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godblossom and <user site="livejournal.com" user="pi
Jul. 6th, 2003 07:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tinhuvielI'm gonna try to make this short and partially lucid. ...riiiiight....
I think a majority of our generation, those of us between the ages of 33 and 40, are experiencing a Deep Nostalgia right now. It's the right time for such cultural hindsight as I've noticed that Pop Culture has a 20 year cycle. Think about it: in the 70's there was a 50's renaissance, in the 80's we had the 60's return to us. 'That 70's Show' began in the 90's along with the return of bell-bottom jeans and fiber-optic lamps. So now we're in the New Millennium and what I love to refer to as The Buggles Generation has finally discovered that we're not that young anymore. We've begun to realise that there is such a thing as The Good Old Days (that visceral time period that seemed a ridiculous concept thought up by our parents and grandparents), and that we lived in them and the music of that era was the music of our lives.
Songs line 'Vienna' and 'Do The Know It's Christmas' bring us to tears.
Remembrances of Live Aid and the breathtaking performance by Queen make us proud that we were a part of it, if only by tuning in our televisions and watching til we thought our eyes would bleed.
We mourn for our lost heroes, whom we thought would never grow old and never die. Yet, here we are, growing old alongside our idols and remembering those who have passed: Michael Hutchence, Klaus Nomi, Freddie Mercury, Holly Johnson, Wendy O Williams....
And we wonder what it is the younger generation sees in NSYNC and Britney Spears as we pull out our old Duran and Madonna albums to admire (and maybe even play if we're still lucky enough to have a record player).
I guess what I'm saying here is that I have felt the longing and the pull of the bygone era of the 70's and 80's for a very long time. I, who swore to never become my Uncle Michael, that resilient man who, to this day, is lost in the 1950's ne'er to see a modern day (except for Matchbox 20 songs, go figure) ~~ I have become a modern version of him. I'm lost in the 80's tonight, goddess bless Ronnie Milsap.
Like the fellowpiperdawn mentioned, who got into music so he could meet and thank his idols, I aggressively sought out a position in the music industry so I could do the same thing. Unfortunately, I never got to the level where I could meet anyone whom I thought to be important and the closest I ever get to the performers I like are when I'm lucky enough to snag some tickets to a concert, but I understand the concept of wanting to get close to these people and thank them for the music (to partially quote ABBA).
Yeah, I've been lucky to "meet" both of my primary musical idols and actually become relatively close to one of them. I went in debt to attend the VH1 Storytellers for ELO so I would have the chance to meet Jeff Lynne and thank him for the wonder and inspiration he gave for so long. Once I finally made it to the front of the line after the concert, he was already walking away, but I did thank him and he acknowledged me with a smile. It was enough for me!
And then there's Barry Andrews, my Dark Inspiration, the man who scared creativity out of me. I met him online by accident. It had nothing to do with my job or my 'real life' quest to find out 'what ever happened to Shriekback'. It was a simple accident, so you never know who you'll meet online or if Adam Ant is reading your online journal.
After 'meeting' both of these men, I realised that they are indeed only that and that others inspired them to do what they have done in their lives. It's a cycle in which we're all caught up and dance within. My experience with Barry makes me believe without a doubt that a lot of our idols who are forgotten by the music industry of today realise that they are dearly loved and appreciated by their fans. Together we form a time capsule and, eventually, our ranks will shrink by way of mortality and we'll all become more precious to each other when the Good Ole Days become a haven for us all.
I remember my grandmother getting misty-eyed when she listened to Glenn Miller and I could tell that she was traveling in time. Now, I do the same thing when Culture Club is on my disc player or I just happen to catch the strains of "Tainted Love" on our local retro radio station. We're feeling of the passage of time quite sharply right now in this, our true middle age. It's natural and right and precious.
And I believe that the heroes of our day feel the pull of that glorious time too, when they were all so revered by us. Reunion shows are imminent. And don't think for an instant that our idols aren't on the 'Net enjoying the adulation that's still out there. It's more prevalent on the 'Net than anywhere else (other than VH1 ~ ha!).
OK, I'm through rambling I think, but I'm curious, Trista: what on Earth did I say to trigger this? And...to what Shriekback song do you refer? It's probably written by Barry, but I'm curious! :)
I think a majority of our generation, those of us between the ages of 33 and 40, are experiencing a Deep Nostalgia right now. It's the right time for such cultural hindsight as I've noticed that Pop Culture has a 20 year cycle. Think about it: in the 70's there was a 50's renaissance, in the 80's we had the 60's return to us. 'That 70's Show' began in the 90's along with the return of bell-bottom jeans and fiber-optic lamps. So now we're in the New Millennium and what I love to refer to as The Buggles Generation has finally discovered that we're not that young anymore. We've begun to realise that there is such a thing as The Good Old Days (that visceral time period that seemed a ridiculous concept thought up by our parents and grandparents), and that we lived in them and the music of that era was the music of our lives.
Songs line 'Vienna' and 'Do The Know It's Christmas' bring us to tears.
Remembrances of Live Aid and the breathtaking performance by Queen make us proud that we were a part of it, if only by tuning in our televisions and watching til we thought our eyes would bleed.
We mourn for our lost heroes, whom we thought would never grow old and never die. Yet, here we are, growing old alongside our idols and remembering those who have passed: Michael Hutchence, Klaus Nomi, Freddie Mercury, Holly Johnson, Wendy O Williams....
And we wonder what it is the younger generation sees in NSYNC and Britney Spears as we pull out our old Duran and Madonna albums to admire (and maybe even play if we're still lucky enough to have a record player).
I guess what I'm saying here is that I have felt the longing and the pull of the bygone era of the 70's and 80's for a very long time. I, who swore to never become my Uncle Michael, that resilient man who, to this day, is lost in the 1950's ne'er to see a modern day (except for Matchbox 20 songs, go figure) ~~ I have become a modern version of him. I'm lost in the 80's tonight, goddess bless Ronnie Milsap.
Like the fellow
piperdawn mentioned, who got into music so he could meet and thank his idols, I aggressively sought out a position in the music industry so I could do the same thing. Unfortunately, I never got to the level where I could meet anyone whom I thought to be important and the closest I ever get to the performers I like are when I'm lucky enough to snag some tickets to a concert, but I understand the concept of wanting to get close to these people and thank them for the music (to partially quote ABBA).Yeah, I've been lucky to "meet" both of my primary musical idols and actually become relatively close to one of them. I went in debt to attend the VH1 Storytellers for ELO so I would have the chance to meet Jeff Lynne and thank him for the wonder and inspiration he gave for so long. Once I finally made it to the front of the line after the concert, he was already walking away, but I did thank him and he acknowledged me with a smile. It was enough for me!
And then there's Barry Andrews, my Dark Inspiration, the man who scared creativity out of me. I met him online by accident. It had nothing to do with my job or my 'real life' quest to find out 'what ever happened to Shriekback'. It was a simple accident, so you never know who you'll meet online or if Adam Ant is reading your online journal.
After 'meeting' both of these men, I realised that they are indeed only that and that others inspired them to do what they have done in their lives. It's a cycle in which we're all caught up and dance within. My experience with Barry makes me believe without a doubt that a lot of our idols who are forgotten by the music industry of today realise that they are dearly loved and appreciated by their fans. Together we form a time capsule and, eventually, our ranks will shrink by way of mortality and we'll all become more precious to each other when the Good Ole Days become a haven for us all.
I remember my grandmother getting misty-eyed when she listened to Glenn Miller and I could tell that she was traveling in time. Now, I do the same thing when Culture Club is on my disc player or I just happen to catch the strains of "Tainted Love" on our local retro radio station. We're feeling of the passage of time quite sharply right now in this, our true middle age. It's natural and right and precious.
And I believe that the heroes of our day feel the pull of that glorious time too, when they were all so revered by us. Reunion shows are imminent. And don't think for an instant that our idols aren't on the 'Net enjoying the adulation that's still out there. It's more prevalent on the 'Net than anywhere else (other than VH1 ~ ha!).
OK, I'm through rambling I think, but I'm curious, Trista: what on Earth did I say to trigger this? And...to what Shriekback song do you refer? It's probably written by Barry, but I'm curious! :)
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no subject
Date: 2003-07-06 05:19 pm (UTC)Klaus Nomi DIED???? When????
no subject
Date: 2003-07-06 06:13 pm (UTC)However...
I am delighted to report that Holly Johnson is NOT DEAD! Read about it here (http://dpsinfo.com/dps/rumors.html#hjohnson.rumor)
Re:
Date: 2003-07-07 05:06 am (UTC)Re:
Date: 2003-07-07 06:33 am (UTC):D
no subject
Date: 2003-07-07 06:36 am (UTC)If you write him back, tell him I said "HWUAHH!"
Re:
Date: 2003-07-07 06:43 am (UTC):)
no subject
Date: 2003-07-07 05:08 am (UTC)ugh.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-06 06:04 pm (UTC)I heard from Barry today. The long North American drives are freaking him out a little and he's a wee bit disappointed at concert turnout.
The song "Nemesis" reminds me of a time when I was living to dance and write. I had what I thought was my dream gig (a clerk in a record store) and life was good. I was having the time of my life when it suddenly went horribly wrong. Dancing to "Nemesis" in the clubs in South Florida with a cheeky Englishman helped me forget for a while just how wrong it had gotten. So, hearing he was feeling a bit freaky spawned all that vent :)
Obviously, I just hung out a lot today :P
no subject
Date: 2003-07-07 05:09 am (UTC)...but I digress......