I got it probably a year or two after it had been out. I was 9 or 10 years old and they were my favorite band. Vacation was a gift from my Uncle Ron, who was visiting Miami with his wife Michelle. There was a mall that would have been pretty new at the time where the family would usually go to every Friday night. My brother and I would spend our allowances on G.I. Joe figures at Toys R Us (where I'd end up working a decade later). We could usually afford one a week. Or I'd buy 45s at Camelot Music or Record Bar. Then we'd all go have dinner in the food court, Taco Viva or Sbarro's Pizza. After, we'd go home and my mom and Granny would watch "Dallas" on TV. On weekends, my brother and I got to sleep in our sleeping bags in the living room after staying up late watching "GLOW: The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling!" Anyway, I remember going with my uncle and his wife to International Mall and picking out the record. I think when we got home, I immediately played it on my little Mickey Mouse record player for them out in the patio.
The Go-Go's would continue to be my favorite band during the 80s, despite the fact that they broke up after their third disc, Talk Show came out. I actually saw them on the tour for Talk Show with my mom. Okay, so usually when asked what my first concert was, I say with pride, "The Go-Go's!" But it's not 100% true. It's the first concert I went to as a fan. In reality, my first show was Melissa Manchester. My mom was going to see her with some friends, but when a friend was ill, she agreed to let me go instead. I don't remember where it was. But I had a set of binoculars. However, in 1985-86, when The Go-Go's came to Miami I somehow got my mom to get tickets for us to go. I was so excited. And then I got sick. No matter. I went to the show anyway, at Sunrise Musical Theatre. The opening act was INXS, who I didn't know at the time. It might have been around the time Listen Like Thieves was released, but definitely before Kick came out and everyone knew INXS. All I remember was that they were loud and I was miserable and during intermission, vomited in the restroom. Finally, The Go-Go's came out and you know, I don't remember much because it was so long ago, but I'm sure they rocked. Once the set was over, we made our way out as I was still not feeling well. Once we were out in the lobby, heading out the door we heard them start up again for an encore. One of my favorite t-shirts ever was my Talk Show tour shirt. It's still somewhere in a drawer, and obviously far too small for me now, but it's one of the few musical souvenirs of my youth that I would still wear with pride. For a few years, I had this amazing poster of the band above my bed. I had got it at Atlantis, this water theme park, of all places. It was my favorite poster that was eventually torn (by mistake...?) by my stepbrother. Every once in a while I check out ebay to see if I can find one like it, but I've never seen anything even close. To this day, hearing the title track, or frankly any song from their first three albums, makes me want to jump up and down with joy. The Go-Go's and their music are always going to be favorites of mine.
Watch the video and do "The Belinda!"
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