This week, News & Notes producer Devin Robins remembers three of her favorite songs from high school: "Bust a Move" by Young MC, "Vision of Love" by Mariah Carey, and Bel Biv Devoe's "Poison."
FARAI CHIDEYA, host: It's time again for our staff song pick of the week.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: Right now, we've got NEWS & NOTES producer Devin Robins. Hey, Devin.</s>DEVIN ROBINS: Hey, Farai.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: So what do you have for us?</s>DEVIN ROBINS: Well, this summer was my high school reunion.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: When did you graduate?</s>DEVIN ROBINS: Well, I'd rather not give that information out. I thought it would be more fun to have you guess. I have a few clues to help you out. Are you ready to play?</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: Absolutely.</s>DEVIN ROBINS: All right. George Herbert Walker Bush was president of the United States.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: Okay.</s>DEVIN ROBINS: And clue number two, I grew up in Los Angeles, as you know, and right around my senior year in high school, the Rodney King riots erupted. You remember that?</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: Absolutely. And those riots started when four police officers, accused in the videotape of beating a black motorist Rodney King, were acquitted by a predominantly white jury.</s>DEVIN ROBINS: Well, I got a third clue here for you, and this one will test your pop culture knowledge.</s>YOUNG MC (Singer): (Singing) In the city, ladies look pretty. Guys tell joke so they can seem witty. Tell a funny joke to get some play, then you try to make a move and she says no way. Girls are fakin', goodness sakin'. They want a man who brings home the bacon. Got no money and you got no car, then you got no woman and there you are.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: So, Devin, I love that song.</s>DEVIN ROBINS: Me, too. And whenever I hear Young MC, I think of high school.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: Give me one favorite exciting moment of your time in high school.</s>DEVIN ROBINS: Dances. Dances were big. Particularly, I liked to slow dance. And there's one song that I remember. Slow dancing with my high school boyfriend, Joel(ph).</s>Ms. MARIAH CAREY (Singer): (Singing) Treated me kind. Sweet destiny. Carried me through desperation to the one that was waiting for me. It took so long, still I believed…</s>DEVIN ROBINS: Mariah Carey was just coming on the scene. And that year, she won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her single, "Vision of Love." And, you know, Farai, I've got one more song that just screams high school.</s>Mr. RICKY BELL (Band Member, Bel Biv Devoe): (Singing) Girl, I must…</s>BEL BIV DEVOE (Singing Group): (Singing) Warn you.</s>Mr. RICKY BELL (Band Member, Bel Biv Devoe): (Singing) I sense something strange in my mind. Yeah, yo. Situation is…</s>BEL BIV DEVOE (Singing Group): (Singing) Serious.</s>Mr. RICKY BELL (Band Member, Bel Biv Devoe): (Singing) Let's cure it 'cause we're running out of time. Tell 'em Rick.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: Oh, my gosh. I think I remember some really strange pants from this era, you know, like, those bizarre pants. Who is this and why do you like him?</s>DEVIN ROBINS: Well, not only did Bel Biv Devoe wore some strange pants but they also had some really tall hair. Now, Bel Biv Devoe, this song "Poison" was also big when I was in high school. And for me, where I grew up, this sound was fresh and new. I didn't have a lot of exposure to rap artists like Young MC that we heard earlier or to R&B artists like Bel Biv Devoe. And I think it opened up a new musical genre for me. And when I hear these songs, I think back to the fond memories I had of high school.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: Well, Devin, thanks for sharing this with us, and it put me in a time capsule, too.</s>DEVIN ROBINS: So do you know what year?</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: '92?</s>DEVIN ROBINS: Close. But I can't tell.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: Love that. That was NEWS & NOTES producer Devin Robins with three of her favorite songs from high school - "Bust A Move" by Young MC, "Vision of Love" by Mariah Carey, and "Poison" by Bel Biv Devoe.</s>Mr. RICKY BELL (Band Member, Bel Biv Devoe): (Singing) 'Cause in some…</s>BEL BIV DEVOE (Singing Group): (Singing) Portions.</s>Mr. RICKY BELL (Band Member, Bel Biv Devoe): (Singing) You'll think she's the best thing in the world. She's so…</s>BEL BIV DEVOE (Singing Group): (Singing) Fly.</s>Mr. RICKY BELL (Band Member, Bel Biv Devoe): (Singing) She'll drive you right out of your mind. Steal your heart when you're blind. Beware she's schemin'. She'll make you think you're dreamin'. You'll fall in love and you'll be screamin' demon.</s>BEL BIV DEVOE (Singing Group): (Rapping) Poison, deadly, moving it slow. Looking for a mellow fellow like DeVoe. Getting paid, laid, so better lay low. Schemin on house, money, and the show. The low pro hoe should be cut like an Afro. So what you're sayin', huh, she's weighin' you? But I know she's a loser.</s>Mr. RICKY BELL (Band Member, Bel Biv Devoe): (Rapping) How do you know?</s>BEL BIV DEVOE (Singing Group): (Rapping) Me and the crew used to do her.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: …for sharing your time with us. To listen to the show and your wonderful music like this or subscribe to our podcast, visit our Web site: nprnewsandnotes.org. No spaces, just nprnewsandnotes.org. To join the conversation or sign up for our newsletter, visit our blog at nprnewsandviews.org.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: NEWS & NOTES was created by NPR News and the African American Public Radio consortium.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: Tomorrow, the economics of publishing black writers.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: Kool G.: (Rapping) Poison, poison. Poison, poison. Poison, poison. Poison.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: I'm Farai Chideya. This is NEWS & NOTES.