The Go-Go’s have still got the beat
Published: Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Updated: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 20:06
Rebecca Strang/Central Florida Future
The Go-Go’s rhythm guitarist Jane Wiedlin proved she still had the rhythm while performing during Universal’s Summer Concert Series on Saturday, June 11.
While they may have gotten older since their No. 1 album Beauty and the Beat debuted in 1981, the first all-girl band to top the Billbord 100 by both writing their own songs and playing their own instruments still had it in them to put on a show to remember.
The Go-Go's, who have their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, opened for Universal's Summer Concert Series Saturday night.
For more photos, view the gallery here.
Long-time fans came out for the 30th anniversary of Beauty and the Beat to hear all their old favorite songs like "Vacation," "We Got the Beat," "Our Lips are Sealed" and the rest of the songs from the album that spent weeks atop the U.S. pop charts in 1982.
Though three decades have passed since the album's release, the show brought back a real '80s vibe, with shiny streamers and sequins. To top it off, singer Belinda Carlisle even brought out a tambourine for a few of their songs.
Self-proclaimed "big fan" Diane Rodriguez, an interdisciplinary studies major at UCF, said she came out with her friends to see the Go-Go's play her favorite song, "Vacation."
"I've been a fan for a long time," Rodriguez said. "I've been planning for three weeks to come tonight."
Another fan, Misty Johns from Orlando, said she came with her friend to see the Go-Go's after she heard about the show from relatives.
"I liked their newer songs," Johns said.
Aside from their '80s hits, the Go-Go's played "Unforgiven," a 2001 single that was written in collaboration with Billy Joe Armstrong from Green Day. Lead guitarist Jane Wiedlin called Green Day, "one of our favorite bands," before playing the song.
Who is "unforgiven," you ask? Although they wouldn't say, Wiedlin hinted that the chord progression of the song spells out his name.
Near the end of the show, Carlisle's son, 19-year-old James Duke Mason, joined his mother on stage to sing "The Whole World's Lost Its Head."
Other songs from the set list included "Automatic," a song written in the "second-saddest key" by Wiedlin; "Cool Places," "Head over Heels," "Lust to Love" and "Get Up and Go."
Also playing this month in the concert series are hip-hop artist Nelly on June 18, and alternative rock group Third Eye Blind on June 25. The July lineup includes R&B singer Trey Songz on July 2, rock group Boys Like Girls on July 9 and rapper/singer Drake on July 16.
All concerts begin at 9 p.m.
For more information on the concert series, visit www.universalorlando.com.

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