Yesterday’s song spoke of a forever youth, and today’s song makes me feel that way all over again. It’s a beautiful, cheesy ballad sung by a seventies heart throb the likes of Andy Gibb and William Katt, another Cali guy with that beautiful blond mane. I present to you this song by actor and crooner Rex Smith, You Take My Breath Away. I first heard this song with Jan, in her living room on Taft Avenue. There was a movie called Sooner Or Later about a teenaged girl who falls for her older guitar instructor, and she fakes being 17 to be able to spend time with him. If you could see him, you’d know why and you wouldn’t blame her. And Jan and I both swooned over him too, even though I wasn’t quite ‘out’ yet. Though from context I have to imagine Jan knew I was a giant homo by then. Whether or not the song holds up, or is cheesy, or whatever you want to say, I think that from the vantage point of a thirteen year old girl (which we all know I am, deep down), it’s completely swoon-worthy and when it’s being sung TO you, you will also lose your shit. This song still takes my breath away.
From the historical writing archive. Original date: November 19, 2018. Recovered from local source material; editorial review is still in progress.
