Times Like These

I have a soft spot for SNL movies, and when I found out that Superstar was directed by Bruce McCulloch, one of the Kids in the Hall, I was even more excited. I saw Superstar with my then-husband and we were two of about three people in theater who laughed when Molly Shannon ran out of school in her Catholic schoolgirl uniform as Sister Christian played. Everyone else in the audience was too young to get the joke.
The song that stuck with me, though, was Beautiful by the Go-Gos. It’s played at the beginning of the movie. It’s a great summer song. I played it incessantly when I stayed in Myrtle Beach for a few extra days three years ago. I was separated from my husband, things with the Former Flame had reach the level of intolerability and I just needed time to clear my head. The weather was perfect — sunny, bright and clear. My life was anything but perfect at the time, but the song’s enthusiasm was infectious. I still think of that time in my life when I hear this song but now I can smile. Back then, all I wanted to do was cry …

My life is ever so perfect
My life has been a bed of roses
And you might think i’m crazy
So what if i am
My head is full of good things
Enough for everyone

Let me have my own world
Come in live in my world
Let me have my own world
Come in live in my world
Beautiful
Is all i see when i look at me
Beautiful
Every monther’s dream
Day by day
Things just keep getting prettier (so pretty)
Beautiful
What a wonderful life
Beautiful
Things keep getting prettier
Beautiful
Things keep getting prettier (so pretty)
Beautiful

I was the DD one night, a few years ago. I’m thinking some of us took my friend Chris out to distract him from a particularly bad break-up. He downed three martinis at dinner and I was stuck carting his drunk ass around. I can’t remember if I was driving my car or his, but the song “Times Like These” by Dave Grohl came on the radio. Chris was silent in the back seat. All of a sudden he said, “Oh my God, you guys! It IS times like these you learn to love again!”

I nearly drove into some parked cars, I was laughing so hard. And then Monday morning I heard the song on my iPod and launched into hysterical laughter, all alone in my car. The song is bittersweet but I have happy memories of it.

I am a one way motorway
I’m the one that drives away
then follows you back home
I am a street light shining
I’m a wild light blinding bright
burning off alone

it’s times like these you learn to live again
it’s times like these you give and give again
it’s times like these you learn to love again
it’s times like these time and time again