By As a child I was influenced by the music of the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. I remember the Big Bopper singing “Chantilly Lace” on the radio and in juke boxes everywhere. from the 50’s. Then another influence was of course the Beatles in the 60’s crashing onto the American music scene like no other, well maybe Elvis. Both Beatles and Elvis were great performers. The crowds went wild with excitement just seeing them before even a note of music came from any instrument. We had the New Yardbirds famously changing their name to Led Zeppelin. The 70’s gave us hit after hit from easy listening, folk, soft rock, metal, country, the genre’s go on as their was new sounds coming from every corner of the world. From the soft love songs of Bread to the sounds of ELO the music flowed through your senses as you listened where ever you may have been. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers sold millions of albums. Come into the 80’s we get Guns and Roses, Metallica along with Asia a short lived band.
Bob Dylan gave us “for the times they are a changin” as he messaged our congress to act for the needs of our nation. Alan Parsons Project gave us the song “Games People Play” asking the question “where do we go from here now that the children are growin’ up” having the listeners think about what they do to get what they want with little regard to those around them. Statements like these have been imbedded into our music since the beginning of time as slaves sang “Wade in the Water” to direct others to freedom through the Underground Railroad as Harriet Tubman attempts to save all she could regardless of the bounty on her head.
Now today we have such different and diverse music that much of it I can’t comprehend. Yes there are some groups or solo performers I admire their music choice in todays scene but not to many. I miss the simplicity of the songs and lyrics, the deep meaning each individual can translate from from the verse. Ed Sheeran is one that has a style that is unique and the lyrics are thought provoking. Maroon 5 also unique with Adam Levine’s rich vocals hitting the highs and lows effortlessly.
Guess the times they are a changin and we have to move on to the next plateau and continue to find the artists we associate with as they write and sing their style hoping fans will love what they hear.
