Why the Go-Go’s Matter to Me

Posted inAmerica, Columns, Music

A number of years ago, I went to the mall to purchase a CD. I only had the songs I wanted on cassette and wanted to upgrade my collection.

After I handed the disc to the clerk at the register, he sighed. Now this was no sullen teenager bothered by some older guy’s nostalgic purchase. This guy was at least my age, maybe older. This will sound mean, but he looked like the guy they would cast in a movie about a 35-year-old guy who worked at a music store in the mall.

While he finished the transaction, he looked down at the CD and said, “Well, I guess some things never come into style.” Yes, this was someone I was willingly giving money to telling me that my taste stunk.

I don’t think I said anything. Maybe I was stunned. Maybe I was in a hurry. But most likely, I really didn’t care what Record Store Guy thought about my purchase of the Go-Go’s Greatest  Hits. I knew the songs were awesome without his input.

More Go-Go’s

Posted inMusic
My column for this coming week focuses on the motivations and meaning of the Go-Go's concert I saw last week. That will post on Tuesday. I wanted to talk a…

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Posted inColumns, TV

Something remarkable happened over the past nine months. I went an entire television season without wanting to break up with any of my shows.

This might not sound that remarkable, but I have managed to shed at least one show each of the past few years. Over time, I have found myself incapable of sitting through most one-hour dramas. That meant shows like “Desperate Housewives” and “Grey’s Anatomy” slid off my radar the past few seasons.

I tried to focus most of my entertainment energy on sitcoms. Thankfully, the networks have responded by cranking out more and more funny shows. That, of course, led to another dilemma. Will I have time for all these shows in my life?