“I can’t seem to find Funkytown on Google Maps.” bumper sticker wit
It is probably difficult for Millennials or Gen Z-ers to imagine, but there was once a time when one could pump gas or buy groceries without listening to music.
Alas, that time has passed. And, because of this, so has any illusion that there is even a scrap of youth left in me. The oldies music piping so cheerily from speakers just everywhere is my music. The music of the ’80s. The music of my youth. The music from when I actually cared about the Top 40.
It kind of crept up on me. There’d be a song from Michael Jackson’s Thriller playing at the girls’ orthodontist and my foot would start tapping. Then, there’d be a Eurythmics song at the grocery and I’d realize I knew all the words — even though I didn’t particularly like the Eurythmics back in the day. (Annie Lennox was kind of scary.)
Now, I have to admit, I occasionally rock out in the privacy of my car while I am waiting for our daughters to show up after some event somewhere. I just make sure I turn the volume way down and the radio way off before they are within 20 feet. It’s unseemly for a woman of my age to be wiggling in her seat and singing along to the Go Go’s “Vacation.”
There is a downside to all this nostalgia, however. Songs of one’s youth trigger memories of one’s youth.
An example? Corey Hart’s “Sunglasses at Night” conjurs the clearest and oddest image of walking out the door of an ice cream shop with my two best friends and a date. I was young, I was in like and I was bubbly happy. That’s nice enough. But, what’s with the “sunglasses at night” thing? Was one of us wearing them? Was the song playing? Who knows?
Another song, Wham’s “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” reminds me of dancing (badly) in front of a curtain printed with hideous blue and pink roses, egged on by a pack of girl friends who knew of my star crush on George Michael. Again, who knew?
It occurs to me that memories of my church-girl youth, while far from perfect, are probably more innocuous than some of my peers. Or those who are older. Or those who are younger.
Truth is, no matter how goody two shoes we were or are, we’ve all fallen short of God’s best for us. And, Satan, our ever-present adversary, will use whatever he’s got to make sure there’s “always something there to remind.” That includes music from way back when.
We might not be able to turn it off or even tune it out. But, we can remember what God says about the sins of our youth (or any other age) whenever Satan attempts a total eclipse of the heart.
If we’ve already turned from these sins and are living in grace and faith, they are as far away as the east is from the west, as deeply buried as if they were tossed into the ocean. And, if we haven’t yet said goodbye to sin, we still can. The God who really does watch every breath you take is still in the forgiving business.
So, take joy … and don’t stop believin’. 😉
Nora Edinger -- JOY Journal 
Reblogged this on Blue Dragon Journal.
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Thanks, Eliza!
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Hi!! Oh the memories….you took me back to my high school days through some of the songs you shared as well. ☺
To be honest, I don’t think I even understood some of the lyrics I was singing along too until much older and now I shudder. Live and learn.
It does take me back to prom, first dates, and life with my mom before she passed away of cancer when I was 18.
I really enjoyed this post. Thank you for sharing
BTW, I’m class of 1990! 😆
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Thank you for reading! 🙂 I know what you mean about the lyrics. A lot of them blew right past my teenage self. Blessings on your day!!
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Great post. Still, pushback is hard sometimes 😒
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Even King David felt it — and he was a man with a heart that made God smile. We just have to keep plodding along. 🙂
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Great article and that picture👌
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🙂 The picture makes me laugh. I think I was listening to a Walkman, which was high tech of the time. Oddly, I didn’t actually have a Walkman, so this one wasn’t mine.
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Oh that’s very interesting. Have a great day, God bless you! 😊
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This is a wonderful post, enjoyed your journey, a flashback to the past. Good music, micro computers at our fingertips. Your right, we all sin, fall short, yet we are Loved by God.
So thankful for God’s grace, and mercy. His unconditional Love reigns, Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice redeemed by Love. Forgiven, made Free.
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Free, indeed!! 🙂
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Amen. God Bless You!
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The 80s, fun times.
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They were, but I think I actually prefer being older. 🙂 More of life’s questions have been answered.
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I appreciate this word picture, so true: “we can remember what God says about the sins of our youth (or any other age) whenever Satan attempts a total eclipse of the heart..”
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Thanks, Jacquie! Satan keeps trying, doesn’t he? But, Jesus has overcome him, too! 🙂
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Beautiful post Nora.
My music would mainly be mid ‘60’s & ‘70’s with Abit of ‘80’s.
Certainly remember Paige hairstyle & blow drying from a naturally curly gal.
Thanks for the memories.
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🙂 Thanks, Margaret! I feel like ’60s and ’70s music is mine, too. It was on so many stations as I was growing up. I “discovered” James Taylor in the late 1990s. Love his music.
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Me too Nora. I love watching old top of the pops etc on bbc 1 Friday evenings 🎼🎧🎺🎷🎻🎹
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🙂
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🙂
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Thanks for sharing your memory.
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🙂 Have a blessed week, Laleh!
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U too dear.
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Those songs are so powerful, and what amazes me is that I still remember all the lyrics! Many of the songs we heard hundreds of times, and yet when I hear one it puts me in one specific place like your Sunglasses at Night!
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I can remember classmates’ names, too! Someone I’ve met in the last decade, not so much. 🙂
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