I still drive to downtown Los Angeles to the same barber I’ve been going to for twenty years. I’ve tried others closer by, but too many mishaps sends me back to the tried and true. Afterwards, I typically have coffee at a local coffee roaster in the Artist District. I enjoy the vibe and feeling of coming back home.
I did notice a new reaction this last time, though. My old neighborhood seemed a little grittier than I remembered. A building nearby was covered with graffiti and not the commissioned kind. A few edgy people were about, not enough to make me flinch, but enough for me to take notice and up my awareness as I walked by. I think living in suburbia is making me soft because this is the first I’ve felt this way. I’m not sure how to process this yet. Maybe it’s a sign I’m getting old.
The Pet Shop Boys released Suburbia in 1986. It turns out, the song was inspired about tension and unrest in Southern California.
The song’s primary inspiration was the 1983 . . . film “Suburbia” and its depiction of violence and squalor in the suburbs of Los Angeles. . . The lyrics convey the boredom of suburbia (“I only wanted something else to do but hang around”) and the underlying tension among disaffected youth. The music is punctuated by sounds of suburban violence, riots, and smashing glass, along with barking dogs—a motif derived from scenes in Spheeris’s film.
I’m not sure I’d want to live in that suburban war zone. I’m a mid 50’s dude and my preference is to avoid danger and drama. I’ve decided I’m good packaged in my Disneyland bubble even if it seems to be softening me. Funny how quickly my perspective changed from the writing part of this post to the song finding portion of it. OK. Done. Processing complete.
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For a complete playlist, please click here.
For the Spotify playlist, please click here.
Lost in the high street, where the dogs run
Roaming suburban boys
Mother's got a hairdo to be done
She says they're too old for toys
Stood by the bus stop with a felt pen
In this suburban hell
And in the distance a police car
To break the suburban spell
Let's take a ride, and run with the dogs tonight
In Suburbia
You can't hide, run with the dogs tonight
In Suburbia
Break the window by the town hall
Listen, the siren screams
There in the distance, like a roll call
Of all the suburban dreams
Let's take a ride, and run with the dogs tonight
In Suburbia
You can't hide, run with the dogs tonight
In Suburbia
I only wanted something else to do but hang around
I only wanted something else to do but hang around
I only wanted something else to do but hang around
I only wanted something else to do but hang around
It's on the front page of the papers
This is their hour of need
Where's a policeman when you need one
To blame the colour TV?
Let's take a ride, and run with the dogs tonight
In Suburbia
You can't hide, run with the dogs tonight
In Suburbia
Take a ride, and run with the dogs tonight
In Suburbia
You can't hide, run with the dogs tonight
In Suburbia
Run with the dogs tonight
In Suburbia
You can't hide
In Suburbia
In Suburbia
In Suburbia
In Suburbia
In Suburbia
MyGenXerLife 
Yep, sounds like you’re good lol
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I did the exact opposite 4.5 years ago, moving from a small east coast town in central Florida (pop. 25,000) to Washington DC (pop. 700,000). The upside? When I visit my sister in Orlando I’m no longer tense when I drive there. It’s a piece of cake. Same thing for when I drive up to Toronto…absolutely no fear of city driving.
Suburbia/Pet Shop Boys is an iconic 80s anthem. Great selection!
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I like that you take long road trips like that. Nothing like a good road trip with a good playlist to pass the time.
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Exactly–you get it!
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I grew up in suburbia. We did drive into the city frequently and it always made me nervous. But then I went to college in the middle of downtown and learned to appreciate it.
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You’re right. Both have their charm. It’s also about increasing your circle of comfort. I had a similar experience when I went to college in the middle of the city. It was an initial shocker.
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Interesting that the Pet Shop Boys wrote a song about suburban LA. I always think of them as a London band.
I hardly ever go into the city anymore either. Other retirees love it and moved back from suburbia, but I’ve noticed that those folks almost always have a second home somewhere quieter!
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When I moved back to suburbia, I figured I’d easily drive up to the city often. That kinda fell by the wayside. The other day I was surprised how crowded and messy the city seemed. But I don’t think it changed much. The change was more in me.
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Yup…sounds about right. Your late fifties/sixties bring different priorities. And from what I hear, 80 is another big turning point.
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I don’t live in the ‘burbs anymore (although the city is reaching out to grab our little town, and as long as lithium is still a thing and Musk is still around it will probably be successful) but this song always reminds me of being a teenager and sneaking out the basement window at my folks’ house on Friday nights.
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That’s a pretty cool memory. Ah, to be young again…
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GenXer, nice song pick and accompanying write up. The closest I’ve ever come to city living was UF, Gainesville. Lot of very sketchy non/student areas that I wasn’t used to growing up in the sticks. I think I’d opt for suburbia 😎
Re road trips and playlists… you ever play the band game? Gotta have at least one passenger. You start with A, gotta name a band, and then pick a song “Uh… OK, I’ll go with ABBA and “dancing queen.” 😩😂😉 You listen, then it’s someone else’s turn. Lots of fun and you always hear new artists.
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Hey, I like that game. I might have to give that a try on my next road trip!
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I was born and bred in the countryside as we call it here across the pond, not far from where King Charles has a house, well you have to have at least one claim to fame! I left at 18, moved around with my career and then settled just across the border between London and Essex. I returned when I was 42 in order to give my children a chance to”to see the good in the world before seeing the bad” and I’ve never moved since.
I have tbh and I’m not a fan of LA despite flying in/out of there a few times and exploring the city in 1993, 2013 and again in 2017 on different trips to States.
I find it interesting that sometimes as we get older we crave the familiar, returning to our roots and sinking into a quieter life.
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I’ve always thought it would be nice to live in the countryside. Fresh air, a garden, fruit trees, down to earth neighbors. Good for you, returning there for your children. I’m sure they are incredibly appreciative for that life decision.
I understand your impression of LA. I grew up an hour south, but went to college in LA and subsequently stayed for 25 years. I recently moved back to where I grew up and been a nice homecoming to be out of the city.
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