The 500 - #488 - Husker Du - New Day Rising

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

My plan. 

• 2 records per week & at least 2 complete listens.
• A quick blog post for each, highlighting the important details and a quick background story.
• No rating scale - just an effort to expand my appreciation.

Album # 488

Album Title: New Day Rising
Artist: Hüsker Dü
Released: March, 1985
My age at release: 19
How familiar am I with it: Not at all
Song I am putting on my Spotify Mix: I Apologize
Great Lyric:
"Now the women scream for equal rights,
And man wants to have an affair
Children learn to hate the world
No one seems to care
Now the kids play vids instead
Their heroes living on Wonder Bread" (Folk Lore)

My friend Steve and I used to joke about Hüsker Dü long before we had ever heard a note the band played. We just loved to mock bands that used unnecessary German umlauts in their name. Consequently, we would always exaggerate the names of these bands whenever we referenced them, just to make each other laugh...

Hooosker Doooo, Moootley Cruuue, Blue Oooyster Cult, Motooorhead, QueensrYYYcKKe.

I'm almost sure I made a "Husker Doo? More like... Husker Don't" joke too...we were teenagers in the 80's and easily amused.

Granted, Hüsker Dü has a good case for the use of the metal umlauts - it is pronounced Hoosker Doo and not Husker Duh. 

The joking certainly did not mean we didn't like these bands. We liked every one of them in varying degrees. Although, Hüsker Dü was certainly the one with which I was least familiar. I can remember some being played at a few events or in the cafeteria when I was in university - but I did not own a record until Bob Mould released Copper Blue with his band Sugar. That CD sent me on a journey backward to re-discover Hüsker Dü. 

I'll be honest, the earlier thrashy-punk stuff didn't really land with me at the time. As I have gotten older, I have learned to appreciate more of it and I certainly understand its importance culturally. This album is from a time when the band was starting to incorporate more melody. It is pretty easy to see a through-line from New Day Rising to Nirvana's Nevermind.

I listened to this album twice while starting to write this post and it wasn't working. I found it distracting and the dark lyrics didn't match my buoyant mood. Then, earlier this week, I put it on while at the gym. It helped me plow through a 30 minute elliptical workout and I quickly added a few songs to my "Workout Mix". It makes sense. This isn't a record for a happily married, employed fifty-three year old. This is a record I should have discovered when it was released...when I was 19, angsty, single and working a series of mind-numbingly boring jobs.

Things I learned

•  Fans thought this album was a "sell-out". Only a young person would think to use that expression (and I was equally guilty in my youth). Looking back, I know I was just fearful of change and growth.
• All three members are vocalists - I had always assumed it was just Bob Mould.
• The band's name comes from a 1950's Board Game.

The Power of the Six Word Story

In my previous post I highlighted the activities that I introduce to "front-load" the launch of a 10+ week unit using the first season of "Lost".

The Six Word Story Lesson is not my idea originally. Like most great ideas I have, I adapted it after attending a free workshop presented by my Board called "LitCon".  I would love to give credit to the presenter, but I have lost the original slideshow and can not remember her name.

This is an activity I would encourage all teachers - Grade 4 and up - to introduce to their students at the start of the year. There are so many positives to this exercise because it seems deceptively easy at first. Share an idea using only 6 words. Students love the idea that they "won't have to write much" but; they quickly realize that, "a parsimonious narrative cleverly taxes intellect."

The creator is forced to tinker with language and explore the thesaurus in an effort to maximize the impact of 6 words. To make things a little easier, I introduce the activity using a Collaborative Google Slide. This serves a few purposes...

• It allows students to use backgrounds, fonts, images and gifs to help support their story.
• It lets them see what their friends are doing in order to help inspire them.
• It allows them to share skills (like using .png images or uploading a .gif) without the necessity of a lesson on each.
• It provides me with a way to give feedback during the activity - by using the comment feature on the side.

I have presented this lesson about ten times and the following slide always generates an interesting phenomenon.

Some of the students will sigh sadly and even utter an "oh no."

Immediately, an other group will say ..."What?"

"The baby...died." 

"No it didn't. They just didn't use the shoes and they are selling them."  

I love this moment because I always get to say... "You can have either story. That's up to you. But, let's look at the punctuation and see if it adds to the tone of this text." 

This is a great opportunity to talk about the power of punctuation. It is a way of showing the impact the colon, comma, quotation marks and period have in this sentence. I have joked that many new writer's use of punctuation looks as if they have sprinkled pepper on their page. This is a great activity to help them see the impact it can have.

We will revisit this activity later in this unit. However, if it was introduced in September, it could be used throughout the year.

1. To demonstrate understanding of a new math concept or as an exit ticket in math class.
2. To summarize a chapter from their independent reading or from the class read aloud.
3. To share their feelings at the end of a gym class, a school assembly, their weekend or to recap the school week.
4. To pose a question about a topic in Science or Social Studies.

Have you got any ideas? Share them with me and I'll gladly add them to this list and give you credit. If you happen to know who presented this at TVDSB LitCon 2017, I'd love to give her credit.

Teaching Transition

Two years ago, around this date, I learned that I had successfully applied for the role of Instructional Coach with my school board (TVDSB). I was excited. It was a change that I needed and it has not disappointed. I have loved working in this role.

• I have been provided with exceptional professional learning opportunities.
• I have been immersed in a collegial environment that is highly-engaged, richly-positive and forward-thinking. 
• I have been given a shelf full of academic texts on a wide range of valuable subjects (literacy, mathematics, visible learning, leadership, etc.) and been provided with time to absorb & discuss them.
• I have worked with dozens of passionate & dedicated educators in every elementary school grade (JK-8). Together, we have discussed pedagogy, created learning opportunities, witnessed student growth and made valuable mistakes. 
• I have worked with 6 different administration teams and have a better understanding of the challenges they face and the different methods they use to approach Professional Development & School Culture.

Most educators will tell you that they get slightly better every year. This opportunity has fast-tracked that experience by at least ten years and I know I am better prepared for my own classroom than I have ever been.

About a week ago, I learned that all teaching members of our board's Learning Support Services (LSS) would be declared "surplus" and would be returning to the classroom. Ontario is going through some changes as the relatively newly elected Progressive Conservative government continues to place it's stamp on education - including budget cuts. Consequently, I have been asked to prepare for a return to a classroom in September.

I am fine with it. I'd be happy to continue as an Instructional Coach for another year but, I am also excited about the prospect of having my own group of students. My seniority level is high, so I am fortunate. I should be able to secure an interview for every available position to which I apply. 

I have been thinking about my priorities so that I can zero-in on a situation that is best for me, and therefore my future students.

• No portable - I want a classroom. My frustrations with portables have been well documented. This is a non-negotiable, I'll give up many of the other priorities to guarantee myself a space in a classroom (with space, cupboards and a sink).
• Good access to technology. I'd like to have access to a class set of Chromebooks for 60-100 minutes a day. I'd also like 6-8 permanent Chromebooks in the room ...and a couple IPads.
• As a one car family, it is important that my school is either walking distance or on a bus route near my home (with no transfers required.) I live near downtown - so this opens many options.
• Air conditioning in the school would be nice.
• I think I want to return to Grade 8 or Grade 7/8.
• Alternately, I think I could make a difference in Grade 5 or 6 particularly in mathematics.

There are so many other factors that might swerve me in a new direction. Teaching with other coaches or former colleagues who I know will make great partners is certainly something that could make me re-think my priorities.

Regardless, I know I need to head into this with a plan. I only have a few years left and I want to maximize my impact. 

Here's the thing about teaching Health Education

I have been an educator for over 20 years and I love what I do.

Sure, there are subjects I enjoy teaching more than others. 

• There is nothing like reading an engaging novel to a room full of excited 10 year-olds who are hanging on to every word - covering their mouths as Virginia tries to escape the Troll King's lair before he makes her "dance" with the red-hot metal shoes baking in the fire. 
• There is also the challenge of convincing a group of disengaged Grade 7 students that calculating unit rates comparing Gillian & Ryan's potato prices is actually important.  

I've been in both situations many times. One is certainly more preferable to the other. Especially because Virginia does escape...with the help of the Half-Wolf!

When it comes to the Ontario Health Curriculum, current Minster of Education Lisa Thompson is promoting a familiar refrain: "Parents are the experts" when it comes to teaching their children about sex-ed.

I agree - in a perfect world - this is absolutely true. 

In a perfect world, every child would return home from school to a safe, healthy, happy environment where balanced meals, screen-viewing limitations and dental hygiene were always part of their evening ritual. Sure, those homes exist in abundance but, sadly these situations are not universal. 

This is the reason why we teach

• Grade 1 students about the difference between caring and exploititive behaviour.
• Grade 2 students about healthy eating & the dangers of prescription medicines.
• Grade 3 students about Oral Health & the impact of fictional vs real violence.
• Grade 4 students about the dangers of tobacco, smoking & the safe use of technology.
• Grade 5 students about alcohol & the changes that happen during puberty.
• Grade 6 students about cannabis, addictive behaviour and self-care.
• Grade 7 students about mental health & body image.
• Grade 8 students about Sexually Transmitted Diseases & the impact of violence.

Here's the thing about teaching Health Education...

• Ideally, parents would take responsible for all of it and teachers would have more time to focus on the other subjects.
• I know that "Your Kid" might not need to hear these things yet but...

"It is not about "Your Kid" - It's about Kids." 

Right now, there are kids in every one of those grades who desperately need the information about exactly the topics that I have listed and that our curriculum addresses. They need caring adults to help guide them through these crucial times in their lives. Fortunately, they have them because ... collectively, we know best.  

The 500 - #489 - Kiss - Destroyer

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

My plan. 

• 2 records per week & at least 2 complete listens.
• A quick blog post for each, highlighting the important details and a quick background story.
• No rating scale - just an effort to expand my appreciation.

Album # 490

Album Title: Destroyer
Artist: KISS
Released: March, 1976
My age at release: 10
How familiar am I with it: Very familiar - but haven't listened through it in years.
Song I am putting on my Spotify Mix: Detroit Rock City
Great Lyric:
"My uniform is leather and my power is my age,
I'm getting it together, to break out of my cage.
Cause Flaming Youth will set the world on fire!" (Flaming Youth)

At nine years old, walking through the "big kids hallway" at Jack Miner Public School, I saw her coming toward me - a Grade 8 girl - tall, blonde and both pretty and frightening.  She was one of the "tough" girls that Juniors, like me, were wise to avoid. She dated high-school guys who could beat you up. In reality, it felt more likely that she would be the bigger threat - likely adding verbal humiliation to a beating she was more than capable of delivering. The character of Kim from the television series Freaks and Geeks looks as if she was cast with this girl in mind.

So, there's me, Grade 5 prey, walking down the hallway...alone...toward an obvious predator. I tried, unsuccessfully, to avoid eye-contact, but my vision was drawn to her T-shirt and the letters printed aggressively across the middle. 

I had no idea that this was a band. I legitimately thought she was being intentionally brazen. Thoughts swirled through my adolescent head. 

Was she bragging that she "kissed" people? 
Was she daring boys to kiss her?

"Why don't you take a picture, it'll last longer!!" she barked, snapping me out of my temporary trance as continued her strut down the hallway. (That was a popular expression in the mid-seventies, so I assume that is what she said.)

It wouldn't be long before I knew that KISS was a band. Well, more than a band - a cultural phenomenon. They wore make-up and giant platform boots. They had a guy who might be a devil-worshiper, who breathed fire and regurgitated blood. Much like the blonde in the hallway - they were an intoxicating mix of scary and fascinating. It was a heady cocktail for a pre-teen audience. 

By the summer of 1976, KISS were ubiquitous, even in the sleepy, Ontario town of Kingsville. I can remember finding KISS records in the small department store (I think it was a Woolco) in the neighbouring town of Leamington. I know I asked if I could have ALIVE II when it came out and was shut down by my mother as soon as she saw the cover. I'm pretty sure I got a K-Tel Super Hits compilation instead - I do know it had Rich Girl by Hall and Oates on it.

Truth be told, I was never a big KISS fan. When they were popular, I followed along with my friends and I know my brother and I went out as two of them for Halloween one year. I liked a few songs here and there but, as I developed my taste in music, they fell to the wayside. My 70's aesthetic went more toward the progressive rock sound - Styx, Kansas, Supertramp, E.L.O. and my big obsession Rush. Sadly, I got in the habit of dismissing music that I deemed "too simple". It was a temporary phase and I now look back apologetically for being such an insufferable prig. 

Destroyer was fun to revisit. It immediately transported me back to the 70's and wood paneled basements where my friends would "crank it up" on their parent's stereo systems. The deeper cuts on the record resonated more powerfully for me, likely because I haven't heard them since the 1970's. I picked Detroit Rock City for my Spotify mix because that opening guitar riff brings me great joy and it's always better to pick a song where Paul sings.

I've never seen KISS in concert - I hope to remedy that one day. I love a big show, and I know that KISS will always deliver. The make-up is such a deceptively clever idea - the band never ages. I've even heard Gene say that they will eventually replace themselves when retirement arrives...so KISS will live on forever. 

I wonder if the hallway girl is still a fan? 

Lost - Front Loading the Experience

In my last post I talked about launching a cross-curricular unit through subterfuge. I intentional build anticipation by telling students that I am in the process of "getting permission" from the Principal/Superintendent in order to do run a "Mystery Unit". Immediately after March Break, the teachers and I are revealing that the unit is built around the first season of the 2005 television series "Lost". The genesis behind using this unit, and relaunching it as a coach, is in this post from 2018.

I do need to justify over 20 hours of television watching. Consequently, I am keenly aware of the need to make tangible curriculum connections. I often suggest to colleagues that it is treated more like an interactive read aloud - full of intentional stops for discussion, debate and writing challenges.

This year, most of the students are in Grade 7, so I have detailed all of the expectations (over 25) from the Language Curriculum and have detailed them in this table.

The goal in the weeks leading up to the reveal is to front-load information that will maximize the viewing experience. The following activities are in the process of being completed. I'll expand on each in future posts.

• Six Word Stories
• Multiple Intelligences are explored through a series of quizzes from the Smart Options Workbook. Introduction Here
• Lightning Talks using important terms from the series - eventually building a Fluid Word Wall on Padlet with a 6 Word Story GIF made on Giphy.
• The True Colours Quiz. (This one is optional - but really well received if there is time to do it.)
• An introduction to Blogging with Blogger.
• An introduction to Edmodo as a social media platform for sharing ideas. 

The students have been doing terrific work. They are eager to find out why we are doing all this stuff - but they are participating and completing tasks with a sincere effort. 

In my next post, I'll share more details on each of these activities.

The 500 - #490 - ZZ Top - Tres Hombres

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

My plan. 

• 2 records per week & at least 2 complete listens.
• A quick blog post for each, highlighting the important details and a quick background story.
• No rating scale - just an effort to expand my appreciation.

Album # 490

Album Title: Tres Hombres
Artist: ZZ Top
Released: July, 1973
My age at release: 8
How familiar am I with it: Limited exposure - a couple songs.
Song I am putting on my Spotify Mix: Jesus Just Left Chicago
Great Lyric: This isn't really a "lyrics" album

ZZ Top (or Zed Zed Top as they are known in Canada  ;-) came on my radar in about 1979. I was living in Kingsville, Ontario and got two great radio stations - WRIF (The Riff) and WWWW (W4). The latter being best known as the station Howard Stern famously quit when it switched a Country format in 1981.

I'd like to say that I remember listening to Stern. I know I must have; I just wasn't paying attention to the names of DJ's. I was singularly obsessed with rock and roll music at that time - I'd be about 13. I had a small transistor radio with a cassette-recorder built into it. If I timed it right, I could make great mixed-tapes just recording the radio.

Cheap Sunglasses was the first ZZ Top song I knew and loved. It's still a great song and it always transports me back to that time in my life. That discovery was followed shortly after by Tube Steak Boogie which was catchy and fit perfectly in my 13-year old comedy sensibilities. Who am I kidding? Double entendre and juvenile innuendo still make me smile.

In 1983, ZZ Top exploded on to the popular music scene and their songs were ubiquitous. It was during a time when videos were king and ZZ Top were in constant rotation on MTV and MuchMusic. They had the right blend of campy comedy, cool cars, beautiful girls in skimpy outfits and uptempo rock and roll. If you haven't seen it, the video for the song "Legs" is like watching an abridged version of every 80's teen-romance-comedy. You've got to admit, they knew their audience and maximized their impact in the small window where they were at the top of the charts.

I enjoyed listening to the album Tres Hombres. I was only familiar with the song La Grange, but I enjoyed the whole record. It isn't my favourite music, but I can understand the appeal. For me, ZZ Top is like Mumford and Sons. I love a song in a mix, but I wouldn't choose to listen to a whole album.

In 2013, they played in my hometown. Billy Gibbons visited a local used record shop and bought a few hundred dollars worth of vinyl. My neighbour was an employee working that day and said he was quiet, but wonderfully generous with his time with fans who recognized him. He happily signed all the ZZ Top records in the store at the request of the manager.

Things I learned

• The band has had the same three member line-up since 1969 - a 50 year working/artistic relationship - that is impressive.
• Billy Gibbons began his musical journey as a percussionist and was sent to New York City by his father to train under Tito Puente.
• For years, Gibbons wore a braided cloth hat instead of his trademark Stetson. In turns out he met the Chief of the Bameleke people from Cameroon and the two swapped headgear. 

Professional Wrestling and the Romantic Lie.

For the past four weeks, I have been working with four classes of Grade 7 & 8 students at 3 different schools. 

About 100 kids ... and I have been lying to them all.

I have been preparing them for a "Mystery Unit" about which "I am not at liberty to share information" because ... "I am in discussion with both the Principal and Superintendent in order to get permission to try this experiment". 

I do provide the following information...

• It is an incredible unit that they will find rewarding and engaging.
• It requires a high level of independent work and they get to be the stakeholders in their own education.
• Therefore, it requires a level of maturity (that I know they possess) but....
• the Superintendent and Principal are cautious - and need to see the evidence.
• So we are going to do some activities that show them how effectively we can work at a high-school level.
• All will be revealed after the March Break and ... fingers crossed...we get the Green Light! 

Almost everything I have told them is true. The three month, cross-curricular unit I have planned has always proven to be rewarding and engaging. It also provides students with multiple opportunities to share their voice and engage in rich debate through Class Discussions, Blog Writing & Flipgrid posts - shared between classes through the Social Media platform Edmodo.

My only fib is in the mystery I have intentionally created around the big reveal...truth be told...the unit has already been green lit, and will be launched when they return from March Break.

Even if you are not a fan of Professional Wrestling, you have likely heard of promoter Vince McMahon of the World Wrestling Entertainment empire. He, and his team of writers, have perfected the tricks originally developed by promoter, huckster and eventual politician PT Barnum in the late 1800's. 

This formula in current wrestling parlance...

• Hint at possibility - Tease
• Create mystery - Create an Angle 
• Build suspense - Generate Heat
• Deliver - Get Pop & Put the Face Over
• Sustain through Surprise - Swerves, Heel Turns & Face in Peril 

Dress it up in the outlandish costumes & over-the-top pageantry and you've got a billion dollar empire.

There is a reason that this approach lands with kids. It's too much to get into here - but there is a lot to discover in the works of anthropologist & philospher Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) and educational theorist Kieran Egan (1942- ), particularly his 1999 book Children's Minds, Talking Rabbits & Clockwork Oranges.

Herbert Spencer and Kieran Egan's 1999 Book

In a nutshell - early teens are typically in a state of Romanticism (just like the period) and both could be summarized as

• Showing delight in the exotic (especially the supernatural)
• Putting emphasis on individualism.
• Revolting against convention.
• Evidencing rich imagination.
• Having an intense interest in self-inquiry.
• Resisting order and reason.
• Celebrating transcendent human qualities (particularly redemption).

I guess this was a long explanation to justify my lie. I am a liar with a noble purpose (talk about a Romantic notion). I hope to set these students up for a highly engaging unit that they will find rewarding. I am also confident that they will become better thinkers and communicators by unit's end. I intend to document the journey here. Hope you can join me.

The 500 - #491 - Albert King - Born Under a Bad Sign

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

My plan. 

• 2 records per week & at least 2 complete listens.
• A quick blog post for each, highlighting the important details and a quick background story.
• No rating scale - just an effort to expand my appreciation.

Album # 491

Album Title: Born Under a Bad Sign
Artist: Albert King
Released: August, 1967
My age at release: 2
How familiar am I with it: Limited exposure - a couple songs.
Song I am putting on my Spotify Mix: The Hunter
Great Lyric:
The very thought of you and I forget to do
The little ordinary things that everyone ought to do
I'm living in a kind of daydream, I'm happy as a king
And foolish though it may seem to me that's everything

For the first time in this writing journey, I have encountered a record and an artist about whom I have no connecting stories. I suppose I should have seen this coming. I also don't think this will be the only time.

I will share that listening to this record was delightful. It reminded me so much of The Blues Brothers - the film that first exposed me to this genre. In retrospect, Aykroyd and Belushi accomplished something remarkable with that film. At the age of 14, I went to it because I was a big fan of comedy and Saturday Night Live. I left with a love for the music of Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Cab Calloway and John Lee Hooker.  

There are some great tracks on this record. I like that some of the songs are flat-out dirty. He was clearly a scoundrel and wasn't afraid to boast about it. I've always been a fan of puns and clever word play. The lyrics to The Hunter or Crosscut Saw are pretty elementary and King didn't write them - but you can really get the sense that he is fun loving and incorrigible. Give it a listen - the songs are short and energetic - most are under 3 minutes in length. It is considered the seminal album that modernized the blues and King's guitar playing was an inspiration to some of my favourite players - Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix.

Things I learned

• His nickname was The Velvet Bulldozer
• Booker T, Donald "Duck" Dunn & Isaac Hayes perform on this record.
• He was a very large man - over 6' 4" and 250 lbs.

The Canadian U

I am going to have to relent...and technology is to blame.

I have tried to be a Canadian spelling purist.

• I throw an axe
• I catalogue information
• I attend the theatre
• I write a cheque

Most importantly, I respect the sanctity of the "ou' union. When I write about my neighbour who, rumour has it, harbours resentment about my labour.

When working on a computer, I have learned to accept that an unrelenting algorithm will always impose a red underline beneath each transgression. A scarlet ribbon of shame - bullying me into relenting. 

I honour it with good humour: for this is the colour of the (Canadian) flag I must bear.

However, sadly, I am slowly relenting on my Iphone and I think there is a conspiracy. 

My phone's predictive text algorithm has shut me out. This, despite its ability to learn so many new words - in particular my friend's nicknames and schools at which I teach.

• I type Lu...it offers Lumpy
• I type Tha...it proffers Thamesford
• I type Jim...it suggests JimmyQuick
• I type Ox...it proposes Oxbow
• I type Ce...it pitches Ceaser

However, if I type the word favourite ... it offers me ...favorite. It stoically refused to default to my preference. 

I have switched my keyboard dictionary to Oxford English (UK). That has not solved the problem. 

There is a part of me, the stubborn part, that wants to continue to correct each instance. There is a part of me, the practical part, that realizes, it doesn't really matter. I need to accept the inevitable, after all,  

• language is malleable (cheque or check will soon be obsolete) 
• automation is relentless 
• it really doesn't matter - as long as my message is clear.  

The 500 - #492 - Eurythmics - Touch

I was inspired by a podcast called The 500 hosted by comedian Josh Adam Meyers. His goal, and mine, is to explore Rolling Stone's 2012 edition of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. 

My plan. 

• 2 records per week & at least 2 complete listens.
• A quick blog post for each, highlighting the important details and a quick background story.
• No rating scale - just an effort to expand my appreciation.

Album # 492

Album Title: Touch
Artist: Eurythmics
Released: November, 1983
My age at release: 18
How familiar am I with it: Pretty well, not the deeper cuts.
Song I am putting on my Spotify Mix: Right by Your Side
Great Lyric:
"Well in the morning
When our day begins
And it feels like cold cold steel
And when the sun comes up
It's like a new commotion"

(No Fear, No Hate, No Pain (No Broken Hearts)


1983 was a pivotal year for me. I was 17/18 and had achieved a unique level of independence - I was a typical middle-class, suburban Canadian teenager who... 

• had a driver's licence & regular access to a vehicle.
• had a lot of disposable income, because I had multiple jobs (some seasonal, some annual) and I still lived at home.
• only needed to do "okay" in school - because university applications we're at least a year (maybe more?) away.
• knew people who could buy beer...when I got carded trying.

It really is a sweet-pocket and I didn't thank my parents enough for letting me exist within it ... for a little longer than I should have.

The bonds of friendship are powerful at that age. They don't always last...but the stories sure do. I am lucky. I am still very close with two friends from those days. When we get together we can be insufferable. Our wives smile politely as we revisit familiar stories, some of which have, over time, moved from romantic recollection to dramatic hyperbole. 

Another friend, with whom I have since lost contact, made a sudden move back to England during this year when his separated parents attempted to reconcile. It seemed he was gone forever, but it was only a few months.  When he returned, in the Spring of 1984, he had been changed by the difficult experience. He never really was the same kid I had met near the start of high school. 

His grief was somewhat assuaged by his passion for music and his new knowledge of "music from across the pond". I remember he was the first to introduce me to Eurythmics and the song Here Comes the Rain Again long before MuchMusic (Canada's MTV) was even a station and the video played in annoyingly heavy rotation.

At the time, this song possessed a revolutionary sound that made everyone immediately take notice... the thick, synthetic bass line, the strings and, of course, Annie Lennox' unbelievable voice. It was as if the Brits had created a new genre. We had heard Synth-Pop and New Wave and the New Romantic - this was different. Much like Lennox, it was a captivating contradiction ... drawing you in while still keeping you at a distance. On his podcast, Meyers compares her to David Bowie. I think there is a lot of truth in that... Lennox was androgynous yet feminine, powerful yet vulnerable, stylish yet unfashionable. It was singular and riveting.

It was fun to revisit this record. I know most of it fairly well and I know I had a copy on cassette at one time. As you might expect from this writing - it transported me back in time. I think I have represented that period faithfully ... although, I did earlier admit that I am increasingly becoming an unreliable narrator.

I chose the song Right by Your Side for my Spotify mix. Although it is easy to dismiss as "of it's time" with the 80's drums and synthy-hand-claps. I am a sucker for a great horn section and really like Dave Stewart's guitar playing on this one. The steel drums, trumpet flourishes and baritone saxophone make this a surprisingly optimistic departure on an album that is otherwise mournful and gloomy. 

Give it a listen in your car to start your day - It'll do the trick!