Earlier today I talked to some people at work who made me feel like I was getting old. Then I talked to someone else my age and realized I’m just weird… which I’ve always suspected anyway.
The topic of conversation was this: over the weekend I turned on commercial radio for the first time in a long time. It was one of those named oldies stations that seem to be the rage right now… Dave, or Bob, or Attila, or whatever. One of the first songs to come on was—get this—a remix of Tarzan Boy, by Baltimora. When I told the youngsters about this, they looked at me like I’d just grown hair.
You’ve never heard of Tarzan Boy‽ That was out in 1985! When you were… oh, right. Well, do you remember the Listerine commercial from a couple of years ago where the bottle is swinging on a vine through the jungle? No? Umm… Hey Barry, you must remember Tarzan Boy! By Baltimora?
I turned to the other guy in the group of similar age.
Come on, Barry, you’ve heard it… Woody Boogie? Oh come on, next you’re going to tell me you’ve never heard of Pac-Man Fever either. Oh man, you’re killing me… the album sleeve had patterns for the game? It was huge, guys, honestly! There was a song about Berzerk, and Defender….
Fortunately at this point one of the group took pity on me and admitted to having owned an Atari 2600; Defender was one of his favourite games… when he was 5.
Sheesh.
Tomorrow they’re all getting an education. I’m bringing in my copies of Living in the Background (the Baltimora album) and Pac-Man Fever. Classic music like that must be passed on through the generations.
Jungle life
You’re far away from nothing
It’s all right
You won’t miss home
Take a chance
Leave everything behind you
Come and join me
Won’t be sorry
It’s easy to survive