Thursday, July 1, 2010

But one of your answers was....

One of the cool things about summer is the weekly concert that the Today Show puts on each Friday.

A few weeks ago on the Today Show, there was quite a flurry. Well, was it a flurry? More like a sighting. No, not that either. What occurred on the Today Show today can only be described as a Beatle-like event.

Oh, do I wish that I was here to tell you that the Fab Four reunited (and in some cases rose from the dead) and re-debuted with Matt Lauer, but I'm not.

What I'm here to tell you is that a young man named Justin Bieber performed with his band, back up singers and dancers right on the 30 Rock stage. It was awesome to see the fans gather around this teenager who was singing his heart out. The best part was the young girls ('girls' used intentionally) reaction. They were absolutely glued to every word he sang. My very favorite girl was on the side (good standing area, but on the side right near the stage). Every time Justin came anywhere near this girl; and he came within 10 feet for sure; he'd reach his arm out similar to the famous Sistine Chapel art, and she would reach back.

Ah, it was that moment, that "please-just-please-grab-my-hand-and-the-world-will-be-perfect-because-we'll-be-together" moment that I loved best.

Why? Simple.

I was that girl.

Plainly put, I was that girl who thought that if my favorite singer of the moment, and there were a string of them, would swoop in and sweep me up, life would be practically perfect.

When I was 14 or 15, I got my wish. Sort of.

I was very lucky to have the opportunity to go watch a music game show called The Pop 'N Rocker Game be filmed fairly regularly. All the big stars of the day were on: Oingo Boingo, The Bangles, Motley Crue, Tower of Power, Huey Lewis & The News and Culture Club to name just a few. It was hosted by none other than Bowzer from Sha Na Na; but his real persona hosted, Jon Bauman.

So, I had an angel that looked after me and made sure that I was there for great performances. One day my friend and I were at a taping of the show and there we were minding our own business when Bowzer, um, Jon announced the name of the second band that was going to perform that minute (two performed one each show).

Side note - I'm a kid of the eighties, KROQ's (Roq of the 80's) heyday, KMET's great years (tweedle dee!) and the grand years of the Sherman Oaks Galleria (like totally fur sure!). I mean, Valley Girl and Fast Times at Ridgemont High were filmed mere miles from where I lived. So, when the 80's music came to fruition, I was right in there. I liked 'em all, really, but one more than others:

Sparks. They were the bees knees. To top it off, was sure that if Russell Mael (lead singer) married me, life would cease to have any problems whatsoever.

So, imagine my total shock and surprise when Jon Bauman announced that Sparks were right here on the very stage I was standing in front of!

I think my brain exploded inside my head. I know that every atom in my body clenched and then tried to head out via my skin. I simply, and in technical terms, freaked out.

There they were...Ron (my hopefully future brother in law) and Russel Mael. Russell was singing his heart out; and I knew, it was only for me. I was so clear about this that as soon as he came near me, that arm went out.

The same arm that girl held out to Justin Bieber. But!!! Unlike Justin who did not bring this girl any closer to her dream, Russell knew that I was there for him. I was there to be brought on stage to be with him.

And that is exactly what he did.

He led me up the stairs to the stage and there I was dancing my little heart out next to the man of my dreams.

But wait...who were these other girls? He led more than on of them up after me. Well, they were significantly incorrect if they thought that they were going to move in on my man, well they'd have to go through me to do it.

So I moved them over, ever so gently I'm sure, and kept my eyes on Russell. The song ended and I knew this was it. This was my moment for my big move. Do I propose outright? No, I didn't have a ring. Do I profess my love in words? No, we didn't have enough time. So I did what any smart, young woman on a mission to snag the one she loved would do.

I planted one heck of a kiss right on his mouth.

Right there, right on the kisser.

I don't regret it for one minute. It was, to that point in life, one of the greatest moments of my life.

Cut to 25ish years later and Russell Mael is on a radio show that Aha and I listen to. So what do I do?

Yep, I call in. And what do I ask?

Yep, did he remember me from 1984. I remembered him, why wouldn't he?

So, dear girl at the Justin Bieber show, keep holding out your hand for one day, someone will grab it. Then make sure to give them on heck of a smooch on the kisser. You'll never regret it.

You're going to take a walk in the rain and you're going to get wet.
I predict,
d.

p.s. Yes, it exists both on video tape and DVD. You can make your checks payable to me for a private viewing. ; )

1 comment:

  1. I know I saw it a million years ago the first time, but I wanna see it again!!!!

    ReplyDelete