When I Was 5, It Was A Very Good Year

The world was so much nicer when I was 5. My days were filled with fingerpainting, naps and Mr. Rogers. My days are so much different now. I no longer have the time for fingerpainting. It's a shame though because I was the Jackson Pollock of the kindegarten set. Of course, when you think about it, weren't we all?

I wasn't an energetic or hyperactive kid. My brain produced its own generic version of Ritalin so there was no need to keep me medicated like the kids of today. All it took to keep me entertained was some good music. If someone put on a good album, I would keep on dancing until the music stopped (and I made sure it never did).

My taste hasn't changed much since that time. With that in mind let me share three of those tunes that kept me happy in the early 1980's.

1. Another One Bites The Dust - Queen

In my hometown there was a little greasy spoon that was noted for its Chili Dogs. There wasn't a week that my mom didn't walk me and my sister down to it to get a quick and cheap lunch. The dogs were great but what I remember more is the jukebox that was in the back. For a quarter you could pick a few tunes to play while you dined (and I use the term "dined" rather loosely). Anytime I had enough change to go back to it there was one tune that I always picked. It was "Another One Bites The Dust". There was just something about that funky bass line that grabbed my little ears everytime I heard it. I didn't know what the lyrics were about and I really didn't care. It just made me want to dance and dance I always did. Now 26 years later it still has the same effect on me. There aren't too many songs I can say that about.

2. The Gambler - Kenny Rogers

In the early 1980's Kenny Rogers was the epitome of country pop. It didn't matter what a station's format was they somehow found a way to fit him in. His presence was inescapable. There was one song in particuliar that rose head and shoulders above any of his other hits . That song being "The Gambler". I loved it. I couldn't get enough of it. My mom had a copy of it on some long since forgotten vinyl album. I would always take the album out and drop the needle right on the start of that track. I knew it was about some sort of card game. In my head I imagined the toughest game of "Old Maid" I had ever played. Yeah, I could definitely relate to what he was saying "You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em". I was certain he had experienced that same frustration of never being able to get rid of that damn card.

3." I Love A Rainy Night" - The Chipmunks

This song is great. At the time I didn't know the Eddie Rabbit original. No, I was addicted to a cover version done by one of the greatest rodent singing groups of all time. I guess there was a fad at the time of city folk getting into country music. There was even a horrible John Travolta movie by the name of "Urban Cowboy" that fanned the flames of this phenomena even more. David Seville wasn't one to let a good thing pass him by so he let Alvin, Simon and Theodore out of their cages long enough to quickly record an album covering the country hits of the day. My favorite by far was their version of "I Love A Rainy Night". Any time the night air was damp I would play this song. Sometimes I would do it even when the air was dry.

Those were my favorites at 5, what were some of yours?