Musical Memory Lane - Please Don't Go...

Or, Why I Prefer Music WITHOUT the Videos...


Warning for phone users: The following post has videos and will be really hard to follow

General Warning: It may be really hard to follow anyway...

I used to love this song, both the 1992 KWS version and the KC and the Sunshine band version from 1979. Today I made the mistake of looking both versions up on YouTube.

Hearing the KWS version reminds me of the last of my college years living in the dorm, and unbeknownst to me at the time, the last carefree years before life really got started. My friend Shelly put it on a mix tape for me, and I listened to that tape over and over; I just never watched the video.

I loved the way the sadness of the lyrics was juxtaposed against the upbeat tempo that made you want to get up and dance... kinda like young love: big ups and downs all mixed up and jumbled together.

So, today, feeling sentimental, I looked it up and found this:

Hint: Only watch to the 30 second mark, then hit pause, read the next bit, then continue.

Kinda cool for the first 30 seconds, right?

The crazy white face-bright eye shadow-weird headpiece-thing, (typical of music videos from that era)...The smooth, early nineties-esquese dance images, lithe dancers jumping, moving together and apart. The singer gesturing with the lyrics...  I was diggin' it.. it fit right into my memories.

 (Hit Play and read on) Then dude started really dancing.

Bless. His. Heart.

And WHOA! What is that at 1:06? Yeah, I know I saw the face back at :04 but I'm not sure I want (her/him/it?)  walking AT me. Don't throw flowers at me! I mean, you're pretty and all, but you took  androgyny all-the-way-out-to-scary, dude! (uh, ma'am?) I guess it doesn't really matter, but it's bugging me that I'm not completely sure.

To be fair, considering the happy memories this song conjures up, I can appreciate the lead singer's joy at singing it. I can celebrate the love of the song with him, as long as he's not looking into the camera and smiling that cutesy "we-know-the-real-secret-don't-we" smile at me. Ugh.

So, this version of the song wasn't completely ruined, just a teensy bit tarnished. Maybe, (highly likely) I just got old and really conservative in my tastes.



I decided to move on and watch the KC and the Sunshine Band version.

When I was in college listening to the KWS version, I didn't recognize it as a cover of KC and the Sunshine Band. I actually had forgotten about the KC version until several years later when I heard it on an oldies station. It immediately transported me back to my pre-teen years hanging out at Helen and Donna's house.

Donna and Helen had older sisters (lots of them, we're all Catholic). I thought their older sisters were so cool; I barely remember talking to them, I just remember being in awe. Anytime their sisters were home,  music was coming from one or another of the upstairs bedrooms. Liking those songs made me cool by association.

Hint: Play until about :22, then hit pause, if you know the song, right before he starts singing.

First thoughts: not as handsome I remember him, must be the lighting. Oooh, there ya go,  full shot of him, late seventies stylish! The way he's looking off into the distance, he's SO dreamy! 

(Hit play, play until :30) What's with the stare? Is he on drugs?
(To :40) AAAAUGH!!!! Suddenly,  my elementary school crush morphed into CRAZY STALKER GUY! Walk out that door? Son, I am running out that door! 

(:50-:59) Quit looking at me that way! Don't beg... it's unbecoming... 

(To 1:20) Blessed huh? Why does that, now, seem like a cheap suck-up so I won't leave?
(1:25-1:30) Okay, dude, that look was just maniacal.
(To 1:38) Crossing your eyes like that just doesn't help your cause.

(To 1:51) Okay, now I'm just disgusted. Tambourine Man, wearing suspenders and plaid don't make you country. Could you guys PLEASE button your shirts?

(To 2:00) He's either hoping this will make me FEEL THE MUSIC as much as he does... or, as I first surmised, he really is higher than a kite. (Play on) 

Note to self:
You see the  looks he's giving you... Sure, he's down on his knees now, (2:34) but if you actually walk out, he WILL hunt you down and kill you...  at 3:04 he starts demonstrating the horse whipping he's going to give you as soon as he knocks you down.

Finally, at 3:30, I guess he gave up. He keeps looking over his shoulders though, checking. 

"Are you still looking? This is what my little tight-leather-pants behind looks like walking away. I see you looking... Bet you wish you hadn't come up with the leaving idea now, huh? Ha! I walked away FIRST!!!!"

I was worried I'd have nightmares about scary Harry Wayne Casey stalking me. Then I found this:

KC, I may be a big 'ol girl, but I think I could outrun ya now...

Whew!