Always reminds me of the anticipation of summer vacation 45 years ago.

June.  The promise of summer.  The anticipation.  The sun.  The warmth.  Surging teenage hormones. Would you go back?  I might.  

If you attended school in New York State then you know how ridiculously late the school year ends.  Having spent most of my life in a classroom, first as a kid and then as a teacher, this warm spell has me thinking about end of the year memories and rituals and expectations and excitements from days gone by. 

Forty five years ago I was finishing up my freshman year of high school.  Remember how awkward your first year of high school was? Well I was awkward as hell.  I had crushes on about a million boys but I had zero confidence or social skills.  I finally made the JV football cheering squad.  I tried out the previous spring but didn’t make the cut.  In June 1981 I finally did.  I desperately wanted to be a cheerleader.  I desperately wanted to be cute and attractive to boys and to wear a cute orange and black short skirt and saddle shoes.  Well, that dream came true, but like most things I wanted, being a cheerleader wasn’t all that glamorous.  The better looking cheerleaders got all the attention.  Sigh…..

Anyway, let’s talk about some outstanding music memories from June 1981.  Radio was king.  97 Rock.  WPHD. WHTT.  Great DJs.  Great playlists.  Endless memories.  If I’m going to talk about 1981 then I absolutely must talk about Rick Springfield and THE perfect song Jessie’s Girl. Not sure if any guys liked this song, but to a fifteen year old girl, Dr. Noah Drake from my favorite soap opera General Hospital was absolutely spectacular.  A hot doctor who could sing plus was Australian!!!!!! A trifecta!  

Of course it was overplayed. It was everywhere.  It’s not particularly clever or inventive- BUT DAMN this song is fun.  And relatable. At one time or another we all had a crush on someone that was someone else’s.  Who hasn’t ever been jealous of someone’s paramour? And when you’re a teenager that longing and jealousy  is just so painful. 

And she’s watching him with those eyes

And she’s lovin him with that body I just know it

And he’s holding her in his arms late, late at night

Oh, my…..

Jessie’s Girl was from Springfield’s fifth album Working Class Dog that came out in January of ‘81. The song really actually was about the girlfriend of a friend – whose real name was changed to protect the innocent- lol- to Jessie.  Said friend had a girlfriend that RS adored from afar. According to him she never knew the song was about her. 

  The song took a while to climb the charts, was in the top ten the last two weeks that June and finally hit number one at the same time that MTV hit the airwaves in August.  MTV played a huge role in the popularity of the song and even though he was already well known by playing Dr. Noah Drake, it was this song that launched him into the stratosphere. 

This song is indelibly imprinted on my brain.  That guitar intro is just so damn catchy.  He has said it was inspired by The Kinks You Really Got Me. Fun fact, Neil Giraldo is actually the one  playing that guitar intro as well as the solo AND the bass part!  That intro tho- it is unmistakable. It reminds me of walking or biking around town, partying in secret spots like the cemetery or the woods or the lake.  It reminds me of a summer cottage at Van Buren Bay, walking around in endless loops looking for boys we crushed on.  Trying to pretend we were adults, or cool like the older kids we were trying to be like.  It is just a way-back machine to a time and place that doesn’t exist any more.  A time when you looked forward to the future with great anticipation.  You couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next.  I so miss those days.  And for those reasons, Jessie’s Girl is THE perfect song.