Not Just The Same Old Song: The Agelessness of Music that Moves You

As a passionate music-lover my entire life, this thoughtful piece by Jonathan Freedland in The Guardian really resonated with me. Freedland writes about how our beloved music icons change as they age and points out that while a musician may not stray far from their roots, it’s inevitable that lyrics and instrumentation evolves and changes over the span of time. A musician’s relationship with the audience evolves too – it goes both ways, actually - since the audience changes as well.

Freedland recalls all the cheap jokes and bad puns that were tossed around in the media, about how the Rolling Stones would soon be too old to perform and would need special physical accommodations just to take the stage.

Those ageist jokes were written in 1982 – 41 years ago. Mick Jagger was 38 years old.

Although ageism is ever present in our world, there is a new realization that age doesn’t stop anyone from creating art nor does age prevent its enjoyment. If anything, the impact of age on music and art merely adds a warm patina to the lyrics and melodies we know and love. It transports us to a special place in the current moment.

It’s exciting to look at the summer music lineup and see musicians with 30, 40, 50 years of performing experience headlining some of the nation’s top music venues. Concertgoers are packing arenas to see the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Mariah Carey and Elton John. This fall, LL Cool J, who signed his first record deal 40 years ago, announced a tour along with contemporaries like Queen Latifah and Ice T. And, amazingly, Mavis Staples is on tour this summer with Trombone Shorty and Ziggy Marley – at 84!

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop this year, which, like rock n’ roll, emerged as a bold and rebellious expression of youth, music lovers like me – now in our 60s, 70s and 80s – still love and cherish our favorite musicians. They continue to move us and most importantly, they speak to our life experiences. The music of our youth is now shared with children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. ?

There are three generations in my family who get together several times a year for holidays and other gatherings. Everyone selects the music they most want to hear and I play DJ. What are the most requested songs? Motown and classic rock. Over and over, I am reminded by younger generations that these genres stand the test of time.

As the decades have passed, musicians and their audiences have navigated life’s stages together. We hear our favorite artists roll out tunes we recall from our youth, while at the same time, we anticipate new material with an eagerness to absorb something fresh we can add to the soundtrack of our life.

“‘Nostalgia’ doesn’t quite capture it, with its hint of the doomed attempt to revive a vanished youth,” writes Freedland. “Instead, standing in a crowd singing songs you’ve known forever is an invitation to reflect on, and cherish, a whole life: the performer’s, but also your own.”

What we love about music and our musical heroes is forged in a mutual understanding of what sounds good, what feels good and what moves us. Lyrics can still get us cheering and singing along, a great beat can still propel us out of our seats to sway to the rhythm and the stories told in song are as relevant to life now as they ever were.

The relationship between musician and audience not only brings great pleasure but gives color and context to life’s journey. Introduced years ago, we are still together.