Class Note 1992
Issue
September-October 2023
We had such a response to our topic last issue that we could not include all of the responses. It will fill our space allocation for three issues and counting! Below are favorite college-era songs, part deux.
Melaura Wittemyer loved Erasure. “I recall it was my soundtrack on my Walkman during my language study abroad in France—‘Blue Savannah,’ ‘Oh L’Amour,’ ‘Who Needs Love Like That,’ ‘Chains of Love,’ ‘A Little Respect,’ I can go on—Friday night dance club with my peeps (you know who you are)!”
Stephanie Westnedge had a near encounter with her favorite Dartmouth-era singer. “My favorite song from that period is ‘Tear in Your Hand’ from Tori Amos’ first album, Little Earthquakes. I can’t resist a good heartbreak song! I spent most of my senior year abroad in the English department’s foreign study program at University College London, and through my network created an artist book as my senior project at Circle Press. The owner, Ron King, was also ‘letting the upstairs flat’ to an up-and-coming American musician, Tori Amos. I would trek over in the afternoons after classes to work on my book of Old English riddle translations and ring the bell. Sometimes we could hear her practicing while we worked. One day I accidentally rang the upstairs bell and Tori was yelling, ‘Hello?!’ and I yelled back, ‘Sorry, wrong bell!’ and this went on three or four times. I’m not sure how I got my hands on her album but my favorite song was ‘Tear in Your Hand’ and my best friend’s was ‘Happy Phantom.’ So the closest I got to meeting Tori Amos was accidentally ringing her flat doorbell in Notting Hill.”
Geoffrey McDonald writes: “Working at Dartmouth Broadcasting it seemed like I had a different favorite song and favorite band every day. I had barely finished DJ training when I saw the Pixies and Love and Rockets with some new friends from WDCR. By senior year we were taking busloads of fans to see U2 (the Pixies were the opening act). Our college years were an amazing time for music and those of us on WFRD and WDCR had front row seats. With so many memories, it’s hard to choose one favorite. A special memory for me, though, will always be of the lead up to Sophomore Summer in 1990. World Party had a minor hit with ‘Way Down Now.’ I thought it was going to be the breakout, feel-good hit of the summer. Things didn’t turn out that way, but even now when I hear that song I’m transported back to memories of sunny days in the old Robinson Hall studios looking out onto the Green and getting ready to give away some ‘free stuff’ to a lucky listener. Thanks for putting a smile on my face with this one!”
—John L McWilliams IV, 7429 Marquette St., Dallas, TX 75225; Kelly Shriver Kolln, 3900 Cottage Grove Ave., SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403; (920) 306-2192; dartmouth92news@gmail.com
Melaura Wittemyer loved Erasure. “I recall it was my soundtrack on my Walkman during my language study abroad in France—‘Blue Savannah,’ ‘Oh L’Amour,’ ‘Who Needs Love Like That,’ ‘Chains of Love,’ ‘A Little Respect,’ I can go on—Friday night dance club with my peeps (you know who you are)!”
Stephanie Westnedge had a near encounter with her favorite Dartmouth-era singer. “My favorite song from that period is ‘Tear in Your Hand’ from Tori Amos’ first album, Little Earthquakes. I can’t resist a good heartbreak song! I spent most of my senior year abroad in the English department’s foreign study program at University College London, and through my network created an artist book as my senior project at Circle Press. The owner, Ron King, was also ‘letting the upstairs flat’ to an up-and-coming American musician, Tori Amos. I would trek over in the afternoons after classes to work on my book of Old English riddle translations and ring the bell. Sometimes we could hear her practicing while we worked. One day I accidentally rang the upstairs bell and Tori was yelling, ‘Hello?!’ and I yelled back, ‘Sorry, wrong bell!’ and this went on three or four times. I’m not sure how I got my hands on her album but my favorite song was ‘Tear in Your Hand’ and my best friend’s was ‘Happy Phantom.’ So the closest I got to meeting Tori Amos was accidentally ringing her flat doorbell in Notting Hill.”
Geoffrey McDonald writes: “Working at Dartmouth Broadcasting it seemed like I had a different favorite song and favorite band every day. I had barely finished DJ training when I saw the Pixies and Love and Rockets with some new friends from WDCR. By senior year we were taking busloads of fans to see U2 (the Pixies were the opening act). Our college years were an amazing time for music and those of us on WFRD and WDCR had front row seats. With so many memories, it’s hard to choose one favorite. A special memory for me, though, will always be of the lead up to Sophomore Summer in 1990. World Party had a minor hit with ‘Way Down Now.’ I thought it was going to be the breakout, feel-good hit of the summer. Things didn’t turn out that way, but even now when I hear that song I’m transported back to memories of sunny days in the old Robinson Hall studios looking out onto the Green and getting ready to give away some ‘free stuff’ to a lucky listener. Thanks for putting a smile on my face with this one!”
—John L McWilliams IV, 7429 Marquette St., Dallas, TX 75225; Kelly Shriver Kolln, 3900 Cottage Grove Ave., SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403; (920) 306-2192; dartmouth92news@gmail.com