An endorsement -- 80's ballads

"I follow the Moskva / Down to Gorky Park"

What's that I hear, blaring through the hostel stereo?

"Listening to the wind of change"

Could it be, The Scorpions one and only hit is on the radio? How unusual.


"An August summer night / Soldiers passing by"

Why, is that a voice, rising in song? Yes, indeed it is. The Nicaraguan workman, about my age, appears to be a fan.

"Listening to the wind of change"

His voice is rising now, growing stronger and the Scorpions march toward the chorus.

Here it comes. Oh yeah, the hammering man says without so many words. Here it is.

"Take me to the magic of the moment / On a glory night"

The workman is nailing it. He knows the song, feels the words. He's positively howling.

"Where the children of tomorrow dream away / In the wind of change"

And he's brought it home.
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If you wanted to draw broad conclusions, you could say the Nicaraguans are stuck in the 80s. They even brought back Ortega, for love of the decadent decade. They love the music at any rate. Patti Smith had a number one hit last year with "Because the night." She played in Managua. It was huge.

I thought I didn't like Richard Marx before coming here. Now I know I was right.

I love him.