Getting Older
The other day, while catching up with an old friend of mine from high school, I had mentioned in passing that the singing groups Bell Biv DeVoe and En Vogue were going to be having a concert along with Johnny Gill next month in the Detroit area.
Okay, I grant you that I probably get excited about stuff like this moreso than the average person, but my friend, who liked these singers equally as much as I did back in the day, turned to me and said, "What will they be singing about? Gray Hair?"
Part of her comment, I am certain, was made to be funny, but these types of comments about singing groups that were popular when I was younger, I find are a common occurrence among my friends now that we are all older.
I started to contemplate this a great deal this morning on the drive in. The songs that all of these performers hold good memories of yesteryear, they are all still as good as they were when we were young, so why do we not hold the same appreciation for them now that the groups are older (and mind you, by older in this case, at best they are 15 years older than my friend and I...which in the grand scheme of things, is not a whole lot if you ask me)?
It seems odd to me that people tend to think that just because one ages, their talent decreases in some way. For shouldn't we have a greater appreciation for them for continuing to get out there to perform and help us to remember the good times we may have had with regards to their music? I think, if a perform has been out of the lime light for years and comes back to entertain us, it should be appreciated.
I also look at this statement as odd in that when we were younger, we didn't have the money or the means to go and see the groups that we loved so much at the time and maybe I am just nostalgic, but I am very happy if I have that opportunity now that I did not have as a kid. I appreciate it tenfold.
In many senses, I feel we need to regain a level of appreciation and respect for talents that people have rather than grasp onto the concept that it depreciates with age. Many we could learn a thing or two from those who proceeded us.
Okay, I grant you that I probably get excited about stuff like this moreso than the average person, but my friend, who liked these singers equally as much as I did back in the day, turned to me and said, "What will they be singing about? Gray Hair?"
Part of her comment, I am certain, was made to be funny, but these types of comments about singing groups that were popular when I was younger, I find are a common occurrence among my friends now that we are all older.
I started to contemplate this a great deal this morning on the drive in. The songs that all of these performers hold good memories of yesteryear, they are all still as good as they were when we were young, so why do we not hold the same appreciation for them now that the groups are older (and mind you, by older in this case, at best they are 15 years older than my friend and I...which in the grand scheme of things, is not a whole lot if you ask me)?
It seems odd to me that people tend to think that just because one ages, their talent decreases in some way. For shouldn't we have a greater appreciation for them for continuing to get out there to perform and help us to remember the good times we may have had with regards to their music? I think, if a perform has been out of the lime light for years and comes back to entertain us, it should be appreciated.
I also look at this statement as odd in that when we were younger, we didn't have the money or the means to go and see the groups that we loved so much at the time and maybe I am just nostalgic, but I am very happy if I have that opportunity now that I did not have as a kid. I appreciate it tenfold.
In many senses, I feel we need to regain a level of appreciation and respect for talents that people have rather than grasp onto the concept that it depreciates with age. Many we could learn a thing or two from those who proceeded us.
Labels: Appreciation, Bell Biv DeVoe, En Vogue, Getting Older, Johnny Gill, Music, Respect
posted by Tara at 9:33 AM
4 Comments:
Hello Tara, you know I think the appreciation is there but like everything else evolution kicks in and groups that blew our minds before and then dissapeared will only have a small die hard fan base. New Kids are reuniting and guess what, I don't many young kids will be the ones going to see them.
I don't know if you remeber my post from a year and a half ago when I went to see Earth, Wind, & Fire and had one of the best times ever. These group is timeless and at the concert there were young and old all dancing and singing together. Earth, Wind, & Fire faded a little but were never gone.
http://joecoolsblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/30-years-later.html
On a side note My my my it think is the name, was my favorite Johnny Gill song.
Hey i was probably one of the youngest people at Duran Duran and they are still releasing albums.
Forget your friend. that girl is (wait for it)
POISON
(First off, Jose has good taste!)
Secondly, I think you bring up good points about how opinions change (or don't change) over time. I'm more inclined to be like you and cherish those memories more over time. I can attest to the fact that my iPod has more music from the 80s and 90s than music from any other time period because I choose to remember those "good ol' days" with the music that was playing in the background than to keep today's music on rotation just because it's "current."
As for aging singers and dancers, they have some awesome stamina to keep going so many years after their so-called prime. But, if people of our age and generation are now willing (and able!) to go and see them live, then how can that hurt? Why deprive those performers (and us as fans) the ability to do what they love?
Jose: I can understand that but I am totally fine with less people at the concert...just means better seats for me :D LOL.
Oh and I love Earth Wind and Fire! They come here often and hopefully I will get to see them perform some day as well.
Kia: That was priceless. LOL.
Amy: I agree with your comment about Jose :)
I also agree with your statement: Why deprive those performers (and us as fans) the ability to do what they love?
I couldn't have stated it better myself!
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