My Gen X Playlist: I Predict – The Sparks

I always love fortune cookies. If we do takeout, I sometimes can’t wait until the end of the meal. I’ll open my fortune cookie before we dig in. Typically, the fortunes are cheesy and I toss them aside. Every once in awhile I get a good one, so good that I feel compelled to save it. There is a collection of random fortunes collecting dust in our junk drawer. I don’t actually believe in the fortune itself, but I do like the feel of good karma.

Like all kids, we grew up making wishes before we blew out birthday candles. I never dared tell a soul what my wish was for fear of jinxing it. I can’t recall if any of my wishes ever came true. But that never really was the point of wishing on birthday candles, was it. Making the wish was the fun part.

Wishing reminds me of the movie Big. Tom Hanks makes a wish and asks Zoltar to make him big. And, well, you know the rest. I’ve never run across a Zoltar in my life. The dude is pretty cool and scary at the same time. I wonder what I’d wish for if I did.

Remember the Magic 8 Ball? As kids, we tried to think of the wackiest things to ask it and bust a gut at the answer. It’s amazing to think this was invented almost 80 years ago. Think of the number of predictions it’s given over an eighty year span. I wonder what it’s track record actually is.

Whenever we buy a roasted chicken from Costco, we clean off and save the wish bone. Somehow, I’ve yet to win a pull. This outcome has become so predictable, there’s no need asking the Magic 8 ball if I’m going to win. Maybe I need to look up wishbone pulling techniques on YouTube. Anything for the edge. The moment I finally win, I’m buying a lottery ticket.

Do I believe any of these can change the future? Probably not. If I had to put a number on it, I’d say 99% no. The left over 1% is for the child in me wanting them to be true. Or maybe that’s the adult in me hedging my bet, just in case. Hey man, you just never know.

Oh, and by the way. I’m not a believer in fate or destiny either. What would be the point if it were true?

The Sparks came out with this quirky song in 1982. I Predict is a song filled with predictions. The music video is bizarre and uncomfortable to say the least. Although it didn’t get massive airplay, I’ve always liked this song. Can you guess which predictions came true?

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

You're gonna take a walk in the rain
And you're gonna get wet
(I predict)

You're gonna eat a bowl of chow mein
And be hungry real soon
(I predict)
Are my sources correct
(I predict)
They're gonna find the Queen is a man
But that Philip don't care
(I predict)
Lassie will prove that Elvis and her
Had a fleeting affair
(I predict)
Are my sources correct
Are my sources correct
Yes I know they're correct
(I predict)

Men, if you say your prayers
You'll never lose your hair (I predict)

L.A. is safe
Ain't gonna quake
Ain't gonna quake
(I predict)

And somebody's gonna die
But I can't reveal who
Cold beer will cure a cold
Cold beer and pretzels, takes care of cancer
Moscow will march to France
They'll do the Can-Can Dance
Don't worry, it'll work out
Maxim's will throw them out

They're gonna stop Saturday night
So you better have fun now
(I predict)
They're gonna stop having the sun
So you better get tan now

And this song will fade out
And this song will fade out
And this song will fade out
(I predict)