Not all Mondays are crap -- having off from work helps. To celebrate the 4th, I'm posting four more summer songs that I love. I posted about summer before -- rather late, even, since it was on the official (June 21) start, not the unofficial but widely celebrated one (Memorial Day). But the 4th of July seems most summery of all. Summer's routine by now and we're used to functioning under these UV-heavy, sweat doused terms. The heat needs a soundtrack, so here's a mini, dancey one (R. Kelly and Snoop's "Happy Summertime" would have been perfect to put up -- it's the best summer song I've heard in years -- but it's too available, and sometimes for a cost, so get it yourself).
Musique "Summer Love"
R. Kelly featuring Aaliyah "Summer Bunnies (Remix)"
High Frequency "Summertime"
Nocera "Summertime, Summertime (Club)"
The last one is particularly close to my heart (I know, shocking that it beats out the creepy February-June romance of "Summer Bunnies"). Nocera's belligerently ESL pronunciation and all-around oddball phrasing aside, I remember hearing "Summertime, Summertime" a lot growing up (South Jersey was always, and maybe surprisingly, a hotbed of freestyle -- Stevie B had a hand in raising me and I just about grew up alongside Lil' Suzy). I happen to be in Jersey (Ocean City, where I grew up and lived from birth to college), so I figured while I was sharing sounds, I'd throw in a few sights as well.
This is what I do during the day. It's really uncomplicated. We be reading People where I'm from.
Sometimes I go to the boardwalk even though it really wants nothing to do with my demographic. It's weird to feel simultaneously old (looking around at all the pre- and just-teens) and fortunate (looking around at the families filled with screaming people of all ages). The Christmas store above is another example of something that shuns the me that is a statistic (well, maybe not the gay part, but it accepts that begrudgingly because we're in SOUTH JERSEY). Anyway, it seems like a stupid idea, right? So wrong. It's generally infested with impulse buyers and uniformly overpriced.
The school systems are really good. No, really. And also: yay, cooling technology!
This is the only techy view you'll find anywhere. It's the giant ferris wheel at the biggest amusement park, Wonderland. Most everything else still looks like this:
Kuz K is kooler.
A Scrambler seat that's more aimless toss than throwback.
Illuminated palm trees are the new pink flamingos (the bf sold separately).
I suggest clicking on this so you can read all of the wonderful t-shirt possibilities (not pictured but spotted elsewhere: "Desperate Housewife" and "I'm Rick James, Bitch,"). My favorites of the choices above are "Dickie Doo Award" and "Sex Doggie Style" cuz everyone loves a self deprecator!
This is a banner hanging up on the Music Pier, a concert hall-cum-boardwalk landmark. Wow is right. So wow, in fact, that I'd love for someone to confirm it. Anyone?
This is just a taste of what I see when I'm here (not even getting into the clothes I actually see people wearing because, well, it's too easy -- go read Vice or something). But here's the real reason I love New Jersey and will never stop coming back:
You can click on this one to enlarge (ho ho!) it, too. We knew this guy was special when we saw his chunk (even though there's a lot of that here, it NEVER GETS BORING). We had no idea just how special.
Happy summertime, for real!
what the fark? beachfront handjobs? now *that's* family, darling!
Posted by: voodoo | July 05, 2005 at 02:47 PM
i love amusement parks, they're like a freakin addiction for me. thanks for the wonderful fotos.
Posted by: Mr. GuyTVBlog | July 05, 2005 at 03:52 PM
As a fellow South Jersey native, thanks for the pics. I too remember "The Sound of South Jersey" via Q 102 (does that station still exist???)
Posted by: | July 12, 2005 at 05:45 PM
Philly's Q102 does indeed still exist. It never came in very well in Ocean City, but it was influential all the same (it picked up on SWV's "I'm So Into You" waaaay before anyone else in South Jersey, and before that, there was a promo spot that they'd air on Philly TV stations featuring awesome stuff from their playlist like Musto & Bones' "Dangerous On the Dancefloor" and Tevin Campbell's "Round and Round").
Boss 97, which was actually based in South Jersey, though, was very similar (maybe a bit more housey). That's the sound of my adolescence.
Posted by: Rich | July 12, 2005 at 06:27 PM
I loved this entry. We went to Ocean City every summer when I was growing up. Ah, memories. Wonderland rules!
Posted by: Jennie | July 14, 2005 at 08:33 PM
You know what doesn't exist?? Eagle 106! Haha.. nice south jersey pics..
Posted by: jerrica | September 29, 2005 at 10:25 PM
is that a digable planets reference, rich? you are my soulmate.
Posted by: mdizzy | April 02, 2006 at 02:11 PM
What a nice summer vacation as well.. nice post..
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