The Go-Go’s
I was only 3 years old when the band was formed but by the time I was 6 or 7 they were one of my very favorites. A kick ass all girl rock band!! Yes, there had been all girl duos and trios going way back in our beloved Motown and Oldies music collection but an all girl band actually playing the instruments out touring with punk rock artists and holding their own while they shred on guitar and bass and pound on drums. So epic and so influential to little girls watching. Growing up in the 80s I was lucky to have Wonder Woman on my television set and The Go-Go’s in my Walkman. Luckier still, I had a big cousin to look up to as well.
For me, it was my big cousin, Corin. Actually I was lucky with many amazing older and younger cousins to grow up and learn with, have fun with, get into trouble with. No shortage of wonderful family but during these oh so formative years, I was awed by everything that my cousin Corin represented. Corin was so cool, she was everything I wanted to be one day. Her cool clothes, makeup, room, friends, boyfriends, she had it all. She was like a character ripped right out of a John Hughes’ movie and I was obsessed with her. I wanted to copy all she had going on and for some reason she didn’t treat me like the annoying little cousin like most older cousins would have. Corin let me tag along and wear her clothes, listen to music with her, go for rides with her. On one occasion, I almost made it out to a high school party with her! I was SO CLOSE, until my dad caught wind and stopped me literally right in my tracks on the way out. One time when I was in middle school and being harassed on the daily by girls that had just been good friends the previous month, Corin picked me up from school and drove me past the mean girls’ bus stop with bass pumping and an intimidating few turn backs to make it known I had back up. Thank Goodness that plan worked because I have no clue what we would have followed up with if it hadn’t. The drive by stare down was the heaviest hit, the strongest hand in our deck of all bluffs.
Corin’s clothes and makeup were ever evolving, there were so many influences: Madonna, The Go-Go’s, Prince, Thompson Twins, Flock of Seagulls, ok kidding about that last one but definitely the Robert Smith hair and eyeliner was popular for a good while with her and the other cousins and friends and they rocked it. Times were so different for kids their age, they were so edgy and mature. The high school actually had a smoking section and it was a sea of black clothes, big sprayed up hair and eyeliner for days. The Go-Go’s look was a favorite of mine. I remember thinking Belinda Carlisle reminded me so much of Corin. The cool girl dance moves, the independent female, total rockstar. I used to practice my dance moves in the mirror and play all my favorite tapes, I loved those tapes. I never got over losing my purse during a family outing in Old Town. Inside was my holy grail of girl bands collection: The Go-Go’s, The Bangles and Bananarama. All in one purse, all gone at once! I was devastated. Not only did I practice the moves I wanted to dress like Corin and Belinda so bad. Our Honduran grandmother, Tita used to come to visit and bring suitcases full of little gifts. Mostly cheap, useless, probably broken things, maybe some candy but whatever it was didn’t matter. It was so exciting to be next to her when she unzipped that suitcase on the bed you would be sharing with her during the next month or however long before you got moved because you kicked her all night with your tossing and turning. I remember everything smelling like stinky Honduran cheese and covered in broken rosquilla crumbs. Our dads would be so happy as they had long awaited to dunk these hard rings of dough into a cup of strong coffee, our mothers on the other hand, would have to clean the mess and find a temporary spot for the silly souvenirs or pretend they didn’t notice if one of their gifts to her were now in the re gift pile. How I miss those visits, along with the wacky stories of her trek from either Chicago or Tegucigalpa. Like the time TSA thought she had a bomb in her bag because she had a ticking gum ball machine she brought for one of us, which I now know had just made it to second inspection but of course that was much more rare an occurrence back in the pre 9/11 days. Next there was the complaint heard each and every arrival, flying Southwest meant they only gave her a measly bag of peanuts and she made sure everyone knew it. Every. Single. Time. We asked her how the flight was and her scripted reply in Spanglish would always be, “puras peanas”, again, only peanuts. Tita loved to shop and one time during one of our outings she saw me admiring a very cool skirt. It was definitely giving Belinda Carlisle, Susanna Hoffs vibes and I was loving it. Tita bought me the skirt and I was so excited. I was going to go straight home and take that skirt for a wild spin in my room with ‘We Got the Beat’ blaring in my ears. Well in typical Tita fashion, I had to wait for my dance party because somehow we got separated and the skirt didn’t come with me. I figured I’d get it later but nope. Who knows how much longer it took to be reunited with the skirt but one day I found it stretched and faded. I think it went through at least three other cousins before it got to Corin’s drawer and I laid eyes on it again. It was a fair trade for all the times Corin let me feel included and shared her things with me.
As time has passed and responsibilities increase we have less time for the epic Solid Gold type dance lines we used to have with Corin, her big sister, Gina and her amazing MC Hammer pants, and little sister Andrea. Sometimes our cousins Marlene and Arlette were also in town and we would all goof off together. We have seen each other grow through many beautiful and hard things. Corin still comes through for me and for everyone. She is the number one supporter (excluding grandparents, of course) of my kid’s events and theatrical performances and that is saying a lot because there are many loyal fans in this family. One year, my oldest daughter danced in a skit we made up for her elementary school variety show. We titled it ‘Dancing through the Decades’ and it consisted of each child in the skit dancing for about 30 seconds to a song from a specific decade and Isabel wanted the 80s so we chose ‘We Got the Beat’ for her to dance to and I was so excited to teach her some moves. We watched Belinda Carlisle in her old The Go-Go’s videos. We still crack up thinking about how she did about four moves and repeated them over and over until her turn was over. I was excited for Corin to see it.
Just before Covid hit, I was all set to go see the musical, Head Over Heels which was set to play at Diversionary Theatre. I love organizing outings with my friends and family and was looking forward to this one and told Corin first because she was going to be the “has to be there” guest and I’d need to see what date worked for her before planning the night. You can all guess what happened to that season. Thankfully, it looks like the show has been added to the Spring season in 2023. I will definitely be planning one of my signature themed parties and group field trips to the theatre. Luckily for all of us we don’t have to wait for 2023 to see this amazing show. Head Over Heels is currently playing at San Diego Junior Theatre and my daughter, Maya just so happens to be a dancer in the fabulous show.
Head Over Heels the Musical is a jukebox musical featuring The Go-Go’s and Belinda Carlisle music. Think Shakespeare meets the 80s. The show is hysterical while simultaneously delivering beautiful and wonderful messages about love, feminism, forgiveness and important representation for LGBTQIA, and especially for our nonbinary friends. From the Broadway licensing page: “A hilarious celebration of love, Head Over Heels follows the escapades of a royal family on an outrageous journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction - only to discover the key to their realm’s survival lies within each of their own hearts.”
Songs by The Go-Go’s, Based upon The Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney
Conceived and original book by Jeff Whitty, Adapted by James Magruder
https://broadwaylicensing.com/shows/broadway/head-over-heels/
SDJT has done a fantastic job with this production. Directed by Blake McCarty, Music Direction by Ian Brandon, Choreography by Ricardo Valenzuela, Costumes by Tammy Molenaar
Do yourself a favor and check out this wonderful show. You won’t be able to contain yourself and you’ll be bopping and singing to all the old favorites. It was seriously had to keep from being the disruptive fan and belt out ‘Vacation’, ‘Our Lips Are Sealed’, Head Over Heels’ and more!
For tickets and/or more information:
https://juniortheatre.com/shows/head-over-heels-2022/
For tickets and/or more information of the Diversionary Theatre production:
https://www.diversionary.org/head-over-heels
