Comments on: Memoir Mondays: KISS it goodbye

By: Mathew

Mathew — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:41:33 +0000

I grew up in the 80′s but the Beatles were the first band that I really got into. Madonna is the one of the only 80′s singers who really reminds of that era when I hear her. Paul Simon’s Graceland album was also very iconic in that era.

By: GirlGriot

GirlGriot — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:15:50 +0000

But why not KISS and EWP? I love them both. I was a huge Earth, Wind and Fire fan (“Fantasy” remains one of my all-time favorite songs).

I grew up on my parents’ music — Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Dakota Staton … — and then moved on to my own loves. The Jackson 5, the Temptations, the Dixie Cups, Etta James, Mel Torme (a crossover from my parents’ collection to mine). Like Stacey, I have some musical skeletons in my closet: John Denver, Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond, the Carpenters … and then I discovered the album rock stations all the ‘cool’ kids listened too and added bands like Yes, Kansas, ELP, and Pink Floyd to my must-have album lists. Throw in the Beatles, the Ramones, the Talking Heads, David Bowie, a whole lot of New Wave, the Police, Peter Gabriel, U2, Joni Mitchell, CSNY, Van Morrison and Tom Waits and you’ll get me through my 20s. Now there’s a whole lot of Spanish-language music in my iPod and on my stereo: Lila Downs, Susana Baca, Conjunto Cespedes, Sintesis … As well as Sam Cooke, Santana, Rage Against the Machine … a long way from what I listened to as a kid!

By: debrennersmith

debrennersmith — Mon, 26 May 2008 18:12:23 +0000

My own teenagers are so into music right now. I wonder what they will look back on and remember. Stacy, I probably should not tell you I still like Barry

By: dogtrax

dogtrax — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:48:00 +0000

Stacey — no need to be shy about it.
You can just shout it out that You Love Barry.

I bet it was still an exciting time — the first concert.
Kevin

By: dogtrax

dogtrax — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:46:49 +0000

Hi Ashley
I’m not sure we need more KISS bands (he says, laughing).
I guess we all have some music that connects us to our childhood.
I wonder what it will be for my kids?
Kevin

By: Ashley

Ashley — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:10:52 +0000

I loved this story!!!

I grew up on the “boyband” and “popstar” time— my friends and I listened to Backstreet Boys, NSync, Britany Spears, and our all time favorites The Spice Girls. We were the spice girls and we talked like them and called each other by our spice name. I grew up at a time in popular music that was not long lasting–I wish there would have been more KISS bands in my time.

By: Stacey from Two Writing Teachers

Stacey from Two Writing Teachers — Mon, 26 May 2008 12:44:46 +0000

Believe it or not, a lot of Simon and Garfunkel, Barry Manilow and Neil Sadaka. I resisted it for years, but by the time I hit 15, I grew to love it. Scary to admit this, but the first rock concert I ever attended was Manilow in 1993 w/my parents at Radio City Music Hall. Ack!

By: blk1

blk1 — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:58:22 +0000

At our bus stop before school in the mornings, we all used to take on characters of the band, and pretend that a fallen tree stump was the stage. We’d use the light from the rising sun on our hiking boots to create over-sized shadow images on the pavement as a way to replicate the patented KISS boots (a sort of stiletto heel, but huge, almost like teeth coming out of the foot). We’d listen to the songs on the albums (oh god) for hours at a time, singing out loud to the chorus: I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night and Party Every DAY!!! (emphasis on Day, since we were kids and nighttime partying was a great unknown …. for now)

Loved this whole section. Probably what Nancy pointed to. I just wanted to share it all back to you. Imagine I’m reading it on a podcast. (I should do that). Loved the specific details of it.

And then as you moved to EW and F I am just with you and probably for the same reasons, the search for the sax!

I also never thought as a kid I’d move beyond the songs played on the radio on WABC, but I can’t wait to listen to New Music Mondays on WFUV and start downloading new tunes for my Ipod.

Love music, too bad I can’t create my own…

See what you have inspired???

Music, what would we do without it? What will it sound like in the digital future???

Bonnie

By: John Larkin

John Larkin — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:28:13 +0000

Kevin, in a family of 9 I was informed by so much music… Beatles, Stones, Julie Andrews, Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, CSNY, CCR, and the list goes on. I tapped into Bowie, Lou Reed, Velvet Underground and the like. I still collect Bowie vinyl… it has been a long time since I bought ‘David Live’ in 1974.
Cheers, John.

By: dogtrax

dogtrax — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:15:34 +0000

Later on, I came to love the folks on your list, too.
I am a musical hobo, I guess — moving from style to style. That helped me as a songwriter, too.
Kevin