When I was a kid, I wished so badly that I could be a "rocker chick." Forget the fact that I can't carry a note, have two left feet, and play no musical instruments. I wanted to be a rock star. I often wondered if I couldn't just play something like the tambourine. After all, that's all Tracy did for The Partridge Family, and she'd managed to go on tour.
These women in bands were just so incredibly cool, weren't they? I loved Tina Weymouth of the Talking Heads and later of the Tom Tom Club. Pat Benatar, too. Grace Slick of the Jefferson Airplane was one of those cool hippie chicks and what a voice she had! Who wouldn't want to be like these women. I was star struck.
But then there were two who were in a league all by themselves. I didn't just want to be like them. I wanted to be them. The first of these was Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders. My wardrobe my entire senior year in high school could have been called "The Chrissie Hynde look," which means lots of black (hmmm, I haven't changed much since then). And then there was Deborah Harry of Blondie. Okay, I was already part-way there with Debbie Harry: I could be her without having to dye my blond hair.
Decisions, decisions today. Should I give you Blondie or The Pretenders? Blondie wins out (I'll save the Pretenders for a rainy day, if we ever have another one of those here), because I was dancing to the "Best of" last week (well, yes, I do dance in the privacy of my own home, or even at clubs and concerts, but don't expect to see me up on any stages performing for others). I have so many favorite Blondie songs, but this was the first video of theirs I ever saw (my introduction to "Top of the Pops," having just arrived in England and been invited over to my cousins' house to watch it). I saw Deborah Harry in this, and that was it. There was no turning back. She would become my idol for the next few years (who am I kidding? She's still an idol). Where are those fairy godmothers when you need them to come along and turn you into the woman you've always wanted to be?
4 comments:
there is some weird pat benetar vibe going around. its the 4th time I have seen someone write her name in the last 24 hours.
And yes. Rock chick dreams. yes, yes, yes.
Wow, I can remember when this was new on the radio.
Drummer Clem Burke was Elvis Ramone for about a week until the Ramones decided he just couldn't keep up.
Can you believe Deborah Harry turned 65 last month? That's some senior citizen! She's also a wonderful actress, I hope she makes more movies. As for me, I was hopelessly in love with Grace Slick who's now 70 (gulp!).
Bbb, I seem to recall reading something about her recently, too. Can't remember where or what, though.
Nigel, it was only yesterday, right?
Danny, and the only good thing about the Fairy Godmother not coming along and turning me into Debbie Harry is that I am still younger than she is. Although, if I had a Fairy Godmother, she could fix that whole age thing as well.
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