Teen Spirit - (Yin - Yang)

Recollections from my youth. Please read my notes before reviewing.

 

Teen Spirit

(Yin – Yang)

 

I do not really recall

The year I started

Tampering with my radio

Wanting to hear it all

 

The news read by Casey Case

On AFN radio broadcasting for SHAPE

From Brussels, the headquarters of NATO

Followed by the Billboard Hot One Hundred

By Wolfman Jack howling

 

Quite a Thriller

Living up to far away

1999, a figment merely

Imagination of the brain

 

By a small Prince

Dancing in Purple rain

Not knowing the Devil

Came down to Georgia

 

Thanks to Charlie Daniels

And his band

Bringing him from Holland

With Radar Love

From the Golden Earring

 

Which found the Way

To my Heart

Thanks to Soulsister

Pumping up the Jam

 

For Technotronic’s

Manuela Kamosi

(Ya Kid K)

Staying behind in Antwerp

Where Belgium is not

 

The capital of Brussels

Sprouts or Waffles

Searching for another station

Centraal* (see notes)

 

Who had all the jamming

Going on over a tiny signal

Broadcasting their strong language

Through Professor Cat and Doctor Dog

Teaching Eek a Mouse

Was not a Yellowman

 

Their selector was …

Not exactly Phil Spector

But rather Lee Scratch Perry

Always high, but not on sherry

 

Oops, over to Linton Kwesi Johnson

Gentleman, comrade

 Dub, Drum and Base

Poetry forever!

 

Author's Note

I must have been 13 when I discovered both AFN radio... which introduced me to the Billboard Hot 100 and *Radio Centraal* a progressive, liberal, left wing very local radio station which introduced me to Reggae among others like 19th century Dutch writers which were not exactly material for high school reading lists and a biology programme about the procreation of stick insects which turned out to be presented by ... one of my class mates (a straight A student, tiny for his age and being bullied for being a bit of a nerd by some, but highly appreciated by myself for my name could have been Hermione Granger in those days)
Both FM stations were equally interesting to me because they were hard to receive using a small radio, I only could listen to them by placing the radio on the top shelf of the highest floor of our house and eventually got a better signal using a tip from my dad on how to extend the antenna of my radio ...
I kept on listening to both stations when they were in the air, though AFN seems to have disappeared in Belgium and Radio Centraal now has official permission to broadcast...
I let it up to the readers to define which radio station is yin and which is yang...
Please do not be offended by the expression about Belgium being the capital of Brussels, it is the other way round of course, but it sprung to my mind remembering a documentary I saw during my teens about American tourists visiting Europe by bus (Tuesday, this must be Belgium) One of the tourists actually said: 'Belgium, that must be the capital of Brussels...'
Anyway I was amazed to find out that Belgian and Dutch bands made it into the Bilboard Hot One Hundred (I refer to the bands in my poem) and I discovered Reggae through Radio Centraal...

Reviews

[Gandré]

this was amazing poem. I loved all about it... the sweet sentimentality of past time and your wording, especially the second part. I truly loved this poem, I also like to listen to AFN, this way I feel near to America... I would love to see beautiful Belgium Panamarenko lives in there, too, my favorite artist in Antwerp? I love when you write about your youth and childhoood (even you are still young. Old are those, who live passive life.) thanks for your review of my bilingual piece. Much appreciated. be well, L.Gandre

[Jason A. Kendrick]

I like the way you put both titles and words in together to express the fingerprints in the time that the words send you back to at an earlier age....Wolfman jack... I forgot about him til i ready this entry. great write!
jay

[HoorayForUnderdog]

I like your style and enjoyed reading the background info you supplied. Awesome! You Rock!

[Anima Inspired]

Wonderfully written! I love the way that this piece takes on a sort of autobiographical nature, and the voice is both strong and sentimental. You have brought to life a time in your life that shaped the person you have become, and that is a wonderful feat...I felt as though I was there with you while reading. Bravo!

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Love the introspective of just how the radio influenced your youth, this was so creative and fun... Rock on my friend.

[Wicahpi]

Cool! I liked this and you chose great songs, too!
Wonderfully delightful poem! Music truly is a great thing.

[poddar kushal]

The amazing piece conists sound... sounds of radio singnal and static one of not getting it. History is a part of your different writings and here it nicely act its role of a supporting actor.
Thanks for the note which is equally eloquent.