KEVIN McCORRY, HOST: I’m Kevin McCorry and this is ‘Jukebox Journey’
[MUSIC MONTAGE: Snippets of “Blue Suede Shoes” by Elvis Presley, “Money” by Pink Floyd, “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson and “Song 2” by Blur.]
KM: We’re unstuck in time, jumping through decades and genres, meditating on a theme.
The second week of June. High school graduation on the mind.
Picture it: There you are on the precipice of big changes. You feel the chapter turning and can’t help but contemplate all the big questions: Who will you become? What life will you create?
[MUSIC: “I Feel The Earth Move” by Carole King]
KM: Rising towards the top of the charts this week in 1971…Carole King
But as a teenager on the cusp of adulthood, there’s big questions, and then there’s big questions, especially the ordinary ones.
[MUSIC: “Lady Marmalade” by Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya and Pink]
KM: I grew up in Northeast Philadelphia and graduated Archbishop Ryan in 2001. Number 1 on the chart the second week of June that year:
[MUSIC UP]
The song was made popular by Philly native Patti LaBelle in the 1970s
[MUSIC: Seamless transition to Patti LaBelle version]
KM: And got a refresh with Christina Aguilera, Lil Kim, Mya and Pink as part of the Moulin Rouge soundtrack.
[MUSIC: Seamless transition back to “Moulin Rouge” version]
KM: Ahhh…young love, hormones raging. The world a ripe piece of fruit.
[MUSIC: “Hot in Herre” by Nelly]
KM: Nelly’s smash hit this week in 2002.
Looking back now, you contemplate the connections made, the connections missed. The people who signed your yearbook with an offer to KIT…. keep in touch.
[MUSIC: “Ring My Bell” by Anita Ward]
KM: Maybe you could have, but you didn’t.
[MUSIC UP]
KM: The song by Anita Ward was climbing the charts this week in June 1979. Ward taught public school in Memphis before hitting it big…but only as a one hit wonder. Dreams made, dreams dashed.
It all seemed amazingly, frighteningly possible then….and no doubt as adolescents we indulged in the highs….. and the lows.
[MUSIC: “It’s My Party” by Lesley Gore]
Number 1 this week in 1963: Lesley Gore. Thirty-four later: The Verve Pipe peaked this week at number 5.
[MUSIC: “The Freshman” by The Verve Pipe]
The hardest thing about graduating is what it could mean to your circle of friends. These were formative times. The all-night talks. The late night drives. The push to feel something real with every gathering.
[MUSIC: “Say it Ain’t So” by Weezer.]
Born this week in 1970, Rivers Cuomo of Weezer.
[MUSIC UP]
KM: Whatever drama was happening at home, if there was one thing you needed to hold fast to after crossing that graduation stage…. it was those friendships.
[MUSIC: “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King
KM: Number 4 this week in 1963, Ben E. King.
Not all bonds held….but thankfully, purposefully, many did.
[MUSIC: “Umbrella” by Rihanna]
KM: Number 1 this week in 2007, Rihanna.
But there with cap and gown in mid june, we were still naive to many of the realities of the world, the heartbreaks, the setbacks, the bitter pills to swallow.
[MUSIC: “Killing Me Softly,”by The Fugees]
KM: This week in 1996, the Fugees cover of the song made famous by Roberta Flack was dominating airwaves in the UK.
But who could blame us for thinking we had the world all sussed out? Who could blame us for a little swagger?
[MUSIC: “Smokestack Lightning” by Howlin’ Wolf]
KM: This week in 1910, blues legend Howlin’ Wolf was born.
And mid June of ‘85…. Tears for Fears went all the way to the top of the chart.
[MUSIC: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears]
So who did we become? What life did we create? What would our current selves say to that high school grad? What would they say back to us?
Sometimes it’s better to say less, smile at the glory you have, and let the music do the talking.
[MUSIC: “About Damn Time” by Lizzo]
Lizzo, number 4 on the chart this week in 2022.
I’m Kevin McCorry. This has been ‘Jukebox Journey’ on WHYY.
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