I Don’t Want To Wait For Our Lives To Be Over

James Van Der Beek, titular star of the iconic teen soap series Dawson’s Creek, passed away yesterday at the age of 48.  Van Der Beek announced he had been diagnosed with Stage 3 colorectal cancer in November of 2024.

Van Der Beek rose to fame starring as Dawson Leery on the WB hit drama.  He would later play a fictionalized version of himself on Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23.  On the big screen, he was known for his starring role in Varsity Blues.

Van Der Beek is survived by his wife and their six children.

Fifty Years Of Music – 1998

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 1998, the year I turned 24.  The chart formula for the Hot 100 changed again in December, allowing songs to chart based on airplay alone if there was no commercial single released.  Thanks to my newly acquired hour plus commute, you’d think I’d have picked up more of the music of the day, but the numbers keep going down.  A mere 21 songs remain familiar to me today, with just twelve of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#87: Jewel – You Were Meant for Me
iTunes stats: 37 plays

Jewel hits the year-end chart for the second straight year thanks to a total of 65 weeks in the Hot 100.

#81: Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life
iTunes stats: 9 plays

The lead single from the group’s sophomore album, it peaked at #18 on the Hot 100 in just its fourth week on the chart.

#79: The Verve – Bittersweet Symphony
iTunes stats: N/A

Considered one of the defining songs of the Britpop era, it reached #12.

#74: Edwin McCain – I’ll Be
iTunes stats: 16 plays

McCain’s second charting single, it went to #5, becoming his first and only top ten hit.

#58: Lisa Loeb – I Do
iTunes stats: 16 plays

Peaking at #17, it became Loeb’s second-highest charting single, following her debut single.

#57: Third Eye Blind – Semi-Charmed Life
iTunes stats: 18 plays

The highest charting single about a crystal meth addiction, it reached #4 and spent a total of 43 weeks on the chart.

#51: Barenaked Ladies – One Week
iTunes stats: 17 plays

True to its name, it spent a single week atop the Hot 100 in October.

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Book 39 (of 52) – This Will Only Hurt A Little

This Will Only Hurt a Little – Busy Philipps

From Freaks and Geeks to Dawson’s Creek and ER to Cougar Town, Busy Philipps has been a mainstay on television for over twenty years now.  In her memoir, It Only Hurts a Little, she covers her life story, from Oak Park to Arizona to, finally LA, where she realized her childhood dream to become an actress.

This was the first celebrity memoir I’ve read (or listened to) in a while that I’ve really enjoyed.  Busy takes herself and her career seriously, but not too seriously, and gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse into shows that I’ve watched and enjoyed.  She was (and maybe still is?) a big deal on Instagram Reels, so maybe I’ll have to give her a follow.

Post Mortem – Stalker

Stalker_logoThe latest show from Kevin Williamson, creator of Dawson’s Creek and the Scream franchise, focused on a LAPD team that worked stalking cases.  Starring Maggie Q and Derbel McDillet, er, Dylan McDermott, the show was eviscerated by critics for its alleged misogyny, the show actually debuted to big numbers, but quickly fell off as viewers realized that it wasn’t a particularly good show.  Despite ending on a cliffhanger, it certainly won’t be missed.

Mix Tape Monday – March 2003

After my tape deck crapped out in 1997, I was stuck listening to either the radio or full albums in whatever order the artist intended.  That all changed in 2001, when the new-fangled MP3 technology got combined with my new CD burner.

March of 2003 looks to have a lot of cover songs, along with the latest hits from Kelly Osbourne, Christina Aguilera, Avril Lavigne, and the White Stripes.

Mariah Carey – Bringing On The Heartbreak

For a minute there, I thought I could get in to this remake of the old Def Leppard hit.

iTunes stats: Never played

The Donnas – Take It Off

The one big hit for the girl group.

iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 5/30/2012

Foo Fighters – Times Like These

The latest from the Foo Fighters had both an electric and acoustic version.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 1/4/2013

David Lee Roth – California Girls

After leaving Van Halen, David Lee Roth thought becoming a cheesy Vegas lounge act was the way to go.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 3/30/2012

Tatu – All The Things You Said

Nothing says pop music hit like lesbian Russian teenagers.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 8/10/2011

Tegan And Sara – I Hear Noises

My first introduction to Tegan and Sara.  I own all of their albums after this and have since seen them in concert.

iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 9/21/2011

Bif Naked – We’re Not Gonna Take It

A cover of the Twisted Sister hit from the Ready To Rumble soundtrack.

iTunes stats: Never played

Sixpence None The Richer – Don’t Dream It’s Over

A cover of the old Crowded House hit.

iTunes stats: Never played

Johnny Cash – Personal Jesus

A bizarre cover of the Depeche Mode hit by the Man in Black.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 5/19/2009

Kelly Osbourne – Shut Up

The first release from Kelly’s ill-fated album meant to capitalize on the success of The Osbournes.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 5/8/2012

Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting

The 70s ode to martial arts.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 3/21/2012

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