I remember when I used to be completely up to date on music. The genre didn’t matter much, but I knew what was fresh and interesting. Lately, I’ve noticed that I’ve checked out on all of them. Do people start losing interest in new music because they get older? Busier? Or is it the curse of living at high altitude with too much to do outside?
I know that this valley loves music. There are free concerts and venues a plenty to hear all sorts of music. I’m a product of greater metropolitan area radio stations though. I grew up with a station for every type of music imaginable and at times I miss that.
I hate to say, “I like all types of music,” but I do, save for country. My beginnings in music varied from my mom’s love of the Beatles to my older siblings rap and heavy metal preferences. By the time I was in high school hip hop had taken over and “alternative” music had become popular.
When I moved out here I still listened to current hip hop and R&B. That delight has fallen by the wayside. Since going through the great “white wash” of my life I must admit that I feel cut off from new hip hop, R&B and good old fashioned soul. The closest thing to new hip hop is watered down Top 40.
No offense. I’ve grown to love our local radio stations, but they can only play what the majority of people want to hear. There’s classic rock and the indie/alternative/rock/jam band type stations. The new music on our radio stations arrives via carrier pigeon, just like our mail, a couple days after it was brand new.
I have a few friends here who grew up similar to me. We listened to R. Kelly and Jodeci at junior high dances. Unfortunately, most people out here only know who R. Kelly is because of his infamous connection to under aged girls.
My big brother was quite disappointed in my loss of knowledge of new hip hop. He used to send me the latest in rap music all the time. Then one day he stopped. He too knew it was too late to school me on 50 Cent.
I could be more diligent about going to new music shows at Belly Up. Although most of the hip hop shows there are all ages. Must I really hang with the high school kids in order to see good hip hop? Not all the time. That’s for certain.
I guess my taste in music has changed. I still enjoy the hip hop/rap/R&B music I already own, but the new stuff is lost on me. Come to think of it, even some of my high school buddies stopped listening to hip hop and they live in places where it can be found. Can’t we just listen to Snoop’s Doggystyle album forever? Those were the days.
I thought it was hip hop that I wasn’t keeping up with, but it turns out its most music. I have a tendency to buy albums I think are hot off the shelf, then find out otherwise. My first Jack Johnson CD was his second album and already a few months old. Oops.
I can’t listen to the radio at work. I don’t subscribe to any music magazines and I spend very little time in a car. If commuting in a large city is what’s keeping me from staying current, then I think I’ve made the right move.
I could read magazines like Paste. I could even check out what iTunes has to say. I thought that once I got my iPod I’d get back up to speed. I just haven’t found the time.
Thank God for Madonna. Yeah, I said it.
I got her new CD as a birthday present. I hope she’s still at it when she’s 60. I’m perfectly happy listening to Madge and Justin Timberlake. I know they’re putting out hits for the masses and they aren’t exactly hip hop. But, if enjoying their music is wrong then I don’t want to be right.
What? You can criticize my bubble gum cravings all you like, but they’ve got new stuff too. Omigosh. I’ve gone Top 40! As long I don’t start listening to radio stations with “Lite” in their title, I’m still cool right?
I guess I don’t need new music. Time, locale and age have all played a part in my so-called loss of interest in new music. I mourned the loss of new hip hop for a while and then new everything else. I’ve moved on and realized that some of the old stuff was better anyway.
C’est la vie. I guess whatever makes you happy is the most important thing, but I shudder to think that I may be a Madonna humming granny some day.
