just sing along. Mariah Carey’s “Best of My Love” knockoff “Emotions” did that, but Bonnie Raitt’s slow burner was even better. It was from a great album, “Luck of the Draw,” the second of three straight from Raitt that dominated my stereo for half a decade.

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1992:

Unlike the song from 1989, this choice is happily coincidental: It was already in the Top 5 on my personal charts the week I met the man who is now my husband.

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Next time:

Building a new home…

The roots of a marriage…

…and a shock to the world.

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