If you are over 25 or 30, chances are you might have noticed something: you still like the music you listened to when you were a teenager. As a matter of fact, almost everybody not only continues to like the music they grew up with but in comparison, always favor it to any other generational evolutions in music.
It’s a funny phenomenon. And no matter how old you get, inevitably you will still prefer the sounds you played on your stereo, Walkman, or car radio as a teenager.
As to why, there are probably a couple of reasons.
First, it was the most intimate experience you had with music. Discovering music that you could relate to by bands and artists you admired is a bond like none other. During your teen years, when hormones were pulling and pushing your emotions left and right between depression and euphoria and practically nobody seemed to understand exactly how you felt – the lyrics and sounds of those who did were all powerful.
Secondly, chances are the music of your teen years was also a shared experience with close friends and even first loves. The music and experience were fused together in your brain in a social/bio-physical process I couldn’t even begin to explain.
Third, your favorite radio station probably pounded those songs it into your brain over-and-over again. And if a radio station didn’t, then you probably did it yourself with a cassette, CD or mp3 player.
So, there you are.
Your taste in music will more than likely be held hostage by those few years, called the “teens”. You may scoff at me now and not believe this. You may say, “Not so. I’ll always progress musically.”
Hold that thought until you’re 35, 40 or 50 and then let me know if I was wrong.
