The Worst Of The 80's Revisited: Pop Goes My Heart

I caught the romantic comedy Music & Lyrics on television last week and in an altogether guilty pleasure, I actually enjoyed it - sort of. It starred Drew Barrymore and - wait for it - Hugh Grant, as an aging pop star who writes music, not lyrics.

He's on a road to nowhere until he meets Drew, who can't write music but - wait for it again - CAN write lyrics! Can you guess where this is going?

The fun part, though, was that the script includes this music video (as the opening credits) for what was supposed to be his band's big hit from the 80s - and it's a little beauty. I've played it at least once a day for a week!

Pop Goes My Heart

Note:

• the Scandinavian-type pronunciation by the lead-singer (echoes of A-ha)
  
• the wonderful synthetic percussion beat (& punch in the air) after "Pop" &
  
• the wonderful bubblegum frivolity
  

Love it!

Tubby Travelers Soon Too Big To Fly?

This 400 lb tubby traveler, Okamani Fa, trying to get to his uncle's funeral was told that he was too big for a one seat ticket on a Southwest Airlines flight and had to purchase a second ticket.

However, because of limited seats because of fewer flights during the recession, there wasn't another seat available and he was eventually refused passage.

Tubby Travelers Soon Too Big To Fly?

Is California Dreamin' The Most Memorable Pop Song, Ever? Part 1

Wow, that comment hit me out of the blue! I was doing a little research on The Momma's & The Poppas, watching California Dreamin', when I read one of the youtube comments that claimed something like "California Dreamin' is the most memorable song, ever. I mean, who even hears Yesterday, these days."

Is California Dreamin' The Most Memorable Pop Song, Ever?

So, that got me to thinking. Did the comment have merit? Well, California Dreamin' is certainly memorable but is it the most memorable, though?

I guess that very much depends on your definition of the word "memorable", so, in this particular post, I'll define "memorable" as "defining a moment in popular culture".

Here's part 1 of my (hopefully) chronological list from my era:

1. The Beatles / She Loves You - Beatlemania 1
   
2. The Beatles / I Wanna Hold Your Hand - Beatlemania 2
   
3. The Beach Boys / Good Vibrations - Surf grows up
4. The Mommas & The Poppas / California Dreamin' - The "nice" side of Hippiedom
5. The Young Rascals / Groovin' - Sixties Romance
6. Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower - Sixties Freaks
7. Waterloo Sunset / The Kinks - Swinging London
8. Scott McKenzie / San Francisco - Hippies
9. Richard Harris / MacArthur Park - LSD goes mainstream
10. The Beatles / Revolution - Revolution in the air

and there's more to follow!

Why?

Goodness me! I have no idea how I found this video but I did. The question I ask myself is a Zen-like "Why" reverberating into the universe about so many of its aspects.

Why?

WTF?

Uhhh!

Why