Have you heard the news – Huey Lewis is on Apple Music! Talk about “Back to the Future” vibes, listening to him and the selections he plays is like stepping into a time warp. It was a tumultuous time for me, late teens/early 20’s when music meant so much. It was social, it was fun, it was melancholic, it bonded me with friends, it was romantic (will get to the mixed tape playlist that solidified a certain someone as a keeper, in a bit…)

As mentioned in a previous post, I have been checking out our high school Facebook group of late as there seems to be activity likely prompted by the fact that we can go NOWHERE, and don’t do much but sit with our phones, our screens, our music. There’s a common theme there too, with people posting mixed tapes selections of back in the day; listing who the defining bands were. I have hesitated there, as I figure my playlist would out my age. I did comment how amazing it was though, when someone listed the incomparable Kate Bush on their list. I had to post a funny – I was asked recently to interview a candidate with this name, I told my colleague that was so cool to have such an iconic name. My colleague had no clue who I was talking about – I felt way old. Here is a bit of melancholy…

Since I discovered Huey’s podcasts, I’ve taken to listening while I work. I had forgotten (because, see above, old) that the Go-Go’s had featured so heavily in my high school turntable. Jane Wiedlin showed up to chat about what they had been up to and I can’t wait to see the documentary that they recently took part in. How could I forget that I would jump up whenever “Our lips are sealed” came up on the radio or during a dance.

Or “Rock Lobster” by the B52’s – is it just me or did we not all bop around and then slowly flop to the floor during “down, down, down, “… to pop up again and continue jumping around. And do you remember this song?

I loved “Missing You”. Played it over and over, not only because it was a great song, but probably because it came out during a period of my life when I was going through break up make up cycles. And the video impressed me because it depicted an interracial relationship without any usual Asian stereotypes – just a relationship. I suppose back then it wasn’t such a thing. (I ultimately made up but with a different pale guy who I hadn’t yet met, a few years down the road…)

My high school 80s go-to bands – The Police, GoGo’s, Foreigner, Duran Duran, Pat Benetar, REO Speedwagon, Queen, Cheap Trick, Styx, Human League, Haircut 100, Journey, Split Enz, Culture Club

My uni go-to bands – Duran Duran, Simple Minds, U2, Tears for Fears , Depeche Mode, Simply Red, Madonna, Paul Young, Eurythmics, The Smiths, OMD, The Cure, Suzanne Vega, REM, INXS

I know I have missed lots of great music. Thank goodness for the internet’s better memory.

So the mixed tape offerings that determined a more permanent evolving playlist showing that the couple that listens to music together, stays together?

In Between Days – the Cure

Save a Prayer – Duran Duran

Something by David Sylvian – Brilliant trees I think …

Bringing it back to today, there is a Canadian band who is still doing their thing, fronted by an awesome talent, Alan Frew, who I have started following on Social Media since this COVID thing started. I’ve also seen Alan solo at a few corporate gigs in the late 1990s early 2000’s when I fangirled pretty hard backstage one time (I seem to recall anyway…).

We saw Glass Tiger live in concert just last year with Corey Hart of the sunglasses at night – another Canadian treasure. And Flock of Seagulls. (Remember concerts? We were supposed to see Journey, Pretenders, Hall and Oats and Squeeze this year. Sheesh.)

Anyhow, Alan goes on IG live most Sundays, for an hour conversation, a little bit o music, good conversation, catching up on the COVID situation, having a few laughs, usually with beer/wine in hand. I love this guy. He’s been through a lot, a stroke, breaking his neck (OMG!). But I love his music even more these days. So does my husband.

So on Sundays, we hit rewind with Alan and the crew on IG. We haven’t forgotten, and so glad that these guys are totally rockin’ it and still around.