Am I the only one out there who has to remind themselves that they are actually (insert here age) – or is this a common trait among us all?

Not a day goes by – when at some time during the day I feel like a 16yo trapped in the body of a much more ‘mature’ person.

Peter Pan complex – perhaps, denial – perhaps or simply the conscious lobes refusing to conform – whatever it is – am I the only one out there?

Does this perception stem from the time in our lives when we felt most empowered? Most adventurous? Carefree? Attractive?

Sure we have do all grow up – but do we ever – really?

Does the boss still harbour a pimply faced 14 year-old’s insecurities – but mask these whilst donning an ‘adults facade’.

So how do you see yourself?

How old are you really?

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They say that music matters most when you’re a teenager.

Apparently (as reported in an article appearing the in the SMH back in 2004) it is a ‘social lubricant and signifier in your 20s and represents the person you remember you were (and wish you were still) when you’re in your 30s and 40s’.

“Along the way you go from searching out the thrill of the new to pondering the strangeness of the new to dismissing the inadequacies of the new.

“If you believe there hasn’t been a great band since (insert your preferred period here) ask yourself: do I really want to hear new music? Do you read about new bands, new songwriters? Do you want to be challenged to think differently or do your prefer to have your tastes confirmed?

“The chances are if you’re already past your mid-20s you did (or should, if you’re being honest) answer no to those questions. Just like every generation you are stuck in the music of your youth and young adulthood.

“And there’s nothing wrong with that. Who says you have to like or care about any new music, whether it’s new to you in 1967, 1977 or 2007?”

That said – there are song’s that live in everyone’s mind – songs – as so eloquently penned by ELO in the mid 70′s – that you simply can’t get out of your head.

So at the risk of having those very tunes resonate throughout the day – what’s yours?

Click Here to listen to ELO and Cant Get It Out of My Head

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Remember the Huxtables  from The Cosby show – and how cool they were?

Or how about the Brady’s?

Perhaps The Taylors from Home Improvement or better still maybe The Cunningham’s from Happy Days.

Just about all of us had a favourite TV Family – that we longed to be a part of – for whatever reason.

Ok, so may some weren’t quite up the scatch but even the weirder one scuh as The Beverly Hillbillies, The Munsters or The Addams Family had some redeeming qualities.

Maybe Al and Peg Bundy cracked your top five or Charles and Laura Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie. Perhaps we have to go even further back to the Cleavers or dare I say it – The Waltons?

Of course we can’t discount Homer and Marge’s impact on our lives let alone other classic cartoon families such as The Flintstones or The Jetsons.

So folks – it’s family’s a ten paces . . . choose yours wisely . . .

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If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?

Would is be one of the pretty boys like Pitt or a glamour like Lauren Bacall?

Would Humphrey Bogart get your nod of approval or would Drew Barrymore be your first choice?

Perhaps you’re more the Charles Bronson type – or maybe Ingrid Bergman?

From where I sit – the jury is still out – though Harrison Ford does have a huge amount of appeal.

Would love to hear who you’d have in mind.

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Vanity and pride aside – I’d have to honestly say no!

Sure I’d get on with me – but I also probably start up an argument with myself which of course I would win.

Mind you – I’d probably end up house bound – given neither me or I would be able to decide where the we would go – then probably mull around because we weren’t doing anything.

A cocoon of thought would no doubt inhibit my adventurous side – but my advice – while sometimes staid – would serve me well.

I’d be keen to lend myself a hand when there’s work to be done – but would probably get on my own nerves when things weren’t ‘quite right’.

I’d get tired of hearing my own voice at times – but that could be tempered with my choice of music – which I think I’d enjoy.

And while I’d like to hang out with a more gregarious me – I’d have to find a quiet corner to park myself when I got too loud.

All in all – while I’d probably be a mate – I probably wouldn’t make it to the top of my own list.
Sure there’s a few ticks in the boxes – but there’s also a few crosses too.

Yep – it’s a toughie all right – perhaps I should ask the audience – or phone a friend.

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While thumbing through glossy newstand trash – I stumbled on an article about former 90210 star Jennie Garth – mmmmmm as Homer would say – Jennie Garth!

Even in the cold light of day – she still had those innocent doe eyes – enough to make a young man melt – which got me to thinking about people’s lifetime ‘love affairs’ with different TV characters.

At some time, we all find some TV actors/actresses attractive – be it a TV boyfriend like Angel from Buffy, or the steamy Mulder from the X-files.

You may have detested the program itself – but tuned in every week – just to get your Kevin Sorbo (of Hercules fame) fix or fella’s maybe it was Jennifer Aniston.

In fact, No.1 nephew only mentioned last week to me that ‘Heroes’ was such a ‘cool’ series.

. . .  and why?

Was it the whole scenario of the prog?

Was it the sci-fi element?

Nup!

‘Cause – Hayden Panettiere is hot’.

So, ever had a TV love affair?

Would love to hear yours!

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Damn – that’s a tough one!

Conversation turned to this at a party held in the confines of the Doctor’s palatial residence recently – and the jury was still out 2 hours after the topic was raised.

Jimmy Hendrix vs Elton John, The Beatles v the Bee Gees, the Moon Landing vs Star Wars – the lists were endless – or seemingly at least.

The 70’s was afterall a time when Grease was the Word that We Heard, and The Jackson 5 taught us that learning the ABC was as easy as 1-2-3 and flares were either something you wore . . . a distress signal . . . or both.

It was a time when The Fonz was cool, the girls from ABBA were hot and protest marches were on the boil.

We had mood rings and sea monkeys, platforms and pet rocks, safari suits and slinkies Rubiks Cube and Rod Stewart.

We had Rocky, the Brady Bunch and CHiPs and a Million Dollar Man.

We saw Travolta dazzle and Nixon frazzle and we paid homage to a raft of new Hollywood Queens – yet publicity mourned the loss of the one and only King.

So welcome to the 70’s – where Stayin’ Alive was a credo – not a survival technique.

Of course the 60 saw indiginous Australians win the vote – and Americans lose a president.

 . . . when a band of 4 cheeky Monkees were telling us they were Believers

. . . and 4 foreign Beatles were wanting to Hold our Hand

Where Woodstock and the Flintstones both rocked

. . .  and hippies were simply chose to get stoned.

It was time when knee-high boots and Mini Skirts were in – and Vietnam resulted in our troops being shipped out, where The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady waxed lyrical and the Beach Boys waxed surfboards.

It was an era of hope and the Age of Aquarius . . .

So which was cooler?

I’m still getting splinters from sitting on the fence.

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From time to time – as you do – I dragged out a copy of the old Happy Days TV series the other day – complete with Richie, The Fonz, Ralph Malph, Potsie and the gang – just to lighten the mood around the palatial Pop Doctor estate.

The sugary sweet, ‘twee’ nature of the whole series had almost been lost on me when one of my kids (who was watching the episodes for the first time) and referring to the quaint timber facade of the Cummingham residence quipped:

“Wouldn’t it be sooooo cool to live in their house.”

Well – come to think of it – I guess (given we only ever saw the lounge, kitchen and two bedrooms) that perhaps it might just be cool to take up digs with Marion and Howard – heyyyyyyyy!

So if you could live in any home on a television series, what would it be?

Perhaps The Addams Family or The Brady Bunch environs were more to your taste – or The Munsters offered your kind of real estate. Perhaps life with a bunch of Desperate Housewives is more your cuppa tea or a weekend with Mr Rourke and Tattoo on Fantasy Island?

Love to hear from you.

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What is it about 70’s music that evokes seemingly mature men to spontaneously adopt a Fender air guitar stance amidst normally civil (yet like-minded) individuals – and women to shun their inhabitations and regail in either the Nut-Bush or encouraging their girlfriends to join them on the dance floor – simply because “I love this song”?

One hit wonders including the likes of Patrick Hernandez or The Knack have a lot to answer for while groups such as the Bee Gees and their almost spirtual Saturday Night Fever album are just the tip of the whole disco iceberg.

Yes – Donna Summer, Roger Voudouris – the list goes on – and so does their music – no matter how good or bad their puritan talent may have been – you’ve gotta love an era where tie-dye was a fashion statement, where you could not only play vinyl but could wear it, where being a fan of big hair, big heels and big jewellery meant you were a big player.

But it was the ‘big acts’ – such as ACDC, Kiss and later Van Halen which led the Air Guitar renaissance – initiated by Chuck Berry and his legendary moves (so visually recreated in both Back to the Future I and II) with Johnny B. Goode.

There’s no doubt about it – the 70’s afforded us so much – yet the air guitar with its wailing six string riffs and hypnotic chord changes is a legacy which has defied the ages.

Go on – admit it – we’ve all done it before (either in the privacy of your own company) or on the dance floor – no doubt to the adulation of those adoring fans around you.

Why, there’s even a US Air Guitar Championship – with auditions in no less than 14 States including Boston, LA, Washington and New York – where those handy with an invisble “Axe” via for $1000 in prize money and a trip to Finland to take part in the World Air Guitar titles.

Yes – disciples unite.

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The Pop Doctor’s kids ‘Chillaxed’ over the weekend in front of the box and took in a movie where the kids were transported (a al Purple Rose of Cairo) through the fourth dimension and into the film itself.

“Awwarr – that would be sooooo cool dad”, became the universal catchcry, as we discussed the virtues of which movie they would choose to be enveloped.

“Hmmmmm – I’d want to – no wait – ohhh – I don’t know.” “How about Grease”, came the reply from MNG’s 12yo.

“No – said Miss 14, I reckon Charlies Angels would be cool”

Miss 16 – always one to contemplate every option before making any decision in life – is still holding court.

So if you could break through and enter the world of any movie – which would it be?

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