Friends, it is called New Jack Swing.
You see, in seventh and eighth grade, 2 of my 3 sisters [well done, bex] and I, though brought up in suburbia, were thoroughly convinced we were black. On my first day of school in eighth grade, I remember exactly what I wore: purple jeans, a looney tunes t-shirt, a Charlotte Hornets windbreaker, and, yes people, my pride and joy: a pair of Deon Sanders shoes. Did it stop there? No friends. Despite having long hair, the bottom 3 inch section above where the hairline meets the neck was completely shaved. If I was feeling creative, I would shave lines or lightning bolts or my initials into this palette of rebellion. I shaved lines into the hair coming around the front part of the ear. And the bangs. Good lord the bangs. Two sections, always. The bottom portion rolled into a perfect circle with the curling iron and set meticulously halfway down my forehead. The top section was rolled backwards and then-- dear, sweet Jesus-- FANNED to one side (the right side, duh) and tightly secured with Aussie Scrunch Spray. Smells like grapes! Now guys, I know this sounds really hot but sorry to disappoint because I was already dating someone. Every suburban wigger needs a black boyfriend and I was no exception. His name was Marvin and he would call something like 57 times a day, always during dinner when we weren't allowed to answer the phone. I will admit at this point that, though our phone love was totally intense, I never actually met Marvin. One time after a softball game, he was pointed out to me across the parking lot. Now, still to this day whenever the phone rings and the person doesn't leave a message, the girls will say, hey Annie, Marvin called.
Assholes.
But the music. Well, I certainly loved Tevin Campell, what a heartthrob. Color Me Badd rocked my angry adolescent world. I UNDERSTAND THE PLIGHT OF THE BLACK MAN. Seriously, what is wrong with me. Other all-time favs included:
Boyz II Men
ABC
BBD
Wreckx-N-Effect (is in effect and I'm the wrecker)
SWV
Bobby Brown
En Vogue
Jodeci
Oh man, did we love Jodeci. "Forever My Lady" and "Stay" were probably the first songs I ever loved. So that's my very long-winded answer to the "most embarrassing cd you ever bought" question: Jodeci's "Forever My Lady"
K-C, Jo-Jo, you'll always have a place in my heart.
Ok, who wants to play a game?
If you can tell me what "ABC," "BBD," and "SWV" stand for, you will receive not only public congratulations but something else to be determined. I'm going to France in a couple hours so you can also choose your own prize. I'm not mailing any frog's legs, though.
2 comments:
Matt said...
Another Bad Creation, Bel Biv Devoe, and Sisters With Voices, schmobvs.
annie said...
i hear beyonce on the radio...
congrmatts, what do you want from france for your prize?