An Un-Official Shotgun Wedding Mixtape

(I’m unearthing this awesome post by my homey Manny… because it’s so awesome. This post was originally written in June 2010.   – Len)

Back in ‘94 during (Catholic School) Confirmation Classes (grade eight) I made a mixtape for a girl from one of the other schools and wrote a stupid letter in the liner notes.  This mixtape didn’t even have music on it.  I gave her a blank tape as an excuse to write to her†.  She’s kept it ever since and though I hardly see her nowadays, she never lets me live it down.  She’s keeping the tape, but she made me a photo-copy for a going away present.

#2 **TIE** Can We Talk – Tevin Campbell/Saving Forever For You – Shanice (SHOTGUN WEDDING TOP 10 of ’93)

We’re getting really close to #1 in the Shotgun Wedding Top 10 Countdown! For now…

#2 is a TIE:

‘Can We Talk’ – Tevin Campbell
‘Saving Forever For You’ – Shanice

As teenagers in 1993, we might have wanted sex but what we wanted more was LOVE. We thought about it in class. We wrote about it in our private journals, wrote hints about it in yearbook messages and wrote to express it on 3-hole punched binder paper folded into cute origami and wedged between locker doors during 3rd period spare.

The truth is that in high school, being in love HURT.

Arsenio Hall: Best Late Night Host EVER?

Why Arsenio isn't on late night TV anymore: Things That Make You Go Hmmm..

Not sure what kind of “world” you’re stepping into when you come to see ‘Shotgun Wedding’ at The Fringe?  If you are lucky enough to have old Arsenio Hall episodes on VHS (or beta!), you could watch those to get an idea.

In 1993, Arsenio Hall *ruled* late night.  He may not have been officially the ratings leader but for our generation, our worlds revolved around who was on Arsenio last night and who was coming on the next episode. LET’S GET BUSY!

#4 Whatta Man – Salt n’ Pepa feat. En Vogue (1993’s Shotgun Wedding TOP TEN Countdown)

“You SO CRAZY….”

If 1993 seemed like it was all about the ladies, well… it probably was, as far as music goes anyway. At our high school, it was all about guys singing to girls, guys asking girls out, guys asking girls to the prom — whatever. That’s a lot of pressure! If you want to know where adult gender role expectations originated, it was probably high school.

You SO CRAZY.... ____(fill in the blank)_____!!!

At least Salt ‘n’ Pepa thought of the GUYS for just a second when they did ‘Whatta Man’.

Shotgun Wedding: The Transformation

I really gotta give it up to the cast for being good sports.

Yo, T-Boz ! Is ya being a boss, Chilli what's up wit' dat sauce?

Going back to the world of ‘Shotgun Wedding’ — the early 1990s — is no easy commitment.  It means donning very unique clothing, having very interesting hairstyles and going very aggressive with the lipstick shade.  And I’m being polite with the description.