When Did I Become Old? (Long Post)

[Jhengsman]

In pop music terms you start to get old when you are no longer going to dances trying to attract a new sexual partner.

 

[JRA]

Thoughts?

you're older than you were, of course, but i doubt that many would consider you "old."



i know old when i see it. or watch it. or hear it. or smell it.

 

[JakobT]

I listen to new stuff all the time, and I’m 55.
I’m not old, I’m vintage.

 

[bholder]

Say it loud, I'm old and proud!

 

[red_rhino]

I'm 63 and... and... what was the question again?

 

[Ubersheist]

In pop music terms you start to get old when you are no longer going to dances trying to attract a new sexual partner.

Hah!! True. But I think the older, wiser man knows that going out to clubs/bars/dances specifically to meet women sucks. Bad. The best case scenario is if your great, sexy dancing gets you to 'pick up' someone and have moderately good to so so sex. But far more realistic is awkward or just plain bad sex, or the disappointment and frustration that comes when you wind up alone that night and realize that you've wasted money and the night, and probably a few brain cells.

My recommendation is to never go anywhere (other than maybe a "speed dating" event or something) with the intention of just to hook up or meet someone new. You're setting yourself up for disappointment. If you're going out specifically just to have fun with friends, then the night is already a success and meeting someone new is a bonus.
[/side note on club scenes]

 

[Danny O Danny]

I expose myself... wait that doesn't sound right. I get exposed to a lot of interesting new-ish music via Seattle radio station KEXP's Youtube channel. I'm sure there are many others like it.

KEXP

 

[Andy Daventry]

I'm 60. The most recent thing on my mp3 player (note - not iphone) is Paul Simon's Graceland. I consider Metallica "new". I'n still angry about hair metal. And punk. And the first thing I learned on the bass was "money". I'm stuck in the past. That's old.

 

[QweziRider]

"When you started being a musician did you ever think you would not be on the cutting edge of music?”

She'd have to define "cutting edge of music." New pop crap shoved down our throats ad nauseam? Is that all that qualifies? Or does all new music regardless of genre? You admitted to listening to newer jazz, there ya go, in my book. Cutting edge of the genre. I can't stand new "cutting edge" pop. I couldn't stand it in the '80s when I was young. I couldn't stand it in the '90s when I aimed towards my 30s. I loved all kinds of new "cutting edge" music in many genres, but not pop. So that made me old in the '80s? Not buying it.

Now, in my 50s, I listen to and compose symphonic metal. Got turned on to it a few years ago and it's an incredible learning experience, working out something on which I was not raised. I'd call that cutting edge, learning playing skills I never worked before on music that is still coming out fresh and cutting edge to my ears.

You're not old. Keep doing your thing.

 

[B-Mac]

It's out there if you hunt for it...today's popular music is, well...I won't go there.....

Check these out...

CHON
TAUK
Consider the Source
Scale the Summit

 

[Spidey2112]

I’m immature as hell.

I hope I'm still around when you reach sophomoric...

... then we can reminisce and hopefully not blow an O-ring while having a beer.

 

[Altitude]

There's some neuroscience explaining why we all love music from our youths, and why we don't attach as much to stuff that's new when we're older. It's a thing, it has to do with our brains developing and the effect pleasurable music has on us at ages 12-22 or so.

Here's an article from Slate magazine that goes into some detail.

 

[Altitude]

To me music has been watered down so much it's pretty much just been left to two chords!...Its all so mindless simple.

Sure, but wasn't that the case with the Sex Pistols too?

We are probably in a "dumb" cycle of popular music right now, similar to the late '70s punk rock movement and opposite a "smart" cycle like the early '70s prog rock movement. But I still think everyone loves the music they grew up listening to.

 

[comatosedragon]

I will be 40 in 2 months. More than half of what I listen to was stuff recorded before I was born (Grand Funk Railroad, The James Gang, Free), and a lot of that 50% is even stuff from around when my mother was born even (I have recently taken a shining to a lot of Motown & 'Golden Oldies'). I really don't seriously listen to anything recorded after the early 2000's (Mudvayne and Mastodon are probably the latest). To my ears, most of the stuff being released these days is all mush.

 

[Holdsg]

I'm 55 and old, in 4 bands, so I don't really listen to anything off the "radio" anymore.
I'm still trying to keep 4 bands worth of material fresh in my mind at any point in time.
Even the "new" music I get into from time to time, is of old roots. I'm ok with that.
Do I ever get worried about being "out of touch and hopelessly unhip?", maybe, but I was never really hip and I gave up worrying about what other people think of me a looooong time ago.

 

[Basshappi]

I don't get all this "age" stuff in regards to music appreciation. I also don't understand this "either/or" mindset, especially among musicians. As a young musician I was admonished by my mentors to listen to everything and I still endeavor to do so. It's just habit at this point.

As a teenager getting into "my' generations, music (60's 70's rock, Prog and Fusion) I still enjoyed the Classical, Big Band Jazz and Folk music that my parents enjoyed.

Now days I find most new music on YouTube and other internet sites because mainstream pop and rock are generally not to my tastes so I don't listen to radio (I also don't use streaming sites). When I find a new band I like I buy their music and it goes in my library along with everything else. I like the music I have always liked and I like a lot of new music as well. I seek out both new and old music all the time, the internet has been great for that.

 

[Stumbo]

I'm 63 and... and... what was the question again?

Yeah, I thought the OP was about 60 or 70 when I first started reading.

34? Get the heck off my lawn, you whipper snapper!

You still have about 50-60 years to go. Enjoy the journey. Your wife calling you old? Hah!

 

[Deleted member 165050]

I can't relate to this. I am over 600 years old and listening to anything and everything. Especially bats.

 

[micguy]

I keep telling kids they should listen to me about things - I've been young for much longer than them. I end up playing recent music (playing in contemporary church services). So, I'm well versed (and chorused) in recent music - at least of one sort.

I think you get old when you decide things (your hair, your clothes, your taste in music) don't ever have to change anymore. You're really old if you get to the point where you don't think you have to learn anything new.

 

[Stumbo]

There's some neuroscience explaining why we all love music from our youths, and why we don't attach as much to stuff that's new when we're older. It's a thing, it has to do with our brains developing and the effect pleasurable music has on us at ages 12-22 or so.

Here's an article from Slate magazine that goes into some detail.

Or possibly the pleasure we were having while developing and listening to music of our time!