"Another day to make my stand ... oh-whoa!"
Twenty-some years ago, my friends and I had a nice Friday morning tradition. We'd all hop into my white 1982 Ford Mustang (with fake air scoop on the hood), blaze away toward school at Countryside High and blast Duran Duran's "The Reflex" at top volume on the car stereo.
We never understood the lyrics, except the one line: "Another day to make my stand, oh-whoa." It became our Friday morning mantra. Our call to arms. (And of course, the video absolutely ruled. Still does.) To me, the rest of the song sounded like jibberish, yet I had faith it was full of other inspirational musings. In all these years, I've never bothered to look up the real words, until today.
"The reflex is an only child, he's waiting in the park. The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark. And watching over lucky clover isn't that bizarre. Every little thing the reflex does leaves you answered with a question mark."
Are you kidding me, Simon Le Bon? Now that I know the words, I'm considering finding a new Friday morning song. Any suggestions, gang?
[AP photo]
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
E-mail Steve Spears:
Hell no don't you dare change that song!
Posted by: Peter,Sweden | July 10, 2008 at 08:08 AM
shes a wee bit lass.
Posted by: CHAD | June 06, 2008 at 10:47 PM
i dont know which hotel shes staying at, but her b-day is aug 4th. she is going with a friend. shes not an 80s gal, was alive then, but she prefers rap. go figure.
Posted by: CHAD | June 06, 2008 at 10:46 PM
So Chadsy, tell us about your sister...
Posted by: Spears | June 06, 2008 at 07:20 PM
thats gonna be one hell of a trip in vegas. just thought of it, my sister will be there that same weekend.
Posted by: CHAD | June 06, 2008 at 07:02 PM
Holy Bubbles in the Bathtub, Batman! See what happens when I'm at work? All this talk about motor-boatin', underpants, tatas, and Vegas. Oy!
Posted by: Marissa | June 06, 2008 at 05:04 PM
I'd go with "In A Big Country" -Big Country or "Who Can It Be Now" by Men @ Work. Always good to start of the day with those. Maybe even throw in "Wildest Dreams/Time Again" by Asia to get the ole blood circulating.
Posted by: Tom | June 06, 2008 at 05:00 PM
I think Sean would be offended if he weren't busy munching on Funyons!
I suggest the classic Journey tune Don't Stop Believin'! Always a good fallback!
Posted by: John Hays | June 06, 2008 at 04:28 PM
FF -- As long as I'm still free to motor-boat, I think we've got a deal.
Posted by: Spears | June 06, 2008 at 04:08 PM
Now there's an idea! I've only been to Vegas once and it was in the middle of summer and I was pregnant. I was hot, cranky, tired and sober. Not a good combination in Las Vegas. I need a do-over.
Of course, I would be on my very best behavior. The only ta-tas I would ever motor boat in are Sean's.
Posted by: Forever Fiancee | June 06, 2008 at 03:48 PM
You've never heard of "going Egyptian?"
OK, then you come with me, leave Daly at home with the kiddos. Either way, problem solved.
Posted by: Spears | June 06, 2008 at 03:32 PM
Ahhhhhhh, you're staying at the Luxor, not Caesar's. Why didn't you say so? That makes a huge difference. It's perfectly acceptable to walk through the Luxor in your underpants.
Posted by: Forever Fiancee | June 06, 2008 at 03:28 PM
P.S. -- I begged Sean to bring you with him. So you and I can have some alone time when he passes out.
Posted by: Spears | June 06, 2008 at 03:24 PM
Of course it won't happen. (We're staying at the Luxor, not Caesar's.)
Posted by: Spears | June 06, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Hmmmmm....let's see...should I let Sean go to Vegas with Spears? Wow, that's a tough one! I need to think for a minute.
NO, NO, NO, NO and HELL NO! Nice try, Spearsy.
I can just see the story I would have to tell the girls: "You see kids, your dad is in the hospital right now because he got pounded by a bouncer after he tried to motor boat in the ta-tas of an exotic dancer after drinking Red Bull and vodka all night with his friend Steve, who drank so much he blacked out and walked through Ceaser's Palace in his underpants. Of course, this was AFTER he lost all your college money at the roulette wheel."
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!
Posted by: Forever Fiancee | June 06, 2008 at 03:16 PM
Oh, my beloved Forever Fiancee -- please let Seansy come up with me to Vegas. I need him there to keep a close eye on me. (And I'll make him sleep in the tub in my hotel room, especially if he drinks too many Red Bulls.)
Posted by: Spears | June 06, 2008 at 02:37 PM
Seeing as Friday isn't the end of my workweek, I cannot seize upon the joy of that Loverboy anthem.
Rather, at 2pm on Saturdays, I have to lean on the 70s for this little classic:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0cRxYKvTLgQ
Posted by: Spears | June 06, 2008 at 02:36 PM
I always thought it was “the reflex is a LONELY child...” Woops! And I considered myself a true Duranie.
And I know it’s corny, but even to this day I love hearing “Working for the Weekend” by Loverboy on Fridays. It immediately puts me in a good mood. I turn my radio up as loud as I can stand it and sing along.
Everybody’s working for the weekend
Everybody wants a little romance
Everybody’s goin’ off the deep end
Everybody needs a second chance, oh
PURE MAGIC!
Posted by: Forever Fiancee | June 06, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Morning song: Dancing on a Jetty or Original Sin (or any song from INXS, from The Swing, great friggin' album)
Ministry, with Sympathy: Effigy or Revenge
Til Tuesday: Rip in Heaven
Driving home from work followed by driving to the club/party song:
Depeche Mode: Just Can't Get Enough, People are People, But Not Tonight or anything from Erasure, Anything Box, Pet Shop Boys.
Getting the heart rate up, car dancing while you get ready to hit the platform
Driving home emptied handed with no women but with your best friend driving the 30 minutes home under the influence:
The Smiths: There is a light that nevere goes out
Yaz: Midnight
Have a great weekend, all the love,
MinA
Posted by: Mike in Austin | June 06, 2008 at 01:33 PM
I thought "King of Mountain" by Midnight Oil, but that album came out in 90 or 91. Sorry to disappoint, Steve.
Posted by: Walter Cox | June 06, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Friday afternoon songs.
"One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" -- George Thorogood (yeah, it was released slightly pre-'80s, but was a jukebox staple at some of my favorite watering holes)
"Turn Me Loose" -- Loverboy (red leather pants optional)
"Start Me Up" -- Rolling Stones
(whoooo!)
And for later in the evening:
"Why Don't We Get Drunk..." -- Jimmy Buffett
(no sense in hedging one's bets)
Posted by: jane | June 06, 2008 at 12:18 PM
I know it's not 80s but perhaps Dynamite Hack's cover of Boyz in the Hood?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UMlPVpXtkJY
Posted by: Brad | June 06, 2008 at 11:45 AM
No DLR solo tunes will ever grace my iPod or computer speakers.
Posted by: Spears | June 06, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Aw, Spearsy. I had you pegged for "Just a Gigolo" by DLR.
Posted by: Marissa | June 06, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Usually "I Drink Alone" tends to be my Friday night anthem.
Posted by: Spears | June 06, 2008 at 10:52 AM
How about some AC/DC?
"For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)" or "Back In Black."
Or some Adam Ant: "Goody Two Shoes" or "Stand And Deliver."
Posted by: Bassnote | June 06, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Simon's lyrics are...oh...eclectic? Is that the word I'm looking for? Or is it weird? (Love ya, Simon! Just mad you never married me. *sniff!*)
Our Friday song at work is INXS "I Need You Tonight." We're all hopelessly stuck in the 80s. :-)
Posted by: Steph | June 06, 2008 at 10:24 AM
mwahahahaha ~ That's my evil, maniacal laugh.
Posted by: Marissa | June 06, 2008 at 10:03 AM
I think there are a lot of songs that if you took a hard look at the lyrics you would say W-T-F. But sometimes a good isn't about the lyrics it's about the energy or mood that the song projects.
Personally I need songs on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to pep me up and get me going. But I do have some playlists specifically for that Friday afternoon drive home!
Posted by: 80sfan | June 06, 2008 at 09:56 AM
Tweak Daly? That's not a challenge. Wait til you hear this week's podcast. I'm going to drive him rat-house insane.
Posted by: Spears | June 06, 2008 at 09:50 AM
The ARt of Noise tunage could be your midday, lunch tune. It'd give you a shot in the arm, and could tweak Daly just a bit.
Hearing this song has inspired me to make a TGIF cd to play at work today.
Posted by: Marissa | June 06, 2008 at 09:08 AM
Blue Highway ... that could work.
Though Art of Noise's Thank God It's Friday is an unremembered classic.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_z5SX1klJAM
Posted by: Spears | June 06, 2008 at 09:01 AM
"Blue Highway" has merit, too.
My thoughts are scattered. See how my Fridays start out? Yeah.
Posted by: Marissa | June 06, 2008 at 08:58 AM
I don't think I ever had a Friday morning song... back in the day, I would usually still be asleep on Friday am, as the weekend started for us on Thursday night, crazy (read: drunken) college kids that we were.
However, "The Reflex" may be my fave Duran Duran song, and regardless of the lyrics, it still works.
Now, if you want to talk Friday afternoon songs...
Posted by: jane | June 06, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Never had a Friday morning song but my Friday afternoon drive home song was one of the remixes of Art of Noise's Dragnet theme. "Thank God it's Friday!" Indeed.
Posted by: GlennS. | June 06, 2008 at 08:55 AM
I'm thinking if you MUST change it, you should rock it with Billy Idol and "Rebel Yell"
I've never had a Friday song. There are songs that get me fired up, but I never stuck to any one specific tune. Do you think I have committment issues?
Posted by: Marissa | June 06, 2008 at 08:54 AM
Really, I need to keep singing about lucky clovers?
And no "Friday I'm in Love." No using the L-word around me!
Posted by: Spears | June 06, 2008 at 08:54 AM
If it's been good enough for 25 years, why change now?
My Friday morning song was "White Heat" by John Waite, but was replaced by "Laser Love" by After the Fire, but I'm totally down with "The Reflex."
Posted by: Big Tex | June 06, 2008 at 08:46 AM
Here's the song that is in my head. I have no idea why. But it is Friday and it is a song. Not exactly something to crank up on the car stereo, though.
Break My Stride ~ Matthew Wilder
http://www.imeem.com/clubinternational/video/BRiSgpGm/break_my_stride_matthew_wilder_music_video/
He's sporting the 80s porno 'stache in the video.
Posted by: Marissa | June 06, 2008 at 08:35 AM
Never change your Friday morning song, esepcially if it's about lucky clovers. Oh well, if you have to, consider The Cure's Friday I'm in Love.
Posted by: Menni | June 06, 2008 at 08:02 AM
Aww, come on
"I'm on a ride
And I want to get off
But they won't slow down
The round-a-bout"
practically describes my life!
Posted by: Amanda | June 06, 2008 at 07:48 AM