I was definitely always trying to “fit in” when I was younger. I was an introvert for sure. Music was always there for me. I was never one of the popular kids, but who wants to peak in high school anyway? 🤣
I lived the music, the time and the sensibility and I believe everyone felt like you. You can curl back on the time and the feelings, so well, a gift now, a big load then. Your awareness created more than the age allowed Steve! But look how you put it to use. Love all this piece evokes and all it will make us remember in our own lives.
Finally got a chance to read some of your stories, great writing! This is very relatable to my own experiences as a teenager in high school, feelings of awkwardness and shyness. Lot of times I link my past experiences to songs also, I remember as a high schooler when I wasn't much of a doer but more of an observer. When I was a freshman and seeing some seniors across the quad, I would think about the song "IGY" by Donald Fagen, and the lyrics "what a beautiful" or "what a wonderful time to be free", thinking about what the future held as they left high school. When I got into a car accident in my high school's parking lot when I was a senior, I was really down and scared, but when me and the other driver found we were equally at fault, there was a song by Howard Jones at the time, "No One is to Blame", that struck a chord in me. In some ways these songs and others during my life really give me warm memories, and maybe a way to cope with the experiences I've had, some uncomfortable, some ok.
Thanks, Mike! Yeah it’s amazing how many songs speak to our younger selves directly as we become the people we become. Hopefully that is still true when you/we are older too.
Another masterpiece, Steve! First, while my early '70s high school life was no less lonely and insecure (and action-free), there's no way on this particular planet I'd ever write about it! It got to the point where I was writing in yearbooks (to those who asked, thank you....to both of you), "Sorry girls, he's single."
So, kudos for the guts I lack to even GO there! And, I'll say it again: You have the most creative 'Stack premise I've ever seen, and the writing skill to merge key Steve moments with songs that, clearly, actually resonated with you at the time!
I'd be remiss (and it'd be so un-Brad-like) if I failed to mention Joe's "Look Sharp" in my life. I was doing retail records in Houston in early '79 when it was released. I even got (I think it was a promo) a special 10", 2-disk "Look Sharp" with gatefold. It had a circular "dent" in the upper-left-hand corner of the jacket where a tiny, quarter-sized "Look Sharp" button was embedded!
I saw Joe that year as he rolled thru Houston during his LS tour. During his set, he somehow managed to sprain his ankle. Afterwards (as is my wont), I fell by backstage to wish him well and there he was sitting with his foot raised and ankle wrapped!
I was definitely always trying to “fit in” when I was younger. I was an introvert for sure. Music was always there for me. I was never one of the popular kids, but who wants to peak in high school anyway? 🤣
I lived the music, the time and the sensibility and I believe everyone felt like you. You can curl back on the time and the feelings, so well, a gift now, a big load then. Your awareness created more than the age allowed Steve! But look how you put it to use. Love all this piece evokes and all it will make us remember in our own lives.
Hey Steve,
Finally got a chance to read some of your stories, great writing! This is very relatable to my own experiences as a teenager in high school, feelings of awkwardness and shyness. Lot of times I link my past experiences to songs also, I remember as a high schooler when I wasn't much of a doer but more of an observer. When I was a freshman and seeing some seniors across the quad, I would think about the song "IGY" by Donald Fagen, and the lyrics "what a beautiful" or "what a wonderful time to be free", thinking about what the future held as they left high school. When I got into a car accident in my high school's parking lot when I was a senior, I was really down and scared, but when me and the other driver found we were equally at fault, there was a song by Howard Jones at the time, "No One is to Blame", that struck a chord in me. In some ways these songs and others during my life really give me warm memories, and maybe a way to cope with the experiences I've had, some uncomfortable, some ok.
Thanks, Mike! Yeah it’s amazing how many songs speak to our younger selves directly as we become the people we become. Hopefully that is still true when you/we are older too.
Another masterpiece, Steve! First, while my early '70s high school life was no less lonely and insecure (and action-free), there's no way on this particular planet I'd ever write about it! It got to the point where I was writing in yearbooks (to those who asked, thank you....to both of you), "Sorry girls, he's single."
So, kudos for the guts I lack to even GO there! And, I'll say it again: You have the most creative 'Stack premise I've ever seen, and the writing skill to merge key Steve moments with songs that, clearly, actually resonated with you at the time!
I'd be remiss (and it'd be so un-Brad-like) if I failed to mention Joe's "Look Sharp" in my life. I was doing retail records in Houston in early '79 when it was released. I even got (I think it was a promo) a special 10", 2-disk "Look Sharp" with gatefold. It had a circular "dent" in the upper-left-hand corner of the jacket where a tiny, quarter-sized "Look Sharp" button was embedded!
I saw Joe that year as he rolled thru Houston during his LS tour. During his set, he somehow managed to sprain his ankle. Afterwards (as is my wont), I fell by backstage to wish him well and there he was sitting with his foot raised and ankle wrapped!
Back to you! Again, well done, Steve!😊🎶🎵🎸😁👍
Thanks, Brad! I knew you would have a Joe Jackson story!