Roxilla

I’ve been thinking back to my crazy teenage years, and was thinking that 1999 was possibly one of the most insane years of my youth. Fresh out of school, and showing no intention to go to collage, tech or do anything serious, instead I got a job as a door lady at one of Cape Town’s most infamous and awesome clubs, Springfield.

I had short hair, that change colour almost every month. I wore fake furs, hideous Sketchers or sometimes heels, with stretch bell bottoms and cropped tops or sometimes cargo pants. I was as tough as nails, scared of nothing and no-one, and I broke a few more hearts than I am happy to admit. The bouncers looked after me, and I was free to chain smoke, accept drinks from the endless flow of people who sat with me, and ward off constant advances from drunk dudes and guys on ecstasy. It was one of the most carefree, selfish and hectic times of my life, and as one does when one is young, I wasted it by worrying too much about stupid things and thinking I was fat (all 47kg of me, sheesh).

One thing that stands out most about that time though is the music. As anyone who ever went to Springfield will remember, that place churned out some of the best classics, and sitting in the main area on boring Wednesday nights, the only thing other than my double Spiced Gold and coke keeping me sane was the countless requests for good tunage.

For this week’s Tuesday Tunage, here are some of my favourite hits from 1999…

1. Genie In A Bottle By Christina Aguilera

Back when Xtina was young and sweet, and clothes were gansta and kief, this song was just too damn cool. It’s still one of my favourites, and I think she was too cute back then.

2. Saltwater by Chicane

I’ve always been a Chicane fan, and back when I was just getting into trance house, this song used to blow me away. Chilled, uplifting and one of the best songs to see in a sunrise outside a packed party in the early hours, this song has loads of epic memories.

3. I Try by Macy Gray

Aka one of the best songs to get drunk and morbid too, we usually used to shout this out over a packed dance floor. Also good for those quite nights when nothing was happening, and I got to day dream.

4. Say My Name by Destiny’s Child

DC really were awesome, and as a big R ‘n B fan, I have always loved this track. Beyonce was still as of yet the massive diva she is today, and those girls were sweet, talented and powerful. Awesome.

5. Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer

I remember kissing someone I should have on a speakerbox in the middle of the main dancefloor to this song. It lasted all of a day or two, but it was a good night from what I can remember. Good times we had, crazy but good!

I’m feeling happy tonight. I am plotting a romantic surprise night for my man, I have wine and despite this sinusitis making me sneeze every few minutes, I’m feeling rather chilled out.

P.S. As a bonus, I will leave you with a song from 2000 that was an integral memory from drinking years in the early noughties… and will always remind me of Lizards pool bar, when the Thirsty Biatches first met. Epic stuff indeed.