Amassing Street Cred All Over the Place

Twice in the past week I have heard this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAKyHhuw1HA by the band Scandal. Fun fact: lead singer Patty Smyth is now married to John McEnroe. Scandal isn't really one of those bands you hear about a lot, not even in an ironic Flock of Seagulls way, but I've always enjoyed their music. One of the benefits of having a young mom who eschewed Raffi and the like was listening to Live 105 on the way to kindergarten, so this was the kind of stuff I could sing at age 5. "Baby Beluga" was for suckers; I knew all the words to "Rebel Yell."

The bouncy tune and hysterically cheesy video mask an excellent break-up song. Hearing it twice in the span of five days and life being what it is at the moment, I took it as a sign that I needed to post it here for everyone's enjoyment. It's stuck in my head right now, and you all get to suffer, too. It may become my new karaoke go-to. It's about time I expand the repertoire from "Sweet Caroline" and "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart " (for duets). Also, I do a mean back-up moan on "Bust a Move" which I just know makes my Grandma proud.

The video made me laugh out loud. It's so low-budget and simple. It's not that different than the one I made at Great America years ago with a friend, lip synching to Paula Abdul's "Straight Up." I'm not sure what is my favorite part: Patty Smyth's dance moves and earnest facial expressions, the keyboardist's hair or everyone's outfits. Ah, I know: it's the eyeshadow. Definitely the eyeshadow.