2008 Woodie Awards
On Beat: Remembering my favorite radio hits
Julia Conny
Arts | 4/13/08
Holed up in my middle school bedroom, listening to Z104's "Top five at 5," I unraveled a pubescent love for radio sensations.
By my stereo I sat, flipping through pages of Teen People, pretending to read "The Diary of Anne Frank," and swallowing up whatever top hits the radio would feed me that night. I could learn to like anything.
Like Baz Lurhmann's "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)." Remember that wild chart-topper, the motivational spoken word ditty? Laid out like a graduation speech, it was Luhrmann's way of telling us, the total Millennial Generation, to stop worrying, enjoy the moment and even floss.
Or who could forget "The Boy Is Mine," the Monica and Brandy duet moonlighting an escalating catfight between the two songstresses.
The song was 1998's second most popular single of the year, right behind Next's "Too Close" and followed by Shania Twain's "You're Still The One," Savage Garden's "Truly Madly Deeply" and LeAnn Rimes' "How Do I Live." But why do I even care?
Because I'll never forget these songs. It's ironic the more I think about it. I consider myself, with an air of bashful pride, a music elitist.
Sometimes I'm sorry for this, and I'm sorry for anyone who happens upon this enthusiastic path.
It's not to undermine the worldly opinions of others. It's just that, in one day's span, I listen to a lot of new artists and albums. Every moment is a new hook, chorus, guitar riff or atmospheric tangent. The music I regularly play, I'm convinced, is the best on the market.
Yet, a week, month or year from now, I'll probably forget what these songs even remotely sound like.
Staying power is nearly non-existent, particularly when I cast them next to songs like 1998's one-hit wonder "You Get What You Give" by The New Radicals or Shaggy's "Boombastic." What I remember, as what I've internalized since the late '90's and what I've dubbed my "radio days," are these hits.
This middle school soundtrack is permanently embedded in my musical make-up.
By my stereo I sat, flipping through pages of Teen People, pretending to read "The Diary of Anne Frank," and swallowing up whatever top hits the radio would feed me that night. I could learn to like anything.
Like Baz Lurhmann's "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)." Remember that wild chart-topper, the motivational spoken word ditty? Laid out like a graduation speech, it was Luhrmann's way of telling us, the total Millennial Generation, to stop worrying, enjoy the moment and even floss.
Or who could forget "The Boy Is Mine," the Monica and Brandy duet moonlighting an escalating catfight between the two songstresses.
The song was 1998's second most popular single of the year, right behind Next's "Too Close" and followed by Shania Twain's "You're Still The One," Savage Garden's "Truly Madly Deeply" and LeAnn Rimes' "How Do I Live." But why do I even care?
Because I'll never forget these songs. It's ironic the more I think about it. I consider myself, with an air of bashful pride, a music elitist.
Sometimes I'm sorry for this, and I'm sorry for anyone who happens upon this enthusiastic path.
It's not to undermine the worldly opinions of others. It's just that, in one day's span, I listen to a lot of new artists and albums. Every moment is a new hook, chorus, guitar riff or atmospheric tangent. The music I regularly play, I'm convinced, is the best on the market.
Yet, a week, month or year from now, I'll probably forget what these songs even remotely sound like.
Staying power is nearly non-existent, particularly when I cast them next to songs like 1998's one-hit wonder "You Get What You Give" by The New Radicals or Shaggy's "Boombastic." What I remember, as what I've internalized since the late '90's and what I've dubbed my "radio days," are these hits.
This middle school soundtrack is permanently embedded in my musical make-up.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Shonda
posted 8/14/08 @ 2:42 AM EST
You are right.. This summer 1998 Was the best summer of my life and all those memories are tied up with these amazing songs.. Thanks for helping me remember some of them!!!
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