Let's start with something from TV land

Song: "Late at Night", Artist: Buffalo Tom, Album: Big Red Letter day

Anyone ever watch a little show called My So Called Life? Well, I sure did. In recent years reruns of this show have diminished, much to my disappointment. If anyone is interested, The N has been rerunning it in the wee hours of the morning. I'm talking 4 or 5 am. I've been DVRing it becauase I can't stay up that late and still feel good about myself.

In any event, the song "Late at Night" sticks out because it is featured on the episode of the show where Angela Chase and Jordan Catalano are making out in the broiler room of the school. Angela has had a crush on Jordan forever. Jordan's feelings for Angela have always been ambiguous. While Angela has told her close friends about the broiler room situation, Jordan has been silent about it. Angela, naturally, is hurt by this because it seems like Jordan is embarassed by her. In a very tragic scene, Angela goes to a Buffalo Tom concert because she knows Jordan will be there. At the concert, Jordan ignores her all night. "Late at Night" is playing in the background.
The episode ends with Jordan approaching Angela in a crowd in the school's hall, and holding her hand. "Late at Night" is playing once again. After this they make ammends.

Anyone who has ever been boy crazy, fifteen, and female can probably relate to this scenario on some level. Jordan is not a good guy, but he's the sort of guy who is beautiful and mysterious enough to be the focus of endless teenage fantasies. Every negative quality can be interpreted in a way that adds to the mystery. I'd say his appeal ends for most when adulthood is reached.

The song "Late at Night" has stron associations for me because of this episode. I might not remember it too well otherwise. It brings me back to age fourteen, when a crush was the most important thing in the world