M is for Mondays...and Music: Musical Memory, The Roxanne Drinking Game

Musical Memory: The Roxanne Drinking Game

Radford University, Radford, Virginia - Freshman Year, 2000-2001

Around Radford University it was said among students that you can't spell drunk without the RU. Needless to say, (to my defense, like many other American college students), I spent much of my 18th year testing the sturdiness of my liver.

I can't remember (my lack of memory will be explained in a moment) who among my friends first suggested the Roxanne drinking game...but I do remember that it became a pre-game staple. My evenings on the weekend, (and, ahem, sometimes on the weekday), looked something like this:

1. Slap on make-up/do hair/do other peoples' hair/don outfit/listen to pump-up pre-party music.

2. Go to a friend's dorm room -usually Evelynne's or CP's and play the Roxanne drinking game with the RU Crew. Achieve insta-buzz.

3. Go to party of the evening. Dance face off.

Not familiar with the classy ritual that is the Roxanne drinking game? Here's how you play:

1. Make sure every one has one or two alcoholic beverages in hand, preferably a beer, or something lame, sweet and fizzy like a wine cooler. You do NOT want to mess around with shots or liquor drinks during this game. (This game is a TERRIBLE TERRIBLE idea anyways).

2. Play Roxanne, by The Police.

3. Ladies drink whenever the word Roxanne is sung, men drink whenever the phrase "put on the red light" is sung.

4. Try not to get alcohol poisoning.

Have a listen. Let it sink in.

Terrible, terrible idea right?

Ah, youth.

And that is what I think of every time I hear Roxanne by The Police.