Friday Night Flashback: Nu Shooz’s “I Can’t Wait”

This one never fails to make me skate-hungry, and it is impossible to hear it and not feel just a little bit better.  Really.  G’head, try it.

See? Told ya.

Last Call, Y’all!: Skating in Central Park

One of the many (many, many, MANY…I won’t bore you guys with the full list) reasons I love living in New York?  Central Park.  In addition to being one of the world’s loveliest parks, there are events there year-round, and some of my favorites, like SummerStage, are free of charge. 

But my number one, most favoritest, stand-out Central Park annual event: roller skating.  Hosted by the Central Park Dance Skaters Associaton, every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, a group of adorable dorks dance-skates around Olmsted Way (at 72nd Street).  I stumbled upon the CPDSA almost a decade ago, when a sudden and violent rainstorm halted Baaba Maal’s SummerStage show (it was SOOOO good!) and my friends and I had to hastily find cover.   I vowed to come back.  Fast forward to Sunday, when I decided to shake off my stinky blues (this month has been…challenging) and head over.  I hastily compiled a playlist on my iPod and hopped on a bus with my skates. 

I have NEVER had so much fun skating.  I recommend that anyone who has a moment head over there before Labor Day.  One note, though: the music is hit or miss.  The following list lends itself very well to dance-skating:

1. “(Don’t Worry) If There’s A Hell Below We’re All Going To Go (Maurice Joshua Nu Soul Mix)” – Curtis Mayfield.  I have tried, and I can testify that it is im-freaking-possible to not dance to this song.  It’s got one of the hottest dance/Diwali backbeats I have ever heard and probably the least annoying use of synth-clapping ever. 
2. “Sunshowers” – M.I.A..  I loves me some M.I.A. This song is one of my favorites: danceable globo-political commentary.  And…um…I salt and pepper my mango, too.
3. “Temperature” – Sean Paul.  It’s a hot song.  And he’s sexy.  I put him in my “Light-Skinnededed Brotha Corral.”
4. “Move Ya Body” – Nina Skyy. I love a one-hit wonder! Time to time travel a little bit.
5. “Don’t You Want Me” – Jody Watley.  Told you I was going back. And if you think THAT’S unforgiveable…
6. “Set It Off” – Strafe.  This is a ghetto classic, the original eight-minute version is still the best and the funkiest.  I was on a date once where the gentleman in question did a really slow , HILARIOUS Cabbage Patch to this song when it came on.  I fell a little bit in love with him on the spot.
7. “Can U Feel the Beat” – Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam.  Y’all can laugh at me if you want to. Freestyle in the ’80s was awesome.  Ohhhh ohhhh ohhhh ohhhh ohhhh ahhhhhhh….
8. “Come Go With Me” – Expose.  That’s right.  I took it there.  Oh, it’s not over.
9. “I Can’t Wait” – Nu Shooz.  Props if you even REMEMBER them.
10. “Play at Your Own Risk”  – Planet Patrol.  Yep.

The upside:  I had a rill good time.  The downside: a couple of side-liners were filming yesterday’s skating fun, so there’s a good chance that I could show up on YouTube. 

I’m glad I wore the sexy jeans.