Help, I'm getting old!

Alright, let’s be real—it’s not quite the catastrophe the headline makes it out to be. 😁 I don't have the patience to just blast random tracks blindly (I've tried that a few times over the last few years, and it's a waste), so tell me: is modern mainstream music actually garbage, or am I just getting old? Back in the day, the Billboard charts were stacked with legends like Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Doors, Miles Davis, and David Bowie... Who is on the charts now that could even hold a candle to them? It feels like nothing but generic pop. Dammit, now that everything is available at our fingertips, you actually have to dig to find anything decent, because you definitely won't find it on those official Top 40 lists. Are younger generations just less bright, or have they always been this way compared to us? 😁

Honestly, you’re acting like some kid from a flower power era, like you just stepped out of a time machine from the 1960s! 😁
This topic is honestly way too broad to tackle all at once. Commercial music has been pretty much trash for a long time now, if you ask me. That’s why I always say you have to look beyond the mainstream hits and really hunt for something real. You certainly aren't going to measure musical quality by listening to Nicki Minaj.

Raymond Walker5 said:So you're basically a flower child who looks like they just stepped out of a time machine from the 60s... 😁

Yeah, true. You could still find some absolute gems on those 90s bargain bins, just like you can with today's selection...

This thread is way too broad to cover everything. Mainstream radio hasn't been worth a damn for a long time... That's why you have to dig deeper and look beyond the Top 40. You can't exactly use Nicki Minaj as the gold standard for musical quality...

Will it all fit in 10,000 posts... or maybe even a second volume after that? 😁)?

I don't know anything about Nicki Minaj. I can't be bothered to listen to her right now, but I see she's got a great body... Is she the one from that recent debate about music we just don't get?

Henry Campbell5 said:Yeah, honestly, even back in the 90s you could find some absolute gems, just like you can with today's music scene.

Can we fit all this into 10,000 posts (and maybe a Volume II after that 😁)?

I haven't really gotten around to listening to Nicki Minaj lately—just not feeling it right now—but I see she’s got a great figure. Is she the one from that recent debate about the music we just don't "get"?

She definitely has a great body, too. 😁

But, well... it depends. For instance, I actually think Coldplay is pretty good (well, they were...) among the more "modern" acts. I'm also a fan of Brandi Carlile. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, obviously, but I always manage to find things that resonate with me. There are so many hipster bands out there these days that I just can't stand, but hey, that's life.
As for Pink Floyd, I'm not really sure what to make of them.
Times change. You know how it is...

If you ask me, looking at how messy the music scene has become lately—and hey, I know there are always those few brilliant outliers—it feels like our only real option is to head back in time.

Some people might find their groove in the 60s or maybe the 70s... but for me? I’m planting my flag right in the 80s. 🙂

Henry Campbell5 said:Look, it’s really not as big of a deal as the headline makes it out to be. 😁 I honestly don't have the time to just hunt blindly through everything—tried that a few times over the last few years and it's a waste. Is today's mainstream music actually trash, or am I just getting old? Back in the day, the charts were stacked with Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Doors, Miles Davis, David Bowie... who is on the charts now that could even hold a candle to them? Barely. It’s just endless, generic pop. Dammit, even though everything is available instantly, you still have to dig like crazy to find anything decent because you definitely won't find it on those official Top 40 lists. Are younger generations just dumber, or have they always been? 😁

Generations change just like everything else in life, dammit. I still love the old stuff, but I get why kids listen to what they do—they’re just being young and reckless, you know? It's how it goes. Honestly, I find some great tracks in modern music too. It’s all the same rebellions and ideas we used to obsess over, just repackaged in a "modern" way. It’s like movies or books; everything evolves, but it’s ultimately the same crap. You can look at Pink Floyd or the Beatles as the teachers for the new kids. Eventually, those kids grow up and they finally get it. It’s just a cycle until we all die.

goldenskipper72 said:Generations shift just like everything else. Honestly, I love the old stuff too, but I get why kids listen to what they do. They’re either following their own vibe or just remembering what it was like to be young and reckless... hehe... You can find gems in modern music, too. It’s all the same rebellion and the same ideas, just repackaged for a "modern" era. Just like movies or books, everything changes, yet nothing actually does. You can look at Pink Floyd or the Beatles as mentors for the next generation, and once those kids grow up, they'll get it too. It's just a cycle until we all die...

There's good music out there, just not on the Billboard charts. I don't see people like Adele or Rihanna becoming permanent fixtures in the pantheon of great music. In a few decades, they won't be sitting alongside the true legends of the last century.

Who else listens to the Beatles without working at a museum or being at least 70 years old?

Had my first beer at thirteen
And right after that one, I had another
Because back then, man, I was young

Had my first beer at forty
And since that first one, I've been drinking everything in sight
Because back then, yeah, I was young

☕

Jerry Martinez50 said:Who else listens to the Beatles unless they work at a museum or they're at least 70 years old?

Had my first beer at thirteen
then went straight for a second one right after
'cause back then, yeah, I was young

Had my first beer at four hundred
and after that, I drank everything in sight
'cause back then, yeah, I was young

☕

Look, my old office assistant would tell you that if you actually practiced reading comprehension, you'd see my point. If I had phrased this any other way, it would've been flagged as off-topic, trolling, or some moderator nonsense that gets deleted and results in a ban.

The whole point is comparing today's US and UK charts—where there used to be actual quality music—to how empty they are now.

Look, Henry Campbell5, I know all about that, and please, don't drag me into your little skirmishes with the mods😁

Alright, let's get serious for a second

The music is high quality—it's a feast for both the ears and the eyes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PvebsWcpto
Most American teenagers are loving this right now, and give it a few years and they'll be whining about how there's "no good music anymore" just like people did ten years ago... Now, whether this specific song is actually any good is a whole different debate. Personally? I think it's great.

You aren't even saying the good music doesn't exist; you're saying you have to dig through the trash to find it. So, who is actually responsible for this mess??? Is it Simon Cowell and those other industry moguls who have zero musical talent but a massive instinct for profit, or is it the audience, or someone else entirely????

Jerry Martinez50 said:Who actually listens to The Beatles anymore without working at a museum or being at least 70 years old?

☕

Me at 17 ☕

Jerry Martinez50 said:Alright, let me give you a straight answer

The music is solid, looks good and sounds good too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PvebsWcpto
Most American teens dig this, and in a few years they'll be whining about how there's no "real" music left like there was 5-10 years ago... whether this specific song actually rocks is a different story. Personally, I think it's fine.

Don't mess with me, you actually like this? Some country boy band with a Bon Jovi vibe?

You aren't saying there isn't good music, just that you have to dig through trash to find it. So who's to blame for that state of affairs??? Is it Simon Cowell and those other industry titans who can't hear a note but sure know how to make a buck, the audience, or someone else????

That's exactly why I started this thread. I want to know why and who is responsible, and if it's even true.

As the saying goes, money talks and bullshit walks—if chasing profits means weeding out any critical thinking from the crowd, then that's what happens. Back in the day, Elvis shaking his hips was scandalous and sold records; now, they just manufacture something else to make a buck. I'm sure people much smarter than me understand those trends better. I've basically been on a moratorium regarding all this for over a decade, but I'm curious about the current state of the music industry and why it is the way it is. People used to be passive about whatever mediocre stuff was playing, but nowadays, it feels like those days are gone for good. My kids won't even want to hang out with anyone...🤷

Henry Campbell5 said:Man, if I were an admin at my old office, I'd probably tell you to try reading with a little more comprehension. If I had posted what I just wrote, it would’ve been flagged as off-topic or trolling, or some moderator would’ve given me a thumbs down and nuked my account entirely.

We're basically talking about those US and UK charts from back in the day versus now—where there actually used to be decent music, whereas nowadays... I don't know, it's just not there.

I mean, I totally get where you're coming from with what you said in your first post, though—like, who gets to decide what's good besides us?
As for today's music, I guess I have to dig pretty deep to find anything I actually like, and even then, I might stumble onto something okay. But I definitely don't go looking on the Billboard charts or whatever, because honestly, even back in the 80s and 90s, there wasn't much quality stuff there for me. I always had to look elsewhere to find the good stuff.

I was scrolling through those US Top 40 charts and honestly, after '95 (Björk, Oasis, Pulp, Blur, Skee-Lo 😁...), there’s just nothing worth listening to. That last list from 2013 barely has anyone I recognize, and the only thing keeping me from switching the station is Arctic Monkeys—though even their recycled old-school rock stuff is getting pretty stale...

So, I’ve been putting together a little list of things from the last few years that range from decent to pretty fantastic... at least in my book. 😁
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWMqgeIDJs8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SDpZrLciCE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH8vgAp4VDU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hOwLap5Je8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C5xdrITASQ

Man... it is actually quite tough to narrow this down. To be honest, I don't really pay much attention to the era or age of a track when I'm listening. Whether it's something classic by Ella Fitzgerald or a more modern set from Coldplay, it doesn't matter to me one bit. If it hits the right note, I'm all in.

Raymond Walker5 said:Here’s some stuff from the last few years that went from decent to pretty great... at least in my book. 😁
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWMqgeIDJs8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SDpZrLciCE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH8vgAp4VDU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hOwLap5Je8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C5xdrITASQ

Man... hard to pick just one. I don't really care about the era when I'm listening to music... whether it's Ella Fitzgerald or Coldplay, it doesn't matter. If it sounds good, it sounds good.

Wait, are you a guy? 😁 Just kidding. But are you sure all these were actually on the charts? I'm not looking for recommendations, just an interesting sociological-cultural-phenomenological discussion... 😬

Henry Campbell5 said:Wait, just curious—are you a guy? 😁 Just kidding, but are you absolutely certain all of these artists actually made it onto the Billboard charts? I'm not really looking for a list of recommendations to add to my playlist here; what I’m actually after is a deep, engaging dive into the sociological, cultural, and phenomenological implications of their popularity. 😬

Yes, I am a man... just double-checked! 😁
Well, looking back at it all, things were a bit hit-or-miss. Some tracks managed to climb the Billboard charts, while others just didn't quite make the cut—and honestly, there were plenty of songs that never even saw the light of day as official singles.
What exactly are you expecting me to hand over when you ask for "good advertising" these days? Honestly, using that term feels like an oxymoron in this current market. 😁

You know, looking at the landscape today, it feels like you’re stuck between two extremes. On one side, you’ve got this hyper-synthetic, over-produced commercial radio sludge that’s honestly almost unlistenable. Then, on the other side, you have these self-proclaimed "independent" hipster acts that—let's be real—are usually just as much garbage. It’s a bit of a cycle, isn't it? But, if you look closely enough, there are always those hidden gems scattered around. Most of the good stuff actually lives somewhere right in that middle ground.

Florida Georgia Line 🤣

😂

😂

total garbage par excellence 😁

Jerry Martinez50 said:So, who else is actually still listening to The Beatles—and I mean, without working at the Smithsonian or being at least 70 years old?
☕

Alexander Williams512 said:I was seventeen. ☕

And then there's me—stuck in my thirties, just trying to figure it all out. 🎉 So, I guess Paul McCartney is 71 now. Time really does just slip away, doesn't it?

I don't really care about today's top charts—not that I even bother following them anymore. And honestly? It’s pretty rare to hear anything actually decent on the radio these days... I guess it's just all noise.
Anyway, that’s basically why I started digging through the old Top 40 charts from the 50s and 60s—just kind of falling down a rabbit hole, I guess.
There’s some pretty interesting stuff going on over there... I guess.
Nat King Cole—Mona Lisa. It’s funny how certain songs just sort of hang in the air, isn't it? I was listening to it earlier—just one of those things that drifts in when you aren't really looking for it—and it got me thinking about how much weight people put on a single image. You know, the whole deal with the painting. It’s easy to get caught up in the mystery of it all, but sometimes I think it's just a really smooth track that happens to share a name with a masterpiece. I guess it doesn't really matter if the connection is deep or just convenient—it still works. Just a quiet little moment, I suppose.
I can't really get into the specifics of what’s happening in this video without more context—it's just a link, after all—but I guess that's how it goes sometimes. You click on something expecting one thing and end up staring at a screen wondering where the last five minutes of your life went. Maybe it's actually interesting, maybe it isn't. It’s hard to say without diving in, but I suppose if you're looking for a deep dive or some kind of breakdown, I'm just sitting here waiting for someone else to provide the commentary. It's probably worth a look if you have the time to kill, though I'm not sure what the payoff is supposed to be. Just one of those things, I guess.
Or, you could go with the rock version:
Red Coral - Mona Lisa
I can't really tell you much about this video without some context—it’s just a link, after all. I guess if you were hoping I'd dive into the deep end of whatever this is, you might be waiting a while. Maybe there was supposed to be a comment attached? Or maybe I'm just overthinking it. Either way, I'm sitting here staring at a URL, which isn't exactly the most productive way to spend an afternoon—not that I have anything better to do, I suppose. If you want me to actually react to something, you'll probably need to give me a little more to work with than just a YouTube string. It's a bit like trying to judge a book by its ISBN, I guess.