Through my blog I listen to plenty of new music. I love to keep my finger on the pulse and I still get excited when I discover something new. But am I the only one who thinks that music just isn’t as good as it once was?
Even typing that sentence makes me cringe. I remember how my dad would say sentences to that effect when I was a kid and I’d think he was just too out of touch to get it. Now I think perhaps he was on to something. I watch The Loop, as I used to watch Video Hits years ago, but there are only a handful of songs that I enjoy. When I fork out money for concert tickets I’m more likely to see a nostalgia band than an up-and-comer. The albums I keep coming back to are the ones I’ve heard a million times before.
I can’t be the only one who feels that way. There are online retailers like iOldies Music cropping up to sell the music of classic artists to fans around the globe. International and local acts from the 80s and 90s are still so in demand that they can sell out shows so many years later. Billboard’s top three earners last year were Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd. Clearly Aussie tours from the latter two helped them out, as more than 90 percent of their revenue came from live shows.
I don’t want to feel out of touch or dated. Yet whenever the words come out of my mouth, I can’t help but feel over the hill. Is old music really superior to the new crop, or am I just stuck in a time warp?
Image source: Harminder Desi @ Flickr