Album I Wanna Be 14 Again
posted by on March 8 at 18:40 PM
And this is why…
I love this record so much. But like a lot of music from my teenage years, I can’t tell if my admiration exists because it’s actually a successfully executed record, or if it’s just because it was the soundtrack for a lot of awesome things that happened in my youth.
Eh, I don’t care either way. The point is that I love it, and that’s enough for me.
Specifically, it’s the songs “Going to Pasalacqua,” “Why Do You Want Him?,” “Only of You,” and “The One I Want” that are bringing back all the memories. I’ve always been a sucker for those unrequited love songs, especially when I was 14.
I saw Green Day play the Mercer Arena in… 1995? My friends Tyler, Erik, and Kyla went too, and I think the Riverdales opened. I remember I wore this bright yellow jacket that I had just bought a few days before the show. It was a terrible coat—really, really ugly—but I loved it. My mom and Erik’s mom drove us to the show, and before they let us get out of the mini van, we had to sign a piece of paper that promised we wouldn’t mosh or crowd surf.
Like a good girl, I didn’t crowd surf that night, but I did work my way up to the very front row. Billie Joe spit on me from the stage. After that show, Green Day was all I listened to for a month straight—this record and Kerplunk especially, since I never actually owned Dookie and would have to borrow it from my sister whenever I wanted to listen to it. I used to dance around my room, singing “Why do you want hiiiiIIiiim….” So good. This album also has the band’s cover of Operation Ivy’s “Knowledge,” and yes, it was through Green Day that I got into Op Ivy. But that’s a whole ‘nother post for a whole ‘nother day. I fucking love Operation Ivy.
I’m pretty certain my Kerplunk cassette is still in my car, so now I’m going to go and rock that the whole way home. “2000 Light Years Away,” “Christie Road,” “Dominated Love Slave”? Fuck, yes! It’s gonna be one hell of a sing-along in my Nissan Altima.
Your parents made you sign a contract pledging not to crowd surf?!
And you obeyed them?!?
And I thought it was lame when my mom wouldn't let me go to that Monday night Jawbreaker show 'cause it was a school night. Well, I guess that still was lame, but damn, a contract!
Just out of curiosity, respectfully...how old are you Meagan and Eric?
I'm a cherubic 26.
That show was the best! It totally got me into the riverdales.
yes! green day! Dookie was one of the first cds i ever bought, and my very favorite record when i was ten...it wans't until high school when i finally picked up "1,039/smoothed" and "kerplunk', and it totally reawoke my love for this band. it really wasn't cool to like green day anymore in like 2002, but i was secretly blasting this record all the time from inside my maroon Saturn... such simple, unpretentious, sweet pop music. "at the library" and "disappearing boy" are my very favorites. oh and btw, best green day song ever = "J.A.R." from the Angus Soundtrack.
Megan - what the hell??? You had to sign a contract?! My first concert was Prince's Purple Rain tour & he went as far as humping a purple bed on stage. My parents went with me & never tried to make me close my eyes.
Dood . . . tell me about it with the Green Day love. I haven't listened to 39 Smooth in years upon years (I think I only had it on cassette?), but ahh, the memories. And Op Ivy? Forget about it. I was so rad I had my friend paint their artwork and a quote on my jacket in high school.
Yes. A contract. Isn't that ridiculous? It was sorta a joke, but not really. We chose our battles wisely and signed. I mean, our moms weren't AT the show. If I remember correctly, Kyla and Erik both claimed to crowd surf. I didn't want to, though, because I wanted to keep my front row spot. No way was I givin' that up.
And I'm 26 too. But not as cherubic as Eric.
man, i was so mad that i didn't get to go. remember when we took the bus to the ice cream store with jeanna and sang "she" a whole bunch?
"christie road" == summertime
When I was a senior in High School I saw them at the OK Hotel. Billy Joe was sporting tie-dye, long hair, and a backwards baseball hat. Didn't matter either, they played pretty fucking good Buzzcocks/SLF inspired punk rock - never my favorite, but definately appealed to my sensibilities at the time, and I can't think of anyone that's done it better since. All that Lookout stuff they did is great.
Operation Ivy I loved as well, but upon revisiting that, I'm sad to say I realised it sucks.
Oddly, of all that stuff, I'd take Crimpshrine over either today. If I'm gonna listen to shitty teenage punks in love, I'm gonna need to take it all the way.
Green Day and Operation Ivy are the bands that comforted me through the fact that no girl in high school would sleep with me.
Ah, the memories. Sometime after that CD came out I saw them play a show in the basement of the Speedboat Gallery/Cafe in St. Paul, MN. That place had some pretty kick ass shows backintheday. There was a good turn out for a basement show, but it was far from packed. They rocked it. I think Billie Joe was wearing a pig nose at one point. It was my first introduction to the band. Later saw them play at First Avenue (Mpls) and then kinda lost touch with 'em around Dookie. I don't listen to them much these days, but I still think of that disc as a classic. I should pull it out and put it on tonight...
Yes! Crimpshrine! I don't think they experienced alot of exposure outside The Bay though.
WHAT!!! Love songs man get outta the dark ages and get somthin like "Jessus of Suburbia" or "St.Jimmy" or "Ha Ha You're Dead!"?!?!?
I meen who likes love songs.Well......"wake Me Up When September Ends"is ok but still!
Hi Jim. You letter i received. Thanks! Photos is GREAT!!!!
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