This is Your Brain on VH1

OK ya'll. If you are expecting deep thoughts, you have come to the wrong place today. I just got done watching five--yes, count them 1, 2, 3, 4, 5--hours of VH1 Classic. (Well, I watched it last night--when I started this post.) I really couldn't help myself, they were counting down the top 100 songs of the 1980s. Hello. What could be better than that? Well, watching it with a ten-year old. That's what. Because what kind of trip down memory lane isn't enhanced by comments made by someone who is younger than some of my shoes. What? You think I'm kidding? Au contraire, mademoiselle. See for yourself.

Hour 1 of the 100 Greatest Songs of the 1980s brought such hits as "Down Under," "Working For the Weekend," "Walking on Sunshine," and "Everybody Have Fun Tonight." It also, however, brought Debbie Gibson's "Only in My Dreams." Oh, come on. You remember that song, don't you? Because I do. Apparently, I still know all the words. And, that prompted the ten-year old to ask, "What is this??" As if it was sub-standard music or something. OK, OK, maybe you can't argue with everything the ten-year old says.

But, during hour 1 of my 80s lovefest, we also heard such classics like "Addicted to Love," "All Night Long," "Ain't Nobody," and "Rock Me Amadeus." (Oh, yes, Falco's in the house). We also heard "Word Up" which, of course, prompted me to waive my hands in the air like I didn't care. I even did it in time with Cameo. And, my awesome display of insyncness prompted this question from the ten year-old, "How do you remember that dance from over twenty years ago?" Please hear me. *Clearing my throat loudly.*

During hour 2, we heard more musical classics such as "Candy Girl," "Call Me," "99 Luftballoons," "One Thing Leads to Another," and the queen of the break-up mixed tape, "I Want to Know What Love Is." We also heard "It Takes Two," and you may have noticed that I have a soft spot in my heart for old school rap. The ten-year old, however, was neither impressed with my rapping ability nor my ability to pantomime spinning the turntables.

As an aside, I was pleased to see that the ten year old had somewhere along the way learned the lyrics to "I Love Rock N' Roll." Well, at least to the chorus. And, I'm sure that would have made Joan Jett proud.

Hour 3 of my lovefest brought songs such as "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)," "Fight for Your Right," (I *heart* Mike D. I know I do because it is written all over my algebra notebook), "London Calling," and "Total Eclipse of The Heart." We also heard "Mickey" which, of course, prompted me to do an impromptu cheerleading routine. I even included a couple of cartwheels to which the ten-year old responded, "Mom, are you sure you should be doing that? You might hurt yourself." *Clearing my throat loudly.* After catching my breath, I said "I'm not gonna take it." And, then I did my best Dee Snyder impression. It would have worked better if I had longer hair or had been wearing a lot more makeup. A lot more makeup.

Hour 4 contained even more wonderful songs from the 80s. We heard a little Wham with "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go." We also heard "Love Shack," "I Melt With You," "Too Shy" (Because who doesn't love a band that's named Kajagoogoo), and "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." But when the Cure's "Just Like Heaven" came on, W. asked me, "Mom, are you a goth?" Um, no. Even though I do where a lot of black. But that has to do with the size of my hips. And, I'm pretty sure that goths didn't exist, at least by that name in the 80s, did they? But, more importantly, how does a ten-year old know what a goth is???

Finally, hour five. Yes, the top 20 songs from the 1980s. Because we all wanted to "Walk Like An Egyptian" while we "Walk[ed] This Way." And, I would still do that "With Or Without You" even though "Billie Jean" is not my lover and even though I'm "Hungry Like the Wolf." When they announced the number 1 song of the 80s, W. asked me, "Mom, why are you jumping up and down, yelling so loudly." Because. Because that's what you do when Jon Bon Jovi is on TV. Oh, yes it is. I've been doing that since 1986. And, I'll keep doing it for as long as I'm able to jump up and down. Because I *heart* *heart* *heart* Jon Bon Jovi. What about you? What band did you *heart* in the 80s?