You Got The Music In You

We've all been there. You're in a bar and the current song ends. The optimism of a new track comes over you. The song starts with the sounds of a synthesizer playing an even note that you know you've heard before but you can't place it. Then the bassline kicks in dum dah dum dah dum dah dum dah. You know you know this one, but what is it again? Then....the drums kick in and shortly thereafter the unmistakable oh-wah oh-wah oh-wah oh-wah Frampton-esque guitar intro enters the mix. Now you know exactly what it is, at which point you feign disgust at yet another playing of this track that you've heard ten thousand times before. "Nobody actually likes this song," you think to yourself. "Not again." And then the verse starts:

Tommy used to work on the docks
Union's been on strike
He's down on his luck
It's tough, so tough

Your foots starts tapping. You don't really know the lyrics to this part, but for some reason you're trying to recall them. But why, you hate this song...and this band...right?

Gina works at a diner all day
Working for her man
She brings home her pay
For love, for love

You're now mouthing the lyrics, trying to piece them together from memory, even though you don't know them. And then...the build starts. You can feel the tension of the verse leading into the chorus. You don't know why, but you're certain that you're going to sing those words when they start. You just can't help it...

She says
We've gotta hold on
To what we've got
It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not
We've got each other
And that's a lot
For love, we'll give it a shot

At this point, absolutely EVERYONE in the bar, including you, is singing and pointing their fingers in the air to accentuate the words. They just can't help it...

Oh, they're halfway there
Oh, living on a prayer
Take my hand
We'll make it I swear
Oh, living on a prayer

For those few minutes, you're not thinking about anything other than how great this song is and how much you love singing out loud in public. It continues...the killer guitar solo, more verses, more choruses...sweet anthemic, sing-along, powerful choruses. You haven't had this much fun in a long time.

And then it ends...and you don't know what got into you. But you're still buzzing from the experience.

So it is until next time, when that keyboard intro starts and you just can't put your finger on what the song is, but you know that you hate it.

You may not be in a bar right now...and if you are..."cheers"...but play this one loud and don't be shy cause you know you love it.