Rock & Roll

OK, I admit it, I'm a rock and roll koochie mama.  I really enjoy this style of music, and have listened to it since it was born in the sixties!  One of my guilty pleasures is to read biographies of rockers from my era, so of course I read Keith Richards' book "Life" and Steven Tyler's book "Does The Noise In My Head Bother You".  In my defence,  these books follow my general criteria of a book with a strong central character who sweeps me into another universe, so I guess the addiction makes sense.

I just finished watching a 2 hour Oprah Winfrey interview with Steven Tyler.  I enjoyed seeing it, and gaining more insight into his lifestyle and attitude.  I find many rock autobiographies are very self-centred and ego driven  (and of course, Steven was no exception), however as an interview subject he did have insights into the affect he had on his children and spouses, and also his band mates.

Most of my girlfriends have matured past the point of listening to rock and roll.  In their company I hear Diana Krall, or the Four Tenors (who are yummy, I must admit) or even classical music.  Over the years they have all given me cds.  And I don't mean the classic rock & roll music that I listen to.  Truthfully, most of the music on my Ipod involves bands that begin with "The".  Such as The Beatles, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Guess Who, The Who, The Hollies.  Well, you get the picture.  After over 40 years of listening to this music, I guess this is another aspect of my life where I'm never going to grow up.

I love to dance, especially to "my" music, although its getting more difficult to do so.  I hate to sound like a grumpy old woman, but the dance or club mixes that they play these days sound a lot like the dreaded "disco sucks" music of my teen years.  I have to make specific requests of the DJs, and have to make sure that the songs I ask for are popular enough that they will be played.  I generally have great success asking for "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress", "Brown Sugar", "Start Me Up", "Jumping Jack Flash".  Actually, almost anything by AC/DC usually gets played too.  Well you get the picture.

Another topic would be my dance style.  Bad enough to have purple hair.  Add to that the fact that I am a very enthusiastic dancer.  Usually my back and front fields are in independent motion, I'm waving both arms in the air, and dancing as if no one was watching.  I have forgotten the art of walking in high heels, since the first thing my now-husband bought me was a pair of sneakers over 30 years ago.   I never could dance in heels, and have always danced barefoot.  A couple of years ago I was seduced by a pair of silver sequined ballet flats, and I really love dancing in them.  

There is something about a dark room, not-too-crowded dance floor and rock & roll music that makes me feel all fizzy inside.  As if my blood had turned to ginger ale, and was sending tingles throughout my body.  My head knows that I'm no longer the thinnish teenager that I was, but the rest of me hasn't internalized that concept.  My husband has perfected the art of dancing with me while appearing to be dancing sedately by himself.  I'm not sure how he does it, but it works for us.  One of my sons dances enthusiastically with me, totally amused at the show.  My daughter in law dances happily with me, for music that neither my son nor husband will attempt.  We have a blast dancing together, and I am blessed to have her acceptance.  My oldest son would prefer to be on another dance floor, preferably at another dance.  He loves me dearly, but his style is less ... exuberant.