Of all the ways that Michelle & Raul inspired me to expand my musical horizons, nothing was as big and lasting as the fact that they introduced me to the music of Aimee Mann and her band 'til tuesday. Of course I knew the band's big hit single from 1985, "Voices carry," but that was literally all I knew of 'til tuesday. However, Raul was quite obsessed with the band and played their music all the time. At least once a day when we'd hang out, we'd hear a bit of 'til tuesday. If not their music, then probably a reference to seeing them in concert. There was their debut, Voices Carry, a very 80s sounding album with that title track highlight, and the beautiful "You know the rest." Then there was their sophomore album, Welcome Home that had more of a singer/songwriter feel and a more organic sound. I loved "Coming up close" but I swear to God that "No one is watching you now" is one of the most beautiful songs ever that no one knows about. Please, please, please find it. Download it. Fall for it. Maybe I'm crazy, maybe it's just me, but that song... wow.
However, my favorite 'til tuesday album, and the one I think is undeniably their best, is their last: Everything's Different Now. On my 17th birthday, December 12, 1990, I celebrated with Michelle, Raul & Angie, by having dinner at Victoria Station in Dadeland Mall. One of the gifts they gave me was my very own copy of Everything's Different Now and it's still one of my all-time favorite albums. It may be my favorite album of all time. Even today, as much as I love all of Aimee Mann's solo stuff, if I could only bring one of her albums on that fabled desert island with me, I'd choose this one. From the jangle of guitars on the opening title track to the hopeful pop of "How can you give up?" it's filled with songs I never get tired of hearing. The beautiful "J for Jules" (about songwriter Jules Shear) and "The other end of the telescope" (a collaboration with Elvis Costello) are gorgeous, but my favorite shall always be track 5, "(believed you were) lucky." Back then, listening to Raul's cassettes over and over again, something about this music connected with me, Aimee Mann's lyrics were a major part of it, and I truly fell in love.
Only Everything's Different Now had been released in 1988 and it was now 1990 and 'til tuesday? They had broken up.
Later on I'll talk more about Aimee Mann, who went on to have a bit of a shaky solo career at first, thanks to record company troubles, only to end up becoming widely successful and critically acclaimed as an independent artist. I finally got to see Aimee play when my friend Shawn (another diehard 'til tuesday fan, who has performed onstage with Aimee a few times) invited me to Boston to see her play with the Boston Pops in June of 2006. It was an amazing experience, and so special to be able to see an all-time favorite in such a unique way.
My other close encounter with Aimee occurred at my job. In 2008, she took part in a series of events Barnes & Noble hosts called "Upstairs at the Square" - in which a musician and an author are interviewed and perform some of their work on stage together. When I found out that Aimee was taking part in the event, I freaked OUT. I made sure that I had my break at the right time and went upstairs. I had brought my special edition copy of her newest album, @#%&*! Smilers, to get signed. But I got stuck on my floor and wasn't able to punch out in time, so decided to pick up the CD after the event so I wouldn't miss seeing her play. Upstairs, she (and her collaborator Paul Bryan, who has a fantastic album out called Handcuff King) played and was a fantastic interview, despite an interviewer who always makes me think of a grade school teacher. There were so many people in the crowd, and as the event winded down and the line to get stuff signed formed, our fabulous events coordinator recruited my help in directing the line. It was surreal to be working the line while feet away from me was the woman who changed the way I listen to music, who had been singing the soundtrack of my life for 18 years- half of my life, literally. So surreal and so thrilling that I forgot my own CD and basked in the glow of the rest of the crowd, watching people get so excited about getting to see her, say hello. I didn't actually interact with her, though. What could I have possibly said that wouldn't have sounded like the words of a rambling fool?
I even have a 'til tuesday button that I wear on my name-tag at work. It was given to me by one of the sweetest guys ever, also named Rick, who I worked with in my old store's music department. It's one of my prized possessions, really.
Meanwhile, back in the 90s... That's me with Michelle the day of my high school graduation.
Michelle, Raul & Angie all got a place together in Fort Lauderdale, about 45 minutes away from Kendall. I had helped them move, in a very unreliable van that broke down at least twice. I knew that it would mean seeing them less and, as is usually the case, it ended up with me not seeing them at all. The last I remember hearing from them was when Michelle called to tell me that Raul had tried to kill himself. "He's gay," she told me. He had tried it before. He had become abusive towards Angie on one occasion. Years later, I met someone at work who had actually dated Raul. My friend was in high school at the time and in the end, Raul went psycho on him. I often wonder where Michelle is, because I connected the most with her. I miss her a lot. Even though my friendship with them lasted for only a year, a year and a half at most, it has so much to do with who I am today and I'll always be thankful for that. Most especially for my copy of Everything's Different Now.
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