When I was about 16 or 17, I bought a button for my jean jacket that said, 'If it's too loud, you're too old!', with a picture of a cartoonish bear holding a big boombox type radio. It was kind of cheesy, but the sentiment still holds true. And, although I bitch about being 27 years old now... I must doing all right because I still love to listen to music I really like, Loudly.
I don't really turn my radio up here in the apartment often, for a few reasons... I don't want to bug Savannah with it, there is a fairly old lady living above us, and I don't want to upset her. So, now, the only time and place I can really enjoy eardrum-busting volume levels of music is when I'm alone, driving in the car.
Maura decided she was going to come over for a while on Sunday, and so I volunteered to go get her, instead of having her take the train up... It's one of the only chances I really get to drive a bit, other than going grocery shopping and the like here close to home. And, it's one of the few times I get to drive down into the city, and marvel at how gorgeous I think the big buildings and streets are downtown.
Of course, there are a lot of parts of Atlanta that are not pretty at all. But the wannabe urbanite in me, loves the big buildings. I'm still such a hick, I guess.
Anyway, Sunday afternoon was beautiful. The weather was warm and sunny. And I decided I would make it a little adventure to drive down to Little 5 Points to get Maura. I got a few CDs together, and found the car cd player. I got myself a cool beverage, and headed off to pick up Maura.
The CDs I brought were a lot of my old favorites. I have funny tastes in music, I think... And, most of what I've actually bought in the past six years or so that Wallace and I have been together have been 80's compilations.
I brought an 80's cd, which included She's A Beauty by The Tubes, circa 1983. I don't know what it is exactly about that song, but it always reminds me of warm sunny days. I think it's because I remember being on a Lot of amusement park rides that liked to play it. And I love listening to it loudly, driving fast on GA400, with the windows down. I sing along with it, and love feeling the wind in my hair.
I also brought a cd that Wallace doesn't much like at all, called Only Rock 'N Roll - 1990 to 1994. It has a lot of dance-type of music, really... including People Everyday by Arrested Development and I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred.
And then, to cleanse the palate, somewhat, I brought along, Halo Four - NIN - Sin Long, Dub & Short. Which of course, includes three different versions of my absolute favourite NIN song, sin, plus the remake Trent did of Queen's Get Down, Make Love. And actually, sin is one of my most favourite songs of all time... I always feel awesome when I get done jamming out to it.
So, here I am, blasting my NIN through my open windows in my little black Sentra, dancing around while I'm listening... then driving through a not as pretty neighborhood, to get to L5P. There were quite a few African American men, walking on the sidewalk, getting a real kick out of the little long haired white girl, jerking spasmodically in her car to Trent Reznor. Dear gods.
So, when I picked up Maura, she told me she had a headache. And then I was feeling bad, because I still wanted to listen to loud music. She told me, that was great, and that it would help her to wake up. So, I convinced her to go get her Ricky Martin cd. And whatever else she thought would be fun to bring and listen to in the car...
Yes. I can't sit still when I hear Livin' La Vida Loca... Don't hate me. The video is very sexy too.
I try to play myself off as sooo cool, and so very alternative most of the time, when really... I'm a total pop music slut. I'm admitting it. I can't seem to help it. I do love some alternative type music like NIN and some Violent Femmes and some Radiohead and Green Day... but, I'll take the Backstreet Boys or Britney Spears a lot of the time too.
Please don't try to picture me dancing and singing with ...Baby One More Time. Don't do it, because believe me, it scares the hell out of me too.
So, there... I've said it. I'm sure your image of me is squashed. I'm just a poser. And I probably like that Top 40 song on the radio right now.
But, I'll usually only listen to it loudly when there's no one else around...