You’re kidding right? George Michael is one of the best pop songwriters ever, IMO. (That was for you Sara)

Really though, I’m serious. Careless Whispers… are you kidding me? Brilliant! I don’t have any shame in “admitting” total respect for his songs.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, I listened to an entirely different band of bad music: Christian pop. Instead of New Kids on the Block I had DC Talk. Instead of George Michael, Michael W. Smith. Instead of NWA, PID (Preachers in Disguise).

I have not listened to these artists in many years, and I don’t intend to. Even DC Talk’s most tolerable music, from the album Jesus Freak, grates on my nerves today. I honestly don’t know why I listened to that stuff for so long.

I can’t even fall back on nostalgia, like you do. I remember childhood as a painful, socially awkward, and generally miserable period that I would really rather not be reminded of. The high school years were a dramatic improvement, but I’m having a lot more fun as an adult.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind people the importance of noting the author of a post BEFORE reading it. Right around the time I thought it unusual that Danny would admit that Jordan was his favorite New Kid, I realized it was Sara’s post. Blog readers beware. Don’t let this happen to you! (Even though I now have a wonderful mental picture of Jim and Diane lovingly allowing a strapping young Danny to listen to “Faith” in the car on the way to church).

I loved the New Kids. Danny was my favorite, though.

how can you people say these things? these people are pouring their hearts and souls into the songs they write and sing, and who are you to just sit and judge? God will sit and judge you.

wait, are we still talking about worship songs?

Dude, I love George Michael. I’m not ashamed to admit it. I actully bought his last album and enjoyed it. I think Freedom (both his version and the Wham one) is a great song on so many levels. I was just talking to Jeri the other day about how I jumped from C&C Music Factory, Kriss Kross, The Party (a Micky Mouse Club Band), and MC Hammer to Guns N’ Roses, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana almost over night. I think it was when I realized how bad Jr. High sucked and I wasn’t a clueless kid in elementary school anymore. I guess it was a loss of innocence or just a need to connect to something deeper. It also had a lot to do with the jukebox at the pizza place we went to all the time. They had all the good stuff.

Kyle…I am with you. DC Talk, Audio Adrenaline, PID, Petra, I listend to it all.

Though even back then I was listening to a lot of classis rock - in 8th grade I did a poety report on Jim Morrison! I wasn’t allowed to use The End though.

And I had to hide my Doors tapes from my mom. But she let me listen to Led Zeppelin…

Sara, I must agree that Faith and the Listen Without Prejudice albums were two of my all-time favorites. In fact, we still have both of those (much to Kyle’s chagrin, I’m sure). My best friend and I had a groovy duet worked out to Freedom ‘90.

I also must admit that I soulfully and angstfully listened to Tiffany, thinking that she was just so right and so mature in her knowledge of love and heartbreak. And that tape also remains on my shelf.

Finally, for all you who commented about listening to Eddie Vedder instead, I really thought he was best back before Pearl Jam was well-known, when he was more angry and raw (I’m thinking of a taped live performance of Porch that captured my little teenage heart) rather than clever or pop-y (as in “Where oh where can my baby be…"). Kyle and I tend to disagree on this- is there anyone out there who is with me?

So see Brendoman? Grunge-liking and George Michael listening are not mutually exclusive… You could have liked both at the same time.

But then, what do I know? I actually went to see Milli Vanilli in concert.

Actually, dear, that “Last Kiss” cover was far too pop-y for my tastes. I do like Vitalogy, though.

And Pearl Jam was plenty popular during the Jeremy period.

Kyle and I tend to disagree on this- is there anyone out there who is with me?

I fall somewhere in between. I like the angrier, darker Vedder. I also think that Vitalogy was a great album.

Hmm…I need to listen to some pearl jam at work tomorrow.

Hello Danny and Sara…and Emma. I finally made it to a computer with internet access, so I thought I would give you all a brief hello and update. All I ask in return is that you pretend to be interested. I am working at Ruby Tuesday’s in Niceville which is about 15 minutes away as a server along with Jazz-bo(Caleb). I work with mostly older people than myself, but more depressing things could happen I guess. We pretty much sit around the house and play cards, but if anybody asks you we are always at the beach and we have crazy tans. My room is also the living room, but beggars can’t be choosers. We have no kitchen sink drain so we let the water run into a bucket and dump it out the back door. We thought about getting it fixed but I don’t know if I would like it any other way. I do have some pretty interesting stories, but this isn’t really the right place to tell them. Anyway, my time on the computer is limited so I will update you more on another date.