My Love for 70’s and 80’s Music: A Personal Journey
‘I’m 20 years old. I love 70’s and 80’s music. I’m not really a fan of today’s music. Is there something wrong with me?’
If you’ve ever wondered if your music preferences are unique or if people who favor 70’s and 80’s music are somehow out of touch, let me assure you: there is absolutely nothing wrong with you! Musical tastes are highly personal and can be influenced by many factors including cultural background, exposure, and personal preferences. It’s totally fine to have a passion for the music that resonates with you, and if you enjoy the songs from this era, that’s what matters most!
It’s the HITS, Not the Misses
When people say that today’s music sucks and that music from the 70s and 80s was better, it’s often because they either lived through that time and it was their music, or they listen to it on some retro station that only plays the hits. Just because a song is popular doesn’t mean it will last the test of time.
In the world of music, half of today’s artists, even the one-hit wonders, will be forgotten in 10 years. Their music will simply fade into obscurity. However, the hitmakers—the ones who have true hits that chart and are played everywhere—will be remembered. This is the same for the 70s and 80s era. It’s not that 70s and 80s music was better, but rather you’re listening to songs that are well-known enough to get airtime.
Resonant Melodies from the Past
Take a look at a band from the 80s, for example, like Katrina and the Waves. If I mention a song like their hit “Walking on Sunshine,” you might easily recall it. However, when I ask you to list three other songs by them, it becomes much harder. Can you hum the tune to “Red Wine and Whiskey”? You probably can’t, and yet in Germany of 1985, that song reached 41 on the charts. Until I checked Wikipedia, I didn’t even know it was a song.
This is a testament to the fact that while many 70s and 80s songs are well-known, some others, even popular ones, tend to get forgotten. What makes these hits memorable is their strong, catchy melodies. A good song should be one that you can hear in the morning and have in your head all day long. Deep meanings or profound lyrics are great, but they’re not the primary factor; a catchy melody is what makes a song truly great.
Timeless Tunes and Personal Taste
When it comes to music, personal taste can often outweigh general trends. Even today, there are plenty of artists who create music with genuine melodies. Artists like Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Adele, and bands like Coldplay are still producing top-notch music with strong melodies. However, the charts are dominated by songs that lack this essential ingredient. Most popular songs today are more about catchy beats and hooks, which might be temporary and fade quickly.
So, if you’re a fan of 70s and 80s music, it’s not about being out of touch. It’s about having a personal appreciation for the timeless tunes and memorable melodies that characterized a specific era. Enjoy your music, and keep enjoying the songs that resonate with you, because that’s the most important thing.