So the last episode of Glee (which quite a few people have ranted about to me actually, but that’s for another day) inspired me to dig out some of the good ol’ 90’s BritBrit (that’s what I call her, we are close friends).  And guess what I stumbled upon?  The epicly titled song: “E-Mail My Heart”. 

“It’s been hours seems like days, since you went away
And all I do is check the screen to see if you’re ok
You don’t answer when I phone, guess you wanna be left alone
So I’m sending my heart, my soul, and this is what I’ll say
 

E-mail my heart and say our love will never die
And that I know you’re out there and I know that you still care
E-mail me back and say our love will stay alive
Forever, e-mail my heart”
 

Man, I really really love pop music.  It’s some genius stuff.   E-mail was so cutting edge way back when!  Oh, when technology and music collide.  But as universal as e-mail has become, I don’t know if there was ever a time when “e-mail my heart” was a normal/romantic thing to say to someone.  “E-mail my face,” yes, but heart?  I guess that’s what makes this even more awesome. 

Referencing technology is always an interesting move because it makes the song briefly “trendy” but also completely dates it.  I guess a lot of songs also self-date themselves without name-dropping electronic devices (see Ruben Studdard’s classic “I’m Sorry for 2004”).  Woah, I guess that’s what pop music is—literally “popular” music—by definition tied to what is current at that moment in time and not even trying for longevity (it’s now or never!) (although, cf. the Backstreet Boys: forever current and awesome in my heart).  I can’t decide if that’s awesome or sad.  Um, I also feel like that wasn’t really any kind of interesting revelation.  Sorry, folks, they can’t all be gems. 

Some more great examples of technology and love coming together as one:

“Cause I’m not coming back, I’m closing the door
I used to be tripping over missing you but I’m not anymore
I got the picture phone
Baby your picture’s gone!
Couldn’t stand to see your smile every time you dialed

Cause it’s over, girl you know it’s over this time
So when you call I’m pressing seven
Don’t wanna hear your messages messages
I’m try’na erase you from my mind”
 
Jesse McCartney – It’s Over

I actually think the whole “pressing seven” thing is super clever.  Um, it took me a while to realize that on my flip phone (aka “picture phone,” as Mr. McCartney called it), that’s what I press to delete messages (yep I’m still the proud owner of a flip phone).  Deepness.  But for all y’all with fancy smartphones…I’m guessing you just press delete or something newfangled?  

And on that note, I’ll end with the immortal words of the Bieber (clearly being all meta and tackling the serious issue that with newer and fancier technology we further erode our own privacy.  Who knew the kid was so deep.):

“Just keep it quiet, keep it on the hush
And what we do keep it just between us
I don’t wanna see a tweet about JB
Cause the only people that should know
Is you and me 

Stay off that facebook

I’ll treat you real good
You keep this private
And you can get what I get”

Justin Bieber— Kiss and Tell

But how do you NOT tweet about JB?  HOW?
 

ode by Liz (proud owner of a pair of 90’s NSYNC rantpants)