I have been itching to play Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), arcade mega-hit of the 2000s. I don’t even care how ridiculous it looks when someone is stomping the heck out of an arcade machine to crappy (wonderful) techno/trance/pop.

I have searched my house top and bottom to find my old, decent DDR mat that went missing 2 years ago, but to no avail.

My first exposure to DDR was in 2003, when I joined my high school’s anime club, as just a wee 9th grader. I had a friend who was pretty much obsessed and got me hooked on it as well. We spent many a weekend and a load of quarters at the Namco Arcade in the Galleria Mall.

It was such a strange sub-culture of teen life. I made a lot of friends and “rivals” playing DDR on the weekends. I lost all of those people I knew from the so-called “Buffalo crew,” but that’s probably for the better.

Thinking about it, I also had my first high school experience of unrequited “love.” I was 15 and totally had a crush on one of the 20-year-old arcade workers.

Anyway, back to bemani. I’ve been on a DDR music kick, and will now recall my favorite songs in list form:

1. Look to the Sky (True Color Mix)- S.F. Featuring Anna
2. A- DJ Amuro
3. Tsugaru (Apple Mix)- Reven G VS DESIRE
4. Rhythm and Police (K.O.G. 3 Mix)
5. Cartoon Heroes (Speedy Mix)-Aqua
6. Daikenkai- Des-row
7. Midnight Blaze- U1 Jewel Style
8. Sakura
9. V- DJ Taka
10. CANDY *