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Thursday, March 10, 2011

oh, jenny don't be hasty

middle school is quite possibly the most awkward time in one's life, do you agree? i spent the greater portion of mine pining away after an unobtainable crush. i sat for hours in my room, scribbling love poems and songs into a faux cow-fur covered journal. little did i know, there was a reason that boy was unobtainable, and years later i wouldn't want to obtain him if my life depended on it, and those little makeshift sonnets turned into stronger, more beautiful lyrics of love for robert.

and because i was always pining after boys older than me, one line that i would write in the margins of that notebook over and again was "don't treat me like a baby." and isn't that what every girl wants? to have our femininity exalted but not the point of infantilization?

i rediscovered this song the other day. on a mix cd i made called vintch, long before this blog or my shop ever came into focus. since then, it has been on repeat in my car, because:

a) the tempo is killer

b) paolo's voice is just raspy enough to be taken seriously but peppy enough to dance to

and, most importantly:

c) it turns the tables on my childhood woes and approaches love from the heart of a younger man reaching for an older girl, rhyming "don't treat me like a baby" with hasty, which is genius.



where was this song when i was 14? i'm convinced it would have given me a little comfort. but in a way i'm happy for all that teenage angst and unrequited "like." it's made me appreciate my grown-up love that much more.
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20 comments:

  1. CatMarch 10, 2011 at 7:48 AM

    Amazing song and I daresay the lead singer is a bit tasty :) I can totally see how this song would end up on repeat (I am so guilty of the repeat button too...lucky for me and hubs, I am in the car by myself most days :). Love that you had a furry journal...I did too but mine was hot pink and black tiger striped :) xx Cat

    ps. Yeah for growing up and realizing that there are truly so many more GREAT fish in the sea :)

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  2. LauraMarch 10, 2011 at 8:00 AM

    Great song - you're definitely right about the song's ability to balance an earnestly raspy voice with up-tempo dancing beats. I'm glad to hear that you have come to terms with your middle school woes and feel all the better for them nowadays. I don't look back on my middle school years with horror like some people do, I think because some of my most important and meaningful relationships were forged in those years, though of course I had no way of knowing it back then. Though I definitely had my share of nights pining away in my room for whomever was my chosen crush at the time!

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  3. jeanette from everton terraceMarch 10, 2011 at 8:51 AM

    What a cool voice this young man has. Is he British? I can hear a slight accent in there when he's singing. Might just go have another listen :)

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  4. Dee PaulinoMarch 10, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    the middle school years are epic ones. Although my high school ones were more remarkable by the existence of awkwardness.

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  5. SouthhamsdarlingMarch 10, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    I think he comes from Scotland! But it is a great song. Gosh, I'm in my 60's now but, believe it or not, I can still remember my teenage angst. I used to play sad Roy Orbison songs over and over and over. LOL! (Then I went through it all again with my two daughters).

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  6. LarriMarch 10, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    Though I rarely dated before I met DH, the one boy I wanted to date finally asked me out my senior year of high school. It was one of the worst dates ever! LOL So glad God's timing is perfect. On my first date with him, I knew I would marry the love of my life. We celebrate 17 years of marriage last week. :o)

    Great post! I have to say, as a mom, I'm not looking forward to the heartbreaks my kids will no doubt endure. Happy Thursday! :o)

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  7. KristinMarch 10, 2011 at 9:56 AM

    I never had a boyfriend in high school but I had A LOT of crushes and guys I obsessed over so I know exactly what you're talking about :)

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  8. BeautyH2TMarch 10, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    I adore Paulo, I love this song.Ah the days of crushes on the older boys, the heartache it caused I tell you :)

    hope you are well gorgeous lady

    Bxx

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  9. weezaleezMarch 10, 2011 at 10:28 AM

    Hi, Courtney!

    I've been a subscriber for a while now, but have been too nervous to comment. However, I can't let Paolo slip by unacclaimed. The man is a genius, and 'Jenny, Don't Be Hasty' is a song I make a point of listening to at least three times daily. This has been the case for nearly two years. There is nothing about the tempo, instrumentals, lyrics, or Paolo's voice that doesn't make my heart sing.
    I also just have to say that, while our lives are very different, it's such a comfort to read your blog. I love your outlook on life, I love your love for Robert, I love Pablo... All I've ever wanted is a little house in North Carolina (where, thankfully, my partner is from), and working toward our goal of moving down there and opening a used bookstore/coffee shop has been made so much more worth it by your constant reminders of the kind of life we can have, and deserve to have.

    Thank you for being an anchor, even if you didn't know it.

    Love,
    Weezie

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  10. Amanda MouryMarch 10, 2011 at 10:40 AM

    Oh the woes of being a teenager...I absolutely love this song and completely agree, couldn't this have presented itself a couple years earlier?! :)

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  11. Shanae BranhamMarch 10, 2011 at 12:20 PM

    I was impressed with the wisdom of this post. I feel it has a powerful message. I just started a blog about sharing our disappointments in such a way that we see the blessing that came from it. I have a contest and I believe this post would be perfect to enter it with. Take a look. www.triumphandtears.blogspot.com

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  12. DebbieMarch 10, 2011 at 3:55 PM

    Hi - I have picked one of your posts to be featured on my "best blog of the week" feature tomorrow. Please e-mail me if you are interested. dlmccormick@triad.rr.com

    http://www.mccormickmadness.com

    Thank you!

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  13. marissaMarch 10, 2011 at 3:57 PM

    This is my absolute favorite Paolo song. Any time I put it on, even if I'm super depressed or pissed off, I will instantly be dancing, singing, and in the best mood ever.

    I've had a serious crush on Paolo for a while now. My husband doesn't like him though, so I have to blast it when he's not around. =/

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  14. AshleyMarch 10, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    Great song! Middles school and high school years were indeed awkward, haha.

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  15. AnonymousMarch 10, 2011 at 4:16 PM

    ♥Love your blog♥

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  16. Blondie's JournalMarch 10, 2011 at 5:54 PM

    It sounds like we led the same middle school existence! It makes me so relieved to be able to assure my girls that there IS someone out there for them. But they do have to go through the crushes and agony! It's a part of growing up. Thanks for sharing!

    XO,
    Jane

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  17. Vintage is for LoversMarch 10, 2011 at 8:57 PM

    Awesome song! What a great intro to your blog since this is my first visit. I love your writing! Looking forward to visiting you more often! xo Samantha

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  18. SigneMarch 13, 2011 at 8:20 AM

    Love love LOVE this song! I had it on repeat for weeks when it forst came out :)

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  19. Spearmint BabyMarch 17, 2011 at 4:53 PM

    i can totally relate! & i am totally obsessed with Paolo Nutini! i totally rock out to "new shoes" with my 2 yr old daughter :))
    shari
    http://spearmintbaby.com/

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  20. Confessions Of A City GirlMarch 18, 2011 at 10:02 AM

    Lol glad to know i wasn't the only one pining away after unattainable crushes. Lol wasnn't that a sad strange time?!

    Love the song, definitely reblogging!

    ~Sherine
    Check out my blog, comment, and follow if you like!
    Confessions Of A City Girl

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