One of the themes of our family car disputes (and there have been a few) has been constant over the years. Who controls the car radio and what is played on it. There is an unwritten law that the driver has first preference on both counts – but just like the Arab spring democracy often flourishes led by a back seat uprising. And just like global politics peace is the greater good and I often find myself doing necessary deals to enable constant checks of sporting results or news updates. As far as I am concerned – there is only one radio network to tune into and that is our Aunty ABC. Sadly it can be a minority view on a long summer drive.
Once upon a time the clamour was for the Wiggles or ABC for Kids but we are now well and truly in the youth market and I feel so old. Not necessarily because of the music – but because the stations I object to with the loud advertisements and inane commentary are the same ones that my parents found so objectionable.
And then to my embarrassment I discover that there are radio stations devoted to my age and stage. Radio stations based on the premise that all good popular music was created before 1988. It all came home to me one day when I heard a lunch time competition pitting Bruce Springsteen against U2 and Cold Chisel against Midnight Oil. I had promoted this little myth when my children’s musical minds were still malleable. They weren’t able to choose for themselves and so I filled the vacuum with some of my favourite tunes from the 70s and 80s. One or two of them might stick. It’s a generational thing. I guess that’s why I still have the Seekers on my music playing implement. It’s why I will forever be grateful to an Uncle for immersing me in the ocean of Dylan.
This golden era of music delusion has been supported in recent times by the never-ending superannuation tours of yesterday’s pop stars. Exhibit A – John Farnham, Cyndi Lauper, Lionel Ritchie, Cold Chisel, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mack etc. etc. Now don’t get me wrong some of these artist deserve their never-ending place in the sun and others like the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan are part of a living museum of modern music. But there are plenty who should have been put out to pasture long ago.
Once a year at Christmas time a brother of mine who is far more modern than me, provides a gift of a compact disk with hundreds of new and interesting tunes that have been created in the last few years. It provides a great sound track to my slow and torturous attempts to paint tattered walls inside our family hut. The smarter member of my marriage partnership has taken to venturing to the wonderful Woodford Folk Festival where music to span all ages and stages can be found.
But back to solving the fights in the car. In recent times I have been delighted to discover that the kids are all right. If I bite my tongue long enough and wade through some mediocre mind numbing noise there is still good music being made. In fact with the advent of YOUTUBE on the internet all sorts of gems can be discovered. Just this week my twelve year old introduced me to an English artist named Ed Sheeran. This twenty year old has been making up tunes since he was 14. If you have web access check out “Small Bump” – a truly moving song about the beauty and fragility of life. And while you are there go local and discover the magnificent Cocker Boys from Harristown. Their original song “New Girl” has had over 17000 views and features some stunning Toowoomba voices. And the thing that delights me is that some of the young people I know don’t just listen to music – they make it as well. A party (or gathering as it is currently termed) is never completely without a guitar or a ukulele. So the road trip might be long this Summer but if we can find a few common songs it might just go all that much quicker!
Thanks again for taking the time to read my ramblings this year. Your words of encouragement are appreciated as are the voices of dissent! Have a happy and Holy Christmas and if you are lucky enough to be near a beach make sure you swim between the flags!
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