By Trent Rosser

"You can still, rock in America, oh yeah!"

Another great song by the hair band Night Ranger. That song has been stuck in my head ever since the city was put ion a stay-at-home order by the Mayor. As most of you know, I rarely agree with the tactics of our city council and our mayor. But I do this time. It is just my opinion that we needed this to help stop the spread of COVID-19. I, though, am considered an "essential", therefore, I must still get up and head to work. So when I hear people upset that they must stay home and everything is closed, that song title pops in my head. So, let's "Return to the Paradise Theater" like the group Styx did, and revisit some of the great songs of the hair bands.

With the world in chaos, one of the songs I keep thinking about is"When the Children Cry" by White Lion. Some of the lyrics are "when the children cry, let them know we tried, when the children sing, let the new world begin." A song from decades ago can still ring true today. With everyone having to stay at home, we are learning more about our families. We are learning to love again when we stepped out of the rat race. Ballads from the hair bands still ring true today also. Songs like "Love of a Lifetime" from Firehouse, and Extreme singing "More Than Words". These ballads can make you reminisce of simpler times or maybe remind you of an old boyfriend or girlfriend, or even your first crush, or when you were "Seventeen" (Winger). There were heartbreaking songs also. Warrant spoke about catching his girl being unfaithful in the song “I Saw Red”. The power ballad "Every Rose Has Its Thorn” by Poison had many in tears, and I'm sure it still does today. Let's don't forget Skid Row and their song "I Remember You".

Unfortunately with everything going on in this cruel world, we need upbeat songs to help us through the COVID-19 pandemic; songs that make you want to get up, dance, play air guitar, and sing at the top of our lungs. There are ones that make us want to "Jump" (Van Halen) on the "Crazy Train" (Ozzy Osbourne). We need to say "We're Not Gonna Take It" (Twisted Sister), we need to "Kickstart My Heart" (Motley Crue), and "Rock You Like a Hurricane" (Scorpions). After all, this isn't "The Final Countdown" (Europe), this is a time to "Turn Up the Radio" (Autograph) and "Rock and Roll All Nite" (Kiss).

Yes, things have really changed in the last couple of months. Like Cinderella said, "You don't know what you got, until it's gone," a lot like the toilet paper lately! We will survive this rough time. Just like Americans always do, we use songs to help us get by. We start to feel better and start tapping to the beat when we hear the amazing intro of "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" by Great White. The hair bands will carry on. Yes, many have broken up, others have new members, solo careers and so forth, but, the songs will always have a place as some of the best songs to make us feel emotions. Whether it be a celebration, heartache or a new love. Songs like this have pushed us on through trying times like these. So, "Welcome to the Jungle" (Guns N’ Roses), where we are in the “Twilight Zone" (Golden Earring).

Just remember that other people are stressed like you, so “Don’t Be Cruel” (Cheap Trick) to others, after all, during this time "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" (Quiet Riot). But, you can still have fun and jam out, after all, "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" (Kiss) and we are still free, so "We can still rock in America!”