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The songs reclaim my fame

April in GlenwoodApril E. ClarkGlenwood Springs, CO Colorado

Hearing songs can be like flipping through a Rolodex of memories – some bad, some good. I’d like to preface that thought with an impersonation of me during a night out dancing Saturday with a college roommate in Breckenridge.”Ooohh, this is my song from Purdue!” hearing this rap one-hit wonder from the ’90s called “Ditty,” by Paperboy, that I used to have on tape.”My all-time favorite song!” I exclaimed, clapping my hands together like a kid playing Patty Cake as “Pour Some Sugar On Me” began.”This is my favorite Billy Idol song ever,” I announced, as “Dancing With Myself” echoed on the dance floor.Apparently I have a song for every occasion – and a story to accompany it.Much like Vh1’s show “Behind the Music.”

Except I haven’t lost everything to a crazy coke habit. And my parents haven’t written me out of their wills.”You had about six songs last night,” commented my friend, the next morning.This prompted the question of why females hear a song and, like a therapy session, the memories gush like a Senate staffer’s blog post.These long-harbored memories may or may not involve a long, hard night of drinking, a dance floor or stage, and losing a favorite article of clothing or expensive accessory. To a current boyfriend’s dismay, a song from the past can also trigger recollections of making out with a lacrosse player on Spring Break.I recommend keeping those memories to yourself – or within earshot of a best girlfriend. Guys can be so sensitive.The best way to observe this adult version of the Memory Game is to watch – and overhear – a group of women on a Girls Night Out at the club. A bachelorette party is perfect for this behavior, but those can be hard to find around here. In that case, a road trip to Grand Junction might be in order.The theme-song phenomenon goes something like this:Old song: “Funky Cold Medina,” by Tone-Loc

Instant memory: “Remember the time we ate both worms from that tequila bottle and rode greased pigs bareback through that bar in Tijuana? We were so sore the next morning.” Actually, I just made that one up.Old song: “Bust a Move,” by Young MCInstant memory: “Remember the time we were hot tubbin’, I slipped on that ice patch and went flying through the air as naked as the day I lost my virginity? I think there was a full moon that night …”Old song: “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” by Frankie Valli and The Four SeasonsInstant memory: “Remember the time we were skiing in Michigan and we were at the hotel bar and you pretended to have a boyfriend to scare off that creepy guy and you kissed what’s-his-name? Then you ended up marrying him, he became a professional paintball player, and you eventually got divorced because he didn’t know the boundaries of the playing field. Girl, those were the days.”Old song: “YMCA,” by the Village People, “Macarena” by Los del Río, and “Electric Slide,” by Grandmaster SliceInstant memory: “Remember the time we were on that cruise and the morning after tying one on, we were eating pizza in the dining room and we saw ourselves doing line dances with the Carnival cruise mascot? So many mystery bruises that night.”



Old song: “Creep” by RadioheadInstant memory: “Remember the time that football player you were hanging out with in college was wasted and climbed up to our second-floor balcony and was yelling your name and banging on our glass door? Good thing for him we didn’t live on the fourth floor.”Song: “You’re the One that I Want” by Olivia Newton-John and John TravoltaInstant memory: “Remember the time … wait, I just forgot what I was going to say. Who wants shots?”That last one rarely happens. I may not remember boyfriends’ birthdays, dentist appointments, and what I did with my cell phone or car keys, but I never forget a song.And a story to go along with it.April E. Clark doesn’t remember the song on the radio the first time she played Kissing in the Closet during her formative middle school years. She’s blocked it out. She can be reached at aclark@postindependent. com or 945-8515, ext. 16601.


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