It is a sad thing when we, as forty somethings and beyond, begin to feel like "old fogies" when it comes to music and the "hip" things going on in popular culture. Additionally it is easy to forget that the rock music and a lot of other genres of modern music got their launch in the past during the days when forty somethings and beyond were the young people changing society also it was our music that changed the entire world.
So it's good for baby boomers to keep in mind such things about their heritage and whatever they passed on to the music and entertainment culture today. Within the song "Rock and Roll Never Forgets" by Bob Seger, the singer blogs about the changes baby boomers have gone through as they go from youth to middle age and deal with pressures of work, family, child rearing and adjustments to health due to aging. But the end result remains the same that in the middle of every baby boomer is a rock and roller who is just as capable as ever of experiencing the music that was the foundation with their culture.
One of the things that disheartened the infant boomer generation growing up was seeing the rock 'n roll life style take its toll on many of the icons of youth culture and music including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Freddie Mercury. But the unfortunate demise of these music heroes won't diminish the great contribution to music and to culture down through the years. In order much as we grieve the loss of great talent, we are able to always celebrate what they gave to us and continue to give to us down to modern times as music continues to reference those great figures of 60s music as icons and inspirations.
But for every rock and roller who failed to survive that turbulent period in our culture, we can look to great performers who did survive, overcame their addictions and went on to continue to give great music around the world decade after decade. Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones and David Bowie are instances of wonderful and talented music heroes that revealed that age and a few wrinkles don't mean anything. They continue to rock and roll today as hard and with as much heart as they did after they were in their twenties.
In a way "to rock and roll" can be a metaphor for living life to the fullest and for staying in keeping with your values and living life inside a genuine way that never surrenders on what's important in life. That is why baby boomers have always had the greatest contempt for anyone who sells out or abandons their core principles that they espoused in youth. To sell out is always to say that none of the great good reputation for the youth revolution meant anything and that we are willing to turn out backs about it. But to "rock and roll" means going back to your roots and don't giving up, even when age, and busy lives and illness say that you should slow down rather than try to live with as much earnestness because you did when you were young.
Forty somethings and beyond, even at this dignified and "mature" stage in life, should feel liberated to be able to go ahead and "rock and roll" in a real sense of the word. The Bob Seger song was a hit because it gives us permission to reconnect with the roots and express that youthful enthusiasm again. You don't have to go to a nostalgia show to achieve that either. There are dozens of great rock and roll acts that are giving on the children of baby boomers (and their grandchildren) that same excitement we've got from The Beatles and The Stones.
"Discovering" rock 'n roll all over again can be great fun for a baby boomer especially when you find a new act containing that power and ability to perform that reminds us in the acts of our youth. These are out there so just decide to uncover this great natural resource of talent inside music and culture of today's youth revolution.
So it's good for baby boomers to keep in mind such things about their heritage and whatever they passed on to the music and entertainment culture today. Within the song "Rock and Roll Never Forgets" by Bob Seger, the singer blogs about the changes baby boomers have gone through as they go from youth to middle age and deal with pressures of work, family, child rearing and adjustments to health due to aging. But the end result remains the same that in the middle of every baby boomer is a rock and roller who is just as capable as ever of experiencing the music that was the foundation with their culture.
One of the things that disheartened the infant boomer generation growing up was seeing the rock 'n roll life style take its toll on many of the icons of youth culture and music including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Freddie Mercury. But the unfortunate demise of these music heroes won't diminish the great contribution to music and to culture down through the years. In order much as we grieve the loss of great talent, we are able to always celebrate what they gave to us and continue to give to us down to modern times as music continues to reference those great figures of 60s music as icons and inspirations.
But for every rock and roller who failed to survive that turbulent period in our culture, we can look to great performers who did survive, overcame their addictions and went on to continue to give great music around the world decade after decade. Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones and David Bowie are instances of wonderful and talented music heroes that revealed that age and a few wrinkles don't mean anything. They continue to rock and roll today as hard and with as much heart as they did after they were in their twenties.
In a way "to rock and roll" can be a metaphor for living life to the fullest and for staying in keeping with your values and living life inside a genuine way that never surrenders on what's important in life. That is why baby boomers have always had the greatest contempt for anyone who sells out or abandons their core principles that they espoused in youth. To sell out is always to say that none of the great good reputation for the youth revolution meant anything and that we are willing to turn out backs about it. But to "rock and roll" means going back to your roots and don't giving up, even when age, and busy lives and illness say that you should slow down rather than try to live with as much earnestness because you did when you were young.
Forty somethings and beyond, even at this dignified and "mature" stage in life, should feel liberated to be able to go ahead and "rock and roll" in a real sense of the word. The Bob Seger song was a hit because it gives us permission to reconnect with the roots and express that youthful enthusiasm again. You don't have to go to a nostalgia show to achieve that either. There are dozens of great rock and roll acts that are giving on the children of baby boomers (and their grandchildren) that same excitement we've got from The Beatles and The Stones.
"Discovering" rock 'n roll all over again can be great fun for a baby boomer especially when you find a new act containing that power and ability to perform that reminds us in the acts of our youth. These are out there so just decide to uncover this great natural resource of talent inside music and culture of today's youth revolution.
