So has everyone heard how much my kids rock yet?
Birthdays stopped be fun a handful of years ago. You know how it is, as women we cross that magic number and suddenly we’re on the ‘back nine’ of our lives pouting because we took way too many strokes on the ‘front nine’. Celebrating and parties are something I dread. Who wants to be reminded we’re another year closer to a pine box? But I think this year is going to be fun, because on my birthday my kids are taking me to see Bowling for Soup.
I’m sure you’re asking yourself what a mother (nearing elderly status) who spends every free moment writing romance novels could possibly see in this group of pop-punk adolescents. If you’re familiar with their songs “Girl All the Bad Guys Want“, “Life After Lisa” and “Running From Your Dad” I’m sure you’re asking yourself, “Where’s the romance in that?”
The kids will tell you I love their music because they wrote the song “1985” about me, but that’s not true (on any level). (But I do l-o-v-e the song. If you don’t follow any other links, have never seen this video, and remember/love 80′s videos, you must click on this one.)
It may be true that you’ll never find a hero in one of my stories that would be proud about getting “drunk and having sex with all your friends” (“Emily”) but music, sort of like the novels, doesn’t have to be about real life. I suppose there’s an argument that their lyrics probably hit closer to reality than most books do, especially if we’re examining a college dorm, but it’s not some ‘slice of life’ factor that draws me to Bowling For Soup. It’s more about the escape from reality.
Music should be fun. It should make you smile and forget about the stress of everyday life. It might not provide the same journey as a book, but it can take you to a faraway place where you’re still 18 and still have your whole life ahead of you. So, yeah, when my birthday comes around, I’ll be the ‘old woman’ in the crowd, laughing, dancing and singing along to every song.
Maybe I’ll get lucky and they’ll do one of their few romantic ones. Like “Belgium” (See Below)
The video is from a live performance. Sound isn’t the best, but it’s fun — especially with the addition of the pop medley in the middle.
