Power Pop Summer
My Mixtape’s A Masterpiece is a weekly feature in which a guest compiles a playlist around some theme. This week, Morgan Rankin assembles 13 songs to accompany a great couple of days in the summer of 1984. Read Morgan’s thoughts on each song and listen along to the Spotify playlist on top and/or the YouTube playlist at the bottom of the post.
The year is 1984 and you’re ready to have a bitchin’ summer with some cool jams…
1. “Can’t Stop Hurting Myself” by The Greg Kihn Band
You’re cruising down the street in a shiny blue ‘78 Camaro you just bought from all those pizzas you made working at Little Tony’s Pizzeria. You can’t wait to show this baby off to your friends and hope it will catch the eyes of some cuties, too.
2. “Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy” by Sammy Hagar
As you pull up to the parking lot of the local arcade, you see people start flocking to your car. They’re whistling and staring in awe at its beauty. Your friends beg for a ride but first you gotta get your Pac-Man fever on. As you enter the place, you make eye contact with your competition. They’re the top dog when it comes to the arcade scene and very few have come close to beating them. They know you got what it takes so they’re keeping a close eye on you.
3. “When I’m With You” by Sheriff
You’re lost as you’re going to town on the Pac-Man machine. It’s your greatest escape from reality but sometimes reality isn’t so bad...like when you catch a glimpse of your crush out of the corner of your eye. Though your heart drops when you see your competitor wrap their arms around them as they leave together. It’s game over.
4. “Love Is Alright Tonite” by Rick Springfield
It’s time to go for a ride with your friends as you need fresh air after that gut punch. You rev up your engine and floor it out of the parking lot as everyone hoots and hollers. The music is blaring as you all sing along, riding down the highway. Other cars are trying to race you, but you don’t have a care in the world—you’re having too much of a good time with your friends.
5. “Ah! Leah!” by Donnie Iris
The munchies have kicked in so you whip into Burger Hut where the waiters and waitresses bring your food out on roller skates. Your childhood best friend works there and rolls their eyes as soon as they see you pull in. They take your orders and give you shit about the upcoming arcade tournament. There’s heavy flirtation between the two of you and deep down you both know it but are too chicken shit to ever act on it.
6. “I Got You” by Split Enz
A car pulls up right next to yours and guess what? It’s your competition along with your crush and a few of their friends. They get out of the car and start messing with the staff...and that includes your best friend. You can’t take it anymore and step up to them. They challenge you to a race and without hesitation you agree. You can see the disappointment in your best friend’s face as they beg you not to do it, but you have something to prove.
7. “A Million Miles Away” by The Plimsouls
Everyone meets up at the dead end that’s just down from the restaurant. The cars are running as you’re now having second thoughts on this but it’s too late to turn back. The countdown starts and you rev up your engine. In 3…2…1… you floor it as the adrenaline hits you hard. You both fly down the road going over 80 MPH. You scream as you’re in the lead but not for long because your competition creeps in and starts stealing your thunder.
You can’t let them win especially with how they treated your friends. The pedal is pushing it to the limit as you get that baby up to 95, but you hear tires screeching as your competitor slams on the brakes as you look and see red and blue lights flashing towards you. You both whip your cars around and pull over to the side of the road. Your heart is racing fast as you realize it’s just a false alarm as you see them turn down a side road.
Everyone from the restaurant runs down to check on you both. It’s all laughs and cheers from the crowd but your competitor is pissed off. They tell you that this isn’t over and that your ass will be grass at the arcade tournament tomorrow. As they take off, one of your friends tells the crowd to meet up at their house in about an hour for a pool party.
8. “Shake It Up” by The Cars
The house is packed full as everyone is dancing their feet off and chugging beer by the kegs. You make your way through the crowd and head towards the swimming pool. Your friends are doing backflips off the diving board and telling you to join in. You kick your shoes off and dive right into the pool as they cheer you on. The cool sensation of the water feels pretty damn amazing after a scorching hot day. As you come up from the water, you can see a shadowy figure standing over you. Once you wipe the blurriness from your eyes, you see it’s your crush waiting for you. Now you just wanna sink down to the bottom of the pool.
9. “Talking In Your Sleep” by The Romantics
Sitting right next to your crush, you’re sweating twice as much as you were before you jumped in the pool. They’re playing with your hair and telling you how good you look. You can’t believe this is actually happening...but deep in your gut you know something doesn’t feel right. You ask why they came to see you and when you hear the tone of their voice change you know it wasn’t because they really wanted you. They confess that they’re here to ask you to drop out of the arcade tournament.
Now you’re pissed and refuse to forfeit for anyone. Shaking your head in disgust, you see your best friend staring at the both of you. Your crush notices too, grabbing you and pressing their lips hard against yours. Your heart shatters as you can feel the disappointment on your friend’s face through the window. You push them off as you run out to chase after your friend.
10. “Hanging on the Telephone” by Blondie
You try to find your friend, but they’re long gone. A car pulls up to you and you crinkle your nose as you’re surprised to see it’s a group wearing ski masks. Something wet hits you as you look down and see it’s egg yolk as more come flying at you. You try to go for cover but unfortunately you were the perfect target as more of it has covered about 70% of your body. It’s no surprise it’s your competition and their buddies trying to make your life a living hell. As you feel defeated in the moment, you know that’s not gonna stop you from kicking their ass tomorrow at the tournament.
11. “I Can’t Take It” by Cheap Trick
It’s the day of the tournament and you’re feeling discouraged. You’ve tried calling your best friend and they won’t answer. You left a message on their answering machine to meet them at Burger Hut at 12:34 P.M. because that’s always been a little inside joke between the both of you. As you sit and wait for them in the booth by the window, you keep stirring your straw in your chocolate shake because you’re scared of the unknown. Your feelings for them are very deep and you don’t want to lose them. You just hope they still feel the same way.
The clock is ticking and you’re anxiously waiting any minute for them to walk through the door. A minute passes after the meet up mark and your heart sinks. As you get up from the booth and make your way towards the exit, you hear a familiar voice call your name. A sigh of relief hits as it’s your best friend standing behind you. After you discuss the misunderstanding from the night before, you both confess to wanting something more than just a friendship.
12. “Turn Me Loose” by Loverboy
The moment for the arcade tournament is here. You walk in holding hands with your best friend as your other friends follow. Your competition has the most shiteating grin you’ve ever seen on their face as if they think they have a chance of winning. The owner of the arcade announces the participants and the grand prize—which is a trophy and $200 in cash. That’s money you can put towards getting tickets for the Van Halen concert next month and doing some interior work on the car.
It’s game on as you both stare straight into the screens and smash the buttons on the system. Everyone is cheering you on as you try to not lose your concentration. You get so lost in your playing that you don’t even hear the machine shouting “Winner” as the screams get louder and everyone crowds around you. Your competition is pissed and storms off...but your former crush walks over to you and asks if you want to go on a real date. You wrap your arm around your best friend and tell your former crush that you’re good and you have the best prize of all right here.
13. “Think I’m in Love” by Eddie Money
You’re sitting on top of the hood of your car with your best friend watching the stars at night just talking about life and future plans. You might not know what you want in life right now, but all you do know is that you’re having the best summer ever.
