There's something magical about watching those old 80's music videos. The neon lights, the synthesizers, the hair that defied gravity—all of it brings me back to such a basic time in my life. It was a time when I thought I was a rebel. I mean, I was rebellious… kind of. My rebellion consisted of smoking pot, daydreaming about how everything I learned in school was the gospel truth, and biting my tongue nervously on my first kiss. You know, the typical stuff we did before realizing just how much the world doesn’t work the way we thought.
Back then, I was defiant. But what exactly was I defying? It turns out, I was waging war against a system that didn’t even exist. I’d scream in my head about injustice, point fingers at "fascists" and "Nazis" who were basically just my Republican parents. In my angsty teenage mind, they were the enemy. Reagan-loving, conservative suburbanites who didn’t understand what I was going through. At least that’s how I saw it, thanks to the MTV-induced rebellion I thought I was part of.
The funny part? If I knew then what I know now, I might’ve saved myself a lot of energy. I was fighting invisible enemies, acting like the system was out to get me, and thinking I was some kind of hero in my own revolution. It was a revolution against curfews, homework, and being told to clean my room. Real heavy stuff, right?
But man, those videos. They were my escape. The glossy visuals of Duran Duran’s Hungry Like the Wolf or A-ha’s Take on Me told me that the world was exciting, and adventure was just around the corner—probably in the shape of a mullet and leather jacket. I was ready to take on those imaginary fascists with the help of a great soundtrack. Fast forward a few decades, and it turns out the world isn’t quite as black and white as I thought it was. It’s mostly gray, with some random splashes of neon if you’re lucky.
I still smile watching those videos, thinking about my pot-smoking rebellion. I thought I had it all figured out back then, but I was just a kid with a Walkman, a few cassette tapes, and a lot of misplaced anger. But hey, if I knew then what I know now? I’d probably still be watching those videos with the same grin on my face. Because, in the end, we all need a little rebellion, even if it’s against nothing at all.
by Dan and Bonkers
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