So here’s the scene – It’s twenty years ago. I’m sitting in my room, watching 120 Minutes on MTV. All of the sudden a voice booms out of my little 13″ TV yelling “Hey you! Don’t watch that, watch this…” I didn’t pay too much attention till the music started, but as soon as it did I was riveted. I felt like I had just been smacked in the face with a giant fish made of awesome. I was glued to the set until the end of the song when the song and artist blurb came on and told me just what I had been listening to. I went to bed that night repeating “Madness, One Step Beyond” over and over so I wouldn’t forget. First thing the next day I went out and bought the cassette. It is still one of my favorite albums.
Have you all ever had this happen? When you hear a song for the first time and your brain immediately empties all thought except “HOLY CRAP, THIS IS THE BEST THING I’VE EVER HEARD!”
27 replies on “LTP: 4/15”
Michael Jackson’s Thriller. I remember the buzz of excitement in my community when it came out. We didn’t have MTV – South Africa only got TV in 1976 – so we watched the video cassette, which included the “making of” feature.
I remember thinking that the video and the song was the best thing, EVER. I was entranced. You need to understand, this video was such a big deal that people gathered together at someone’s house for group viewings. You were pretty much defined by how many times you’d watched the entire video, including the “making of”.
And then came the jheri curls, the red (p)leather jackets, stovepipe trousers with white socks and black shoes. And of course, The Glove.
Good times.
Other than that, pretty much every song I listened to in the 80s made me go “OMG, that song is the BEST!”.
they might be giants! nuf said
So many, like the first time I heard “Eleanor Rigby” as a little kid. The most recent one was Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep”. Her voice kills me. Definitely the first time I heard Fiona Apple’s “Extraordinary Machine”, which caused me to seek out the album of the same name and then everything she’s ever recorded, leading to dozens more of these moments. Others: “Come Alive” by Janelle Monae, “Cosmic Love” and “Drumming Song” by Florence + the Machine, and somewhat oddly, “Bad Things” by Jace Everett (aka the True Blood theme song).
Also “Cherry Bomb” by the Runaways. I’m sure I’ll be coming up with examples all day.
I LOVE “Bad Things.” When I did this poll, I made a note to do one about theme songs that I would put on my iPod in the near future because there are some really good ones out there nowadays. I believe one of the reasons I liked Psych so much the first time I saw it was the theme song.
Oh man, this has happened to me so many times (I’m a music person though, so music tends to mark all the important milestones in my life). When I was 10 and saw Madonna’s “Lucky Star” video this is how I felt. Others: Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (obvious, I know, but to a 16-year-old in 1991 it was amazingly powerful) and the same year, Teenage Fanclub’s Bandwagonesque album. Sonic Youth’s “Dirty Boots.” Belle and Sebastian’s “Get Me Away From Here I’m Dying.” Many, many more.
Dating myself here, but “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” by the Beatles. My parents had a console speaker that was probably 4′ x 6′, and I sat with my ear pressed up against it. That was an explosion of awesomeness!
120 Minutes! I loved that show. After MTV started going downhill, 120 Minutes and Beavis and Butt Head were the only way to see decent videos.
MMMBob is a fun song, there’s no need to apologize for loving it .
I hope you don’t get into any trouble for the headphone faux pas, because I will be laughing for the rest of the day about your coworkers hearing “Hey You!…”
OK, I meant that to be a reply to Ruby, not a comment all by itself. I feel sheepish. Baaa
You all have such awesome taste in music. I can’t wait to follow up on all the songs I haven’t heard before.
This one is really tough … there are so many.
Shadows of a Dove – After All (Holy Crap it’s on YouTube! Usually Google returns nothing for it!)
Just Like Heaven – The Cure
1979 – The Smashing Pumpkins
The Con – Tegan and Sara
A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left – Andrew Bird
Call and Answer – BNL
I Will Give you Everything – The Skydiggers
There’s way more … it seems I either bond immediately or not at all. :)
I missed linking Andrew!
A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left
This is how I first learned about Andrew Bird, and it was definitely a Holy Crap! moment. Especially since it was on a show for pre-schoolers.
Dr. Strings
It’s the lyrics that tend to grab me … and he is a damn fine lyricist!
I think I got the earliest one though!
One Night in Bangkok – Murray Head
Although possibly …
Major Tom – Peter Schilling
Aaahh – why is this so hard!
I will never forget being a 10 year old little kid and hearing Ghost Town for the first time!!!
WOW
Oh man, I remember watching the premiere of Michael Jackson’s Remember The Time at my friend’s house on MTV. I was 9. I just remember thinking that it was the coolest thing ever because it was the little mini-move and it was just so neat. I also remember thinking that it was so cool that it was the premiere, I was watching the first time anyone had ever seen it and I felt so special.
I felt pretty special watching the premier for “Thriller.” It was a big day on MTV
In 1997, I did alot of this. Heard alot of songs on the radio and then went and bought the CD. Some I continue to like…. Some not so much. Alot of times, in high school and in College, I saw a guy wearing a band T-Shirt and that is how I discovered a band… One that I really liked was Bad Religion. My 120 Minutes video was Ghost Town by the Specials, I had to find that. In highschool the Violent Femmes ” i hear the rain”, I had to have that too. Ok, back to work.
RHCP – Californication. OMG, so goddamn good.
Gaga’s Fame Monster
Kanye’s newest one with the ridiculously hard to remember title. It was the SNL performance that sealed the deal.
Also, two local bands that you should all look up. I saw the first at a small show and bought the album the next morning. I heard the second on a local radio program and after tracking down their name, bought their album for myself and a friend. Helio Sequence and Stars of Track and Field. Find them, love them.
I’ll try out Helio Sequence and Stars of Track and Field if you try Elsinore and We Landed on the Moon.
Deal. :) I’ll add them to my list right now.
Yep, I bought them. (I’m also going to send them to the little brother off at college – amaze him with my knowledge of cool music)
My nephew said “Yeah, Helio Sequence is ****ing epic.” [To which his mother responded, “You’re not allowed to think anything is ****ing epic because you’re not allowed to say those words.” His response? “Then you haven’t heard them.”]
I’m giving them a listen as soon as I have a working computer at home.
Your nephew is correct and in this case, the use of those words is very necessary. :)
the Clash- Rock the Casbah
RX Bandits- Taking Chase as the Serpent Slithers
Florence and the Machine- Dog Days are Over
All of these things came to me via the local college radio station (WTUL), and this has remained my favorite station throughout my life due to what it has given me. I may not actually be a cool person, but I can sure as hell rock with the best of ’em.
I forgot to plug my headphones in before watching this, so I got some very strange looks from coworkers.
I was thirteen, and it was Hanson’s MMMBop. Hey, I was thirteen!