Sure it was the old joke to us kids when I was growing up, the adults just did not understand the Rock and Roll that was being piped into our young ears through the FM band and vinyl platters. The music just did not register with them at all and so the younger generation just wrote off those adults as square. But here’s the rub, some of them did get it and as the 70’s pushed into the 80’s more and more of those critical adults were swayed into the music of Elvis, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel and on and on.

My dad was one of those that when I was young couldn’t stand my music, but as time moved on I would catch him listening Elton John and liking it. Oh sure he would never admit to liking it, his “Preferred” listening was Count Basie and Glenn Miller, except when I found a “Madman Across the Water” and “The Stranger” tape in his regular listening collection. No I never confronted him on it, I just let him carry on with his secret listening and when I gave him a Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits album it was not returned. Apparently he learned to like “that noise” and maybe even appreciate it.

On the other hand of course I have learned to enjoy a large spectrum of music. My playlists contain Jazz, Rock, Classic Rock, Golden Oldies, Big Band, Swing, Broadway Musical, Barbershop, some country, Classical, Chant, Electronic, Disco (yeah, sue me), Punk, Glitter Rock, Some Metal, Rap (old school), Comedy, and a variety of others. Some of this was certainly influenced by my parents; I grew up with them playing Gilbert O’Sullivan and Herb Alpert spinning on the Kenwood. They encouraged me to listen and enjoy all types of music, even those they thought were noise. At least they had an open mind.

So here I am listening to the music the kids are playing today and I just don’t get it. I do not get why their music is filled with violent messages, misogynistic imagery and more misanthropy than I can withstand. This is what passes as music? Aside from the lyrics, where are the instruments? Even the Rock and Roll noise of the past required guitars and three chords. The good stuff even had horns, strings and woodwinds (or at least a good keyboardist) to fill out the sound. Am I missing something or has all that been replaced with re-sampled and overdubbed electronics? Where is the musicality?

Of course I grew up from being influenced by the Rock from the late ‘60’s through the late ‘70’s and hold a special place for the artists from this era, but from everything I see it is justified. The music was music, the lyrics had meaning (for the most part) and it was not all overproduced to appeal to every 12 year old in the market.

Please know I am not knocking all artists out there, I have heard so great stuff on the indie scene and the internet as brought some real catchy stuff, but where are the real musician that can write a song, pen some meaningful lyrics, play some real instruments and appeal to more that a coffeehouse niche? For a minute there I thought Ben Folds was going to be the new Billy Joel, so where is he? You get the idea, it’s not that the new music is inherently bad, but the older, “classic” rock, was just that good. I want more of that and it’s gone.

Want some interesting proof? When there are big concerts who are the ones playing? That’s right, the guys from the late ‘60’s and ‘70’s. The Who goes on tour and it is HUGE. Elton John plays to sold out venues in Vegas as a regular thing. When Vegas wants a new act who do they look to? Well right now it’s Bette Midler, Donny and Marie, Cher and a select few others. They tried Brittany Spears, Prince, and various other DJ’s, they just don’t sell or last. Barry Manilow sells out nightly. When Neil Diamond does a concert there is no doubt it sells out. Ever seen the frenzy that happen when Babs (Barbara Streisand) announces a concert date? Why? The music of course.

Now you are going to say that the frenzy is all amongst my generation, and this assumption would be wrong; even the younger concert goes are looking for tickets to shows like I listed above. Come to Vegas and look at the lines, just as many young people as the Flower Generation. Something is missing in todays music.

I want more good music, I really do.