Comebacks
In my late teens and early twenties, my musical taste was pretty hip. It was really touch and go before that, depending on what my friends were liking at the time. For a long stretch after I became a parent I listened to only my existing cds or the classic rock stations. It was easy and comfortable, I knew all the words already, and the classic rock reminded me of my childhood. A few years ago my children became old enough to discover their own musical tastes and were able to program an mp3 player. It was for them I decided to start listening to newer music. I put on my old favourite alternative rock station, but was worried I would hate everything I heard.
To my extreme delight, that first day I heard not one, but two songs that I fell in love with. I was very excited at still being cool enough to love the newest hippest music, and as soon as I got home I looked up the songs to find out what my new favourite bands were. (By the way, I could love the internet just for all the lyric sites! There were so many time that I have asked, “What’s that song? The one that goes “blah, blah, blah… You know?” It’s amazing! I can find out in seconds!)
Reaction: You have got to be kidding me. What do you mean Weezer?!?! Because, although I was delighted that this meant Weezer had a new album out, it didn’t really reinforce my “I’m still cool enough to like new music” theory, because technically I was probably just recognizing something I already loved. My Weezer cds from a DECADE ago were well-worn on my shelf.
I got my hopes up with my second song. I was not familiar with Gorillaz but I soon discovered with some research that the song Feelgood Inc. was a joint effort with one of my faves also from a decade ago, Blur and a band whose tape – that’s right, TAPE – that was given to me in grade 11, De La Soul.
Although I wasn’t exactly hip on the new music scene I definitely had really cool taste. And my children are already out in front. We went with them to their first concert last fall, another comeback band of course: The Who.
Speaking of comeback bands, a hot comeback band for 2008-2009: New Kids on the Block
I can’t help but laugh thinking about Jon Bon Jovi’s frosted hairdo he used to wear as I notice other women my age lusting over his comeback career.
Of course being a woman in denial of my increasing age, I am ecstatic that so many musicians are making their “revivals”. If they were and are still talented at what they do, by all means keep doing it!! It takes me back, and encourages me at the same time: If they can still rock, I can’t be THAT old.
Any day now I am expecting to look over my daughter’s shoulders to discover her searching on New Kids lyrics or something similar. I will make sure her dad isn’t listening and say, “It goes like this. I know all the words. I was at their concert in the ninth grade.” Too bad I didn’t keep NKOTB t-shirt.
