As you’ve all figured out by now, I went to high school back in the 80s. I was your average, angst-ridden teenager, and while I was able to get along with virtually everyone, my utter lack of self-confidence (and for those of you who actually know me in person, if you think I’m lacking in self-confidence now, you should have seen me then…) and limited knowledge of all that was cool always left me feeling rather inept. In my freshman year, I was placed in the honors English class (which, incidentally, was the first and last honors course I ever took, but that is neither here or nor there). To say that we had the coolest teacher in the school would have been an understatement. At the time, she was probably the coolest person I’d ever come across, and like everyone else in my class, I was absolutely mesmerized by her persona. Ms. Peterson was the epitome of all that was awesome and hip. She was young and she was totally “with it”, and I’m guessing it wouldn’t be too far off the mark to assume that she set the hormones of most (if not all) of her male students raging, not to mention projected an aura that all of her female students were secretly dying to emulate.

Ms. Peterson was as innovative in her teaching as one would expect from a teacher with her personality. She did what she could in order to get us to think outside the box, to get us excited about learning. She introduced us to a whole slew of authors, and she had us read and analyze William Safire‘s newspaper columns on a regular basis. What do I remember the most, though? I remember the day she came in with her portable stereo (otherwise referred to back in the day as a “box”, if memory serves me correctly), popped in a cassette, and introduced me to the music of the B-52’s. That’s right, folks. We analyzed the words of the song “Rock Lobster“. Ms. Peterson’s coolness rating positively skyrocketed that day. Their sound was like nothing I’d ever heard before, and suddenly, thanks to being in Ms. Peterson’s English class, I felt cool by association.

Of course, “Rock Lobster” was released in 1978, and as such, it’s ineligible for 80s Music Video Sunday. So, in honor of Ms. Peterson and that very special honors English class, today’s featured video is the B-52s “Love Shack”, released in 1989. I’m sure Ms. Peterson would approve.

Love Shack
B-52s

If you see a faded sign by the side of the road that says
15 miles to the… Love Shack! Love Shack yeah
I’m headin’ down the Atlanta highway,
lookin’ for the love getaway
Heading for the love getaway, love getaway,
I got me a car, it’s as big as a whale
and we’re headin’ on down
To the Love Shack
I got me a Chrysler, it seats about 20
So hurry up and bring your jukebox money

The Love Shack is a little old place
where we can get together
Love Shack baby, Love Shack bay-bee.
Love baby, that’s where it’s at,
Ooo love baby, that’s where it’s at

Sign says.. Woo… stay away fools,
’cause love rules at the Lo-o-ove Shack!
Well it’s set way back in the middle of a field,
Just a funky old shack and I gotta get back

Glitter on the mattress
Glitter on the highway
Glitter on the front porch
Glitter on the hallway

The Love Shack is a little old place
where we can get together
Love Shack bay-bee! Love Shack baby!
Love Shack, that’s where it’s at!
Huggin’ and a kissin’, dancin’ and a lovin’,
wearin’ next to nothing
Cause it’s hot as an oven
The whole shack shimmies!
The whole shack shimmies when everybody’s
Movin’ around and around and around and around!
Everybody’s movin’, everybody’s groovin’ baby!
Folks linin’ up outside just to get down
Everybody’s movin’, everybody’s groovin’ baby
Funky little shack! Funk-y little shack!

Hop in my Chrysler,
it’s as big as a whale
and it’s about to set sail!
I got me a car, it seats about twenty
So c’mon and bring your jukebox money.

The Love Shack is a little old place
where we can get together
Love Shack baby! Love Shack bay-bee!
(Love Shack…Love Shack…)
Love Shack, that’s where it’s at!

Bang bang bang on the door baby!
Knock a little louder baby!
Bang bang bang on the door baby!
I can’t hear you
Bang bang on the door baby
Bang bang on the door
Bang bang on the door baby
Bang bang
You’re what?… Tin roof, rusted!

Love Shack, baby Love Shack!
Love Shack, baby Love Shack!
Love baby, that’s where it’s at
Love Shack, baby Love Shack!
Love baby, that’s where it’s at
Huggin’ and a kissin’,
dancin’ and a lovin’ at the love shack

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