By Robin Weaver
This month’s theme, “It’s the Time of the Season for Loving,”
immediately made me think of the Zombies. For all you Millennials, I don’t mean
the Walking Dead creatures, I mean the 60’s British Rock group.
Granted, by the time I discovered Time of the Season and She’s
Not There the Zombies were already considered “oldies,” but does good music
ever go out of style? Especially now
when music can be rediscovered at any time via satellite radio or the web. (And
more especially since that song will be stuck in my head for days!)
All this brain taxation made me wonder, what exactly is
considered “dated” music these days? I would certainly never listen to my parents music--but my daughter enjoys my favorites. She also likes country, but that's a blog in itself. Sigh
Many people think seventies rock is timeless. And although I love Train and One Republic, my older favorites--Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, and the Smoky Robinson--still have mass appeal. Fifty
So what is old? I’m
thinking Bing Crosby is Grandpa
Jim Bob music. I'm sure I'll get haters for that comment. And no, I do not have a Grandpa Jim Bob, although that would be
kinda cool. Anyway, for me, anything
prior to the Beatles is dated. Except Elvis. Did I mention I was also born in
Tupelo? And even Bing is not old when I hear White Christmas.
I’m sooo confused. ANd clearly a mess without an answer. I’m blaming it on
having recently moved. I’ll have a new excuse next month. 😊
In the meantime, what makes music timeless for you?
9 comments:
My parents loved music so I grew up with Bing, Frank, Big Band music coming from the radio and eventually a phonograph that played 78's. Some of that music is timeless to me and I find myself humming a melody at the oddest times. I grew up with Elvis, the Beattle, Tom Petty, etc. I loved Bob Dylan but also had my favorite country singers as well as some gospel. So for me, what makes music timeless is my own connection to it.
Music is timeless if it's associated with memories. Since I'm--ahem-- older than you, I have plenty of pre-Beatles memories. Since I sang on stage with Bobby Vinton, Blue Velvet is right up there!
Linda! How did I NOT know you sang with Bobby V???? That's so cool!
I agree with Judith on this one. I grew up listening to an eclectic mix of show tunes (Mom) and guitar instrumentals (Dad), along with rock & roll (Teenaged sister) and everything else from Samba music to Jazz and Blues to Handel's Messiah.
I disliked country music growing up, but as an adult I became a fan. What is timeless for me is my connection to a piece.
I only listen to the oldies, well at least the 70's and 80's music.....good read as usual!
Great read :)
Wow! Linda I'm jealous you were on stage with Bobby Vee. The The first on my bucket list is attending a Bobby Rydell concert before he dies!
I agree with others that timeless is personal. For me is a combination of great lyrics and a melody that is memorable.
I grew up with the Beatles, but I loved the music of my parents as well--from Big Band to Frank Sinatra, and yes Bing Crosby. Also listened to a lot of Ella Fitzgerald. I have to admit I was never much of an Elvis fan (I know, throw tomatoes. It's OK) though there are some songs he did I like, but he didn't write much music himself. My husband is a musician and he plays a lot of 60's and 70's music, but he also does blues, folk, and roots music too.
For me the one genre I can say is truly timeless is Folk music. From the Irish ballads my mother use to sing around the house to Pete Seeger, Joni Mitchell, Judi Collins and people of today like Johnsmith, Gordon Lightfoot, Ani DeFranco, and Alison Krauss. Folk Music is always music of a time in history and tends to capture the human experience of universal emotions.
I listen to most music (except rap -- how can you call it music when there's no melody, only talking?), but I have a special fondness for the music of the early 19th century, what falls under the umbrella of "Great American Songbook," or, a little more limited umbrella, Big Band era. I've written some stories set during World War II and needed a "sound track" for the stories, so I've delved quite a lot into what can be found on YouTube. Brilliant lyrics, beautiful melodies.
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