What Is With These Kids Today?
Dear Avid Reader,
Let me tell you a story.
About The Author
We are all familiar with this cliche. Teenagers listen to, or watch, or play on the computer things that adults do not understand or like. Usually these strange things are seen as destructive or subversive. Usually, cliches such as these have some grain of truth to them.
I participated in this particular cliche when I was a teenager. I liked to dabble in underground music and enjoyed flaunting my obscure tastes conspicuously whenever an opportunity arose. I think this sort of elitism is common, especially with the young. You may be familiar with these sort of people (me). They're the ones that decry the evils of radio and mass appeal. They proclaim that "true art" is only alive in the underground scene that they are active participants in. "Don't pollute your mind with that trash," they'll say while pointing to your favorite CD, "you gotta listen to this, man. This is the future/revolution/kumquat of music. REAL music." Then they hand you a tape of some band of euros playing their guitar too close to the amp.
Yeah, so, um, sorry to everyone I knew in high school...
...and in college.
Where's This Going James?
During those years as an elitist, I had a typical appreciation for all forms of music. But I knew that one day I would be old. And when that day came, there would be a style of music that I would find terrible and my children would love it. But I had a feeling, or maybe a fear, that there was a limited amount of musical expressions. I felt as though we were using up the few last original styles/genres that were left. So I became curious...
What would this new style that the old-man version of me would find so awful?
And now that I am getting old, shouldn't it be showing up right about now?
The Furture Ain't What It Used To Be
We'll today's teenagers aren't yesterday's teenagers. If you have your ear turned to what's happening now musically, you may have already noticed what I'm getting at. Here it is: have you noticed that there isn't anything offensive about today's music?
A common reaction to that question is "What's offensive anymore?" I can see the rationale behind that but I do not except it as an excuse. There should somebody, somewhere making music that is dangerous. This dangerous music should be enjoying some high level of popularity. This is the way it has been for the history of Pop Music (big P). Has it taken only 60 years to become bored with the whole thing?
Instead of my old man version being offended and repulsed by our children's erosion of character, I am going to be offended and repulsed by our children being lame.
Let me give you an example of lame. Here is an excerpt from a current "metal"/"hard rock" song:
"What I REALLY meant to say"? "Sorry"? "Maybe"? This supposed to be a "hard rock" song? The guy is apologizing to his girlfriend! He even has a girlfriend to apologize to! And if he REALLY menat to say something, why didn't he say it? He's a metal singer! This song breaks like 40 or 50 metal rules. And the kids call this a rock song.
Well it's not a rock song, it's an emo song. Everything that was once rock is now emo. Let's talk about feelings. Let's consider things. Hey I love emo, I'm a big emo guy, but where is the dark music? Where is the sinister atheism of Alice in Chains? Where is the decay and emotional atrophy of Nirvana? Where is the pain of Metallica? Where are the nightmares of Pantera? WHERE? I ask you again, where?
And it's everything music, not just rock. Take rap and hip-hop. There are no more exaggerated tales of street life. There's no more cartoonish violence. What's in its place? Invitations to drink alcohol at dance clubs and descriptions of what it's like to buy a new automobile. This sort of "bling" was present during my teenage years, but there was also a darker mood to a lot of what was being made.
Even pop (little p) has weakened. I mean, weren't Mariah Carey, Madonna, and Gwen Stefani pop vixens fifteen years ago? If all of the "hot chicks" are 40+ years old, then I'd definetley say you had a problem with being cutting edge or cool. Am I wrong here?
In The Ancient Times, The Artist Leads The Way...
Everything has gone soft. I guess you could even say there is nothing left that is "hardcore", and I blame the kids. It's hard to say which came first, the lame music or the lame kids, but I think it's the lame kids.
When I look at generations, I always fall back to Strauss and Howe. They term the generation after Generation X (Gen X) as Millennials (Mills). The Mills are more interested in fitting-in and conforming than Gen X. They are interested in being pat of a community, whereas Gen X was interested in individuality. Look at the things that they have had during their formative years: cell phones, internet, play groups, etc. They have all been involved in teams and groups all of their lives. I think this reflects in their music preferences.
Their music is not going to be shock because that would drive people away. They would rather bring people closer. Music for a Gen Xer was an expression of them as an individual. Gen X'ers would usually describe in detail the particular sub-sub-genre they liked. Now, you are more likely to hear a Mill say, "I like everything". It's even hard for Mills to describe what is popular or what particular bands they follow. To distinguish themselves in that way is not in their nature.
Let me tell you a story.
There's an old man. He is in his house quietly doing a crossword. He goes to fill in the final blank when there is a subtle vibration. He feels it getting stronger. There is a ripple in the glass of water sitting on the night stand next to him. He looks up and sees that the vibration is spreading to the pictures on the walls. Then it spreads to the light fixture above. The vibrations turn into drum beats, then screetching guitar, then a furious yell, "CAN YOU TAKE ME HIIIIIIIGHERRRRR?"
The old man covers his hears and screams, "Turn that racket off!"
But the perpetrator of the racket, a teenage boy next door, is lost in the song. He turns it up even louder. The old man become crazy with rage, and begins to get up, determined to end his torment...
The old man covers his hears and screams, "Turn that racket off!"
But the perpetrator of the racket, a teenage boy next door, is lost in the song. He turns it up even louder. The old man become crazy with rage, and begins to get up, determined to end his torment...
About The Author
We are all familiar with this cliche. Teenagers listen to, or watch, or play on the computer things that adults do not understand or like. Usually these strange things are seen as destructive or subversive. Usually, cliches such as these have some grain of truth to them.
I participated in this particular cliche when I was a teenager. I liked to dabble in underground music and enjoyed flaunting my obscure tastes conspicuously whenever an opportunity arose. I think this sort of elitism is common, especially with the young. You may be familiar with these sort of people (me). They're the ones that decry the evils of radio and mass appeal. They proclaim that "true art" is only alive in the underground scene that they are active participants in. "Don't pollute your mind with that trash," they'll say while pointing to your favorite CD, "you gotta listen to this, man. This is the future/revolution/kumquat of music. REAL music." Then they hand you a tape of some band of euros playing their guitar too close to the amp.
Yeah, so, um, sorry to everyone I knew in high school...
...and in college.
Where's This Going James?
During those years as an elitist, I had a typical appreciation for all forms of music. But I knew that one day I would be old. And when that day came, there would be a style of music that I would find terrible and my children would love it. But I had a feeling, or maybe a fear, that there was a limited amount of musical expressions. I felt as though we were using up the few last original styles/genres that were left. So I became curious...
What would this new style that the old-man version of me would find so awful?
And now that I am getting old, shouldn't it be showing up right about now?
The Furture Ain't What It Used To Be
We'll today's teenagers aren't yesterday's teenagers. If you have your ear turned to what's happening now musically, you may have already noticed what I'm getting at. Here it is: have you noticed that there isn't anything offensive about today's music?
A common reaction to that question is "What's offensive anymore?" I can see the rationale behind that but I do not except it as an excuse. There should somebody, somewhere making music that is dangerous. This dangerous music should be enjoying some high level of popularity. This is the way it has been for the history of Pop Music (big P). Has it taken only 60 years to become bored with the whole thing?
Instead of my old man version being offended and repulsed by our children's erosion of character, I am going to be offended and repulsed by our children being lame.
Let me give you an example of lame. Here is an excerpt from a current "metal"/"hard rock" song:
Looking back at me I see
That I never really got it right
I never stopped to think of you
I'm always wrapped up in
Things I cannot win
You are the antidote that gets me by
Something strong
Like a drug that gets me high
(Chorus)
What I really meant to say
Is I'm sorry for the way I am
I never meant to be so cold
I never meant to be so cold
What I really meant to say
Is I'm sorry for the way I am
I never meant to be so cold
I never meant to be so cold
To you I'm sorry about all the lies
Maybe in a different light
You could see me stand on my own again
Cause now I can't see
You are the antidote that got me by
Something strong like a drug that got me high
(Chorus)
Crossfade (2004). Excerpts from Cold. Crossfade. Retrieved
11/02/205 from Lyrics Heaven
"What I REALLY meant to say"? "Sorry"? "Maybe"? This supposed to be a "hard rock" song? The guy is apologizing to his girlfriend! He even has a girlfriend to apologize to! And if he REALLY menat to say something, why didn't he say it? He's a metal singer! This song breaks like 40 or 50 metal rules. And the kids call this a rock song.
Well it's not a rock song, it's an emo song. Everything that was once rock is now emo. Let's talk about feelings. Let's consider things. Hey I love emo, I'm a big emo guy, but where is the dark music? Where is the sinister atheism of Alice in Chains? Where is the decay and emotional atrophy of Nirvana? Where is the pain of Metallica? Where are the nightmares of Pantera? WHERE? I ask you again, where?
And it's everything music, not just rock. Take rap and hip-hop. There are no more exaggerated tales of street life. There's no more cartoonish violence. What's in its place? Invitations to drink alcohol at dance clubs and descriptions of what it's like to buy a new automobile. This sort of "bling" was present during my teenage years, but there was also a darker mood to a lot of what was being made.
Even pop (little p) has weakened. I mean, weren't Mariah Carey, Madonna, and Gwen Stefani pop vixens fifteen years ago? If all of the "hot chicks" are 40+ years old, then I'd definetley say you had a problem with being cutting edge or cool. Am I wrong here?
In The Ancient Times, The Artist Leads The Way...
Everything has gone soft. I guess you could even say there is nothing left that is "hardcore", and I blame the kids. It's hard to say which came first, the lame music or the lame kids, but I think it's the lame kids.
When I look at generations, I always fall back to Strauss and Howe. They term the generation after Generation X (Gen X) as Millennials (Mills). The Mills are more interested in fitting-in and conforming than Gen X. They are interested in being pat of a community, whereas Gen X was interested in individuality. Look at the things that they have had during their formative years: cell phones, internet, play groups, etc. They have all been involved in teams and groups all of their lives. I think this reflects in their music preferences.
Their music is not going to be shock because that would drive people away. They would rather bring people closer. Music for a Gen Xer was an expression of them as an individual. Gen X'ers would usually describe in detail the particular sub-sub-genre they liked. Now, you are more likely to hear a Mill say, "I like everything". It's even hard for Mills to describe what is popular or what particular bands they follow. To distinguish themselves in that way is not in their nature.
The old man arrives at the boy's house and begins pounding on the door. The boy comes to the door. "Yes," he inquires, "may I help you?"
The old man brushes by the boy and makes a bee-line to the stereo. "As a matter of fact, you can," the old man says, uninterested in the boy. "It's this terrible music. What is this called?" the old man spits out.
The boy, confused, answers, "Creed. They're one of my fav..."
"Trash," the old man interrupts as he breaks the CD in half, "I liked it better when the band was called Pearl Jam." The old man reaches out and presents the boy with a CD Notebook.
"Here," the old man continues, "Now this is some music. Some REAL music. None of this mass-produced, jibba-jabba that you're playing. Your polluting your mind with all of this junk."
The boy turns the pages: Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Toadies, there were hundreds. The boy, stunned asks, "What is going on? Who are you? What are you doing here?"
The old man smiles, "I'm nobody. But I figure if you're gonna play something loud enough that I can hear it, then you may as well play something good."
The old man turns to leave.
"Why are you doing this?" the boy asks.
The old-man half turns and says mournfully,"Because a long time ago, a man knocked on my door and gave me all of his records. I'm just returning the favor."
"Really?" the boy asked.
"No," the old man says suddenly, "I'm just tired of listening to you play your freaking terrible music. Cause if I hear you play 'Hollaback Girl' one more time, I'll be forced ruin this house with a blow-torch. Comprende?"
The boy nods shamefully.
"Good" decrees the old-man.
And they both tolerated each other's existence ever after.
The End.
The old man brushes by the boy and makes a bee-line to the stereo. "As a matter of fact, you can," the old man says, uninterested in the boy. "It's this terrible music. What is this called?" the old man spits out.
The boy, confused, answers, "Creed. They're one of my fav..."
"Trash," the old man interrupts as he breaks the CD in half, "I liked it better when the band was called Pearl Jam." The old man reaches out and presents the boy with a CD Notebook.
"Here," the old man continues, "Now this is some music. Some REAL music. None of this mass-produced, jibba-jabba that you're playing. Your polluting your mind with all of this junk."
The boy turns the pages: Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Toadies, there were hundreds. The boy, stunned asks, "What is going on? Who are you? What are you doing here?"
The old man smiles, "I'm nobody. But I figure if you're gonna play something loud enough that I can hear it, then you may as well play something good."
The old man turns to leave.
"Why are you doing this?" the boy asks.
The old-man half turns and says mournfully,"Because a long time ago, a man knocked on my door and gave me all of his records. I'm just returning the favor."
"Really?" the boy asked.
"No," the old man says suddenly, "I'm just tired of listening to you play your freaking terrible music. Cause if I hear you play 'Hollaback Girl' one more time, I'll be forced ruin this house with a blow-torch. Comprende?"
The boy nods shamefully.
"Good" decrees the old-man.
And they both tolerated each other's existence ever after.
The End.
The Next Post Promises To Be Better,
James
James
posted by James at 3:45 PM
7 Comments:
I've just come upon your weblog, and your views seem interesting, well thought out, and expressed clearly enough. Congratulations on rising above the herd.
I also have a weblog, but my views are insane, random, and vague. Aiming for a level somewhere below the herd :)
Ok another good post my friend.
And speaking as someone who knew you in hs and college, "I understand and don't bear a grudge." You were a music elitist, I was whatever I was. I hope my HS persona isn't still the measuring stick of my life. We even discussed this in the past but you refused to admit it. There is nothing wrong with having and intense desire to be part of any culture, you just chose music. There are wine elitists, called conissieurs. Evfery subculture has its elders and wise ones. I just find it funny that people can be snobs about punk music. There form their own snob societies to rebel against other snobs.
I think you reaction to new music as just lame and non-controversial is not a new thing. It is part of a larger music cycle. You assume every generation has to be more extreme or hardcore than the one it follows, but this isn't the case historically.
For example, following the 70s (one of the best rock era ever) followed... the 80s? The 80s were just pop, fluff and fun. So there seems to be a two generation cycle, if not larger. Generation theory of personality recognizes 5 generations that cycle continuously, I bet their music reflects this.
Every generation rebels against the previous one. Rock, Hair, Pop, Fluff, Grunge, Alternative... Creed. Don't you see Lucions, the new music is haveing the desired effect on you. What could offend your taste more than wuss music? You are not above this cycle you just have a poor perspective on it.
And I like Holla Back Girl. And if you don't you're just old. Why don't you and your old lady just wear matching track suits and walk around the mall.
Again, another fine post.
I struggled with that dynamic as I wrote the post.
Typical cliche is that I will find current music offensive-I don't find the music offensive, in that nothing sacred is being defiled-I instead find the music to be lame-The typical cliche is not true-But being lame could be considered offensive to me-I just disproved my whole post-But it's half-way written already...
And I have thought of the "hot/cold decade" theory before. But I decided that it wasn't true after I thought of something:
In the 80's there was the emergence of metal.
Metallica, Motley Crue, Iron Madien, Twisted Sister and others were all very popular. All of the trite demon worshipping bands were from this era.
Even the "pop" of the day had dark tone to it. Think The Cure, The Smiths and Depeche Mode rather than Bananarama and The Go-Gos. Think Madonna instead of Tiffany.
And I admit, I like Hollaback Girl. I just thought it was a song that everyone would be familiar with.
I am tempted to point out the spelling mistakes, only because you were an Enligsh major and therefore it seems incongrous that you would misspell words. However that lame nitpicking would devolve into everything I hate about blogs, namely just picking something and ripping on it. (Especially ripping on what someone else writes instead of having the balls to actually create something original.) So what I will say is that I find this brilliant and insightful, and I hope that you continue to do this so that many may benefit from your specific talents of deconstruction as they relate to culture. Also, please read the Klosterman. It is your destiny. -Out
P.S. It's funny because it's true.
Ha ha.
Jokes on you, I only MINORED in English.
But I majored in it and I'll point out the mistakes to you later.
Good post.
-the wifey
P.S. Trey, just becuase James is getting old doesn't mean you need to pull out a track suit for me.
All_aglow - "Hello Goose... yes the Gander has a track suit for you."
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