Note: this story was originally published on the online magazine shredded.com in 2016. The site has since been taken down.
Note: this story was originally published on the online magazine shredded.com in 2016. The site has since been taken down.
Note: this story was originally published on the online magazine shredded.com in 2016. The site has since been taken down.
Note: this story was originally published on the online magazine shredded.com in 2016. The site has since been taken down.
Note: this story was originally published on the online magazine shredded.com in 2016. The site has since been taken down.
dancing queen
I'd like to preface this story by saying that Ali and I are a travel power-duo.
One of the days on our trip, our beloved group split up evenly with Doug and Ryan peeling off to probably do something boring while Ali and I caught up on some much-needed sleep.
Based on true events and a Facebook group glorifying public transportation called "New Urbanist Memes for Transit Oriented Teens" (NUMTOT), the lyrics to "Dancing Queen" by 1970s Swedish pop-group sensation ABBA have been modified to tell the story of two competent and independent women navigating the Tokyo train system.
*There is a second recording where I sing the tweaked lyrics, but the song is totally out of my range. I recommend sparing your ears and just listening to the original while following along with the lyrics below. My recording was basically just an excuse for me to do karaoke.
NUMTOT Queens
​
Ooh
They can dance
They can ride
Having the time of their lives
Ooh, see those girls
Watch that scene
Dig in the NUMTOT queens
Two cool girls in Tokyo
Friends gave them a place to go.
A simple train station
That’s where they’re gunna meet
Trying to take to the streets.
Anybody can make that trip
Google maps at their fingertips
The girls are ready
Ready to succeed
Excitement they can’t contain
And when they’re on the train...
They are the NUMTOT queens
Traveling
Through the city streets
NUMTOT queens
Holdin’ on ‘till their trip’s complete, oh yeah
They can dance
They can ride
Having the time of their lives
Ooh, see those girls
Watch that scene
Dig in the NUMTOT queens
They check the stations they’re passing through
They realize they all look new
Looking at each other
Like, “yeah, I think we messed up
We got on the wrong train
But it will be ok
Cuz we’re the NUMTOT queens
Traveling
Through the city streets
NUMTOT queens
We’ll find our way eventually, oh yeah
We can dance
We can ride
Without the help of a guy”
Ooh, see those girls
Watch that scene
Dig in the NUMTOT queens
Dig in the NUMTOT queens