40
Continued from previous page..
KATHY
Ya’ know, I’ve noticed
that about you.
BELINDA
What?
KATHY
That you’re pretty
fucked up.
BELINDA
Thank you.
I work hard at it.
KATHY
Did you take some
special courses…
or training.. or something?
BELINDA
Yeah, at Newberry Park
High School… They specialize
in that… Actually, I can’t rip
on Newberry.. It’s an excellent
school. I was lucky to go there.
Continuing with the
comical nature of the
conversation, Kathy
leans over to Gina and
pretends to be an interviewer—
complete with the invisible
microphone.
KATHY
Gina Schock, what would
you say was the main feature
that stands out about Belinda
Carlisle’s face?
Hearing this,
Belinda starts
striking poses.
GINA
Umm, I would have
to say… her nose.
KATHY
Really? Her nose?
GINA
Yeah, she doesn’t have
those big-ass nostrils
that everybody else has.
KATHY
Everybody else?
GINA
Yeah, there’s too many
people walkin’ around
with big nostrils.
KATHY
I see… So, in your opinion,
the world is filled with too
many oversized nostrils?
GINA
Yes, definitely… Way too
many oversized nostrils.
BELINDA
(disgusted)
Okay, you guys can stop
sayin’ that word now.
You’re making me fuckin’ sick.
Again, Kathy
changes the course
of the conversation.
KATHY
So.. what happened to
those great songs you two
said you came up with?
BELINDA
Oh, yeah! … Well.. one was
one that Gina came up with
on her own… but the other
one was one that I sorta’
stole from you.
KATHY
What do you mean?
BELINDA
Remember that great tune
you did with the Textones?
The one you said we should do?
KATHY
Which one? Vacation?
BELINDA
Yeah, that’s it.
KATHY
Yeah, I’m telling you guys,
that could be perfect for us.
I just gotta’ dig it out of the closet.
BELINDA
Well, I was listening to a
tape of it.. and I think I mighta’
come up with something.
GINA
Yeah, it’s good, Kath.
You gotta’ hear this.
KATHY
Okay, sing some of it.
Belinda readies
herself.
BELINDA
Okay, here goes….
“Can’t seem to get my mind off of you…”
“Back here at home, there’s nothing to do…”
And then, Gina came up with an intro and I
got the bridge part… That was pretty hard.
Kathy is in a trance.
Without blinking,
she says…
KATHY
Do that again.
Belinda repeats herself.
After one rehearsal,
it sounds even better
this time. A big smile
comes across Kathy’s
face. Being an experienced
songwriter, she knows
something good when
she hears it.
KATHY
I think ya’ got it,
buddy. Let’s go.
Kathy saying “let’s go” was the cue for everyone to man their positions. The three of them jumped up out of their chairs, set down their drinks, snuffed out their cigarettes, and bolted upstairs. They scurried down the hallway until they came to a smaller room to the right where Kathy had a makeshift band set-up all in place. Belinda turned on the P.A. and the digital recording device. Gina grabbed Kathy’s Fender Stratocaster.
“I want to play you the intro I came up with,” she said.
“Cool, let’s hear it,” said Kathy.
After getting all plugged in and playing the series of notes that open up the tune, Gina had another set of instructions.
“And I want those last few notes to linger for a couple of rounds before I come in with the drums,” she said as she handed the guitar over to Kathy.
“Linger?” questioned Kathy.
“Yeah, ya’ know. Let em’ jangle for a few seconds until I come in. You’ll figure it out. I trust you,” remarked Gina, jokingly.
“Oh, thanks, Gina. It’s only my song. I’m glad you think I can figure it out,” returned Kathy.
“Actually, I can hear some effects in my head, too,” revealed Gina as she took a seat on the drum stool.
“You mean— along with the strange voices?” cracked Kathy.
“Eehh-heh-heh-heh, you’re so funny… Why don’t you go scrub the bathtub with your hair, Valentine,” retorted Gina, referring to Kathy’s famously spiked locks.
Gina got comfortable behind the drums and warmed up while Kathy cranked out some power chords just to be obnoxious.
“I want to play the bass,” said Belinda. “Show me what notes to play.”
After Belinda slung the strap around her neck and poked her arm through the hole, Kathy walked over and pointed out the root notes for her to pluck so that she could sing and play at the same time. Asking her to do any kind of fills would be way too much for her to handle.
“Now remember, Babe, when I come in with the rapid-fire on the snare, that’s when you start beltin’ out the lyrics,” instructed Gina.
“Gotcha!” replied Belinda.
And with that, our three available Go-Go’s spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening jamming out, trying to put the finishing touches on their latest creation before submitting it to the other two members for the final collaboration. The next several hours were filled with numerous breaks: bathroom visits, refrigerator raids, smoke breaks, going downstairs to retrieve all of their booze and powdery medicine. (notice how cautious I am about using certain words? Pretty thoughtful of me, huh?) They even had to take a break once in a while to jump up and down and hug each other because of the ear-pleasing melody they just came up with. At one point, Belinda came dancing back into the room, singing some made-up lyrics about what a great songwriter she was, and eating some coleslaw out of a tub that she got from Kathy’s refrigerator.
“You fuckin’ eatin’ my coleslaw, bitch?” asked Kathy.
“I sure am, bitch,” Belinda answered back, as she plopped herself down in one of Kathy’s comfy chairs. “Man, this is good coleslaw,” she continued. “Where did you get it?”
“Uhh, I think I got it at the PayMore Deli here right uptown,” replied Kathy.
“You know— this is not gonna satisfy me,” informed Belinda.
“Well, I’m sorry if I don’t keep heaping bowls of linguini and clam sauce hangin’ around just for you, Babe,” retorted Kathy.
“Mmm, that sounds good… Hey, let’s go out tonight!” suggested Belinda.
A collective wave of moans and groans started coming out of Gina and Kathy’s mouths.
“Oh, come on.. it’s Friday night. I know a place we can go where some of the Dodger players hang out,” offered Belinda.
“It’s the middle of summer, Belinda. They’re not hanging out in a bar… Besides, I’m not interested in any baseball players,” said Kathy.
“Ooh, that’s a mistake… They’re sexy…I got my eye on one of em’ lately,” informed Belinda. “His name is Bobby. He’s a pitcher.”