 |  |
|
I have a theory about 'retro music' and its popularity. And since much of the music that is dominating radio airwaves as 'flashbacks' or retro is likely to be thought of as kitsch, I thought you all might be interested in my lilttle theory, so here goes... To me, it seems that the love of decade identifiable tunes is not only a nostalgic re-visit from those of us wishing to re-live our 'hey-days.' It seems there is another pattern at work here. Sure, folks like me, who were out clubbing in the 80s may like to listen to the tunes we danced to, but there is more at work than us old folks trying to hang on to our youth. If that were so, than flashback music would be an 'every 20 years' sort of thing. And to be sure, the hot trendy clubs wouldn't be playing the retro tunes for their hot, trendy & young clubbers today. So, since this retro muisc thing is more about just us old folks looking back in a wistful manner, there must be another explaination. In my opinion, and this is also based on my experience, I think this has something to do with who formed our cool when we were young. I remember as a very young child, being in awe of the babysitters. Babysitters who listened to the 60s music with a passion. I remember thinking how cool these teens were. I knew all the words to their favorite songs, because I sat around with them watching them sing along - usually in groups as 'back then' it was the norm for sitters to bring friends over later in the evening. (These friends of theirs were usually other babysitters of mine as well anyway...) I don't want to debate the merits of group activities while babysitting - this is not a 'mommy column' *giggle* - but I do know that my early love ot 60s music was formed by these 'deviant hippies' who listened in my childhood home. I thought babysitters were way-cool. They were not as old as my parents. They wore neat clothes, had plenty of passion & much to say. They were old enough to have privledges I didn't (or heck, I could have stayed home alone!), yet they were true teens with in effect not much more power than their opinions, their style & their music. I worked hard to behave for the chance to stay up later & be with my cool sitters, where I would 'get to' listen to the music & hang out with them. An eager puppy, wanting to belong to that cool, I was also a sponge. So, once I became older, my music tastes ran to the 60s for sure. And, much of the 60s culture - fashion, attitudes, politics. Why? Because my babysitters taught me to love that music. Not directly, but through my idol worship of them as 'cool' they imprinted me with their passion, fashion, fun & musical adoration. Back then, when I was a child, babysitters were teens. However, now babysitters are a bit younger. Kids today have more activities (soccer, clubs, etc) and having more options to work (malls, fast food etc. where they also have better pay). So most sitters start working as young as 11 or 12 & stop babysitting at 15 or 16. This age shift also explains why the music-by-decade changes up so fast: The 60s soon became replaced by the 70s & now the 80s because babysitters became younger & younger. These little decades of music flashbacks are nostalgic for sure. The babysitters were our first taste of pop culture, unfiltered by parents telling us to 'turn down that crap!' Now the music of these time is 'classic' to us, even if in 'the big picture' the tunes themselves my not pass as 'good music.' I am sure many would call songs like 'Hanky Panky', 'I Think I Love You', & 'Paradise By The Dashboard Lights', as well as folks like the Troggs, Steppenwolf, & David Lee Roth all kitsch. But as usual, I say "screw 'em."
|
|
