Whatever Happened To James?

It has become a little disheartening at how far away from us the nineties have got. I recall, as though it was yesterday, purchasing my first and only 'Nirvana Nevermind' t-shirt with it's twisted but funny baby diving into the water chasing money. Then there was Radiohead's 'Creep' and listening to 'Under The Bridge' at it's loudest on my stereo, stereos which nobody seems to have any more. I could not tell you of a single home I have visited in the last five years apart from those of my parent's generation, where two tall speakers and an amplifier were present. It brought to mind a song which I cherished from the period but which I hadn't listened to for some time - the song 'Laid' by James. I had always assumed that James was one bloke and the reason I remember 'Laid' so well is that it was on the soundtrack to Empire Records. I was therefore surprised to see it was a band from the early eighties that struck it in the nineties. At the time I heard it the song resonated with me with respect to all the crazy girls I spent time with in my youth, who were usually the most passionate - and the song still resonates today :) .

Once the nineties passed I thought that the period was uneventful and that not a great deal would be remembered and yet now I look on the nineties the way I once looked back on the seventies and eighties. Oh the nineties, where did you go?

This bed is on fire with passionate love

The neighbours complain about the noises above

But she only comes when she's on top

My therapist said not to see you no more

She said you're like a disease without any cure

She said I'm so obsessed that I'm becoming a bore, oh no

Ah, you think you're so pretty...

Caught your hand inside the till

Slammed your fingers in the door

Fought with kitchen knives and skewers

Dressed me up in womens' clothes

Messed around with gender roles

Line my eyes and call me pretty

Moved out of the house so you moved next door

I locked you out, you cut a hole in the wall

I found you sleeping next to me, I thought I was alone

You're driving me crazy

When are you coming home?