Iron Maiden, "Wasted Years"

Posted by Luminator (A) on October 16, 2016 at 00:03:06

Iron Maiden's Somewhere In Time was one of the Fall 1986 semester's biggest influences. None of my classmates had a CD player then, so we bought either the cassette (primarily) or vinyl LP (rarely). The detailed album cover artwork fit in with our time. It drew from Iron Maiden's previous works, but overall, had that bleak, futuristic, the sky-is-burning feel. And that was the weather, out here in the west. Made ya feel like going down to hot, dirty, and burning L.A. or Vegas.

Imagine having classes like World History, English, and Geometry. Then picture yourself staring at all the little details in Somewhere In Time's album cover. Then see yourself at night, in your room, headphones on, piles of homework stacking up. The sound of the phone ringing cracks your concentration, and it's your restless best friend begging, "When are we going to go out and play ball?!"

Sleep deprived, you trudge an hour on public transportation, finally get to your 1st period class. The next weekend seems eons away, yet, the girl with glasses rattles off a handful of movies she'd like to see with you. You don't care for any of her choices, and all you can muster is a grunt.

Between late-morning classes, you have your head down on a desk. Batteries be damned, you listen to your Somewhere In Time cassette. You were half asleep, when your friend/classmate Barbara pulls off one of your headphone earpads, and shouts in that ear, "Whatcha listenin' to?!"

Annoyed, you can barely open one eye, and you're mouthing the words, "Man, you're not going to be my future wife!"

Then listen to "Wasted Year's" guitar synths, and now, 30 years later, it's easy to understand why you had a tough time, keeping your head above water. But those days are long gone, and you can get on with enjoying, appreciating, and thanking the music.

On the surface, "Wasted Years" was about the toll touring took on the band. But through it all, the present is the "golden years," so make the most of them. And I guess that's why, no matter how many years have elapsed, it still feels like Fall 1986. Despite us now being veteran audiophiles, "Wasted Years" brings us back to our teen years, when our spurious imaginations roamed and drifted and then laser beamed. And all that, before we had any adult responsibilities.

-Lummy The Loch Monster

Wasted Years (Open in New Window)

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Topic - Iron Maiden, "Wasted Years" - Luminator 00:03:06 10/16/16 (1)

RE: Iron Maiden, "Wasted Years" - fantja 13:02:18 10/16/16 (0)

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