Good morning, Granbys! Today is Jan. 3, 2012; there are 363 days left in the year.
We all have them. The songs that we are supposed to hate, but secretly turn up when no one else is home or in our cars. We have quick explanations for them when our friends find them on our MP3 players (“My 8-year-old nephew downloaded the Brady Kids’ “Sunshine Day” because he really likes the song!”) Me? I listened to classic rock in high school and college – Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin – mixed in with some heavy metal of the day, such as Metallica, Queensryche and Guns & Roses. So, being a closet ABBA fan would have killed whatever game I had, which wasn’t much to begin with. As I got older, I gravitated to the mopier stuff, like the Counting Crows, while keeping my affinity for classic rock and heavy metal intact.
But I’ve grown weary of the secrets I’ve kept these long many years. So, with that in mind, here’s my top 5 songs that I’m embarrassed to admit that I like:
5. Step by Step (Artist: New Kids on the Block) – Kids, before there was ‘n Sync and The Backstreet Boys, there was NYKOTB. I’m not lying when I say I love this song. No foolin’. The following was typed from memory: Step One – we can have lots of fun, Step Two – there’s so much we can do, Step Three – It’s just you and me, Step Four – I can give you more, Step Five – don’t you know that the time is right?! Huh!
4. MMMBop (Hanson) – [The scene: A support group for addicts] Hi, my name is Ted and I like the song MMMBop. (Chorus of people) Hi, Ted! Fact: Admitting I like this song may cost me any chance I ever get to date again. So be it.
3. Dancing Queen (Abba) – ZOMG! I love this song. Fact: My life is bereft of joy because I have never felt the beat from the tambourine. Actually, I don’t even know if that’s possible. But man, my car becomes a 1970s disco when this song comes on.
2. Oops! … I Did It Again (Britney Spears) – Three words for you: Red. Leather. Suit. True story: I once told my friends back in 2000 that if Britney Spears asked me to marry her, but that I had to cut off all ties to my buddies, that I would have to think about it. I’m no closer to reaching an answer now than I was 12 years ago.
1. Love Story (Taylor Swift) – I know the lyrics to this song – word for word. Sang ‘em the other night at a sushi bar when the song came on over the restaurant’s music feed. Lost a friend over the incident. So worth it. (Standard The Granbys Patch Disclaimer Concerning Taylor Swift: There is absolutely NOTHING creepy about a 40-year-old man having a crush on a country singer barely in her 20s. Nope. Nothing creepy at all. Nothing to see here people. Move along.)