This is another one of those songs that came out when I was in high school that gave me a tiny bit of hope that good music was not dead and gone.  I didn’t know anything about The B-52s before I heard “Love Shack.”  But the song, the funky video, and the band’s retro look were super cool.  These days I put it in the same category as Deee-Lite’s “Groove is in the Heart” (read my groovy blog about it here), since they both gave me a good dose of old school fun with amazingly catchy lyrics.

Ru!

When I look at the “Love Shack” video now, I am impressed by what a Benetton ad it is.  Every race is represented, and there are drag queens (RuPaul!) and gays, too!  It’s not like they showed two guys making out or ladies holding hands, and I’m sure that many people who saw the brief glimpses of pre-superstardom RuPaul in her giant afro didn’t think twice about it.  But LGBT people and those who loved them felt a connection, sort of a hey gurl hey moment when this video became so popular.  Most members of the band members are gay, though I don’t know how open they were in the 80s.  Still, if you were a closeted little gay boy watching MTV in the late 80s and you saw this band singing about a love shack where we can all get together, just imagine the impact that must have had.

And of course, that’s the point of this song and the fabulous video.  Everyone is welcome!  Huggin’ and a-kissin’, dancin’ and a-lovin’.  Come to the love shack and get your freak on however you like. 

…Stay away, fools!

‘Cuz love rules

at the love shack