Jane Wiedlin, "Rush Hour"

Posted by Luminator (A) on June 22, 2016 at 21:38:54

As the Spring 1988 semester came to an end, the music video of Jane Wiedlin's "Rush Hour," featuring her swimming with dolphins, helped make the song a hit.

That was a time before cellphones, HDTV, GPS, email, and the internet. As a high school junior, I had to get others' numbers, and actually pick up the phone. So after finals and the school year were over, I started with a few of my own classmates. I told them to call anyone who would listen, and go out to play sports on a Saturday at San Francisco's West Sunset Playground. Having known them for a number of years, I had little faith in them. So I turned to my freshmen friends, most of whom were more sociable and gregarious.

So I get to West Sunset. Just a few of us were already there. But over the next 30-45 minutes, more and more show up. I recognize most as having gone to our school. But a few are totally unfamiliar to me. Turns out, some of the freshmen invited their other friends, who attended other high schools.

At the peak, there must have been 8 or 9 girls, all of whom were freshmen. While going out to play sports, I had been used to having 3-5 girls. So, to have 8 or 9 was a bonanza. As usual, we had a boombox. We were between innings, just kind of milling around the stands (the diamond we used did not have a dugout). Wiedlin's "Rush Hour" came on the radio, and one bouncy and effervescent girl from Wash just started dancing. Soon, she was joined by 5 or 6 other girls.

I wish I had a camera or video recorder. My words cannot convey the sheer joy expressed.

Later that summer, I went back to Honolulu. Among the last times I heard "Rush Hour" was a late afternoon, in a surf shop (T&C?) at Ward Warehouse. ...And then I never really heard it again. Once in a blue moon, one of the satellite or internet radio stations will play this long-lost gem. Maybe when you play it now, you'll revert to your 5'2", 105-pound, 15-year-old girl self :-) 1988 or 2016, this is just a joyful, feel-good song.

Oh yeah, those freshmen of '88 will be having their 25th reunion later this year. Since my wife is one of them, we're there!

Ooh you send me
You take me to the rush hour
Ooh you send me
You got me in the rush hour

-Lummy The Loch Monster

Rush Hour (Open in New Window)

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Topic - Jane Wiedlin, "Rush Hour" - Luminator 21:38:54 06/22/16 (3)

"Our Lips Are Sealed" - FenderLover 07:05:49 06/23/16 (2)

"Inside A Dream" - Luminator 16:23:50 06/26/16 (1)

"Our Lips..." --- think was based on Wiedlin's affair with Terry Hall - FenderLover 18:27:54 06/26/16 (0)

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