After watching tonight’s episode of American Idol, college memories flooded my mind, I began to reminisce the good ol’ days, and almost shed a tear or two. Why so sentimental, you ask? Two words: Bon Jovi.

The theme of the show was hits from Bon Jovi, and as each contestant stepped up to the mic, all I could think about was how weird it was to hear 17-year-old Jordana Sparks sing “Livin’ On a Prayer;” our innocent Jordana, the youngest of the remaining six, singing the same song millions of college students around the country listen to while they’re getting sloshed and grinding up on eachother like slabs of meat.

“Livin’ On a Prayer” and “You Give Love a Bad Name” are synonymous with college these days. I don’t know how or when it happened, but once Bon Jovi shreds through the speakers at any given college bar, the entire place rocks out like it has never rocked before. It doesn’t matter if you’re up north or down south, male or female - once you hear the Jovi, you can’t help yourself. The Jovi doesn’t discriminate.

There is usually a process that begins once these songs start playing:

1) Recognition of the song with one loud, drawn-out exclamation, like “OHHHH” or “YEAAA” while holding your drink up in the air and dancing awkwardly by yourself for a few seconds

2) During the verses, you move your head with the beat (this is when you take some sips from your drink, check your cell phone to see if anyone called you or point out the cute guy/girl standing by the bar) Read More »

I have a really bad habit of singing along to songs I don’t know. I like to sing. It makes me happy. And if I feel so inspired, I don’t really mind if I’ve never heard the song before. I try and predict the next note, and sometimes I’m right….

This bad habit extends to songs I do know, but whose lyrics I’m slightly confused about. I get it in my head that the line should be one way—the first way I heard it—and despite the world being “itch,” and not “bitch,” I feel like it’s OK to give my own interpretation.

Then there’s the songs I just have no idea about. Do you remember that scene from Tommy Boy where Chris Farley and David Spade are trying to sing along to It’s the End of the World as We Know It? “Six o’clock, TV hour, hum-diddy-dum-dum, du….” Yeah. Does anyone know the words to that song? Or how about Bruce Springsteen’s Blinded by the Light—did he really just say “revved up like a douche?” Read More »