I have a confession to make...

There are some things so dark, so terrible, we can scarcely admit them to ourselves, let alone others, but today I am here to make a confession to you all:

I like MMMBop.

Yes, that's right. That one hit wonder from years ago now by the--shudder--boy band Hanson.

I was just working out and it came up on my playlist. Yes, that's right, Virtual Friends, IT'S ON MY IPOD.

It's just so happy and upbeat I can't help myself. There's one other reason I think it especially appeals to me...

If you've known me for any length of time, you know that my knowledge of popular music (i.e. things other than musical theater) is embarrassingly limited. I will never be able to live down not recognizing "Born in the U.S.A." during a game of Cranium. Not only do I not know tons of bands or song titles, I do not know lyrics. Hardly. Ever. This is the case even with songs I know and like well. I can sing along with them okay, but if I were to try and sing on my own, I'm reduced to "Mmm mmm...to what we've got....hmmm hmm if we...mmm..not!....hmmm mmm give it a shot! OH OH! WE'RE HALF WAY THE-ERE! OH-OH! LIVIN' ON A PRAY-ER!!!"

When it comes to music, I'm drawn to the tune first, lyrics WAY second. I can like a song for years before one day going, OH! Is THAT what this song is about??

Well, listening to MMMBop, I get the feeling that Hanson doesn't know the lyrics either. It makes me feel better somehow listening to them stumble over whatever it is they're supposed to be saying. I can only make out a few lines besides the chorus, which of course, it meaningless mmmbopping, perfect for me!

Hold on the ones who really care
In the end they'll be the only ones there
And when you get old and start losing your hair
Tell me who will still care
Can you tell me who will still care?

Tell me, friends, how could you not love a song as profound as this. I tell you, poetry like this on the condition of life and aging makes King Lear looks like child's play...