A lot of Gen X-related stuff has been showing up on my social media as of late. I’m not going to lie; I thoroughly enjoy it. It is very music-heavy and what’s not to love about the music of the 80s and 90s? The correct answer is nothing. It was perfect.
I don’t listen to a lot of new music. It is too much work and kind of wears me out. I know there is good stuff out there, I’m just lazy and like what I like. However, I do have a teenager and she likes to share her latest faves with me. Most of it is fine, but when a Tears for Fears song came on her playlist the other day, I was overjoyed.
My daughter Josie’s taste in music has improved greatly since middle school. Middle school damn near killed me. The stuff she listened to was the worst and dirty AF. I know a lot of parents would not agree with my choice to not censor her music, but my husband and I made that decision very early on. Then we got AppleMusic and the world of vulgar lyrics was her oyster. Nevertheless, we stuck by our decision and prayed she would grow out of it. She did. Thank goodness. Please know I’m not a prude. The shit she listened to was really bad.
I’m grateful to the TV show Stranger Things for making the music of my generation cool to my daughter. While I got really tired of Kate Bush last summer, I do appreciate that Josie got super excited over the vinyl collection from my youth and invited a friend over to listen to my old albums. Yes, we have a turntable in our living room we use regularly.
While Josie digs my ’80s stuff, I have not been able to convince her grunge is epic. She will have no part in my Pearl Jam, Soundgarden or Smashing Pumpkins. She does kind of like Hole, so there is that.
On a podcast I was listening to, they were discussing a recent study that had named the best year of music since 1970. Apparently, the Beatles and Stones made them say, “fuck the 60s there is no competition there. Let’s just start with the 70s.” Anyway, the year named the best for music between 1970 and today was…drumroll, please…1984. Why, you ask? Three words: Purple Fucking Rain. I cannot argue this.
Prince, while the best, was in great company in 1984. Tina Turner’s Private Dancer was also released along with the debut album from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. And hello, Van Halen’s 1984, U2’s Unforgettable Fire and Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA are all products of 1984.
I have no fight with this being the best year for music, however, it was not my guess. I said 1991 and I stand by that. I was a freshman in college and the music at that time was mind-blowing. Most of my favorite albums to this day are from that year: Pearl Jam’s Ten, Nirvana’s Nevermind, U2’s Achtung Baby, Temple of the Dog’s self-titled album, and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Blood Sugar Sex Magik. I could go on and on. Damn, what a year for music!
While I may keep my satellite radio parked on Tom Petty Radio and Lithium (a 90s alternative and grunge station), I’m not opposed to new music if it happens to find me. In fact, I discovered a new artist I really liked a few weeks ago. His band opened for the Indigo Girls (whom I have been a huge fan of since the early 90s). His name is Aaron Lee Tasjan. He is groovy and fantastic. I have listened to him multiple times since the show. However, I like what I like and it is primarily music from the 80s and 90s.
I think our musical tastes are cemented in our teen years; I know mine were. We can all just hope a super cool TV show comes along to make our kids think our music is as awesome as we do.
Angela Traver
What is this blog about? Well, it's a general blog, but it is also a very specific blog. If you get that reference, you get a gold star! I have been a public relations professional and writer of press releases for more than 20 years—primarily in the booze biz. I decided to do some writing for fun and embrace the humor that gets me through most days. Hopefully it will make you chuckle—or at least smile. I’m a certified crazy magnet, and more than a little nutty myself, so buckle up. Also, I have two vices—profanity and red wine/whiskey. You’ve been warned. It should also be noted, that I’m a HUGE Bob & Sheri fan. I’ve been a listener for more than 20 years. This opportunity is a dream come true and it may have made me cry. That being said, I cry at everything. If you are into booze, dogs, food and/or knitting, hit me up on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (although I’m terrible at Twitter and it scares me) @kyspiritsgal. You can also find all my previous blog posts at www.kyspiritsgal.com.
