I'm a high school teacher whose youngest students draw blanks when I mention the music from my high school days... because they were only toddlers or not even born when it came out. I always thought I was young enough to "share memories" with them, but next year is my ten year reunion... and my freshmen are getting younger and younger by the year (this year's crop was BORN in '89!).
My middle school years were 1989-1991, and my high school years were 1991-1995. ALL of the definitive songs of the dances here in Detroit in my teen years were NJS cuts... the first song I *wanted* to dance to was Troop's version of "All I Do Is Think of You", the first song I *did* dance to was the Tonies' "Whatever You Want" (but my FAVORITE album by them was *Sons of Soul*!), and the last song I danced to at my high school prom was Blackstreet's "Before I Let You Go" (what is a discussion of NJS without Teddy Riley?).
And as I browsed your website, you took me back, way back... back to those dances and parties... back to waiting on the bus, and bopping to my headphones... back to making up dance routines with my girlfriends... back to my first kiss... back to falling in young love... back to giggling on the phone about any and everything...
Where else on the 'Net is there a place that celebrates NJS, instead of making fun of it, or dismissing it as overly commercial, a counterbalance providing an alternative form of for white audiences to hip-hop?
Where else on the 'Net could I write on a message board that all of my college suitemates --four black girls born in the late 70's from all over the country, Detroit, Georgia, Texas and Tennessee all had ONE album in common -- *Hi-Five's Greatest Hits*?
I can't believe there's a website where people will actually remember and grin when I talk about Bobby Brown's "Tenderoni" video... mention Bobby to my students, and all they know is Whitney's crazy husband. You've mentioned songs that just take me back, and I'm sure it's the same for a lot of others of us between 25 and 40.
Needless to say, you've got yourself a loyal fan. Any website that makes me feel 15 again -- without the acne and angst -- has all the support from me I can muster!
Thank you, thank you!
Moderator: Knyte
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU...
Well I am certainly glad that you "get" the spirit of Njs4ever -- that was **by far** one of the nicest things anyone has ever said about this website. Your words are so very much appreciated. Thank you!!!!
K.
K.