by Eric Ginsburg
There is a bar in Boston, or maybe it was Cambridge, that a few friends directed us towards one night in a cab. Its exact location, and even its name, are wholly irrelevant. All that matters is what happens there on occasional Friday nights.
It’s difficult to think of anything better really — and don’t you dare suggest karaoke — or any reasonable excuse that the same thing doesn’t occur at least once a month at some bar here with a decent amount of open space.
A dance party. With only ’90s music.
I actually can’t think of any venue in the Triad that has dance parties at all, unless we’re talking about a salsa night or referring to clubs. But what reason could there possibly be for the absence periodic ’90s dance parties here?
Remember Mr. Big, or the band’s 1991 hit “To Be With You”? When was the last time you listened to “When the Lights Go Out” by 5ive, or “Cruel Summer” by Ace of Base? Destiny’s Child. Backstreet Boys. Toni Braxton. Whitney Houston. Gin Blossoms. LL Cool J. “No Diggity.” Smashing Pumpkins. “This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan. “I’d Do Anything For Love,” by Meatloaf. TLC. Ja Rule.
“Pony” by Ginuwine.
The concept could be adapted and applied to the ’80s, maybe for a different Friday of the month, but the ’90s were packed with cultural gems. It’s the perfect time for nostalgia, as we hit mid-decade 20 years later.
That’s how long it takes for things to be cool again, which hopefully means I can sell my Pog collection for a ton of money. But seriously, though many things from the ’90s, including the fashion, should stay gone, but it’s time for a musical revival.
Somebody organize it, and we’ll be there dancing like it’s our cousin’s bar mitzvah, asking where all of the cowboys have gone.
Join the First Amendment Society, a membership that goes directly to funding TCB‘s newsroom.
We believe that reporting can save the world.
The TCB First Amendment Society recognizes the vital role of a free, unfettered press with a bundling of local experiences designed to build community, and unique engagements with our newsroom that will help you understand, and shape, local journalism’s critical role in uplifting the people in our cities.
All revenue goes directly into the newsroom as reporters’ salaries and freelance commissions.
Eric,
This is brilliant. You had me at “Pony” by Ginuine. You’re essentially proposing we bring back what was referred to in my days at an all-girls Catholic school as a “mixer”–a casual school dance where you got to “mix” with boys by eating pretzels, drinking Sprite and eventually grinding to crowd favorites like “Too Close” by Next. (If you don’t know that one by name, I suggest you Google it). Except this would be even better because we don’t have curfews or chaperones or legal restrictions on alcohol consumption, and we can still get down on the dance floor but without worrying about being popular enough. Because let’s face it– if you live in Greensboro, you’re popular in Greensboro.
We could start by doing it once a month and we could even rotate establishments to spread the GSO love around. It won’t be hard to organize and won’t require much. I guess this is an open call for someone who likes to make 90s playlists and someone else who likes to make Facebook events. I am not either of those people. I could probably fill in the blanks with the help of a friend or two.
November 7th feels right (just my intuition) for our inaugural 90s Friday Night (working title).
So GSO, what do you think?
With love,
Saron
*Ginuwine