It Started With the Voodoo That You Do So Well

posted by Momo Fali on February 24, 2012

I received an email yesterday that contained lyrics from a Salt-n-Pepa song. No one pointed them out to me and for all I know it was unintentional, but I knew they were Salt-n-Pepa lyrics because I used to look like this.

That’s me, circa 1986, the year Salt-n-Pepa released their first album. I was 15 years old, which was prime hip-hopping age. Of course, I went to a practically all-white high-school, but technically you’re still allowed to be white and hip-hop as long as you bite your lower lip.

Unfortunately, back in 1986 you couldn’t dance because of the risk that your bangs would go flat. This meant spraying a half-a-bottle of Aqua Net directly on your curling iron, teasing your hair with great force, then applying more Aqua Net. Afterward, it was imperative that you not stand near an open flame.

These ladies know what I’m talking about.

The overabundance in the 80’s took a lot of work. You had to shred, bleach and peg your jeans, you had to destroy your hair, stack bracelets up your arm, and you had to make room in your closet for a bag of shoulder-pads. Sigh. The best shape my body was ever in was completely wasted on 80’s fashion.

Thank goodness the neon, lace and crazy clothing shapes are gone for good! What? They’re back? That’s okay. My teen daughter will look good in big, baggy tunics.

I, however, won’t be wearing those clothes again. And as for my poor, poor hair; I will never again tease my bangs unless it’s for Halloween. The styles of the 80’s are gone for good.

But, as shallow and corrupt as the music was, I can’t seem to shake it. Or, Push It. Same difference.

    Comments

  • lori


    Brilliant!

  • Headless Mom


    Push it good!

  • Amie


    My BFF and I used to lipsync to the “Hot Cool & Vicious” tape on a daily basis. I actually checked the CD out of the library a few years ago so I could download it to my iPod and relive the memories.

    Remind me to show you some pictures of ME in 1986.

  • Sadia


    I LOVE your picture. I’m wearing neon, zebra stripes, and leg warmers in my 5th grade class picture. Never could get any volume into my hair, though.

  • NukeDad


    We used to call that hairdo; “The Sparrow Catcher”

    • Amie


      We called it “The Hand of God”

  • Colleen - Mommy Always Wins


    So did you totally love the character Michael Keaton played in The Other Guys? HAHAHAHAHA!

  • Melisa


    I can’t even with that hair. You must have been very, very popular.

  • Annettek


    Ack! Now that’s going to be stuck in my head all night. P-push it real good…

  • Liz


    HAH! You had me at Aqua Net šŸ™‚

  • Tracie


    OH yes. I remember the Aqua Net well. It was my close friend for years – I’m so happy that we finally broke up!

  • Amy


    I really wanted to play “Push It” in the delivery room when I had my babies. Sadly, by the time I had gotten to the pushing phase, all 3 times, I had completely lost my sense of humor.

  • Bea_OT


    Gosh, I was so not with the times! My hair looked like a hippie, straight and flat!

    Ugh! Now I have that song in my head and it’s time to sleep!

    Good times.

  • The Laundress


    I sang “Baby Got Back” word for word for my daughter the other night…dance and all.

    She thinks I’m cool.

  • MommyTime


    Push It! I loved that song. Also, I had those bangs too. You rocked them, girlfriend!

  • meleah rebeccah


    Oh I do miss the glory of the 80’s – big hair and all.

  • lceel


    You missed the REALLY good times – in the late 50’s and early 60’s. It was beehive hairdo and bobby sox and jeans, white blouses and torpedo bras. I was, and AM, so glad I was not a girl.

    All I had to do was roll my cigarettes up in the sleeve of my tee shirt and comb my hair straight back into a DA. Ah, those were the days. Of course, I HAD hair then. And lots of Vitalis.

  • hchybinski


    and now I will be singing Salt-n-Peppa all day – LOVE those girls!

    oh yes – LOVED those 80s too. . .of course in 1986 I was a little older than 15. . .but not MUCH! =)

    Thanks for the BIG smile today!
    Hillary

  • Dr. g


    I feel you. I walked into Express a couple of years ago and a girl who could be my daughter says “Have you seen these cute neon t-shirts? You can layer them!” I said, “I’ve worn those. It’s not such a good idea as you’d think.”

  • Shana D


    First, your bangs were awesome! Second I LOVED Salt-N-Peppa

  • alaina


    Awesome. Oddly, I hear Salt-n-Pepa on the radio regularly. I’m pretty sure Push It just made it to the South.

  • Middle State


    Looking back at pictures of the ’80s, it’s amazing we didn’t all spontaneously combust.

  • Corrin


    Amazing. In 4th grade, our teacher was hugely pregnant and someone slipped a cassette of Push It in the classroom stereo and hit play. In a Catholic school. One of my favorite memories ever.

  • JamieBMusings


    heh…. fun pic šŸ™‚ I used to like them too.