Monday, April 30, 2007

The Songs, Part 2

We've reminisced about campfire songs here.

I heard a song on the radio the other day, that reminded me of camp.

When I was on staff ('87 & '88), we listened to the radio quite often. There was almost always a radio on in girls' staff, we would listen to the radio in the kitchen while working between meals, and if there wasn't a camp in, we'd listen to the radio at the pool during staff swims.


My time at camp was before the 'no repeat workday' concept, so some songs were played several times a day. Some of them still bring back memories of camp, 20 years later.

Two of these songs, were "When Smokey Sings" by ABC and "Hands to Heaven" by Breathe. These had to be two of the most overplayed songs of the late 80's! For the record, neither of these are a favourite of mine. They just remind me of being at camp, because I heard them so often while I was there.

Is there a song from the radio or a tape/CD you took to camp, that reminds you of camp? It could be a favourite or something that was overplayed at the time.

10 comments:

J9 said...

There were a few that will always remind me of my first year on staff (1993): Woman in the Wall, Cecilia, anything by Moxy Fruvous (especially King of Spain, and Green Eggs and Ham)

Anonymous said...

4 words...My Name is Luka.
Also can not forget all those 'sad songs' cassette tapes Sharron Jones (2 r's from guelph!) made for us to cry over summer romances gone bad.
And, most importantly, who could forget the Toastie Song for the lifeguards (and Lynn!!) making toast in the morning the years I worked at camp.
ps. does anyone else remember the song, "Vanna, pick me a letter"?? or is this some lifeguard hallucination I had from being in the sun too much? :)
Krista van Hiel

Sue Matthews said...

Krista, I remember the Vanna song. I even found it on the internet one time and downloaded it. It's stuck on my old computer somewhere though.

One song that reminds me of camp is "Don't Worry, Be Happy". I seem to remember Colin Westover coming back from a day off saying he had just heard the most ridiculous song on the radio with some guy just saying "Don't worry, be happy" over and over and over. All of a sudden that song was EVERYWHERE!!!

Another song that always takes me back to camp is Eric Carmen's "Turn the Radio Up".

I also remember a few of us making some tapes in those superstar recording booths at amusement parks. I remember being involved in "That's What Friends are For" and "Twist and Shout".

Anonymous said...

Ahh yes, the Toastie Song. Definitely not oversung! I can still feel the toast burns!

'Woman in the Wall' (or anything by Beautiful South) was also popular in '92 when I was a councellor. I seem to recall the oldest boys cabin councellors teaching that song to their cabin for a campfire or talent show!

I did also think of 'Don't Worry, be Happy'. I forget which lifeguard it was, (Krista or Karen) wasn't going to open the pool for a staff/councellor swim until they heard 'Don't Worry, be Happy'. Well, thanks to the overplaying, it came on almost instantly!

Mark said...

Oh come on guys, 1000 Miles by The Proclaimers!!

Anonymous said...

Hey...I remember the "Don't Worry be Happy" incident! I also remember listening to Depeche Mode over and over again. There was a song on the radio at work the other day and it took me right back to camp it was, "Almost Paradise". I think that was one that was booming at the pool quite often as well.

J9 said...

Oh, yes, how can we forget Mark and Craig singing 1000 miles during SMC talent night....

Anonymous said...

Before I even read any of the other comments... "Don't Worry Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin came to mind! LOL I think it's great that others remember it, too! The other songs I remember were from the Dirty Dancing Soundtrack.
And Sue, I have the recording of "Twist and Shout" somewhere!!! It was from a recording booth at Niagara Falls when staff went there for a day! At the end of it everyone is still giggling before they stopped recording and it's hilarious to try and pick out which laugh belongs to which person! I'm going to have to go and did that up now and have a wee listen and good old chuckle!

Sue Matthews said...

Mona, I remember that at the end of the song you can hear Krista saying "that was good, people" or something like that. If I had a copy of it, mine is long gone.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I remember the "Vanna pick me a letter. I remember singing the line "whaddya mean there's no "f" in phone," and my dad thought I was swearing.

My song was "Innocent Man" and 'The Longest Time" by Billy Joel. To this day, they are 2 of my top 10 songs of all time.