My Music’s Better Than Yours

 

I saw a bumper sticker on a car not too long ago that said,”It’s not that I’m old, your music really does suck.”  Preach it brother.  Bob Seger put it best when he sang, “Call me a relic, call me what you will.  Say I'm old-fashioned, say I'm over the hill. Today's music ain't got the same soul - I like that old time rock 'n' roll.”  I might change the last line to,  “today’s music sounds like a Buick that needs a brake job stopping on a hill.” 

You’re welcome, Bob. 

If you’re thinking,” Oh no, it’s not another one of old people telling us how bad our music is.” Well, buck up, Sparky, because it is. There is no doubt that many things in today’s world are better than they were a half century ago. But music ain’t one of them. And it’s not even close. The music in the 60’s 70’s and 80’s rules.  Artists that most people under 35 don’t even know have influenced some of the so-called music that they listen to today. And I wish they had influenced them even more than they did. Do you realize a lot of this techno pop stuff they listen to doesn’t event have live drummers?  They use electronics. Tell that to John Bonham, Mick Fleetwood, or Ringo Starr. That’s one reason today’s music doesn’t have soul.  A machine’s keeping the beat. 

And guitarists like Eric Clapton, and Lindsey Buckingham don’t come along everyday.  Harmonies like The Beach Boys, the Eagles, the Temptations, and Queen are unrivaled. Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned the lads from Liverpool, much less Otis Reading and Marvin Gaye. And in case you’re wondering, I’ll put the showmanship of Mick Jagger and Freddy Mercury up against anyone, Lady Gaga included (and I like her).   

The list of iconic superstars who put out great music is almost endless: The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zepplin, The Allman Brothers, Rod Stewart. Pink Floyd, The Doors, Elton John, Credence Clearwater Revival, Fleetwood Mac. Simon and Garfunkel, Billy Joel, The Beach Boys, Lynard Skynard, ZZ Top, and Heart.  Not to mention the quality secondary bands who put out a big hit or two. Check out Rolling Stone’s ranking of the greatest albums of all time and you will see a heavy lean toward the late sixties and seventies. It’s justified. 

I know that music from your era brings back fond memories. For example,  we popped in an 8 track of Grand Funk Railroad when we wanted high energy songs to fuel some of our nefarious youthful activities.  

And I can’t hear Layla by Derrick and the Dominoes without thinking about going parking in my Camaro.(By the way, one big improvement for high school kids nowadays are reclining car seats. If we only had them back then!)  When I hear the Jackson Five sing “I’ll be There”, fond, distant, hormonal memories of making out at Paragon Manor come to mind. Paragon was an unfinished subdivision that was  a very popular after-dark parking spot with my high school and college friends. Nowadays, I’m not sure I’d visit that place in the daytime. 

I’ve made it clear to everyone that “Jessica” by The Allman Brothers is to be played at my funeral. Why?  I don’t want my going away party to be a sad affair, and It’s almost impossible to listen to that song and not smile. It’s a near perfect instrumental. I’m playing it right now. 

Pay attention the next time you're in a restaurant and you will likely hear music from my era - it makes  people happy. So happy, they almost forget it’s taking 20 minutes to get their meal. 

How many time have you turned on the tube and seen a commercial with classic rock?  Marketing people aren’t stupid (Bud Light is the exception). They realize music from this era serves as an effective background to hawk a product or service.  And since so much of this music actually says something, it plugs right  into a movie or an ad.  

I will occasionally hear a current song that’s not too bad. And there are a few quality artists. But for the most part, I think techno pop is techno slop, and it’s no coincidence that rap rhymes with crap. I’m not being critical, just telling the truth. If you enjoy listening to this mess, listen away, but you don’t know what you’re missing. 

As for me, “ I love rock n roll, so put another dime in the juke box, baby.”

Go google it.