It's so weird...but when I play music from the artists from "back then", the students really, really like it. When I play Ella Fitzgerald, the kids freak out. They love listening to bands like Earth, Wind, and Fire, The Beatles, and so on. Goes to show that GOOD MUSIC cannot be denied. Being a music teacher, I always remind my students of great artists of the past.
RIP Andy. You made so many Sunday evenings more enjoyable, informative, thought provoking and you were a one of a kind. When I think of all the commentators that have been in our living rooms since 1948 when we bought our first TV your name along with Cronkite, Morrow. McNeil and others will never be forgotten and will be missed. My prayers are with your wife and your family and may they be comforted by knowing how many of us average Americans really respected you no matter what you, RIP Andy.
I grew up in the 1970s. I was at the tail end of the Stones and the Brazil '66. I was in the middle of the popularity of Boston and Genesis. I like Big Band music. I like Glenn Miller and the Dorseys. I like early Sinatra, Nat King Cole and believe it or not, Doris Day. I have a Sam Cooke CD in my car. I have no idea what pop singer is popular these days. I will explore music I never heard and now and then something will really catch my ear and I'll have to download it. Most of the time it is an old song. Sometimes it is a contemporary song, but most of the time it is years old. It's from Johnny Mathis, or Jay and the Americans, or the Staple Singers. Point is: as far as music is concerned, I can go backwards in time without any trouble. I can go back decades before I was born. The contemporary music seems to be tough sledding. I have been told that I am not their target audience, but then again, I certainly was not the target audience for Glenn Miller's Chattanooga Cho Cho, either.
Your set in your ways like i am I'm 47 was a teen in the 80s & don't care one way or the other about new music. I only like 80s & early 90s. We like what we like when we was growing up & frankly no one can change a person's likes & dislikes. Besides older people like you & myself would look down right silly listening to the new stuff. That's why they have radio stations & RUclips music fit for the middle aged older people. If you have kids in their teens or something i can see getting into a little new stuff just so you know what your kids like for Birthdays & Christmas's but don't go overboard specially in front of your kids friends.
Unlike "comfort, beauty, ice cream, and a sunny day," music changes drastically over time. If you're accustomed to a certain sound or style, it's only natural that you'll find new music unappealing. Age doesn't divide us on things that stay the same, which music absolutely does not.
dont feel bad broter your a great person. one who woulda help build our countries. time goes through stages and levels and it keeps rolling on. thanks for givin birth to my granny mate!!!
Rest in peace, dear Mr. Andy Rooney. I also grew up listening and watching you say your creative, common sense, and humorous commentaries on 60 Minutes. They were often very thought provoking. Thank you! Thank God for reruns and RUclips. So I can still see clips of your gifts of wisdom.
From Toronto,Canada...Andy...Truth,Hope,Love...You rest well...and no late nights! The Trump Tower Gang..on this sunny Saturday morning we hang our heads in sweet sadness...Gemma and all of us..XXOO
Stop bashing on Andy.... he's an icon.... he's just making a point about the change in music styles and tastes... And he's right... My Mom and Dad don't even know or care much about who the new artists are.... I don't knock them for that. It's just the way it is... Andy didn't say anything bad about the new artists... He was just noting the change...
I'm 27 and i've hated new music since I was 14. I agree with Andy! The music nowadays lacks any kind of talent or originality, most of it is stolen beats from other songs in the 1980's.
I miss Andy Rooney, and I miss the greatest generation! Those motherfuckers literally saved the world from tyranny. The succeeding generations can't hold a candle to the greatest generation!
I totally agree, in this post-modern era mainstream culture moves at an inconsiderately fast pace. People are only famous enough to let the public taste them before mysterious puppeteers in the underground of pop-culture decide that the public wants something different.
I'm 16 and I know who Ella Fitzgerald is! Then I again I'm primarily a 60s-80s music fan and have heard about 10 songs released in his lifetime that he loves. RIP Andy.
He's so right, and its so sad. Today's "singers" are talentless, esp compared to 50 years ago. How do people that have heard (and we all have) singers like Patsy Cline, Mahalia Jackson, The Beach Boys, Elvis, Sam Cooke, etc, etc like Gaga, Taylor Swift, KISS, Bieber, Usher or even Michael Jackson & Madonna (much less think they're GOOD)?!?!?!?! The music industry is just in awful shape.
It's all about technology. Born in 1919, Andy Rooney grew up listening to music that was played with woodwind instruments. There just isn't really demand for music that is pre-1964 - the year the Beatles arrived in America. And that's why oldies stations are going off the air.
And then there are people like me, who know Gaga and Ella. We know how wonderful BOTH of them are. If you can't see it, then it isn't such a problem. You are just a different kind of person. Although the obvious is probably the right one. It IS age, and all the things that come with it.
Andy should open for Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, etc. Do one of his rants as an experimental and unique intro for todays contemporary artists. It would be a smash!
I think the main thing is most of the pop artists at the top of the charts are put together by a big production team with image consultants, songwriters, sound engineers, and producers. Back in the 60-90's so many kids got together with schoomates and formed bands. Lot of the popular bands from those eras slugged it out in clubs. But even in the 60-90's you had commerically produced bands like the Monkees; then you had stuff like New Edition, New Kids on the Block. The big difference these days is you see less rock bands on top of the charts and more solo artist. Instead of rock bands you now have the huge influence of Nashville; so it's easier for bands to get signed as country. Lot of great musicians flock to Nashville now and play as session musicians for country bands. In the 60-90's you could be be a successful rock band by playing in the club circuit and then getting signed.
that was awesome! the bad part is it just perpetuates the idea that popular music is all we have. Charles Ives anyone? Aaron Copland isn't the only American composer! listen to something that isn't on the radio! and doesn't have a guitar!
I have never heard of alot of singers that were popular ever since 1990, and I was only 29 in 1990. I prefer music from 1940s, 1960s, & 1980s. Disco was the music on the charts when I was in all 4 years of high school, and I was in my twenties the 1980s decade. In my opinion, the 1980s was the last decade for great music, both country and light rock.
Music very very rarely can survive generations. The only music I know of that for me has passed the age barrier is things like classical Mozart, Beethoven and several operas. I doubt lady gaga's music will pass 300 years as the best know music but we can still enjoy it in this time for this generation.
@my80splaylist I'm 23 and I agree. Sting is cool and I liked Usher when I was a teenager, but my music has changed a lot. I like Andy and most of the time has a great perspective on the world. Fantastic writer.
Age has nothing to do with being in touch with current trends in anything..Go to events, raves, concerts, Burning Man, read the news, stay active. Maybe I'm lucky that I get to work with young people every day (from 16 and up). All that helps me stay young and in touch ;-)
i think a lot of it has to do w/ the advantage of the computer & how fast it has enabled the world to get info much more quickly. Artists of the 2000s were promoted primarily through the internet & not on the radio (at least not as much as artists of previous decades). Teens and young adults of the 60s, 70s and 80s knew of upcoming musicians through radio. And since artists weren't seen as much, they have to rely on their craft to sell to the public. That meant actually working or practicing
Andy you are the best, my Dad says the same thing. I know who Ella Fitzgerald is, and I do love her music and her soulfulness. I watched the Monster Ball with my parents because they asked me, "Who is Lady Gaga?". My mom's reaction was priceless, "what is she wearing", my Dad, "Wow, is she holding a sceptre?" They appreciated her candour and her performance, and said she reminded them of Bruce Springsteen
The fact that the new generation actually do know some of the old generations' musicians points out to 2 things: 1) Our musical generation isn't interesting and as compelling for all ages, as the older musical generation was. 2) Age is a divider. I agree with the first, seeing as to some extent the most popular musician of our times should be POPULAR....every age should have heard of them!
The answer lies in music being an art. And art is appreciated by only a select group of people usually and requires a fine sense of appreciation which only comes with exposure. If your not exposed you won't get it and also you may not even like it.
Mainstream is lacking depth. Music is the only genre of art that seems to devolve in the recent decades amongst the high paid professionals. If you look at Classical pieces, Blues roots song, and Jazz improvisation revolutionized/shape our music today.What has lady gaga or Justin Bieber created that have the same influence as the generations before them? It's sad many people deteriorate their comprehension of good music by listen to mainstream.
Don't expect to know how the story ends if you didn't read the book Andy. The only reason you don't know who the new artists are is because you are not paying attention to the industry as much as you once did. It hasn't changed, YOU have.
sad, but true. music these days isnt about the art form anymore. it's a gigantic industry--a huge money making business. and their target audience? oh only the most money-spending generation of the history of humanity: the youth! so yea, we have music that appeals to a certain audience with lyrical content that pertains only to them. all of a sudden, the creation of music isnt to create art anymore but its to sell records and get rich. a problem not just here in the US but all over the world.
modern music is horrible. it will all be forgotten about as time goes on. the great bands from the past will be heard 100+ years from now but nothing out now will stand the test of time. people don't put feeling into music anymore. the man has a good point...
Andy, I work around young kids at a grocery store, I asked one of them if they knew who Bette Midler is, they said they never heard of her, I then said, do you hear the song that's playing right now, they said yes, well that's Bette Midler...Oh was their response...I know how you feel.
I like his sentiment that there's no reason why musical aesthetic should have anything to do with age, but it's the current mental addiction to novelty which creates record sales. I think most Americans aren't really on the billboard addiction train, and therefore their purchases aren't voluminous enough to chart.
as someone who loves the nuances of sound and music I get his point. Most people just tend to like what they grow up with and as they grow into a new generation their nostalgia can tend to lead them to their current tastes. But especially as a person who loves music I think we're always looking for a new sound that affects the ear in a different way. The benefit of this generation is we can move forwards and backwards. I knew who Ella Fitzgerald was and I'm a huge Lady GaGa fan :)
Poor man, I know one day that I'll feel the same too. But Andy, thats alright, you've seen a lot of good music, movies, and such. I respect the older generations and what they have to offer, the stories, the culture and such. I'm 20 years old , and I appreciate the , music of older generations like Ella Fitzgerald and The Beatles, but also love the music of my gen Like Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the like.
It's because the music industry seems to have written off all potential customers whose age exceeds thirty. A wealth of additional sales would result if they would add products with beautiful melodies (and lyrics sans anger) to their current production.
As time passes, and you get further away from your twenties, you do have to make a concerted effort to stay in touch with "popular music". Music to a large degree difines our "culture", a generation and issues important to that generation. The hip 21 year olds of today will also in some distant future, find themselves grappleing with new music, although they believe they invented "coolness" today. He he he.
Hey, I am 36 and I know one Lady Gaga song, Bad Romance, which I think is one of the best songs I've heard since 1991 Michael Jackson's Dangerous album and some 2 Unlimited songs. I know Bieber and I heard of Usher, but I don't know any of their songs. Unfortunately, I am most familiar with Chick Corea and Hiromi Uehara's music, which most main stream folks probably never heard of...
He was the last of the "Murrow's Boys". He was on the beaches of Normandy. He reported on WWII. He's right about today's music. But I can how at 92 years old he wouldn't be into much pop stuff. The bands I like (Spock's Beard, Porcupine Tree, Flower Kings, Transatlantic, Blind Guardian, as well as most traditional prog-rock) he probably never heard of either. He just doesn't follow the stuff. Nothing wrong with that. he is an average American after all. R.I.P.
"Darn kids and their rock music!" It's the same every generation. My grandpa didn't like it when my dad listened to The Beatles, and now my dad doesn't like it when I listen to Rammstein. I like what I hear. If I hear and like a song by The Ink Spots, then I like it. I generally don't like pop music, but if I happen to like a pop song as well, so be it. I'd rather not conform to one group or another. I just like what I hear.
"At Last" someone has made the point that the music of today SUCKS - I'm 21 and thanks to my parents, have the widest range in musical tastes of anyone I know. RIP Andy. Grew up watching and will miss your writing!
Music styles change, that's just how it goes. I don't personally care for a lot of the new music coming out today, but that's because I grew up loving grunge music and a lot of stuff from the 90's. Just because you don't like it doesn't make it bad, just different. Labeling an entire generation as crap is pretty stupid. Andy is just older. My grandmother doesn't know who Lady Gaga is, and I wouldn't expect her to.
@OwrKeeng Actually, I think she will be more appreciated for her vocal talent as her physical beauty fades a bit... just so she stops taking her clothes off. Her promotional gimmick was what repelled me, and I still have to hold my nose. The only category I was aiming to make was one of vocal power and passion, regardless of style. Yes, I left out Joan Jett, and about a hundred others...And I kept it to women because it made the list easier to make. Cheers !
I don't think three quarters of the people posting replies bothered to listen to the clip. Andy didn't insult any music from any generation, nor did he try to establish any grounds to claim musical superiority. He was just asking the question of why music can be such a far divergent between generations when as a majority we can all enjoy so many of the same things.
Just a different generation. As a Baby Boomer, I grew up listening to the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, and Led Zeppelin - and I still love their music. Paul McCartney played several Beatles hits for the MTV Music Awards a few years ago and many teens tweeted, "Who is this guy?"
Plenty of Gen Z likes classic rock actually, just because there's some dunb ones doesn't mean they're all like that. I was born in 1984 (I'm an older millennial) and I mostly like 70s 80s and early 90s music. Don't stereotype everyone
I heard of a study which suggests that musical tastes are formed in youth, and that your brain grows at that period to appreciate certain types of sound, which may well explain why age is a dividing factor when it comes to music. But you only have to turn on a radio to hear any one of these artists, if he was ACTUALLY interested in giving Gaga a whirl. I'm guessing Andy doesn't experiment much with new things. Signed, One Who Loves Gaga AND Ella
All music is derived from the blues, it's just sometimes electrified, rappified or horrified. The think is, peoiple don't listen to lyricks much, if it has a beat, u like the singer, it's a hit..Very commercial. I don't agree alot with 'ole Rooney but he's got a point.
It's simple. Music is generational just like TV shows are. There are the occassional extremely popular TV shows or Musicians that became famous across the generations or leave lasting legacies but otherwise its generation based. You can't say music is dead, or crap like that, because like art music is personal taste.
I'm 20 and I hate modern music. Being old doesn't mean you have to be out of touch, and our generation never will because in 70 years, mass media will be so advanced that you'd have to live in a cage in order to stay unconnected with the masses.
in the studio in order to deliver a fine product. The hype that "famous musicians" of today get correlates with instant access through the net as well as venues such as RUclips where young people can easily share info within a 24 hour period, something which cannot be said prior to the computer age. I think the reason why Andy's generation and others before the 2000s dont know about the top artists of today like Ke$ha, Usher or Beiber is simply because they just dont care or simply because
lack of curiosity = lack of exposure. most young people today know more about "Ella" than people of her time did because they are more exposed to her, even if they aren't curious.
There is no '30's' channel on Sirius (cable radio) because most of the people that listened to it have passed on, so the great pop music of the 20's and 30's is nearing oblivion. In 50 years there will be no 80's channel, because most of us will be dead. The majority of pop artist are forgotten within the small time frame of 1 generation. In 75 years probably not 2 people in 100,000 will not know who the singer Madonna was.
Andy, you are a legend - but knowing what is hot in music has nothing to do with being an "average American." Anyone who keeps up with current music knows current artists. It's the same with TV & movies. You may not know any of the reality television stars or the young actors in new movies, but it just means that you don't keep up with these things. It doesn't mean you're not "average."
@Messiahs "Why should our tastes suddenly diverge when it comes to the sound of music?" he asked in regards to age. My answer? Musical styles change over time so of course age is a factor. For Andy to think that he can simply throw out that factor is ridiculous. It sounds like someone didn't understand a word Andy or I said.
I don't think Rooney went far enough with this statement. He comes to the verge of admitting that age becomes a factor in relevance and then backs off of it. The truth is that time does pass things by; music, style, are easy to measure for taste. But what of technology, politics or religion? Older is not always better.
I'm sorry to say as an 18 year old male myself. If you don't know any other artist than the ones in your time period than you have been deprived of what real music is!
Sigh. Cultural nostalgia makes people think of everything from their younger years better than the present. Some people idealize their youth, when they understood everything about that time, because they don't really understand now and feel alienated. eople say "MUSIC WAS BETTER BACK IN THE DAY". You ever stop and think the best songs from that era made it out of there? I'm sure there were thousands of songs that were hits back in the day that didn't survive. We only remember the best. R.I.P.
It's interesting how the older generation rarely understands the popular music of the younger generations. I have a musical comedy project where I act as a character, MC Rabbits Havin Sex, and I rap. My pops was bitching at me about how he didn't like it before going into the bathroom. He then ducked his head out and said to me "You know, I just reminded myself of what my father said about Elvis." Justin Bieber is worth not knowing, though.
Love Andy. "Why didn't pop-culture freeze when I was still young" is a feeling I have many times now in my 40's.
It's so weird...but when I play music from the artists from "back then", the students really, really like it. When I play Ella Fitzgerald, the kids freak out. They love listening to bands like Earth, Wind, and Fire, The Beatles, and so on. Goes to show that GOOD MUSIC cannot be denied. Being a music teacher, I always remind my students of great artists of the past.
Andy may be an old, out-of-touch crank, and yet he's right: pop music sucks.
When he implies the Rolling Stones are youthful, you just have to absolutely wonder how old he was.
He was probably in his late 80s when it was taped.
I'm familiar with Pat Boone, Anita Bryant, and Lawrence Welk. But who are these Beatles and why do they spell their name incorrectly?
James Braun then how come justin bieber is in it?
lol!
He was 91
RIP Andy. You made so many Sunday evenings more enjoyable, informative, thought provoking and you were a one of a kind. When I think of all the commentators that have been in our living rooms since 1948 when we bought our first TV your name along with Cronkite, Morrow. McNeil and others will never be forgotten and will be missed. My prayers are with your wife and your family and may they be comforted by knowing how many of us average Americans really respected you no matter what you, RIP Andy.
Actually Andy you were normal. Most old people your age don't listen to that crap. And if they did that would seem odd.
I grew up in the 1970s. I was at the tail end of the Stones and the Brazil '66. I was in the middle of the popularity of Boston and Genesis. I like Big Band music. I like Glenn Miller and the Dorseys. I like early Sinatra, Nat King Cole and believe it or not, Doris Day. I have a Sam Cooke CD in my car. I have no idea what pop singer is popular these days. I will explore music I never heard and now and then something will really catch my ear and I'll have to download it. Most of the time it is an old song. Sometimes it is a contemporary song, but most of the time it is years old. It's from Johnny Mathis, or Jay and the Americans, or the Staple Singers. Point is: as far as music is concerned, I can go backwards in time without any trouble. I can go back decades before I was born. The contemporary music seems to be tough sledding. I have been told that I am not their target audience, but then again, I certainly was not the target audience for Glenn Miller's Chattanooga Cho Cho, either.
This is me when it comes to these soundcloud rappers
Your set in your ways like i am I'm 47 was a teen in the 80s & don't care one way or the other about new music. I only like 80s & early 90s. We like what we like when we was growing up & frankly no one can change a person's likes & dislikes. Besides older people like you & myself would look down right silly listening to the new stuff. That's why they have radio stations & RUclips music fit for the middle aged older people. If you have kids in their teens or something i can see getting into a little new stuff just so you know what your kids like for Birthdays & Christmas's but don't go overboard specially in front of your kids friends.
Its hilarious in 2010 he thought Sting and the Stones were hip new artists 🤣
Summarized: Get off my lawn
I disagree.
they don't have lawns in NYC
@BerkeleyBuilt I'm 22 years young as well!!! I love Rooney's essays, I've read 2 of his books. I'll take Sting over Lady Gaga any day of the week.
If you think about it it makes sense. The Rolling Stones are still around but people like Justin Bieber falter after a few years.
I miss his couple of minutes every Sunday. R.I.P. Mr. Rooney.
ws1035 and I’m glad he’s dead
Don't worry Andy. Many people Hate Justin Bieber.
Unlike "comfort, beauty, ice cream, and a sunny day," music changes drastically over time. If you're accustomed to a certain sound or style, it's only natural that you'll find new music unappealing. Age doesn't divide us on things that stay the same, which music absolutely does not.
Rest in Peace Andrew Rooney. You have had a great impact on the thing we know as media today
dont feel bad broter your a great person. one who woulda help build our countries. time goes through stages and levels and it keeps rolling on. thanks for givin birth to my granny mate!!!
Rest in peace, dear Mr. Andy Rooney. I also grew up listening and watching you say your creative, common sense, and humorous commentaries on 60 Minutes. They were often very thought provoking. Thank you! Thank God for reruns and RUclips. So I can still see clips of your gifts of wisdom.
Rest in peace, Andy. You will be missed.
honestly this man makes a really good point. When it comes to mainstream American culture, its reached a point where you're either in or you're out.
"I'm old and I'm not familiar with the music my great-grandchildren are listening to!"
*cashes a check from CBS*
I've been completely out of touch with the modern music scene since 2004 when I was 21. The problem today is it's not even about talent anymore.
thenamestheygivearedumb Damien Rice
Amen
Sounds like you've wasted a lot of time.
I'm just impressed that he's not only still alive but still doing his segments on 60 minutes
He’s gone now
@@Patrick3183 Or is he?????
From Toronto,Canada...Andy...Truth,Hope,Love...You rest well...and no late nights!
The Trump Tower Gang..on this sunny Saturday morning we hang our heads in sweet sadness...Gemma and all of us..XXOO
Andy, you are not an ignoramus! The music today is garbage. I know who Ella Fitzgerald was. And I am their age. It’s sad that history has been erased.
Stop bashing on Andy.... he's an icon.... he's just making a point about the change in music styles and tastes... And he's right... My Mom and Dad don't even know or care much about who the new artists are.... I don't knock them for that. It's just the way it is...
Andy didn't say anything bad about the new artists... He was just noting the change...
I'm 27 and i've hated new music since I was 14. I agree with Andy! The music nowadays lacks any kind of talent or originality, most of it is stolen beats from other songs in the 1980's.
Love this on so many levels.
I miss Andy Rooney, and I miss the greatest generation! Those motherfuckers literally saved the world from tyranny. The succeeding generations can't hold a candle to the greatest generation!
sure most popular music sucks nowadays but that doesn't mean there isn't good music out there as well as great artists.
We miss you Andy. You were the best. Thank you 🇺🇸🍀🇺🇸
This is going straight to my favorites! He has a point.
I totally agree, in this post-modern era mainstream culture moves at an inconsiderately fast pace. People are only famous enough to let the public taste them before mysterious puppeteers in the underground of pop-culture decide that the public wants something different.
I'm 16 and I know who Ella Fitzgerald is! Then I again I'm primarily a 60s-80s music fan and have heard about 10 songs released in his lifetime that he loves. RIP Andy.
He's so right, and its so sad. Today's "singers" are talentless, esp compared to 50 years ago. How do people that have heard (and we all have) singers like Patsy Cline, Mahalia Jackson, The Beach Boys, Elvis, Sam Cooke, etc, etc like Gaga, Taylor Swift, KISS, Bieber, Usher or even Michael Jackson & Madonna (much less think they're GOOD)?!?!?!?! The music industry is just in awful shape.
95 and still doin' his thing. Respect.
R.I.P Andy! Thank you for everything!
It's all about technology. Born in 1919, Andy Rooney grew up listening to music that was played with woodwind instruments. There just isn't really demand for music that is pre-1964 - the year the Beatles arrived in America. And that's why oldies stations are going off the air.
This is like a self-caricature. Bravo, Mr. Rooney. Bravo.
And then there are people like me, who know Gaga and Ella. We know how wonderful BOTH of them are. If you can't see it, then it isn't such a problem. You are just a different kind of person. Although the obvious is probably the right one. It IS age, and all the things that come with it.
Andy should open for Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, etc. Do one of his rants as an experimental and unique intro for todays contemporary artists. It would be a smash!
I think the main thing is most of the pop artists at the top of the charts are put together by a big production team with image consultants, songwriters, sound engineers, and producers. Back in the 60-90's so many kids got together with schoomates and formed bands. Lot of the popular bands from those eras slugged it out in clubs. But even in the 60-90's you had commerically produced bands like the Monkees; then you had stuff like New Edition, New Kids on the Block. The big difference these days is you see less rock bands on top of the charts and more solo artist. Instead of rock bands you now have the huge influence of Nashville; so it's easier for bands to get signed as country. Lot of great musicians flock to Nashville now and play as session musicians for country bands. In the 60-90's you could be be a successful rock band by playing in the club circuit and then getting signed.
that was awesome!
the bad part is it just perpetuates the idea that popular music is all we have. Charles Ives anyone? Aaron Copland isn't the only American composer!
listen to something that isn't on the radio! and doesn't have a guitar!
I have never heard of alot of singers that were popular ever since 1990, and I was only 29 in 1990. I prefer music from 1940s, 1960s, & 1980s. Disco was the music on the charts when I was in all 4 years of high school, and I was in my twenties the 1980s decade. In my opinion, the 1980s was the last decade for great music, both country and light rock.
Music very very rarely can survive generations.
The only music I know of that for me has passed the age barrier is things like classical Mozart, Beethoven and several operas.
I doubt lady gaga's music will pass 300 years as the best know music but we can still enjoy it in this time for this generation.
@my80splaylist I'm 23 and I agree. Sting is cool and I liked Usher when I was a teenager, but my music has changed a lot. I like Andy and most of the time has a great perspective on the world. Fantastic writer.
Age has nothing to do with being in touch with current trends in anything..Go to events, raves, concerts, Burning Man, read the news, stay active. Maybe I'm lucky that I get to work with young people every day (from 16 and up). All that helps me stay young and in touch ;-)
i think a lot of it has to do w/ the advantage of the computer & how fast it has enabled the world to get info much more quickly. Artists of the 2000s were promoted primarily through the internet & not on the radio (at least not as much as artists of previous decades). Teens and young adults of the 60s, 70s and 80s knew of upcoming musicians through radio. And since artists weren't seen as much, they have to rely on their craft to sell to the public. That meant actually working or practicing
Andy you are the best, my Dad says the same thing. I know who Ella Fitzgerald is, and I do love her music and her soulfulness. I watched the Monster Ball with my parents because they asked me, "Who is Lady Gaga?". My mom's reaction was priceless, "what is she wearing", my Dad, "Wow, is she holding a sceptre?" They appreciated her candour and her performance, and said she reminded them of Bruce Springsteen
The fact that the new generation actually do know some of the old generations' musicians points out to 2 things:
1) Our musical generation isn't interesting and as compelling for all ages, as the older musical generation was.
2) Age is a divider.
I agree with the first, seeing as to some extent the most popular musician of our times should be POPULAR....every age should have heard of them!
The answer lies in music being an art. And art is appreciated by only a select group of people usually and requires a fine sense of appreciation which only comes with exposure. If your not exposed you won't get it and also you may not even like it.
I thought I was going to hate this video but I actually respect it a lot.
Mainstream is lacking depth. Music is the only genre of art that seems to devolve in the recent decades amongst the high paid professionals. If you look at Classical pieces, Blues roots song, and Jazz improvisation revolutionized/shape our music today.What has lady gaga or Justin Bieber created that have the same influence as the generations before them? It's sad many people deteriorate their comprehension of good music by listen to mainstream.
Don't expect to know how the story ends if you didn't read the book Andy. The only reason you don't know who the new artists are is because you are not paying attention to the industry as much as you once did. It hasn't changed, YOU have.
sad, but true. music these days isnt about the art form anymore. it's a gigantic industry--a huge money making business. and their target audience? oh only the most money-spending generation of the history of humanity: the youth! so yea, we have music that appeals to a certain audience with lyrical content that pertains only to them. all of a sudden, the creation of music isnt to create art anymore but its to sell records and get rich.
a problem not just here in the US but all over the world.
Lady Gog-Uh.
I enjoy Andy's closing thoughts. I don't think that makes me average at all!
modern music is horrible. it will all be forgotten about as time goes on. the great bands from the past will be heard 100+ years from now but nothing out now will stand the test of time. people don't put feeling into music anymore. the man has a good point...
Andy, I work around young kids at a grocery store, I asked one of them if they knew who Bette Midler is, they said they never heard of her, I then said, do you hear the song that's playing right now, they said yes, well that's Bette Midler...Oh was their response...I know how you feel.
I like his sentiment that there's no reason why musical aesthetic should have anything to do with age, but it's the current mental addiction to novelty which creates record sales. I think most Americans aren't really on the billboard addiction train, and therefore their purchases aren't voluminous enough to chart.
as someone who loves the nuances of sound and music I get his point. Most people just tend to like what they grow up with and as they grow into a new generation their nostalgia can tend to lead them to their current tastes. But especially as a person who loves music I think we're always looking for a new sound that affects the ear in a different way. The benefit of this generation is we can move forwards and backwards. I knew who Ella Fitzgerald was and I'm a huge Lady GaGa fan :)
Poor man, I know one day that I'll feel the same too. But Andy, thats alright, you've seen a lot of good music, movies, and such. I respect the older generations and what they have to offer, the stories, the culture and such. I'm 20 years old , and I appreciate the , music of older generations like Ella Fitzgerald and The Beatles, but also love the music of my gen Like Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the like.
Thank you Mr. Rooney I consider myself musically ignorant as well if we go by todays music.
I used to be with it, but then they changed what *it* was. Now what I'm with isn't *it*, and what's *it* seems weird and scary to me.
It's because the music industry seems to have written off all potential customers whose age exceeds thirty. A wealth of additional sales would result if they would add products with beautiful melodies (and lyrics sans anger) to their current production.
yep your out. good job....glad you figured this out music evolves sad thing i hate it to but.....what ever.
As time passes, and you get further away from your twenties, you do have to make a concerted effort to stay in touch with "popular music". Music to a large degree difines our "culture", a generation and issues important to that generation. The hip 21 year olds of today will also in some distant future, find themselves grappleing with new music, although they believe they invented "coolness" today. He he he.
Hey, I am 36 and I know one Lady Gaga song, Bad Romance, which I think is one of the best songs I've heard since 1991 Michael Jackson's Dangerous album and some 2 Unlimited songs. I know Bieber and I heard of Usher, but I don't know any of their songs. Unfortunately, I am most familiar with Chick Corea and Hiromi Uehara's music, which most main stream folks probably never heard of...
He was the last of the "Murrow's Boys". He was on the beaches of Normandy. He reported on WWII. He's right about today's music. But I can how at 92 years old he wouldn't be into much pop stuff. The bands I like (Spock's Beard, Porcupine Tree, Flower Kings, Transatlantic, Blind Guardian, as well as most traditional prog-rock) he probably never heard of either. He just doesn't follow the stuff. Nothing wrong with that. he is an average American after all. R.I.P.
"Darn kids and their rock music!"
It's the same every generation. My grandpa didn't like it when my dad listened to The Beatles, and now my dad doesn't like it when I listen to Rammstein.
I like what I hear. If I hear and like a song by The Ink Spots, then I like it. I generally don't like pop music, but if I happen to like a pop song as well, so be it. I'd rather not conform to one group or another. I just like what I hear.
Respect the classics. ella fitzgerald. awesome. I'm in my 20's and lady gaga is no ella.
"At Last" someone has made the point that the music of today SUCKS - I'm 21 and thanks to my parents, have the widest range in musical tastes of anyone I know. RIP Andy. Grew up watching and will miss your writing!
Music styles change, that's just how it goes. I don't personally care for a lot of the new music coming out today, but that's because I grew up loving grunge music and a lot of stuff from the 90's. Just because you don't like it doesn't make it bad, just different. Labeling an entire generation as crap is pretty stupid. Andy is just older. My grandmother doesn't know who Lady Gaga is, and I wouldn't expect her to.
@OwrKeeng Actually, I think she will be more appreciated for her vocal talent as her physical beauty fades a bit... just so she stops taking her clothes off.
Her promotional gimmick was what repelled me, and I still have to hold my nose.
The only category I was aiming to make was one of vocal power and passion, regardless of style. Yes, I left out Joan Jett, and about a hundred others...And I kept it to women because it made the list easier to make.
Cheers !
@TheRadioIsBroken then who is the new beatles, sam cooke,bob marley, doors...the good ones
I don't think three quarters of the people posting replies bothered to listen to the clip. Andy didn't insult any music from any generation, nor did he try to establish any grounds to claim musical superiority. He was just asking the question of why music can be such a far divergent between generations when as a majority we can all enjoy so many of the same things.
I'll bet he would have liked Lady Gaga's collaboration with Tony Bennett, which brought Tony's music to a new generation of fans.
Just a different generation. As a Baby Boomer, I grew up listening to the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, and Led Zeppelin - and I still love their music. Paul McCartney played several Beatles hits for the MTV Music Awards a few years ago and many teens tweeted, "Who is this guy?"
Plenty of Gen Z likes classic rock actually, just because there's some dunb ones doesn't mean they're all like that.
I was born in 1984 (I'm an older millennial) and I mostly like 70s 80s and early 90s music. Don't stereotype everyone
@clayguy1 damn those skulptures u make are amazin.
how long hav u been doin that?
I heard of a study which suggests that musical tastes are formed in youth, and that your brain grows at that period to appreciate certain types of sound, which may well explain why age is a dividing factor when it comes to music. But you only have to turn on a radio to hear any one of these artists, if he was ACTUALLY interested in giving Gaga a whirl. I'm guessing Andy doesn't experiment much with new things.
Signed,
One Who Loves Gaga AND Ella
All music is derived from the blues, it's just sometimes electrified, rappified or horrified. The think is, peoiple don't listen to lyricks much, if it has a beat, u like the singer, it's a hit..Very commercial. I don't agree alot with 'ole Rooney but he's got a point.
It's simple. Music is generational just like TV shows are. There are the occassional extremely popular TV shows or Musicians that became famous across the generations or leave lasting legacies but otherwise its generation based. You can't say music is dead, or crap like that, because like art music is personal taste.
I'm 20 and I hate modern music. Being old doesn't mean you have to be out of touch, and our generation never will because in 70 years, mass media will be so advanced that you'd have to live in a cage in order to stay unconnected with the masses.
Standing ovation for outstanding journalism. In other news I USE THE AOL INTERNETS FOR MICROSOFT EMAILS.
in the studio in order to deliver a fine product. The hype that "famous musicians" of today get correlates with instant access through the net as well as venues such as RUclips where young people can easily share info within a 24 hour period, something which cannot be said prior to the computer age. I think the reason why Andy's generation and others before the 2000s dont know about the top artists of today like Ke$ha, Usher or Beiber is simply because they just dont care or simply because
This dude is funny. They should give him a spot on tv!
lack of curiosity = lack of exposure. most young people today know more about "Ella" than people of her time did because they are more exposed to her, even if they aren't curious.
I'm 17 and I love Gaga and Ella! I don't think age has anything to do with taste
There is no '30's' channel on Sirius (cable radio) because most of the people that listened to it have passed on, so the great pop music of the 20's and 30's is nearing oblivion. In 50 years there will be no 80's channel, because most of us will be dead. The majority of pop artist are forgotten within the small time frame of 1 generation. In 75 years probably not 2 people in 100,000 will not know who the singer Madonna was.
Andy, you are a legend - but knowing what is hot in music has nothing to do with being an "average American." Anyone who keeps up with current music knows current artists. It's the same with TV & movies. You may not know any of the reality television stars or the young actors in new movies, but it just means that you don't keep up with these things. It doesn't mean you're not "average."
@Messiahs "Why should our tastes suddenly diverge when it comes to the sound of music?" he asked in regards to age. My answer? Musical styles change over time so of course age is a factor. For Andy to think that he can simply throw out that factor is ridiculous. It sounds like someone didn't understand a word Andy or I said.
I don't think Rooney went far enough with this statement. He comes to the verge of admitting that age becomes a factor in relevance and then backs off of it. The truth is that time does pass things by; music, style, are easy to measure for taste. But what of technology, politics or religion? Older is not always better.
I'm sorry to say as an 18 year old male myself. If you don't know any other artist than the ones in your time period than you have been deprived of what real music is!
You can aprecciate music from the past and still like today's music you just have to make an effort
If you have to "make an effort" it's not likeable.
I love this guy he is the best!!!!!!! and im only 21 and i got major respects for him
Sigh. Cultural nostalgia makes people think of everything from their younger years better than the present. Some people idealize their youth, when they understood everything about that time, because they don't really understand now and feel alienated.
eople say "MUSIC WAS BETTER BACK IN THE DAY". You ever stop and think the best songs from that era made it out of there? I'm sure there were thousands of songs that were hits back in the day that didn't survive. We only remember the best.
R.I.P.
I started lossing touch with popular music 12 years ago...
I agree with Andy.
Then again, I still listen to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.
It's interesting how the older generation rarely understands the popular music of the younger generations. I have a musical comedy project where I act as a character, MC Rabbits Havin Sex, and I rap. My pops was bitching at me about how he didn't like it before going into the bathroom. He then ducked his head out and said to me "You know, I just reminded myself of what my father said about Elvis." Justin Bieber is worth not knowing, though.