Sunday, May 7, 2017

Plimsouls, The Cure, & The Smiths

Nursing a cup of coffee in a Starbucks on Sheridan in the Wal-Mart shopping center, I am also nursing my wounds after being depleted from a game of Gaslighting by Tamara, a courier at QuickSilver.  I ended communication with her on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, when on the following day, Wednesday, May 10, 2017, I purchased a new phone number.  
I've heard a few songs in the last week that have made me think of her.
Here is one by the Plimsouls, whom I'd seen at Perkins Palace in Pasadena back in the late 80s:

This song helps me on some level. Recalling the good ol' days perhaps?
Then I heard The Cure's song "Just Like Heaven."  The lyrics made me think of Tamara, particularly the opening line: 
"Show me, show me, show me how you do that trick the one that makes me scream," she said.  When I first heard this I thought that the second line read "The one that makes me scream seasick."  That seems to be a better fit.  

I loved this one.
"Show me, show me, show me how you do that trick
The one that makes me scream" she said
"The one that makes me laugh" she said
And threw her arms around my neck
Show me how you do it
And I promise you I promise that
I'll run away with you
I'll run away with you
Spinning on that dizzy edge
I kissed her face and kissed her head
And dreamed of all the different ways I had
To make her glow
Why are you so far away, she said
Why won't you ever know that I'm in love with you
That I'm in love with you
You
Soft and only
You
Lost and lonely
You
Strange as angels
Dancing in the deepest oceans
Twisting in the water
You're just like a dream
You're just like a dream
Daylight licked me into shape
I must have been asleep for days
And moving lips to breathe her name
I opened up my eyes
And found myself alone, alone
Alone above a raging sea
That stole the only girl I loved
And drowned her deep inside of me
You
Soft and lonely
You
Lost and lonely
You
Just like heaven
I think I just want to be happy.  Even Tamara said that she doesn't want to keep a record of things, to review, to throw at each other, to use in hurtful ways.  I would not do that with her.  But she doesn't know.  
Then I heard this.  I do love the gentle tones.

The station at the Starbucks is playing all 80s hits, which is a lot better than their dreary, suicidal ballads.


There's nothing you and I won't do. Can't stop the world. I'll stop the world and melt with you.
Now the station is playing Queen's and Bowie's "Under Pressure," quite the socialist screed.  You can find those lyrics here.
I loved this song, Stand or Fall (1983) by the Fixx when it played back in 1983!!! Along with "Red Skies" and "One Thing Leads to Another," and others. 
Here are the lyrics:

Crying parents tell their children
If you survive, don't do as we did
A son exclaims there'll be nothing to do to
Her daughter says she'll be dead with you

While foreign affairs are screwing us rotten
Line morale has hit rock bottom
Dying embers stand forgotten
Talks of peace were being trodden

Stand or fall
State your peace tonight
Stand or fall
State your peace tonight

Is this the value of our existence
Should we proclaim with such persistence
Our destiny relies on conscience
Red or blue, what's the difference

Stand or fall
State your peace tonight
Stand or fall
State your peace tonight

It's the euro theatre
It's the euro theatre
It's the euro theatre

An empty face reflects extinction
Ugly scars divide the nation
Desecrate the population
There will be no exaltation

Stand or fall
State your peace tonight
Stand or fall
State your peace tonight

It's the euro theatre
It's the euro theatre
It's the euro theatre

Stand or fall
Stand or fall
Stand or fall
Stand or fall
Stand or fall
Stand or fall

This Starbucks radio is playing some terrific '80s tunes.  Love it!

Under the Milky Way, released in 1988, by The Church.  They are an Australian band.  Love the Australian bands.  Reminds me of Midnight Oil.  

Love it. What year, what year?

The absolute best songs are playing.  I can't believe it.  From Starbucks no less.  Where does it go from here? 

It's Haircut 100.  Love Plus One.  Find the lyrics here.
What's next? Who's Next?
I changed my phone number on Wednesday. May 10, 2017.  What is strange is that on that Thursday, May 11, I suddenly got all kinds of tickets for pick-ups.  I was never that busy.  And on that Friday, the 12th, I was even busier with my car completely full.  And what was even stranger was that Erika asked if I wanted to work Saturday.  I said sure.  Even more amazing was the fact that she asked me what shift I wanted.  These guys have been harassing me for months and now she's asking me what schedule and what day I want to work?  Motherfuckers.  And then when I clocked in, Priscilla, in her usual passive-aggressive or psychopathic rudeness, told me that I was doing the mountain route out to Frisco, adding that "Did anyone inform you?"  I said no, that no one informed me of what Saturdays would be like.  She informed me but only AFTER I made a couple of stops locally, one of them being to Rose Medical on 19th.  I am so glad to be rid of the Liliths that work there.