Motorin'! That one word instantly places me in Night Ranger's "Sister Christian" video, ala Molly Shannon in Superstar. Although, I'm not sure "motorin'" or "motoring" is even a real word. I think it's just a made-up catchphrase the one-hit-wonders were desperately hoping would catch on as slang for cruising.
I don't know if "Sister Christian" ever caught on with guys, but us girls in 1984 were sw-ooooning over it! There was a tame urban legend circulating around school that the song was written by the lead singer for his teenage sister who had gotten knocked up. In actuality, the song was written by drummer, Kelly Keagy, as a cautionary tribute to his kid sis who was suddenly growing up too fast before his very eyes. (She later got embarrassed and tried to legally change her name over the whole hubbub, if Wikipedia and VH1's One Hit Wonders special are to be believed.)
The song had sweet intentions. But, once the video was released the message turned awfully confusing. Sister Christian was in high school (presumably Catholic school, judging by all the kneeling at the grad ceremony and the creepy nuns waving goodbye through the clouds of dry ice at the end of the video.) She longingly watches out the school window as her denim-miniskirted classmates hop into random convertibles driven recklessly by random Brat Pack lookalikes. Christian knows she's not ready for all of this cruising and miniskirt drama and always lags behind.
She graduates during the bit and is lost in a maze of massive eighties bangs bouncing down the school stairway. She doesn't feel as grown as the rest of these girls. Maybe it because of her brother's lyrics which are echoing throughout the hallways as a constant plea for chastity. "What's your price for flight?" Yes, what is your price for flight Sister Christian? You're not going to go leaping into every convertible that's comes around, are you?
Well, here's the real twist of the story. Though the lyrics remain cautionary, the video turns very "final scene of Grease." Christian is indeed saving herself. Not for the high school boys, but for her brother's bandmates! (Watch out for that Andy Gibb lookalike, Christian!) She stalks their rehearsals and the band's favorite lunch spot. Then finally decides what her price for flight in finding Mr. Right is. Rock and Roll!
The nuns do their creepy goodbye wave and she's off like a dirty groupie. Into the band's convertible she goes. But, don't worry, she pays her brother respect by bringing along a couple of friends for him as a thank you (A boy named "Kelly" would need this kind of help.)
Lesson learned: Don't waste your purity on the high school boys, when you have an older brother with older friends and Rock and Roll dreams. How many babies do you think Sister Christian has now? Just wondering....
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