Like many women around my age, I hear the words Dirty Dancing and automatically transform them into proper nouns. I think Johnny, Baby and a holiday romance that hopefully became lasting love when the cameras stopped rolling.
I'm listening to the soundtrack as I type. The songs would not be my music on their own but against the backdrop of the film they become so much more. Every note places scenes from the film in my mind. Somehow it even manages to generate an energy in me. I actually feel a little bit invincible. I'm not 51 tomorrow. I'm 20ish. Hopeful and vibrant. Patrick Swayze is still alive. He hasn't played the horrific character in Donnie Darko yet. He's Johnny. The dancing bad boy (but not really because he's actually nice). Johnny, the occasional eater of ju ju beans. What even are ju ju beans? No one knows. And it doesn't matter anyway. Johnny, the man with diamonds in his pockets and that isn't even a euphemism. Ah, the brilliant, silly dialogue. The perfect but not actually particularly dirty dancing. More sort of cheeky dancing. It's Johnny and Baby. The unlikely lovers that gave every young woman hope. The couple that inspired a million final dance scenes.
Take me back please.
Just a quick sidenote: Have you noticed that the song Overload has pretty worrying lyrics? Stop following her home to make sure that she gets there alright. You great big stalker person.
Anyway.
Dirty Dancing.
If you haven't watched it and you're over 30. Why the heck not? Resolve this immediately. Actually watch it regardless of your age (but you know, be over 16 obviously).
If you loved it, as I did, watch it again or just dive into the soundtrack. You'll no doubt find that time moves backwards then stands beautifully still.
💙💙💙
