Confessions of a Classic Soul

On Our Own

“If you want something done right, you may as well do it yourself!” How many times have you thought this sentence or said it out loud? The sad part is that it’s true. Sometimes we can only trust God and ourselves.

You might think that the start of November instantly means that the Halloween season is over. Au contraire! Besides, this Monthly Mixtape song comes from a movie set on New Year’s Eve.

In 1989, Ghostbusters II (herein abbreviated as GB2) hit theaters and reprised a similar story of the ghost-chasing crew, now saving New York again, and getting into trouble…always lots of trouble.

The soundtrack for GB2 was a bit more expansive than the first movie, in that other original songs besides Ray Parker Jr.’s theme song were featured throughout the movie. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved one repeated song in the film: “On Our Own.”

Bobby Brown had just left the R & B group New Edition to pursue a solo career, and he had already made a name for himself with tracks such as “Every Little Step,” “My Prerogative,” and “Don’t Be Cruel.” Now he pushed the envelope even further with a secondary anthem for a popular movie franchise.

What’s Monthly Mixtape? Each month on Confessions of a Classic Soul, Nicole reviews an underappreciated song from decades past. Her love for underrated songs, plus her literary analysis skills and music experience, allow her to find hidden gems within songs.

“On Our Own” by Bobby Brown

One of the cool characteristics about this song is that it lends itself to the beginnings of rap and the expansion of R & B, as both genres would further emerge in the 1990s. Songs like these from 1989 show the shift in sound that would occur in the upcoming decade. While the song isn’t heavy on the “rap” element, the rhyming pattern and fast, upbeat tempo give it a light rap feel.

Even more, this song tells a story, as its lyrics are smooth and continuous. At the beginning of GB2, we painfully watch Ray and Winston show up to a boy’s birthday party and sing to the GB theme song. The kids, of course, don’t give a hoot, especially because the ghost chasing business has slowed down tremendously, and the people of New York no longer believe that the Ghostbusters are legit.

As the plot advances, a pink slime is brewing in the sewers in New York while a painting of ancient tyrant Vigo comes to life. The slime feeds off the negative energy of the city while Vigo possesses the guy in charge of the art museum to steal Dana Barrett’s baby so Vigo can resurrect to a new life. The devious plan works pretty well for the majority of the movie, until the GB crew figure out the plan and “got a grip / came equipped / [and] grabbed their proton packs.”

I can’t help but smile when Brown calls the GBs “my boys.” In fact, in the movie, Brown can be seen holding the door open for them when they head to city hall to talk to the mayor. There is a bit of a double meaning with the line “try to battle my boys / that’s not legal.” Not only do the GBs get out of their criminal charges by trapping two ghosts that the judge sent to the electric chair, but they are courageous enough to go after Vigo and save New York City, even though the city’s citizens don’t care. The GBs are aiming for justice, so it’s not “legal” to stop them from this mission.

After a brief instrumental, the song shifts into more neutral territory, at least in terms of point of view. Although the lyrics do indirectly describe the GBs, since they want to win and catch the ghosts, Brown makes more connections by using “I” and “Me.” The “wanna take the ball” line can refer to any situation, sports or otherwise. The deviation in this verse allows this song to stand out as an ’80s motivator. It’s universal for all listeners.

But there is no “I” in Ghostbusters. Brown’s use of “we” focuses on the power of a team working together. In the case of GB2, Louis Tully couldn’t have saved New York by himself, even if he was an official GB. On the flipside, the plot and resolution relied on teamwork:

Dana already had history with Venkman, Stantz, and Spengler, so she knew where to go when weird things started happening with baby Oscar.
Poor Ray Stantz has to fall in the slime, hence allowing the group to truly discover it
They needed to keep a good cover story straight in order to get past the sewer construction guys
Janine and Louis make an awkward and careless couple…and then Oscar is kidnapped and taken to Vigo.
Winston talks about Revelation and the apocalypse…fitting for Vigo’s “taking over the world” scheme
Spengler plays with slime…and a toaster…plus a Jackie Wilson song.
4 guys + lots of slime = a statue of liberty that MOVES and breaks through a ceiling to save the day!
The people of New York sing “Auld Lang Syne” and spread cheer, which deactivates the power of the slime.

One of the verses that feels out of the place is the “yeah, I think this is gonna be another one of those funky ones / Heart. Soul / d-d-dance…”

What on earth does that have to do with a Ghostbuster??? Well, at times this song is easily universal in that it is a funky dance song that encourages listeners. On the movie front, the GBs need some extra encouragement since the entire city is against them. Between angry New Yorkers, stuffy government officials, an irate Vigo, a baby-obsessed art lover, and TONS of ghosts, the GBs certainly need all the help they can get, even if that motivation helps them to stay strong and lean on each other.

They’re too “hot to handle” because they’re dedicated, dramatic, and slightly crazy, but they’re “too cold to hold,” as they don’t quite settle down or make it too far with women.

But give them wild spirits, demons, and Slimer, and they become the ultimate nerdy heroes…”on their own.”

Want more from the COACS Ghostbusters files? Check out this vlog!

Before You Go…

Don’t forget to listen and subscribe to the Guilty Pleasures of a Classic Soul playlist, which compiles all songs featured on Monthly Mixtape! You can now listen on either YouTube or Spotify!

Unreliably Gothic

✔️ Creepy castle

✔️Shadows

✔️Monsters

✔️Lunatics

✔️Grand and eerie architecture

✔️Disease and torture

Sounds like an Edgar Allan Poe story, right? Or maybe a Karloff movie? The Gothic movement began with architecture, but it has expanded through various medias, further defining the movement itself.

In Gothic literature and film, unreliable narrators and characters spice up a story, making audiences wonder what’s truly happening and who to trust. The 1960 classic Hammer horror British flick Brides of Dracula features a slew of unreliable characters, with Van Helsing as the only source of trustworthy judgment.

Coach Driver

The film begins with a stagecoach traveling through dark woods, where it must stop suddenly because of a log in the middle of the road. The driver jumps off to deal with the log, and a mysterious tall and loaked man sneaks to the back of the coach and hitches a ride. Inside the coach is our main mademoiselle and Parisienne Marianne Danielle, who is traveling to her student-teaching placement, a private school for girls.

Once the coach reaches a small town in order to take a break for the horses, the villagers usher Marianne instead, and the driver stands near the inn and happily drinks from his little flask.

Just then, the creepy hitchhiker appears out of nowhere and shows the driver money from underneath his cloak. The driver looks hesitant and then ultimately takes the money. Here is our first example of unreliability. The driver is bribed into leaving, not worrying about abandoning Marianne in an eerie place.

Landlord and Landlady

The old couple at the inn are very welcoming and polite, ushering Marianne to come and eat. However, the creepy hitchhiker steps into the inn, and all the other patrons (mostly men) leave their food and drinks and go out the door. The landlord and lady’s smiles turn into expressions of horror. The hitchhiker leaves without saying a word.

Meanwhile, Marianne is confused as to why the coach left without her (yeah, so are we!). She reacts by saying that she must stay the night at the inn. The couple immediately respond that she couldn’t, and the landlord goes to get his cart so they can take Marianne to her school at once. By now it’s clear that something strange is happening in these parts and the people want Marianne to be safe. Marianne, on the contrary, is very naive and doesn’t realize how much danger she is in. We as the audience don’t know of what she should be afraid, but obviously the school will be a safe place for her.

But before the landlord can help Marianne make an escape, the Baroness Meinster flourishes through the door, with her black and red traveling cape and hat. She claims a table and commands wine.

Upon “noticing” Marianne (I say this because all of the oddness above has taken place so the baroness could arrive here), she tells her that she can stay at her castle for the night and take her to the school in the morning.

The landlord and lady chime in and say that they do have a room for Marianne. The baroness gives them a dirty look. In the end Marianne goes with the baroness, but the old couple’s fickleness comes as a result of fear. Their seemingly unreliable nature is a testament to their compassion. They don’t want Marianne hurt.

Baroness Meinster

At dinner, where she doesn’t eat but only drinks wine, the baroness explains that the man Marianne saw in the lower part of the castle is indeed her son. However, her son is “ill” and has made her suffer. She keeps him locked up and doesn’t check on him herself. Instead, Greta, the servant and old nurse, looks after him. The baroness also laments about happier times. Now she prays her son dies for all his trouble, and, in fact, the townspeople already think he’s dead.

At this point, Marianne is confused. Couldn’t they get help for this man? The baroness had already lied by saying she lived alone. Marianne is so naive that she doesn’t think anything of the creepy castle or the strangeness of her coming to it. Regarless, she doesn’t know if she can trust the baroness. Would you?

Baron Meinster

Enter the baron! Or, rather, enter Marianne through the door only to find the baron with an ankle chain to prevent him from escaping. In a nutshell, he reverses everything the baroness just told Marianne. He’s not ill, but being mistreated. Marianne succumbs to his initial charm (Thanks, David Peel) and calls the situation inhuman. The unreliability continues with the movie…

Marianne even climbs the walls and bushes to sneak into the baroness’s room to steal the key for the chain.

Greta

Greta, a grim-looking woman, isn’t the most friendliest servant, but she didn’t seem crazy. After the baron escapes, Greta sounds like a lunatic. It’s like she’s crying over him getting out, but then she laughs hysterically. She’s been like a mother to him, and she is clearly both loony and emotional. She’s sad he’s out, but happy. She laughs at the dead/undead baroness when Marianne questions her. Quite simply, her personality is unreliable.

Later on, Greta is seen interacting with the women the baron victimizes and turns into vampires. Greta and her hysteria encourage a young female vamp to push through the dirt of the grave. Yep, crazy!

Herr Lang

Herr Lang is in charge of the girl’s prep school (insert here your feminist commentary). When Marianne arrives at the school, his wife warns her that he is strict and doesn’t like poor punctuality. Hey, it’s not her fault she ended up passed out in the woods…well, it sort of is. Eventually he feels sorry for her and her lost luggage. He doesn’t fire her, and she is welcomed right away.

But here’s the thing. Lang doesn’t want any men in the school. When Marianne later falls to the baron’s power and agrees to marry him (although she just met him), Lang gets in an uproar. Why did Marianne just show up in his office with a man?!? When he learns that Meinster is a baron, suddenly his tone softens and he’s perfectly fine and accepting.

Lang’s flexibility of his own rules leaves him blind to the baron’s danger. You know, the whole vampirism thing…

Doctor Tobler

Compared to Dr. Van Helsing, Dr. Tobler is a total quack. He’s too preoccupied with his bottles of oils and salves. In his first scene, we see him putting his face over a steaming pot of a concoction he made. I guess his sinuses are clear! He isn’t very friendly to the local priest and merely laughs when Van Helsing says that Gina’s death is caused by vampirism. As a doctor, Tobler seems more concerned about his pills and own survival. He isn’t open minded. If Van Helsing weren’t in the village, the baron’s terror would be explained by simple excuses. He’s just not trustworthy.

Van Helsing

In one of Peter Cushing’s greatest roles, he plays the only reliable character in the film, perhaps with the exception of the priest. Van Helsing is a famous European doctor who came to help the village without delay and without compensation. He helps Marianne get to the school safely. He drives a stake through the baroness’s heart after she begs for relief from the vampiric state her son puts her in. Heck, Van Helsing has a packed bag with a stake, hammer, and crucifix! Gotta like this guy!

Van Helsing saves the day and rids the world of the baron, despite being bitten, burning the puncture marks on his neck, and almost being set on fire! When the haters and unreliables can’t fix the problem before their eyes, Van Helsing will always be the hero!

Why Old Souls Like Fall

Leaves are turning and a chill is working its way into the neighborhood just as the birds are flocking out of it. Why do people like Fall so much? Here are a few old soul secrets from a fellow autumn lover.

Fresh Start

When the warm summer air slowly begins to chill, summer-lovers feel depression creeping in. Unfortunately, the promise of colder weather dampens people’s spirits. Old souls who like the autumn season are able to appreciate it for its little nuances.

Old souls who are able to look deeply both inward and outward recognize not only the fleeting beauty of the colorful leaves, but how the changing of seasons is a metaphor for our own lives. The holidays are fast-approaching, but then a dreary winter sets in afterward. As a result, a flurry of emotions (and snow) will make us miss summer and happier, sunshine-fulled times.

At the same time, old souls are the ones who can see that each season brings a new start to another quarter of the year. And because old souls are usually adept at listening and understanding multiple points of view, it’s only natural that they are are able to find joy and loveliness in the activities and moods that accompany each season, even if the trees are bare

An Introvert’s Quirks

FINALLY! The autumn chill calls for sweaters, throw-blankets, a warm beverage and a BOOK! Did I forget to mention roaring fireplaces, too? These favorite quirks are popular among old souls and introverts. But why? Old souls typically seek alone time to recharge, but they also like to explore and are curious by nature. Whether it’s reading, baking, or crocheting (which I am hopeless at), old souls are able to be themselves in the warm comforts of home.

Holidays

Don’t say it….Don’t say the “C” word. It’s only October! Eventually, however, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s will be upon us. As this changing of the seasons get underway, the holidays fill old souls with hope and gratefulness. Old souls love traditions, whether they are passed down through family generations or designed anew. Traditions speak to our identities, whether personal or cultural. They are comforting and meaningful. During the holidays, our time is spent with purpose. We don’t simply paint pumpkins just to paint pumpkins. Loved ones are involved. We express our identities, which often seem lonely for old souls. We try to make the best of three months out of the year.

And there you have it–a few of the many reasons why old souls love fall. Just remember to make the most of the season! Christmas will be here before we know it. Let the leaves have their majestic dance before tumbling to the ground.

Cher’s Advice

Her recognizable vocals and diva-personality have withstood the test of time. Cher quickly proved her remarkable talents back in the 1960s when she and her then husband performed as Sonny & Cher. Her career as a singer and actress, however, did not fade after the duo’s split.

Cher’s ballads and anthems speak to the feminist movement, thus making her powerful voice a means of displaying messages and advice.

In her 1991 track, “Love and Understanding,” Cher does just that: give advice.

“Love and Understanding”

The intro is automatically uplifting, and also a little folksy-sounding. Once Cher enters, the mood becomes more serious. There is a contrast between slower and quicker phrases. The first half of the lines are sung slower than the second half. As a result of this push and pull effect, listeners keep interest because they’re being dragged along as well. The quicker phrases seem to place emphasis on some of the more intense lyrics like “whole world bright.” What we have instead of love stands out in these quicker lines.

It’s important to note that the chorus isn’t as bouncy due to its serious message. Cher catches listeners off-guard with the verses and then a another shift in mood sends home the message that a world without love is a dangerous place. Her advice is that we need that love and understanding in our lives.

And speaking of the world, the song focuses on how the material world is fascinated with success and advancement. Industry becomes central while the human relationships that run daily life within these institutions go unnoticed. As the song continues, Cher delivers this deeply hopeless situation.

Meanwhile, the heart is in the minority group of the world. The world, then, becomes cruel, self-centered, and less human. Without empathy and compassion, we are all miserable. Cher’s exploding vocals further demonstrate the urgency in needing to find the answers. Looking for answers to why this situation is what it is is a crucial step to solving the problem. The “why’s” echo the confusion, desperation, and heartache (no pun intended).

The song is a call to action that stems from personal reflection. In this reflection, it’s also interesting how nature provides the opportunities for love, but humans screw it up. The sun shines bright enough, and the stars make enough light, but we as a society choose not to glory in these opportunities. We make decisions that don’t benefit each other and promote love and understanding.

Before You Go…

Don’t forget to listen and subscribe to the Guilty Pleasures of a Classic Soul playlist, which compiles all songs featured on Monthly Mixtape! You can now listen on either YouTube or Spotify!

Stride Towards Life

October 1st kicks off Respect Life Month, which has its roots in deeper meanings aside from the age-old argument of abortion. To be prolife is to embrace and emphasize life and not succumb to what is know as a “culture of death” mindset or society. Instead of shutting down opportunities to live, society should be striving to promote the well-being of individuals.

Today is one of the worst days of my year; but it’s also one of the best. While October 1st is the day when I finally acknowledge the beginning of the Spooky Season, it is also the day a young man with amazing potential lost his life. And I wish I knew him better.

In high school, cliques are cliques, and they don’t always intersect with each other. This was the case with Strider and me. I remember him the most from middle school when we had several classes together. He had the charm, that bright gleam in his eye, and a great sense of humor. I don’t know why I never fully established a crush on him (probably because our paths didn’t cross enough). At the time, I was ecstatic to know a person named Strider simply because I was obsessed with the Lord of the Rings. But once the high school years hit, he was on the vocational route and studied graphic design. I, on the other hand, dived into music, writing, and honors classes. We had two different lunch periods. He went to Vo-Tech. I never really saw him, and sometimes I forgot about him. Now I can no longer forget him.

I found out the news during a five-minute break in the college jazz band rehearsal. Like most of the young generation, I scrolled through my phone and suddenly had to face the news that Strider had passed. Shocked beyond belief and already wanting to break into tears, I texted a good high school friend who usually knew more about social circle news than I did. What made my own heart almost stop was the text that mentioned Strider had taken his own life.

Each year I struggle to come to terms with how this outstanding peer of mine is no longer here on this earth. I blame myself for not talking with him more often during our school days, but I had no specific reason to, and I hardly ever saw him.

Turning back to Respect Life Month, I can’t help but feel a renewed sense of urgency to connect with people, although I’m a self-proclaimed introvert. Life is a gift, a message I plan to ingrain into my 8th and 11th grade students this year. God put us on this earth for a reason, and He makes these nearly unbelievable connections between us and others. Our God-given talents allow us to come full circle and connect (and/or take care of) those around us, which promotes life. Really, it all circles back around to love, which we all need more of.

We can’t deeply connect with everyone, but taking smaller steps to get to know and serve one another might just be the key that unlocks a more peaceful humanity. After all, we’re all more alike than we care to admit.

We are busy people. The daily chaos never ends and minds never stop churning. However, taking just a few minutes to reach out to someone who you haven’t talked to in a while helps to build amazing connections between people, and that’s what most of us need in today’s crazy world. We need to know we’re truly cared for. Instead of tearing each other down, which leaves us hardened and unchanged, we can embrace that chance for life and walk with one another.

Would my getting to know Strider better have prevented his death? Likely not, as he had many other good and close friends. The point is, we can’t take our lives or others’ for granted. Our lives are gifts made in the image and likeness of God. God is love. We connect. We emphasize. We serve. We love. We must stride towards life no matter the cost and help others to recognize their importance in the world.

RIP, Strider.

Ice Cream Lifestyle

Pumpkin spice is wonderful, and I can be quite the Halloween queen, but September is still full of humidity and last-minute summer fun. So, enjoy the ice cream!

And you probably do. Have you ever wondered why some people prefer ice cream in bowls rather than in cones? Soft serve over hard scoops? While I am no psychologist or anthropologist, I propose that types of ice cream suggest how some people live their lives.

Cone v. Bowl

Ice cream can be a great treat for on-the-go, but whether or not the ice cream is in a cup can say a lot about the eater. For example:

People with bowls might be messy eaters
Sometimes bowls hold more ice cream than cones, so these eaters get the most bang for their buck!
Cups are essential for those who are generous enough to take ice cream home to loved ones
Cones are eco-friendly–no plastic or Styrofoam left behind!
Cones are perfect for constant movers. Seriously, how do you lick an ice cream cone AND drive?!
Slow eaters need bowls. And lids. That. Is. A. Fact.

Flavors

I’ve seen people stare at menus and then still order chocolate, vanilla, or twist ice cream. It seems, then, that these ice cream lovers are simple and stick to classics. On the other hand, other people love trying new hard and soft serve flavors from mint to teaberry. These customers are likely more adventurous and enjoy trying new things. Sometimes these people think the original ice cream flavors are too blah.

Shakes v. Sundaes

Drink it or eat it? Do you prefer your toppings dumped on top of the ice cream or mixed in? Answers to these questions help to unravel more details about ice cream lovers. Like with cones, many people prefer milkshakes simply because they’re ideal for traveling and are a quick, cool treat when temperatures rise.

Sundaes, on the other hand, are great for on the go when you want a favorite topping on top of ice cream. Possibilities are endless, and which toppings you choose say a lot about your personality. Hot fudge shows simplicity and Pina Colada shows a desire for trying new things or liking quaint flavors. There are no rights or wrongs: just ice cream!

Some customers don’t even want whipped cream and a cherry on their sundaes! Meanwhile, others want sundae toppings blended in the form of a Blizzard. While all ice cream may seem the same, customers prove time and again that that simply isn’t true, whether the combinations are traditional or wacky!

Cone Differentiation

Cone, waffle cone, sugar cone, pretzel cone…whether you lean towards a traditional cone or a sweet one, the type of cone also says a lot about your personality.

Regular cone: nothing wrong with traditional!
Waffle and sugar cones: great choices for those with a sweet tooth who love the combo of a sweet cone and a creamy treat.
Pretzel cone: although not as popular, these cones are perfect for those who crave a sweet and salty snack.

Sprinkles, Sprinkles, and MORE Sprinkles?

Whether you call them sprinkles, sprinklers, boom-booms, or jimmies, they aren’t just for kids. The colorful array of sprinkles are perfect for those who like to decorate their ice cream and make it more asethetically pleasing. Besides, people who are youthful and like a pop of crunchy sugar add fun and novelty to the ice cream world. Sprinkles come in various textures, shapes, and even flavors. Like a fashion accessory, sprinkles top off a unique taste, or style.

Soft Serve v. Hard Serve

Now for the final debate: soft serve or hard serve? For one thing, people sensitive to texture may choose one type of ice cream over another. However, for flavor seekers, hard serve may be a more convenient choice because multiple flavors can be stacked on one cone. Sometimes hard serve scoops don’t melt as fast, so messy eaters may opt for hard serve. Aesthetic may also play a role in the decision-making. Anyone can scoop ice cream into a bowl, but not everyone has the natural hand-eye coordination to swirl a neat soft-serve cone!

So the next time you enjoy ice cream, no matter in what season, ask yourself why you like the type of ice cream you do. You just might learn something about yourself in the process!

Mojo No Work

Have you ever heard another ’60s rock band that reminds you of the Rolling Stones? The Shadows of Knight gave me a Stones’ vibe as I listened to more of their music. Their most famous song, “Gloria,” lives on today, especially as the opening track to Francis Ford Coppola’s movie adaptation of The Outsiders (1983).

In July 2022, the band’s lead singer, Jim Sohns, passed away due to a stroke. This Monthly Mixtape review is a tribute to Jimy.

In deciding which song to review, I quickly became stumped between four choices. But, in times like these, friends are here to help! Thanks to my dear friend, Eileen, today we’re featuring “I Got My Mojo Working.”

“I Got My Mojo Working”

Several artists recorded their take on this song, including the Zombies and Manfred Mann. Quite frankly, I’m surprised that CCR (Creedence Clearwater Revival) never experimented with it. Nonetheless, after sampling a few of the other covers, I find it hard to not like the Shadows of Knight version better! The original artist and songwriter, Muddy Waters, is also worth a listen, although his version has more blues and folk mixed in.

First off, what is mojo? It’s a slang term that refers to attractiveness, luck, a talisman, and the general casting of a spell. In this song, the denotation refers mainly to luck and attractiveness–aka success in the field of women.

Hold on, feminist folks, because there is a bit of “women as possesion” in this track.

The song’s introduction is quite a jam, as it stirs up the mojo that Sohns will soon be singing about. When he does enter, his raspy vocals lend to the band’s rocky-blues sound.

Instantly, listeners can’t help but wonder why the mojo isn’t working on the current love interest. The repetition of the chorus is almost like the mojo radiating and intensifying. It’s there, it’s there, it’s there, but it’s stuck in limbo.

Sidebar: On one hand, Sohns’ rough vocals may seem a little ridged and forced; but rest assured that his tone contributes to the ’60s rock sound that reminded me of the Rolling Stones. Plus, notice the descending notes on the lyric “work.” Many readers know that I love those types of descending note patterns! 😉

I digress…..

He doesn’t know what to do with the unrequited love, so he travels to Louisiana for help and advice. It seems as though he’s desperately willing to put in the effort and time to make this love connection work. After all, he HAS the mojo, right?

In Louisiana, he finds the gypsy woman, and she gives him advice. Here enters a mood of spells and witchcraft, a negative connotation conjured up simply with the use of the word “gypsy.” The funny thing is, we never know what specific advice the gypsy woman gave him. Unless it’s a dose of “Love Potion No. 9,” he doesn’t seem to be progressing much toward his goal.

Okay, I think he’s angry now. He wants to control ALL the women with his mojo! Um….can you say wannabe chick magnet? At this point, some listeners will get the impression that the male persona in this song just wants control and thus objectifies women. He’s more interested in “making love,” which focuses on the body, not necessarily the essence of the woman herself. But, leaving feminist literary theory aside, the song is still a fun listen!

And….now we’re in love with the.gypsy woman! I wonder whose mojo is more powerful? Does he still want the original unrequited love, or is he wanting to settle down south?

Sadly, by the end, that mojo didn’t sway the woman. It’s frustrating that we’ll never know why.

Before You Go

Don’t forget to listen and subscribe to the Guilty Pleasures of a Classic Soul playlist, which compiles all songs featured on Monthly Mixtape! You can now listen on either YouTube or Spotify!

Signs You’ve Watched Too Many X-Files

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, I went from being nonexistent to a very ambitious preschool kid. During this time span (from conception to school days), I had no clue that my parents were watching one of the most popular and thrilling sci-fi shows from the turn of the century (clearly the aliens didn’t wipe us out at the stroke of the year 2000).

A little over twenty years later, and I’ve been sucked into the vortex. Of reruns, that is. Instead of streaming new and endless shows like most young adults my age, I plop on the couch at night to see what outlandish journeys Agents Mulder and Scully have manged to get themselves into.

I’m no stranger to the sci-fi world, and I’m surprised I don’t have a permanent residence in the Twilight Zone! The X-Files’ mysterious and intriguing array of topics both mirrored and expanded upon other shows and films I’d already seen (ie. 👽👻🧛‍♂️🧟🔮🪄🦠). One episode led to another, and I, amazingly, was still able to sleep at night and stay sane!

Well, scratch that. The plots and partnerships featured in the famous series are so compelling that it IS possible to suffer from an X-File sort of mania.

Not sure if you’ve been seeing too much of Mulder and Scully? Here are the dangerous signs:

✅️ You firmly believe that “Fox” is a perfectly normal name for a child.

✅️ Every person who smokes could have a connection to “Smoking Man.” 🚬 How do we know they’re not related?

✅️ You have to keep rewatching epsiodes and seasons to keep track of alien abductions and to figure out which side of the X-files Assistant Director Skinner is on!

✅️ If you don’t say “Agent” before someone’s last name, you’re doing it wrong! First names are entirely overrated.

✅️ You have dreams that seem like they’d make for good X-File plots

✅️ You’re a teacher and now your students pop up in your weird X-File dreams–now ya gotta teach ’em and save ’em

✅️ You have a ridiculous dream that actor David Duchovny has actually been your neighbor in your small town for years (????)

✅️ At this point, stop having dreams. The episodes with parasites will keep you freaked out for days, so who needs sleep?

✅️ Assume there can always be a medical theory behind something bizarre, even if you have to use the words “although rare…” somewhere in your sentences.

✅️ Come to the conclusion that Cigarette Smoking Man is still secretly controlling government events. It would explain a LOT!

✅️ Constantly call Agent Doggett by the name “Gallo” in you head because you apparently knew him from the TV show Scorpion (CBS) first 🤔

✅️ Plus, freak out when your friend actually meets actor Robert Patrick at a fancy dinner event.

Actor Robert Patrick, who plays Agent Doggett, at a 2022 event supporting TAPS, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. He was a keynote speaker during a dinner event.

✅️ Assume every villain could be an alien. If green goo gushes from the bullet holes, back up and don’t breathe too closely…obviously!

✅️ Highly appreciate all the miles racked up on the FBI’s late ’90s/early ’00s model cars

✅️ Mulder and Scully clearly don’t have personal lives. If you’re still sitting in front of the screen, well, neither do you!

And if these warning signs seem too familiar, then welcome to the club. We all “want to believe!”

Wake Me Up Before You Go Danglin’ Me On A String

On June 28, 1986, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley performed together as Wham! for the last time at Wembley Stadium (London). For the three years prior to this iconic day, the BFF duo had evolved both musically and personally. Their effervescent pop hits made them a hit with fans. And thanks to their manager, Simon Napier-Bell, the duo was the first Western band to perform in communist China back in 1985.

Wham!’s split, contrary to what many might think, was not a result of resentment. In fact, it was quite the opposite. George Michael’s songwriting and vocal ability were also evolving, and he was ready to go solo. After all, Wham!’s foundation was youth, and that image was not intended to last forever. So the faces of Wham! went their separate ways, but their songs remained proof of their mark on ’80s pop music.

In 1988 and 1989, Wham! was, in a sense, briefly resurrected with two new young faces. If George and Andrew would have continued their musical friendship into the late ’80s, then their sound would likely have mirrored that of Gene Hunt and Joe Pasquale, also known as Boys Club.

Boys Club was naturally influenced by Wham!. Their top 10 song “I Remember Holding You” is not completely unlike Wham!’s “Careless Whisper.” Although this new duo fizzled out before reaching Wham!-like status, their place in ’80s pop history should be recognized and celebrated. The public may have eaten up George Michael’s sensual solo career, as they certainly should have, but Gene and Joe were left in the dust.

Boys Club is amazing with or without the Wham! comparison. Here’s a deeper look into how Boys Club imitated Wham! but dove off into a fresh, late-80s perspective.

Boys Club

Finding detailed biographical information on Boys Club is difficult, especially because they weren’t superstars or around that long. The information that can be found mentions, of course, Wham!-influence. Additionally, Gene and Joe were, obviously, good friends. The most interesting tidbit is that Gene is actually a sibling of the family band known as The Jets, who also acclaimed some fame in the ’80s with songs like “Crush on You.”

Preview

Please use this video to compare both bands as you read the review below. To hear all of Boys Club’s songs, just go to YouTube! 🙂

“Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” v. “Dangling On A String”

The simplicity and buoyancy that made “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” Wham!’s first #1 hit in America carries over into Boys Club’s “Danglin’ On A String.” The premise of both songs is that each singer doesn’t want to be left alone by the girl. In Wham!’s tale, the girl goes out dancing and leaves him at home. In Boys Club’s tale, the girl keeps moving on with other men and has left our guy in the dust.

The silly bubblegum pop of both songs is clear with the image of something “dangling.” For Wham!, it’s a yo-yo; for Boys Club, it’s a string. Essentially, both lead singers are being ghosted the old-fashioned way, before texting existed.

Figurative language also appears in both songs! Please see the chart below:

Band	Lyrics	Figurative Language
Wham!	“Boom-boom into my heart”	Onomatopoeia
Wham!	“Hanging on like a yo-yo”	Simile (comparison with like or as)
Wham!	“Make the sun shine brighter than Doris Day”	Metaphor
Boys Club	“My life will surely stop”	Hyperbole (extreme exaggeration)
Boys Club	“Heart’s in a noose”	Personification (giving human qualities to a inanimate object)
Boys Club	“You have made my life a book of games”	Metaphor

One of the main differences between the two bands, is that Joe’s voice sounds a little more mature than George’s voice. HOWEVER, there are clear cases of George Michael’s vocal transition as he performs through his early twenties. The point here is that, despite this being the Boys Club’s debut album, they have already reached a mature range similar to the one George develops towards the end of Wham!’s second album and into the final album in 1986.

“Everything She Wants” v. “Tell Me” v. “Credit Card Baby”

Cue money falling from the sky! Oh wait, that only happens in Wham!’s music video for “Everything She Wants” (“ESW”). Boys Club’s “Tell Me” is more lighthearted, but the meaning behind the song is the same: money and love are not equal. Meanwhile, Wham!’s “Credit Card Baby” (“CCB”), which is so full of bubblegum that you’re trapped in it, also falls into the same category as these other two songs.

The songs follow a pattern of mentioning how girls want money, not love. In “ESW,” George’s tone is discouraged and frustrated. He’s foolish to provide for the woman, but now a baby is in the mix and he’ll be bound to a woman he doesn’t even love. Similar frustration appears in “Tell Me,” but the point of view varies. Here, Joe is desperately hoping that the girl has good intentions of love and won’t take advantage by demanding money and worldly items.

Do girls act like this often? In Wham!’s bubbly “Credit Card Baby,” George throws caution to the wind and offers his money but not the love. It is a lighthearted reversal of “ESW” but not as desperate as “Tell Me.” George sings that, “From the ocean to the sky / there are things that you can’t buy / If you look you’ll see, one of them is me.”

“Heartbeat” v. “Loneliest Heart”

These two songs compare well due to two factors: loneliness and emotive performance. For Wham!, “Heartbeat” was the third track on the Make It Big album, and it begins to show how George could craft emotion into a song. “Heartbeat” is a lament and a personification, as George struggles with desiring a new unrequited lover. In anguish, he asks his “heartbeat” why the situation must be this way. Perhaps the most heart-wrenching line of the song is, “If we were meant for each other, / then why won’t you answer me?” The despair is coupled with a loneliness due to not winning at love.

Personally, I had trouble choosing a Wham! song to pair with Boys Club’s “Loneliest Heart.” This track is by far my favorite from the very underrated duo. Here, Joe laments on having the loneliest heart because his girl left him. Even worse, she left him through a letter!

Joe’s vocals are a combination of George Michael, Richard Marx, and Robbie Nevil: a strong blend and vocal range. “Loneliest Heart” is so powerful because of the escalation of the line, “Just when I thought things were getting better…” Sure, this relationship has had its ebbs and flows, but this heartbreak clearly came out of nowhere.

“Loneliest Heart “demonstrates that Boys Club had the songwriting and the chops to meet “Wham!-level.” Here’s a quick look at how this song compares to the first duo:

Boys Club	Wham!
“I work for you eight days a week”	“Some people work for a living / some people work for fun / I just work for you” (“Everything She Wants”)
“I’ve got the loneliest heart”	An exaggeration that sounds like something George would sing!
Soft on verses; skyrocket on chorus	Think songs like “Last Christmas” and “A Different Corner”
“You left the loneliest heart…And that lonely heart was mine”	George brings lyrics full circle to himself: “I know you’re sad….Baby, I’m your man”; “saw your lover with another and she’s making a fool of you…I don’t want your freedom…”

And if you’re still not convinced that “Loneliest Heart” deserves love, then check out the video below.

“Careless Whisper” v. “I Remember Holding You”

Now to finish this review with the song that jumpstarted George Michael’s solo career and the song that Joe Pasquale and Gene Hunt sent to the charts. Firstly, it is crucial to realize that Boys Club was not simply a Wham! copycat. Trace pop songs by boy bands throughout the decades, and you’ll notice similar themes of love and heartbreak. While both of these songs mirror each other in several aspects, they are NOT equal!

However, the songs share nostalgia and cheating. In “Careless Whisper,” George displays his guilt for cheating, and he goes on and on about never being able to dance again. The line that hits this theme home is “We could’ve been so good together / We could’ve lived this dance forever / Now no one’s going to dance with me.” The lonely tone is back again, coupled with memories that will never return.

Yep, Joe is having a similar problem. His heart had been “untrue” and now he’s ridden with memories of love that he’ll never relive again (with the same person). Perhaps the most poetic line of this song is “Time will never loose the memories we choose.” For both Joe and George, time hinders the healing process. Just as Joe will never forget the love he had because it’s always on his mind, George knows that “time can never mend” the hurt of the lover leaving him.

Additionally, there is the question of the guilt itself. Joe admits that ” Now my chance is gone / All alone / I’m reaching out / Even though I know it’s wrong.” He desperately wants another try with the girl, even though he admits he was wrong. George knows he was wrong, yet he still has to ask “Is what I did so wrong?” It almost sounds like he’s backtracking a little on the guilt.

Now let’s talk about saxophones. The story goes that George Michael rejected several highly professional musicians before he found the one who could play the “Careless Whisper” solo just the way he wanted. Although this solo will forever identify the song, George, and the 1980s, Boys Club incorporated more saxophone solos than Wham! ever did. In fact, Boys Club sax solos were edgier and (likely) more improvised. The solo in “I Remember Holding You” isn’t as sorrowful-sounding as in “Careless Whisper,” but they both reflect guilt and melancholy.

Wham! v. Boys Club

So what’s the verdict? Who is the better group of artists? Um…we don’t discuss that here, namely because I can’t choose between the two. Boys Club makes a great addition to the music scene of the late 1980s. They almost takeover for Wham! after the split. If Wham! were to have continued into the latter half of the decade, then Boys Club is similar to what they would’ve sounded like.

Although the bands are similar, both thematically and vocally, they each stand out in their own right. Whether globally famous or tremendously underrated, Wham! and Boys Club deserve to be celebrated and preserved for their roles in pop music history.

Before You Go…

Don’t forget to listen and subscribe to the Guilty Pleasures of a Classic Soul playlist, which compiles all songs featured on Monthly Mixtape! You can now listen on either YouTube or Spotify!

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Death of the Mallrat

Paper or plastic? No, not bags, but cash v. credit card. How about physical v. virtual?

In the United States, approximately 1,000 shopping malls are left in existence. Just a few decades ago, online shopping was a luxury, not a common reality. Malls with an assortment of stores were packed with shoppers, and not simply at Christmas time.

Locally, malls are fading away quicker and quicker. Once big box stores close, the smaller ones vanish without a trace. How does this affect small businesses? What about prices and availability? Has society become so lazy that people can no longer bear walking into a store to pick up their own clothes and groceries?

Consumerism wasn’t always this way, so what contributed to the disappearance of physical stores? How did malls go from becoming cool to being deserted?

It’s time to perform an autopsy on the mall rat.

Mallrat: (noun)

A person who spends an enormous amount of time in a shopping mall or center.

Back in the day, physical stores were everywhere, and there was no shortage of diversity in store names and wares. People could spend all day in stores browsing, eating, and hanging out. In the 1980s, singers were even discovered in malls!

Physical Stores v. Online Shopping

Physical stores may be disappearing due to bankruptcy and online trends, but this doesn’t mean that these stores are ineffective. Grocery stores are essential. If you’re low on milk and bread, you can’t afford to wait for a 24-hour delivery! Not every piece of merchandise should be bought online, at least for all shoppers. Older shoppers who struggle with technology rely on physical stores. If stores continue to vanish at rapid rates, then the older populations are limited to what they can purchase and where they can do so.

Online shopping, however, is simple and convenient. With a few clicks, a shopper can have virtually anything shipped and delivered to the comforts of home. Because, at least in America, people are working longer hours and are highly stressed, online shopping provides a convenient way to order necessities and desires without having to carve out substantial time each week to drive to a store and navigate aisles with crowds of people.

At times the conveniency of online shopping seems dangerous to human independence. With COVID, store delivery was a genius, safe option for shoppers to get what they needed and then travel back home without extra exposure to the virus. This option is also helpful for the elderly who can’t walk around a big box store as well as they used to.

However, with the number of infections slowly receding, consumers have stayed on the delivery bandwagon. Why go into a store when someone else can shop for you? But what about autonomy? Our society has become lazier by relying on the newest technologies that can turn off your lights and closeyour garage door. If shoppers who are perfectly capable of navigating physical stores simply bow out, then physical stores become even more dependent on other people. Why should store employees be servants to the consumers? Here, “consumer” is a more accurate word because people are receiving and using the items instead of shopping for themselves. They consume.

Then again, not everything can be found in a physical store. Looking for the perfect, customized birthday gift? Wal-Mart will not be customizing an ornament for you if you’re standing in the store. However, online shopping is the perfect place for gift-givers. Between Etsy and Amazon, finding that spot-on gift through the internet is a synch!

Could our society come to a point where we rely entirely on online shopping? I personally don’t believe physical grocery stores could disappear. That would be way too risky. Besides, some people don’t even have internet access due to income or location. We’re not going to completely starve our own people, hopefully.

What about clothes? I also don’t believe we’ll ever have stores without any clothing (see reasons above). Society can’t require all peoples to rely on the internet to satisfy basic needs like food and clothing.

Men’s clothing, for the most part, is simple to buy online. Women, however, vary in size and body type, including bust size. Sure, websites offer sizing charts and product details, such as clothing material, but is shopping for clothes online worth the hassle? If the clothes don’t fit, then the customers are in charge of preparing for the return: boxes and shipping labels! On the other hand, most physical stores allow customers to try on clothes before buying them. Wouldn’t customers be better off trying before buying?

In analyzing mall closures, the small businesses must be mentioned first and foremost. Stores like JC Penney and Macy’s will always earn a profit because of both physical and online sales. However, consider an independently-owned gift shop or collectible store. These businesses need people to be physically present in their stores. Depending on the business and the owner, online sales may not be the most efficient method for revenue.

When malls close, small businesses truly fall into jeopardy. The owners must decide how to keep their business and relocate. Or, these stores may simply close down for good. Even smaller restaurants and concessions falls into the same consumer pit.

The disappearance of store chains also contributes to higher prices. The stores that still contain hard-to-find items will no doubt boost prices to earn a profit.

Finally, a colleague recently pointed out to me that shopping is a social experience. It’s true, whether that experiences is positive or annoying. Nonetheless, humans are interacting with each other, even by being present in the same aisle. Online shopping is antisocial, making it a popular pasttime for people who come home from work and want nothing to do with people. Reading product reviews is nothing compared to two people in an aisle discussing the differences between two vacuum cleaners!

Malls used to be a social experience. People would run into neighbors or peers. There were concessions and restaurants galore, not to mention games and arcades.

Perhaps, at the end of the day, Malls would bring people back together, back into the social, physical world.

1,000 malls sounds like a lot, but remember that these malls aren’t at full capacity. Stores come and go, and many have gaps from where stores were once booming.

The next time you shop, remember your malls and local shops!