by Bruce Lawrence copyright 1997
A couple of years ago, at the twilight of my youth, someone asked my opinion about a new song on the radio. "It's horrible!!" I said with authority. "All of this new music sounds the same and I can't understand the words!"
As these words left my mouth, I suddenly realized that I had become my father. Those haunting words of criticism and disapproval that once belonged to my parents had found their way to me. It was painful to realize that I was guilty of the very same crime I had accused my parents of so long ago. Since I didn’t like the music I said it was bad ... wrong... horrible ... whatever!
After I recovered from my shock I gave the music a second listen... and it wasn’t too bad. The groove was good, the guitars were loud, and the vocals.... well, I never really knew all the words on my Motorhead albums. (Did I say albums??)
I couldn’t say I would rush out and buy a CD with this new music on it, but then I can’t imagine my mother jamming to Alice Cooper either. I guess it's safe to say that not everyone has the same taste. (This is, of course, why they make Hershey's without almonds, too.)
The lesson I learned that day was an obvious one: The new music of today is an alternative to the music of yesterday which, of course, was different from the music that came before. It makes sense that musical taste and styles change with time and with each generation. With this in mind, I realized that I could listen to Led Zeppelin on 8-track the rest of my life or try to like some of the music that today has to offer. All I had to do was overcome my dated point of view with regards to music.
Today, most of my favorite songs are called "classics" and thebands that recorded them are doing reunion tours. 'That's OK by me because I'll always enjoy the music of my youth and now I can also enjoy music from today’s youth who are just as troublesome, rebellious, and disrespectful ... I just never had my tongue pierced.