"PURE" THE LIGHTNING SEEDS (1990)

The moment a song is born, the world is different. It’s now a part of our lives. We sing it in the shower. We dance to it at our wedding. We get pumped with it. We break up to it. We memorize it. We try to forget it. We rediscover it. This month, I’m joining Arron Wright’s Twitter music challenge: ##Popiversary2. Because why the hell not. Songs deserve their own anniversaries, too.

Year: 1990

My love for music really soared when two key events in my life came to fruition: getting my driver’s license when I was a junior in high school and finding out about an alt rock station that my county was able to barely catch on the airwaves. The reception wasn’t great, but it was more than good enough. WDRE – formerly WLIR – was the station where I discovered new bands and rediscovered ones that have been around for years. It’s the station where I first discovered The Lightning Seeds and the breakthrough alt single “Pure”.

“Pure” blasting in my Oldsmobile Omega, windows down, cruising through windy roads back from track practice, on my way to a friend’s house or to the Mt. Kisco Diner. “Pure” was light, upbeat, euphoric. It was like a drug. It didn’t matter how crappy of a day I had, “Pure” saved the day. It didn’t matter if the girl didn’t like me back, “Pure” saved the day. It didn’t matter if I had no plans for the weekend, “Pure” saved the day. Ian Broudie’s music is like a time capsule stored away in a closet. The music didn’t stay highly relevant over the past few decades. But it’s awesome seeing him at Glastonbury 2023. No one ever forgets great music – it’s pure and simple every time.

“Don't sell the dreams you should be keeping.”