Sunday, July 26, 2009

My Favorite Music

I love music. I've always been a "Top 40" radio guy.
I can count the number of albums/CD's I've actually went out and bought new.

I can remember the first 2 albums I bought.
The first album was my hero Elvis Presley. I was just 11 years old and ordered it from one of those TV commercials. It was COD (cash on delivery) and when the postman came to deliver it I was a few quarters short, but he was so nice and said not to worry, that he'd cover the rest for me. I think he could see how genuinely excited I was. :) The second album I bought was in 1978 at Tower Records; it was the soundtrack to Grease (I loved that movie!).


My favorite music is definitely from the 1980's. My high school years in the early 80's produced the best songs. Many good times and many good memories were made listening to those songs. Dancing to them at the many dances or singing along as I drove my car, these are some of my favorites:



1980
- Another one Bites the Dust by Queen
Celebration by Kool & the Gang
1981 - Let's Groove by Earth Wind & Fire
Super Freak by Rick James
Tide is High by Blondie
Woman by John Lennon
1982 - Billy Jean by Michael Jackson
Hard for Me to Say I'm Sorry by Chicago
Planet Rock by Afrika Bambaataaa & The Soul Sonic Force
Rock the Casbah by The Clash
Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye
We Got the Beat by The Go-Go's
1983 - Holiday by Madonna
Time after Time by Cyndi Lauper
True by Spandau Ballet
1984 - When Doves Cry by Prince

When students ask who my favorite musician is I usually answer Eric Clapton. He is the last musician I've seen in concert. He's a great artist but a lousy performer. He doesn't engage or interact with the audience at all. I saw him a couple of years ago at Budokan in Tokyo. The Beatles (another one of my favorite groups) were the first rock group to play there back in 1966.


Let me finish by saying I'll miss Michael Jackson.
I doubt if there will be a better singer/dancer in my lifetime. His music and his moves on the dance floor were electrifying. May he rest in peace.