There was a reason I used to record songs off z100: 1990 was an incredible year for top ten songs! I discovered this while prepping for my reunion last month. To put myself in the mood I listened to some top 10 hits from the early 90’s. While listening to Whitney Houston belt out “I’ll always Love You,” I realized how meaningful that song had once been to me. Sure this song would eventually be replaced by other more significant tunes by Boys 2 Men, Roxette or Phil Collins, and ultimately they were abandoned entirely for Nirvana. But let me tell you: “Everything I Do” by Bryan Adams still makes me want to slow dance to this day.
All this aside, the 1990 roster is chock full of really excellent songs. Remember The Body Guard? That movie was suppose to be my First Date back in 10th grade with this one kid, let’s call him “Maurice,” my prospective Tolo date at the time. Maurice was a kid who rode my friend’s school bus to school, (cringe), and we took a shine to each other…meaning we talked awkwardly on the phone for hours. Maurice was fastidious, and perhaps, come to think of it, gay. He ironed his jean shorts before school, (I still can’t get over that), and he wore ties and sports coats. Neither of us had ever had a relationship before and I doubt we knew how to go about it. Maurice was kind of mean too, he made fun of me a lot, but I supposed that was because he liked me. Anyway, we bantered back in forth for a little while, unsure of how to proceed. Two Big Nerds in a sea of bad fashion, waning big hair, and nothing but school in common. I remember thinking, well, maybe we should start holding hands…something he never initiated and I wasn’t sure if I should. Than I round-about asked him to Tolo, because it was sort of expected of me, and well, maybe that would fire things up. Here’s a sign of the times: Our matching outfits would consist of jean shorts and flannel shirts. And let’s clarify the term “jean shorts” since I know that means something entirely different now:

It should also be noted that I’m currently listening to “Because I Love You” by Stevie B. repeatedly. Josh almost vomited and made me shut the door. Fine, I’m switching it to “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor. Anyway, at some point, I realized that maybe the problem was that I just wasn’t attracted to Maurice. I don’t know if this is exactly true, it could have been that I was just an enormous chicken and not ready for a relationship. (I also know that my standards were unrealistically high; I was still secretly pining for football players and upper classman with muscles and letterman jackets at the time). Anyway, I was left in the awkward position of breaking off the Tolo engagement. Maurice didn’t take it well…he demanded an explanation and I didn’t know how to proceed. I couldn’t tell him, well, I don’t find you attractive, or, I’m just not ready for what this first date might entail. I don’t know what I said, actually. I felt kind of bad, but something in my gut warned me away from the whole situation. Maurice recovered by taking my best friend at the time to see The Body Guard where he placed his hand on her knee…he never put his hand on MY knee. I was insulted. My best friend was torn. Further drama ensued. We eventually ditched Maurice for our girl partnership.