I was on my way to the store, sans kiddo, he was at his language arts tutor. The car was quiet. I turned on the radio and a blast from the past greeted me.
The year was 1989, I was about to graduate 8th grade. The hottest new song at every dance, Funky Cold Medina. Hello, Tone Loc.
As a kid, I always thought the lyrics were funny but the beat was awesome.
I never really thought anything about the story being told.
But in the car, no kiddo, so I could actually listen and think with my semi grown up brain…holy cow batman!
“This brother told me a secret on how to get more chicks
Put a little Medina in your glass, and the girls’ll come real quick”
so at this point it sounds like some sort of love potion number nine right? He’s drinking it and it makes him more attractive.
But the next three stanza’s imply he’s giving it to the women.
Holy crap, he’s roofie-ing these women.
And don’t even get me started in the crossing dressing Oscar Meyer Weiner verses.
Huh. I never noticed a thing as a teenager. I don’t remember the parents being in an uproar either. And this was the same time Warrant was in trouble for all their swearing and Cherry Pie (hello, Tipper Gore).
But someone was paying attention. Less than 2 years later Sublime released Date Rape. I have to wonder if they were listening to little Tone Loc and thought, oh hell yeah, we can do something with that. LOL
T.A. Henry 
Ah, so many songs morphed into other realities when I got older and/or actually sat and listened to them. Rap/Hiphop and Funk in particular have surprised me in hilarious or frightening ways since they often laced all kinds of meanings into street or scene language. I actually like this practice in that it allows those who are in the scene to express their experience good/bad/indifferent without confusing or upsetting those that don’t necessarily need to – or would never – understand. It is however, very weird to have 4 year olds singing horrifying lyrics while dancing around in bouncy houses etc. LOL!
Today’s Secret handshake for you…Have a fantastic one!
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ROFL
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