Happy child

When we talk about this "new wave," I don't believe it's merely a matter of people reminiscing about how things were supposedly better back in the day—though there is certainly a grain of truth to that sentiment! Rather, one simply cannot overlook the undeniable fact that an entire musical genre evolved into a massive cultural phenomenon... it exerted such an immense influence on the very fabric of our society and culture...
The music of that era, combined with the way people congregated at iconic venues, generated such an incredible vibe that it rippled through everything; because everyone was so interconnected, its impact bled directly into literature, photography, graphic design, indie magazines, film, theater, and various art movements...
And why did all this happen? It occurred because, for one brief moment in time, a massive crowd of intensely creative individuals were all obsessed with the same thing, everyone knew one another, they shared classes, and they all moved within the same social circles...

The cold, hard truth is that no other movement since then—not even what we see today—has managed to replicate that specific magic... and that is precisely what defined the magnitude of the new wave and gave it such a distinct edge over everything that followed...

(Admittedly, one could argue that this is partly because the scene has expanded so much since then, becoming so incredibly diverse and vast that it is practically impossible for a single dominant force to emerge... or perhaps more accurately, for one "most dominant" genre to exist that is powerful enough to leave such a permanent mark on the entirety of our culture... though, if I may suggest, perhaps the rise of Techno sparked a minor revolution that echoed across other fields too... but I suppose that isn't quite as relevant to our point...)
🙂

Robbie Williams said:Yeah, the way people phrase it is usually along the lines of "the good old days" or "once upon a golden era"—and from that point on, everything just seems to go downhill...

You really have to listen closely to who is actually claiming there was a "better era." Some people are just—let’s call them what they are—nostalgic, simply because those were their own prime years... or perhaps they feel like they missed out on something monumental. Then you have others who might actually have a point regarding the explosion of pop culture that seemingly peaked for just a few short years before bleeding out into everything else... Anyway, I won't start lecturing here, it's not the place... just go watch the movie and enjoy it.

Look, I don't really care about "who is talking about a better era," I'm speaking strictly from my own perspective.
I was a few years younger—lost in time 😁—but even then, I was never immune to that kind of "hype," starting all the way back in high school.
Even though the crowd riding that wave was a bit older than me.
You make a fair point, though; no need to get all preachy when it isn't your place... just enjoy yourself and let everyone else enjoy themselves too. 👋

silentpilot6 said:I can’t say I’m particularly fond of the current state of things—honestly, it leaves a lot to be desired—but I suppose the real question is why this particular direction seems to resonate so much more with the younger crowd... specifically those high schoolers and the twenty-somethings drifting through their early adulthood... 😁 If I were to hit those college students with the Thompson-Law...👎 So, they’re probably enjoying their fancy new Razors now—but mark my words, give it a little while and you'll hear them whining all over again... "Where did that golden era go? Back when we used to sing along to Wind from the mountains..."
😬

For me, the absolute peak—the most intense era—was definitely the rise of the Techno movement here in America. We’re talking roughly from 1993 to 1995... back when things were just starting to explode. I was a Happy Child during those years... 😁 There isn't a single soul on this planet who could sit me down and convince me that there was ever—before or since—a better era for jazz...
Kuiš...

Don't you dare bring up Thompson in a thread about Happy Child... unless you're looking for trouble. 🙂 Such an effortless way to mutilate the "new wave"... 🤣
What a dead wind... 🙂 Just kidding...

A Techno movement?? How wonderful... 🙄 I don't get it... 👋

How can you not get it? What is there even to misunderstand?
For me, that was the ultimate high because everything felt brand new, I was in the prime of my life, and I had my whole crew by my side.
It’s exactly like someone who turned 18 back in 1981.
Do you get it now?

That era was beautiful to me—it was pure, unadulterated, and far from any supposed "dark wave." 😁
It'll be the same for some kid from today's generation in, I don't know, ten years; they'll look back on Schwarzenegger and Thompson as something beautiful and perfect, while dismissing Techno as some dark influence.

Ugh, if you still don't understand, I really can't help you. You might need to seek professional advice. 😬

silentpilot6 said:How can you not get it? What exactly is there to misunderstand here?
For me, that was the ultimate high—mostly because it was something entirely fresh, I was in my absolute prime, and I had the "crew" behind me.
It’s the exact same thing as some guy being eighteen back when the year was '81.
Do you get it now?

That era was beautiful to me—unpredictable, perfect, and none of this "dark new wave" nonsense.😁
It'll be the same for some kid from today's generation in, I don't know, ten years—thinking everything about Schwarzenegger and Thompson was beautiful, unpredictable, and heaven forbid, some kind of dark Techno.

Ugh, you still don't get it... I can't help you. You might need professional assistance. 😬

Beautiful... unpredictable... 😁
Are you seriously telling me that after roughly 5,500 posts, you still don't grasp emoticons or the word "kidding"?
I'm joking, man. 😲
It's obvious it's sweltering outside. silentpilot6, go take a hike! 🙂

I didn't notice a single emoji like 😁 , 😬 or 🙂 that usually accompanies something purely driven by intellect 😉

Or perhaps you just didn't quite grasp it and now you're making excuses 😬

silentpilot6 said:I didn't see a single one of those 😁 , or 😬 or 🙂 emojis—the ones people usually toss in when they're just being plain stupid...😉

Maybe you just didn't get it and now you're making excuses 😬

There are plenty of other emojis out there, like this one 🤣

If you only want the toothy ones, that's your business. 😛

Just finished watching Happy Child, and now I’m sitting here watching the Evening Rose awards, and honestly, I’m just feeling totally deflated. That movie really hit me with a wave of nostalgia, even though I was barely out of diapers back when the New Wave era was actually happening. It’s pure nostalgia.

Pathos always relies on the substance of the film, and if the story is weak, the pathos just feels heavy and forced all over the place.

Then this lady starts telling me how she used to hang out in front of the jukebox every single day. (Wait, didn't Illich take that photo of her in that little hallway? 😁) And man, what a load of nonsense—leaning against those cars, just stupid. Hey, lady, are you crazy? You were right at the center of everything! Very few people actually manage to capture that vibe of something massive happening. And that’s it—like boldeagle3 says, it’s just a vibe. It isn't about sharing black bread or some deep scientific theory. It’s that specific vibe that Mirko captured and baked into his life, and that’s why the movie works so well for me. He caught that feeling of something new stirring in the city, that "something is happening" 🙂 What a wild title, "Something is Happening." Man, I'm getting chills. Personally, I think that movie is more spectacular than Lord of the Rings, forget all those made-up legends and myths.

Quite the comparison, huh?

Honestly, 15 minutes is way too long...
The second half just loses all its momentum...
...

Just finished watching the movie. Listening to Azra makes me think about my old man—what his youth was actually like. That whole era—hunting down vinyl, those vintage denim jackets, the grit of working-class life, even the gloom under Reagan... power outages and all that nonsense. 😁

It wasn't all bad for them, though.

Sometimes, after he’s had a few too many or crawls home late from the pub, he’ll just sit by the TV and lecture me on how things used to be. How they’d track down records from London, wear bell-bottoms, and catch live bands playing right in their faces.
That’s where I got my obsession with that "New Wave" sound. Movies, HAUSTOR, The Idols, Azra... seeing this, I finally get it.

The movie itself was fine. I actually appreciated the laid-back vibe and the soundtrack selection.

(p.s. Jasenko H. was such a hilarious guy 😁 )

So, I finally finished reading the book with that little note from 🙂 🙂 🙂

I haven't gotten around to watching the movie just yet, but man, that book was absolutely incredible. 😁 😁

👋 👋

Watched *Happy Child* yesterday. Felt good... pure nostalgia mixed with love in every single frame. It’s great—aside from the soundtrack and those kid actors (seeing Jack with that ridiculous afro under his bangs, man)—but honestly, my favorite part was when Mom reads George’s own essay back to him. Soft, warm, zero cheesiness, yet somehow still deeply moving. Makes you want to cry... God, those were the days. Good times, better people, even if the country was broke. We had nothing materially, but we were rich in spirit. Everything felt secure, happy, everyone had a job, a place to live.
And look at us now. Seeing all those exiles who managed to get out (to places where they don't need sleeping pills just to function) really hits hard. You see the nostalgic Miller pointing toward the New York City skyline like some version of Washington, D.C. is just somewhere over there, waiting to wake up. Then there's David Bowie’s gritty reality, and the bloated, mainstream Jack we see today... That's life, c'est la vie, I guess. Or maybe it's just plain unfair.

Kevin Wood22 said:Watched Happy Child yesterday, and man... I was feeling it. Pure nostalgia, just pure love in every single frame. It’s the best—okay, maybe not the music or those goofy kid faces (seeing little Jack with that ridiculous afro under his bangs, lol)—but seriously, the best part is imagining Mom reading George’s old school essay back to him, all soft and warm, not being cheesy but still hitting you right in the feels... honestly made me want to cry. Those were such damn good years. We had amazing people around us, great vibes, even if the country was broke—it was a time of spiritual wealth, safety, jobs, and actually having a place to live.
But look at us now? It kind of messed me up seeing all the exiles who managed to get out (to places where they don't need sleeping pills), that nostalgic Miller pointing over the skyscrapers of New York City like, "Yeah, somewhere out there is the Washington, D.C. that's currently asleep," or the struggling, gritty reality of David Bowie, and the bloated, corporate Jack of today... life, c'est la vie, I guess—but also, it's just unfair.

What "spiritual wealth" are you even talking about? Seriously? Spiritual wealth isn't about the era, it's about the people. And what "safety"? The whole damn country was living off credit, and then a few years later we realized we were in debt up to our necks. Then we all started fighting. That's like going out into a blizzard for a few months and then saying, "Hey, it felt great during those few months," after you end up in jail because of it.
I mean, Jack is a perfect example: the story just skips right over the nineties like they never happened. It jumps straight from the eighties to our Year Zero. What happened in between?

mistyfox812 said:What kind of spiritual wealth are you even talking about? It’s not about the era; it’s about the people living through it. And security? If an entire country lives off credit, they'll realize in a few years they're drowning in debt. Then everyone starts fighting. It's like spending a few months freezing your ass off just to end up in prison later and saying, "Yeah, those few months were great."
I mean, Jack is a perfect example: he skips right over the nineties like they never happened. He jumps from the eighties straight to year zero. What happened in between?

But what about the richness of the music, the ideas, the visual arts, comics... that whole New Wave movement in everything? Wasn't that spiritual wealth?

Security through credit—what part of that don't you get? We're still sitting here with massive debt and zero actual security or stability to show for it. There's no such thing as a country without debt; it's all about development. Back in the eighties, we were actually ahead of our neighbors, and now we're lagging behind the old Soviet satellites...

The nineties—honestly, better if they'd never happened.

What else is unclear?
👎

Kevin Wood22 said:but what about the richness of the music, the concepts, the visual arts (like that square art style), comics, the whole New Wave vibe... wasn't that actual spiritual wealth?

Credit security? Like, what part of this don't you get? We’re drowning in debt and loans right now, and look at us—zero stability, zero standard of living, zero prosperity. There’s no such thing as a country without credit. It's all about development, and back in the '80s, we were actually ahead of the curve compared to everyone else. Now? We're lagging behind even the old Soviet satellites.

The '90s... honestly, better if they had never happened.

What else do you need me to explain?
👎

So, Bowie was on TV saying people come up to him like, "Man, we really miss having stuff like that in Washington, D.C." And he just hits them with, "Well, it didn't exist back then either until we built it." Basically, he's saying: go out and make it happen.

We're stuck in the gutter now because we basically tore each other apart. And why? Because in the '80s, nobody actually solved anything; they just swept everything under the rug. So when the pressure finally built up, everything just exploded.

Here's my point: that whole New Wave movement was a direct reaction to how mindless society was back then. It was a massive "NO" to that era. So, it feels totally backwards to use the New Wave as an argument IN FAVOR of that society. It's like taking The Village Voice from the '90s as proof that Ronald Reagan was doing a great job—just because some great journalism came out during his time doesn't mean he gets the credit for it. To me, that logic is just broken.

Alright folks, let’s just drop the politics, the Reaganism, and all that nonsense...

I am asking nicely—can we please just acknowledge the New Wave as a musical movement that actually made its mark? It left a legacy, and those are simply the facts; there really is no point in debating it further...

Oof, trying to have a conversation about Politics🙂

Well said, boldeagle3!
Boldeagle3 for moderator! You’ve got my vote, even if you were playing nice with that sunshine girl earlier—clearly, you've got what it takes. It's a tight-knit crew.😁

Anyway, staying on topic: I'm not talking about politics. But mistyfox812 is out here claiming the New Wave was solely a reaction against some decadent, trashy state of society. By that logic, since there was zero culture or New Wave from 1990 to 2000, then following his twisted reasoning—no resistance equals no creativity—his ultimate
'proof' is that the nineties were a perfect society where nobody needed to rebel or fight back culturally????? 🙂

Kevin Wood22 said:Well said, boldeagle3!
A round of applause for boldeagle3! You’ve got my vote—even if you were playing nice with that little sunshine girl earlier, I can see you’ve actually got what it takes to be a moderator. She’s certainly more level-headed than the rest of them.😁

Anyway, staying on topic, I am not talking about politics. But then again, mistyfox812 isn't making any backwards claims suggesting that the New Wave was merely a byproduct of resisting some decadent, rotten state of affairs. By that logic—since there was neither a culture nor a New Wave during the 1990s—then using that same flawed reasoning—no resistance means no creativity—his ultimate
'proof' would imply that the nineties were actually a perfect society, requiring absolutely no rebellion or cultural pushback????? 🙂

Oh boy, here he goes again with his suggestions for me being a moDRMAtoric. 😁
I don't think that's going to happen... I already have eye twitches from staring at this screen too long; if I took the job, I’d just lose my mind and snap at every single one of you. 😁

On topic: personally, the nineties were much better for my bank account, even if the rest of society went straight to hell. 👎
So, let us leave the financial stability where it belongs, and we will just sit here obsessing over the New Wave and reminiscing (or learning about it, since some people are too young to remember) because that music resonates with us... so JUST LEAVE US ALONE. 😢 🙂

boldeagle3 said:On-topic: personally, I was way better off financially back in the nineties, but the social scene just went totally to hell.👎
So yeah, let's just stick to the fact that things were better for my wallet, and we'll keep jamming to the New Wave and reminiscing (or learning about it, since some people are way too young to remember) because that music hits right for us, so JUST LEAVE US ALONE.😢 🙂

Hey boldeagle3, how is your memory of being flush with cash considered "on topic" when you're basically tossing me straight into deep Politics?
Honestly, I’m out. You can get nostalgic about anything—even shortages or waiting in line for laundry detergent.
Besides, a few years ago we had all those movies fueled by pure nostalgia. It’s wild, but clearly, it’s just totally irrational. Sorry guys, I'm heading back to the past!

nobody and nothing said:My dear boldeagle3, how is it that your reminiscences about your own bank account are considered "on topic," yet you're trying to shunt me off over to some political subreddit?
Honestly, I’m washing my hands of this debate—nostalgia is a fickle thing, isn't it? People get sentimental about anything... even the days of grocery shortages and endless lines just to grab a bottle of Tide.
Besides, a few years back, we had those whole waves of "retro" movies that everyone obsessed over. It’s incredible, really, but clearly, the whole thing is purely irrational. My apologies, folks, let's just head back to the past!

I was actually responding to Wall, by the way, and I'm certainly not trying to send you anywhere.
That was simply my take on things, much like what yours happens to be—though, as I mentioned, there seems to be far too much talk about politics when the conversation should be centered on music.

Listening to music from a specific era is often a much healthier habit than just consuming whatever is topping the charts today—it keeps you from looking like a complete dinosaur who refuses to acknowledge anything beyond what played on the radio last week. 😉