Have a shorty but you don't show love

The other day I picked up my sister’s car from the shop and was driving it to my parents’ house for her to pick up.

I got in her car and spotted a familiar blue CD called “Totally Hits.” For whatever reason, she and I were really into CDs like that around 1999-2001. Collectively, we have a whole bunch of the "Now! That’s What I Call Music" collection (which are really great), and several less-popular ones like Totally Hits (which are almost as great).

I recognized the CD but did not remember specific songs on it. But obviously it had to be listened to. I popped it in, and my ears were greeted with some familiar guitar strumming and some soulful “ooooh ooohhhs," and "mmmm hmmmms.”

NO SCRUBS. By TLC.

Now, keep in mind that I have not heard this song in about 5 years. I have since become (somewhat) an adult, and (quite) out of touch with music, particularly hip hop stuff. My mom knows way more music than I do. I’m hanging out listening to James Taylor and stuff like that. Basically I’m middle aged as far as music is concerned.

So hearing this song through new (somewhat adult) ears was AMAZING. I was laughing hysterically. I called Chris in the middle and left him a message in TEARS about how incredible this song is.

Mostly what was so incredible is that I remembered acting like this song was completely normal when it came out. I actually REMEMBER my mom saying, “What on earth is a scrub?” and telling her, “Oh, it’s just like a loser guy,” and totally pretending that was a term people knew and used.

And can we talk about some of the lyrics? “A scrub’s checkin me, but his game is kinda weak, and I know that he cannot approach me. ‘Cause I’m lookin like class and he’s lookin like trash, can’t get wit a deadbeat @$$.” (did I type that from memory? Yes. Is that awesome? Definitely.) But, um . . . lookin like class?

These girls? Yes, when I think of class I typically think, “Well, there’s Audrey Hepburn, and then Left Eye, Chili, and T-Boz, and then Jackie Kennedy. . .” (side note: I could NOT remember T-Boz’s name. I remembered Left Eye and Chili just fine, but had to Wikipedia TLC for the T one. I’m telling you, middle aged music. I'm out of touch.)

You know who WAS in touch, though? President Hinckley.

Chris reminded me last night as we reminisced about the late 90s that President Hinckley said not to be a scrub in a talk. I looked it up, and sure enough, it was in 1998 at BYU. Are you wondering when No Scrubs was released? February 1999.

So who started REALLY started that catchphrase, T-Boz? Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

by the way: Looking at this pic makes me miss him. Isn't it strange how much you can miss someone you never met? Conference made me miss him too.

by the way also: Char, sorry I took the CD with me. But I couldn't just leave in your car, I HAD to have it. Plus I think we may have joint custody of it.

by the way one last time: please watch the music video. I promise you will love it. I had forgotten all about the leather outfits with the lights on them. So, so good.