Years
ago, a friend of mine and I were having discussions about awards
shows, pop culture, and getting old. And we agreed upon a true
measuring stick for determining how well you were doing at staying
up to date with the world.
The
Grammys.
The
basic idea works like this: If you don’t know more than half the
nominees in the majority of broadcast categories, you’re out of
touch.
Since
we decided on this measuring stick, I’ve actually seen similar
ideas presented for other sources and different touchstones. For
instance, the covers of People magazine. Or, the opening
segment of Entertainment Tonight. But, I don’t think
they do as good a job at capturing the realities of the situation.
Music
is such a fundamental part of life for so many, with the songs
and albums and performers at the forefront of our experiences
and attention as we grow. We buy the music and attend the concerts.
A
celebrity with a new movie out, or part of the cast of a hit television
show, does connect. No question about it. But they really don’t
take over our car rides. They don’t make concert tours that dominate
the local news as the collection of trucks and fans come to town.
So,
Grammys and music. Possibly the best measuring stick of current
events as you could ask to design.
And,
as it turns out, while I am fully aware of and love work from
Adele and Billie Eilish, it turns out I am very much not connected
to the world around me.
Funny
enough. I’m not sure that bothers me all that much.
If
we went back to pretty much any year of the 1960s, 1970s or 1980s,
I could probably recite the lyrics to nine of the top ten songs
from any week of that year. Maybe not perfectly, but close enough
that you would give me credit.
The
top five songs around August 26, 1976?
“Don’t
Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John
“You Should Be Dancing” by the Bee Gees
“Let ‘Em In” by Wings
“You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” by Lou Rawls
“I’d Really Love To See You Tonight” by England Dan and John
Ford Coley
How
about some of the top songs from 1984?
“When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince
“What’s Love Got to Do with it” by Tina Turner
“Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper
“Footloose” by Kenny Loggins
If
you showed me listings from the past ten years, there’s a really
good chance I’ve never heard half of the supposedly inescapable
songs, never mind recognizing the performers.
There
is something positive about this, however. Back in my youth, information
was delivered to us by a narrow stream of options. We listened
to certain radio stations. We went to the same movie theaters.
And, the vast majority of television was offered by just three
channels. In essence, we were all being given very similar material
for our entertainment.
That’s
not the case today.
It’s
much easier for people to find obscure artists and projects as
a result of options from streaming services and website postings.
It’s much easier for me to watch and hear and enjoy material that
you may not even know exists.
I’m
not saying that when it comes to Grammys, the selection process
and awards handed out is perfect. Not saying it’s an accurate
reflection of today. What I am saying is that lacking connections,
for you and me, to the artists and material shouldn’t be viewed
as some type of evidence for lacking quality. It absolutely may
be true that today’s music isn’t written or performed at the same
level as songs from forty or fifty years ago, but that’s not simply
a result of being memorable over time.
For
me, the realities are simple. I don’t consume pop culture the
same way today as I did years ago. I don’t buy the same number
of albums, attend the same number of concerts, or listen to the
same amount of music on a daily basis. My habits have changed.
The priorities and choices for how I invest any of what we might
consider disposable income has changed. And that’s a good thing.
In
so many ways, entertainment is a reflection of our times. Not
just because of the stories and content, but equally in how it
is distributed and enjoyed. Recognizing we’re out of touch isn’t
an admission of being old or not getting the times. It can be
a statement of personal preferences and priorities. It can be
a demonstration of our choices and influences as much as quality.
So,
enjoy what you enjoy. Tell your friends and share what you love.
But don’t worry about not knowing the top ten songs this week.
Being unaware of the mainstream does not mean you’re missing much
of anything.