Yup. This pic was taken by me. I was shoopin’ all over the place when Salt n Pepa (and a few rogue Naughty by Nature boys, and of course Busta Rhymes) took it to town at the Metro in Sydney last night. Sure, they’re a little older. Sure, Pepa (at least, I think it was Pepa, she has had a total facelift and remodel, and was wearing a pretty weird wig) was wearing an outfit that would have looked better on Pat Pong Road, Bangkok, but you know what? They still rocked it. Whadda Man, Shoop, Let’s Talk About Sex … it was like I was back in my bedroom with my sisters and our brand new tape deck. Is it weird that we still know the words to songs from stars we worshipped as kids? Does that mean when we’re 70, 60 year olds will be humming along to Miley Cyrus, and we’ll still know all the words to the best of Guns n Roses? Listening to Spinderella go for a lil’ mash-up of Black Eyed Peas and their incredible finale, Push It (yeah, I know, we guessed it would be Push It) 
was so much fun, they did it twice. No joke. Then they let, like, 80 people get up on stage to boogie with them. Old school!
But you know what the best thing about this gig was? The crowd. Everyone was soooo happy to see their idols from the late 80s (early 90s?) still kickin’ it. I have never been to a concert with so many late-seventies babies staring up in rapture and giggling as the girls cut it up! It was seriously like we’d all stuffed our beds with schoolgirl-shaped blankets and snuck out of the house. Busta Rhymes and a couple of cameos from the Naughty by Nature boys really topped off the night. Very cute. Oh, and they still have the same accents. “Kent yo hear da musik pumpin hawd, lark I wish ya wooood” … ahhh. Tick that off my bucket list. Or at least my “before 35″ list. Priceless.
Dave February 18, 2010 at 11:41 am
I still remember the days where beat to Naughty by Nature! i still have the tape! I can’t believe they are still rockin it and they’re in Sydney!
jo February 18, 2010 at 11:43 am
Ooooh, they’re here allright. They played GoodVibes too apparently, with all the old classics! A bit lumpier and older but still the same old school ‘tude!
Em February 18, 2010 at 12:59 pm
how good were they? kind of a weird mix of nostalgia and I-can’t-believe-they’re-still-rockin’ at their age! hehhee and the fact that they did push it twice, cause, uh, we didn’t prepare for an encore! lol! Awesomeness….
jo February 18, 2010 at 3:08 pm
I love that they didn’t prepare an encore! I think they did genuinely underestimate how much the aussie crowd loves them …
melissa February 18, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Hey Jo this piece made me smile..i love your style of writing.. clever chick you are! Why i ask as I get older that i feel the need to reminisce more and more..from my fave bands from when i was a teenager to shows like the love boat that i grew up with. I always thought old people reminisce i guess it starts a bit earlier
jo February 18, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Aww thanks. And aren’t we funny, paying out on the ‘oldies’ that reminisce all the time, but doing it ourselves! Guess we’re gettin’ old
Julia February 18, 2010 at 4:36 pm
This was an awesome gig. I’m not sure about them deciding to let the 80 odd people onto the stage – it was definitely not planned and they looked a bit terrified – but made quite a few people’s nights! We almost got trampled by a few crazed overexcited 70’s babes who were caught up in the moment but it didn’t spoil the electric atmosphere. I loved that only Busta had a minder who had to join him on stage – poor S&P were on their own!
jo February 18, 2010 at 4:56 pm
we were laughing so hard about the total lack of security for the stars. classic gig.classic.
Annie February 18, 2010 at 5:12 pm
seriously, I loved when Busta had to pull the two chicks off Salt. They were trying to take “from above” camera phone facebook shots with her and she was trying to sing but still be a good celebrity. Busta pulled em off of her. And then Busta’s huge minder stepped in
AMAZING show. One of my favorites ever!
Denise @ Raw Brides February 18, 2010 at 9:25 pm
LOL – love it! Would have loved to be there…
When I heard that NKOTB were playing I was tempted for about a second, and I’m sure I would have remembered every word.
I saw The Spice Girls when they did their reunion tour in London two years back and I have to confess that I had tears in my eyes when they came out for the first time!!