As a proud child of the 80s, I can say with confidence, that this particular decade was one of the best for music. So many genres filling the charts in a very talented and diverse way.
In the mid 80s, I was dancing around pretending to be Janet Jackson; with posters of Five Star on my wall. My mum would be listening to Freddie Jackson or Anita Baker in the car and life was musically good.
My grandparents liked Whitney Houston. Commodores, Kool and the Gang, Stevie Wonder and DeBarge were everywhere. ‘Who’s Zoomin’ Who’, had nothing to do with today’s tech, it was a catchy tune that was also in the air at that time; courtesy of Aretha Franklin.
1986 – Mum is getting ready to go clubbing with her friends. Dancing and getting dressed up, listening to ‘Saturday Love’ by Cherelle or ‘Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ on but the Rent’ by Gwen Guthrie. As a treat, a VHS tape was popped in for me to watch before I went to bed. Little did I know, that I would go on to watch that tape so much over the years. I would accidentally record over parts of it and eventually wear it out; to the point of having to replace it years later with the DVD.
Say what you want about my taste but that VHS tape was Breakin’ 2 – Electric Boogaloo. I loved it.
The first time I saw Ozone played by Adolfo “Shabba-Doo” Quinones, I was in love. The childhood crush situation was real. I had no idea he was actually older than my dad at this point, I just loved to watch him dance!
I have not seen that movie in 20 years, maybe more but the news at the end of December prompted clips to start appearing on line. Adolfo Quiñones, known professionally as Shabba Doo died on 30th December 2020. He was 65.
It’s sad when someone who reminds you so much of the good times in your childhood dies. It’s sobering. Makes me feel a bit old if I’m honest. It also made me watch that movie once again. Cheesy, corny, catchy and colourful. I smiled all the way through, feeling very nostalgic, remembering how simple things used to be.
It’s been a rough start to 2021 and I am currently in a funk that won’t shift. However, when those closing credits came up, I was up dancing in my living room just like I used to as a kid. It never fails.
So jump around in your sweatpants and smile! Embrace this brightly coloured 80s cheesefest! What else are we doing in lockdown?
Carol Lynn Townes – Believe in the Beat