Not sure what is prompting this bloggie post, other than I logged on to MySpace to discover my "Tiny Dancer" song had been "Deleted by Artist" (yeah, right: AS IF Elton John got right on here, himself, and removed the song from my site). So I thought about adding some Snow Patrol (some remix version of "Chasing Cars") or Coldplay ("Yellow" -- but I couldn't find it), but then I was lured to an old favorite, "Sexcrime (1984)."

I have liked the Eurythmics from the time I heard that first "test pressing" of "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" on WLS -- back when WLS used to A. Play music instead of non-stop talk, and B. Come in clearly, day or night, on any AM radio I happened to be listening to. If memory serves, I was sitting in the driver's seat of my dad's car at the Mattoon mall, where I had gone with Tracy McConnell. Or Holly Sphar. I can't remember which one, exactly, but I think it was Tracy. Anyhoo, I liked Dave & Annie immediately and have been a fan ever since.

I don't think I actually saw the movie 1984 in 1984. I did read the book 1984 sometime that year; I remember sort of feeling like I HAD to read it by then, so I did, and I remember being struck (stricken?) by how bleak it all seemed. I also remember formulating my own theory about how the "major" TV networks at the time reminded me of the "super states" of Eurasia, Eastasia and Oceania, at least in terms of how each one would, at a certain time, claim to be in power or No. 1 or whatever, but no one could ever remember which one had been on top or for how long, and beyond that: No one cared.

The Eurythmics' 1984: For the Love of Big Brother soundtrack ranks right up there among their best albums ... but then, I can find at least three or four songs that I truly love on every album they've ever made, so that's no big surprise. I dig "Sexcrime" because I can air-band/lip-synch/dance to it, and also because it's a great song.

So, what was I doing in 1984?

Going to college, drinking too much, working on the yearbook, staying out late, sleeping in late, putting on weight, dabbling in blowing off classes, finding my identity, trying to change my major, messing around, writing, editing, learning how to operate a 35mm camera, playing music, driving around, etc. You know: The usual.

The best thing that happened to me in 1984 was meeting Patti.