Rock ‘n’ Roll High School 46: Alanis For the Angsty Teenage Soul

Author Roni Loren is my guest today, discussing the musical landscape of the mid-90s. I adore the imagery in her post of the flowery dress and combat boots–that was my uniform through much of high school and college. I may have single-handedly kept Dr. Martens in business or at least helped them ride out the rocky late 80s. My daughter is thirteen and is drawn to eerily similar wardrobe choices, which amuses me. To her, it’s unimaginable that Mom used to walk around in creepers and black tights and vintage dresses. And it’s not even that she’s at the point where I’m a disdainful human being, she just can’t fathom me that way.

Roni Loren

A little catholic high school in small town Louisiana, Class of ’97, Erotic Romance Author

Band and/or song that reminds you the most of high school: Alternative and grunge were big in my early high school years (before music went into the cesspool that was the late 90s). I listened to Alanis Morrissette’s Jagged Little Pill album a LOT. It was like balm for my angsty soul. I also remember dancing like a fool to The Cranberries’ Zombie at one of the homecoming dances wearing (of course) a flowery dress with combat boots. *facepalm* I think I believed I was Angela from My So-Called Life. Unfortunately, there was no Jared Leto by my side.

Favorite piece of music memorabilia (poster, t-shirt, etc.) in high school: My best friend and I got back into New Kids on the Block our freshman year when they came out with a new album. I remember we went to the thrift store and bought the old concert t-shirts. I’d like to say we wore them to be ironic, but sadly we weren’t that cool.

Band that you hated that everyone else at school seemed to love: Hootie and the Blowfish. I just never got the appeal. Also, all those hip-hop/dance-y songs that they put on those Jock Jams albums and played incessantly on the radio.

Best show or concert you saw in high school: I didn’t see a lot of them in high school. (I’ve since made up for that. I’m a bit of a concert addict.) But I would probably pick Alanis Morrissette since I was such a big fan.

Best high school make-out song: Almost anything by Boys II Men. But frankly, I didn’t do that much making out in high school, so I’m no expert, lol.

You can learn more about Roni Loren at roniloren.com. Her debut, Crash Into You, is out now!