While ska music might not be the coolest thing in the world, it introduced me to many, many cool things, such as expensive, bitter beer, Nelson Mandela and how we need to free him, and yes - even Degrassi Junior High.

My best friend in high school was Nick the Pillsbury Rudeboy. Being the only two ska kids in high school made it tough to discover new bands, but everyday Nick would arrive to school with a new 7" of a band I just had to hear. One of these bands was Skankin' Pickle, and the song I just had to hear was "I'm In Love With A Girl Named Spike." The lyrics to the song went something like:

There is a girl named Spike from Degrassi High
she had a baby when she was real young
Her best friend is a skinhead chick
she knows an Asian boy named Yick
and Caitlin she is very chic
but I'm still in love with a girl named Spike
I don't write love songs
in fact they make me very sick
but Spike the girl from Degrassi High
she's truly one cool chick
She has the best TV show
better than Beverly Hills 90210
and Shannen Doherty well she's ok
but I'm still in love with a girl named Spike

What was this Degrassi High show? Who's this Spike chick? I had to find out.