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| BBHQ Boomer Essays: |
| Our Boomer-In-Charge here at BBHQ, Hershel Chicowitz, writes frequently about current events... from a boomer perspective. He is sometimes funny, sometimes provocative, sometimes a little of each. We hope you get a kick out of our Boomer Essays. |
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Where have all the flowers gone
long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone,
long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone,
young girls pick them every one.
When will they ever learn?
When will they e-ever learn?
Terrific stuff, huh?
But for a long time I have been wondering.... what music will today's kids remember 30 years from now? What will be the oldies but goodies in 2030? "Oops!... I did it again," by Britney Spears? I think not.
As members of the baby boomer generation, you and I both know that today's music is awful... miserably so. But I seldom mention that - for two reasons: first, because it is so obvious; and second, because when I do I get tons of hate mail from today's kids. They really take it personally, as if I were insulting them individually.
Of course, that's silly. They are no more responsible for their music than we were for ours. They just select and embrace from what's out there, just as we did. The difference is that we were remarkably fortunate. We had Carole King, Paul Simon, Jimmy Webb, Leiber and Stoller and Neil Diamond. They have Iced Tea, Marilyn Manson and Insane Clown Posse.
I stab old people
old ladies, little kids
I don't give a ......
I stabbed a fat guy in the butt.
- Insane Clown Posse
(You figure out the rhyme.)
But I thought the recognition of how far music has fallen was limited mostly to members of our generation. Then came the Grammies. Did you see the Grammy show this year? Of course not; hardly anyone did. I read about it in Newsweek magazine:
"At last week's Grammy Awards in L.A., they shut down the bars and Budweiser stands during the televised part of the ceremony to try to keep bodies in the seats. But by the climactic moment, the presentation of record of the year, half the audience had walked out... You don't need us to tell you that much of [today's music] is disposable - you've got ears - but you may be surprised to know how resoundingly it's getting disposed of. We could list reasons from now until Sunday. But they wouldn't be having as much impact if the music made us care."
See... there's the difference... our music made us care. Today's music just makes us (and our kids) depressed.
I don't have an answer for today's kids, not that they'd pay any attention, anyway. But I do have an answer for us.
I have given up hope that Carole King will ever catch the creative spirit again. And the chances for Simon and Garfunkel getting back together are about as great as those of Bill Clinton telling the truth. So, we gotta' move on to something else.
But you won't find something else at Specs Records; nor will something else be featured at next year's Grammy show. No, to the entertainment industry, 75 million boomers are completely invisible. I think you're gonna' have to find something else on the Internet. And I have a few suggestions:
Steve Ducey is a boomer who writes and sings sounds from the 60s and 70s for today's boomers. His first album is called "Trust Your Stars." This is from "Love Lights the Flame":
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I looked into your eyes Windows to your soul That glow I recognized From a time of old
I can't say when or where
It's true |
Click the picture for more information on this great boomer CD. |
A little James Taylor, a little Eagles, and a lot Steve Ducey, this is good stuff. This is where the good stuff has gone. You can read more and play samples at Steve's web site: http://www.steveducey.com
Scott Johnson is another boomer who is working hard and living his dream. He has an uplifting message for all of us:
"It's Never Too Late":
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When we were children we used to dream Of flying in spaceships to worlds unseen But somewhere along the line we left our dreams behind Buried beneath the daily news with its bold headlines But down deep somewhere Those dreams are still there
It's never too late to live out a dream
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Click the picture for more information on this uplifting CD. |
Scott's first album (but surely not his last) is called "Dreams in the Making."
See... that's the difference between our music and what passes for rock music today. Our music spoke of hope and dreams. (Well, except for "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose its Flavor." But, come on....) Our music lifts us up... even 40 years later.
Today's music too often speaks to the worst of our nature. "If you listen closely to most rap music, it says how bad the condition is." - Russell Simmons, Def Jam Records. The condition is bad (whatever that means), Mr. Simmons, in large part, because the entertainment is so dreadfully awful.
I'm tight grill when my situation ain't improvin;
I'm trying to murder everything movin'
feel me
Well, we rob for the fun of it
hustle for the drug of it
wrap money in rubber bands
just for the love of it
- Damon Dash - Roc-a-fella records
Where has all the music gone? Well, most of it has gone straight to the gutter. But you do not have to follow it there. In addition to the oldies, there is some music which still speaks to us... to the best of us all. You'll find it on the Internet, often at Amazon.com. And we'll try to keep you updated on the best of it. You can purchase these two CDs by clicking on the picture and following our link to Amazon.com.
There is an old fable about two rulers dividing up the power in their kingdom. One said, "I'll make the laws; I'll tell the people how they must behave." The other one said, "I'll dictate their music; with that, I'll control their minds." There is a lot of truth to that.
What kind of music do you want seeping into your mind.... your children's mind?
When will they ever learn?
When will they e-ever learn?
Don't let the gutter music control your mind or your kids'. Reach for your dreams; trust your stars.
A recent young visitor to BBHQ had this to say about the rap music to which she listens. I quote her verbatim:
"i think todays music is not a big deal cause it makes us happy and also all the rapers [sic] saids we dont have to do it we just like todays music cause it make us happy.=)"
Ooooo Kkkkk..... makes sense to me.
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If you like what we're doing here at BBHQ, please help us by buying stuff through our link to Amazon.com:
| The BBHQ Album of the Month is "Old Friends Live on Stage (Deluxe Edition) (2 CD/1 DVD)," by Simon & Garfunkel. If you were fortunate enough to see them in concert last year, I do not have to sell you. The concert was terrific! This album collection includes 55 songs, plus their new recording, "Citizen of the Planet," and one of the songs sung by the Everly Brothers during the concert. The DVD was recorded during their concert in Madison Square Garden in 2003. For any S&G fan, this is a must have! But then, you knew that already, didn't you? |
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The BBHQ Book of the Month is
"Vinyl Highway," by
Dee Dee Phelps. You remember her as Dee Dee, of Dick and Dee Dee.
Together, they took a decade long ride on the rock and roll roller
coaster. It was a heck of a ride! Dick Clark, Quincy Jones, the Beach
Boys, Glenn Campbell, Dionne Warwick, Bobby Vinton... Dick and Dee Dee
rubbed shoulders with all of them. This is her "behind the scenes" story.
It's pretty cool.
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