Help, I'm getting old!

Honestly, I find it pretty sweet—I just crank the volume all the way up and dance my heart out all over the house 😁
Of course, everyone has their own taste; we all look for something different in music. There was a time when artists actually had something meaningful to say, but nowadays, it feels like people are just trying to make a quick buck while churning out whatever catchy nonsense works.
At my age, I just want to have a good time with the music. I have no interest in listening to someone wail about cutting their veins or dying... honestly, life is way too short for all that drama 🙂

Dennis Martin6 said:It’s not about how good the artists were, it’s about how people actually got their info back then versus now. Dylan, The Beatles, The Doors—they’re considered classics today not necessarily because they were better, but simply because everyone listened to them. They didn't rule the world because they were making unheard-of genius music; they ruled because the audience didn't have anything else to listen to. If you live in a world where news is served to you via TV at specific times and magazines all report the exact same thing, of course the media influence is massive enough to create these rock star myths.

Nowadays, with 24/7 news cycles and instant access to everything, that kind of concentrated influence is impossible.

Plus, look at the charts today—it’s all pop stars, whereas until the 80s, rock still held that crown. Maybe you just don't like pop?😁

Ugh, so many wrong takes here. Let me address a few... First off, those musicians worked their tails off until they made it. AC/DC used to play three shows a day in dive bars, kid's parties, parks—doesn't matter, they worked like dogs to get noticed. Judas Priest lived on tour buses. They wrote lyrics that Justin Bieber couldn't even wrap his head around (not his fault, it's the fault of people who want everything fast and instant). Don't you dare disrespect Dylan or The Doors. They're legends compared to what we see today. Maybe there's nostalgia involved, but don't act like people only heard them because there was nothing else out there. Music is either great or it sucks, period. Those guys earned their fame through grit, ideas, talent, and pure hard work. Today, we're drowning in garbage information that just makes us stupider. Sometimes the brain needs real food—books, actual music—not useless junk for people to argue about over beer and popcorn. You're mixing up emotions with forced values. You can't diminish the worth of those giants. Just because some authority figure decides someone is "lesser" because they have long hair or won't follow the rules doesn't make it true (that's my metaphor for record label execs). You can have your own opinion, but just because the media pushes something doesn't mean The Beatles were bad musicians. It just means they don't click with you and you haven't felt it.

I suppose there isn't much left to say about the current state of affairs. It feels like we're just circling the drain at this point, doesn't it? Everything is increasingly fragmented, and honestly, I find the whole spectacle rather exhausting. Maybe that's just my outlook, though. I tend to view these things through a somewhat jaded lens, I guess. Regardless, I'll be here, watching the slow decay of whatever standards we once held dear. kaže:
It isn't really about whether the performers were high quality or not. It’s more about how we used to consume information versus how we do now. People like Bob Dylan, The Beatles, or The Doors are considered icons today, but maybe that's not necessarily because their music was uniquely genius. It might just be because everyone listened to them. Back then, there wasn't much choice. If you had a situation where the news was served to you on a major network like ABC at a specific time, and a few select newspapers were all reporting on the exact same things, the media influence was massive. It created a perfect environment for building these legends around rock stars. I guess when everyone is looking at the same thing at once, myths are bound to happen.

In an era where we have a constant 24-hour news cycle and instant access to just about any piece of information we desire, it’s almost baffling how some things remain completely out of reach. I guess you'd think nothing would be impossible anymore, but maybe that's just wishful thinking.

It seems like today's charts are completely dominated by pop artists, whereas back in the 80s, rock music still held that primary spot. I guess you just aren't a fan of pop? Maybe that's the case. 😁

Just some random stuff... I guess.

Hey Bloom, I think this might be right up your alley
Rival Sons
finally some fresh stuff that doesn't totally suck

says:
plus, today's charts are dominated by pop stars, whereas back in the 80s, rock still held the crown. maybe you just aren't a fan of pop? 😁

To me, nothing "dominates" today's charts except pure cash. It crossed my mind recently that there were reports about how Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, and several others faked their Twitter follower counts and YouTube views. I can't stand that crowd, yet most people actually believe they are real musicians. God forbid we encounter such mindless people, but behind them stands a massive propaganda machine designed to brainwash the naive.

The truth, however, is that modern music—aside from the toxic waste mentioned above, because there is some good stuff out there too—lacks any new, original style. It means nothing to "Generation X." Everything being listened to today is just recycled versions of what was played before the internet era, back when musical styles shifted radically every decade.

Now, nothing changes. New generations are falling behind the old ones. They say this is the first time in history that's happened.
(Some guy on YouTube wrote—heaven help us, we shouldn't have made you. 😂)

slyorca62 said:Bloom, you might actually dig this...
Rival Sons
finally dropping something fresh that doesn't totally stink...

Look, people, I am NOT asking for advice!

😁

The way you're pitching this makes me sound like some washed-up rocker desperately hunting for a vibe in modern music. In reality, I’m just a faded pop fan who found it in this summer anthem—basically a tribute to TAFKAP: Blurred Lines. Go ahead, crucify me...

Henry Campbell5 said:Seriously guys, I'M NOT ASKING FOR ADVICE!

😁

I guess your offer makes it sound like I’m some old-school rocker desperately hunting for something similar in modern music. But honestly? I’m more like an old-school pop fan who actually found it in this timeless summer anthem—sort of a tribute to TAFKAP—which is: Blurred Lines. Go ahead, crucify me.

I had to check out what it was about. There’s that greasy, crappy pop stuff where you wonder how anyone can even listen to it, but yeah, this is okay. I mean, I love good pop too...
so I won't give you any more advice... it wasn't really even advice, just wanted to drop the link somewhere 😉

slyorca62 said:I had to check out what this was actually about. There’s that slimy, terrible pop singer that makes you wonder how anyone can even listen to that garbage. This track is alright, though. I can appreciate decent pop when I hear it...
I won't lecture you anymore... honestly, it wasn't even a lecture, just me trying to drop a link somewhere 😉

Don't be mad, I sounded a bit harsh. I was just annoying myself by trying to steer people toward the thread. Probably didn't phrase it the best way, either.

Today’s chart-topping hits are basically engineered to satisfy the masses—and that appetite can pretty much be boiled down to "fast food music." It’s all designed for quick consumption. We used to live in the era of the album—that period starting back in the sixties where you actually sat down, listened, and really engaged with the music—but that seems to be dead and buried. Now, we’ve circled back to something resembling the pre-sixties landscape, where the charts are dominated by shallow, easy-to-swallow singles rather than cohesive albums. These are tracks meant to slide into your ears while you're doing something else—cooking, cleaning, or nowadays, just scrolling through your phone or driving. It’s music that requires zero intellectual heavy lifting. It’s hard to imagine people getting genuinely excited about complex compositions these days—you know, the kind with five-minute runtimes, long intros, or shifting tempos and dynamics.

The reasons for this shift mostly stem from our modern socio-cultural habits, rather than some inherent flaw where one generation simply has worse taste than the last.

That said, it’s not all doom and gloom. It’s actually easier now than ever to carve out a niche for yourself and find a dedicated enough following to actually make a living. In many ways, the music scene is more diverse than it has ever been; it’s just that whatever sits at the top of the Billboard charts feels incredibly bland and repetitive. Still, I get why this creates such a sense of confusion and noise for the listener.