Lately I've noticed quite a bit of shade thrown at my generation, now generally known as the Boomers, those born in the "baby boom" after World War II. That designation is generally applied to those of us born between 1946 and 1964, covering a slightly wider range than those labeled at Gen X'ers, Millennials and those even younger. There seems to be a growing belief that we had it easy. On the surface, I can certainly understand what they are saying. For many it was a time of seemingly no limits to what we could achieve and opportunities were everywhere if put in the effort to achieve them. Television shows like "Father Knows Best," "Ozzie and Harriet," "The Jackie Gleason Show," "The Andy Griffith Show" and many others purported to reflect our own families, if not in total reality but in ways that usually had elements with which we could relate. It was a time when it was possible for our parents to have jobs that were secure with the potential for advancement and maybe even work for the same company until retirement. Father was the breadwinner and it was possible to earn a living wage for his family; no need for Mom to go out and work, and her "job" was to maintain a happy, safe and nurturing home.
But now appears a growing number of Millennials and Gen X people look at the state of our world and our country and their own lives and say: You Boomers are in charge and have been for a while. Why the hell did you let things get to where they are now? How did all your altruism that you were so proud of morph into complacency? Is it simply a case of something like - "I've got mine and I worked hard for it. That's what you need to do! Get your eyes off your f'n phone and do something constructive!"
OK, all that is a grossly inadequate and simplistic way to explain our present reality from a Boomer's point of view and that of some younger people. Beyond that, to a person of color who grew up in the 1950s and 60s all the above could very well have zero relevance. In a very roundabout way this leads me to where I should be in this blog - talking about music.
A local musician I know posted a very interesting question on social media: Should a performer's political persuasion factor into whether or not he or she gets a gig? And the follow-up question: Should a bar or restaurant owner's political beliefs factor into whether or not a performer will even want to play at their establishment? As you might imagine, there were some very strong opinions expressed on BOTH questions. Without getting into the politics that caused those questions to be asked in the first place, I have been trying to figure out what I would do if there was no way to avoid them.
I consider myself to be part of a subset of the Boomers. In my formative teenage years many of my peers began questioning the validity of the values our parents hoped to instill in us. Injustice, lies from those in charge and the "America - Love It or Leave It!" doctrine seemed to be engulfing us. A foreign war in a place most of us had never heard of was claiming lives at an ever-increasing rate. That war was being fought in large part by young Americans whose socioeconomic reality didn't offer a way to avoid it, thanks to the draft. Some went willingly, in the beginning anyway.
At the same time, as has always been the case the arts were one of the first places where questions were raised as the harsh light of the reality began to shine. Famous rock and folk musicians began writing, recording and performing songs that addressed the inequality and injustice. Many of those songs were soon learned and covered by local musicians performing in small and large venues. I would venture that the majority of my peers who took up the guitar in the 1960s learned to play Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" as one of their very first songs.
This was not the case everywhere. In parts of America where country music was overwhelmingly popular, just the opposite was happening. Almost without exception the voices in country music viewed any questioning of national policy as unpatriotic at the very least and their music reflected that view. More importantly, their fans agreed with their message.
Both sides made passionate and increasingly angry music to make their points and their music was learned and played by both recreational musicians and those who played in local establishments. The reactions of listeners were equally passionate, both for and against what they heard.
What I'm saying is this: What musicians face these days is not new. But things have changed. Regardless of one's political persuasion there is one thing on which I think we can all agree: Our country and our Constitutional democracy are being tested as never before. The rest of the world is watching with either fear or hope that what happens here will have a direct effect on them, too.
Musicians are just like everyone else. They have deeply-held beliefs but they also have the power to express those beliefs that most non-musicians do not have. Should they use that power in a way that leaves little doubt which side of the divide they inhabit?
In my view, no. I know some will vehemently disagree. But in the end, you will most likely find yourself in one of two places, either despised by those who do not share your views or "preaching to the converted." Both places are a waste of your time and effort. The idea that being preached at via a song will force the listener to have some kind of epiphany and change their point of view in any substantive manner speaks more to the performer's ego than anything else.
Artists have always felt the need to express themselves though their chosen medium and sometimes to comment to a greater or lesser degree on what they see around them. I hope this is always the case. It's up to the viewer or listener to decide whether or not they want to pay attention and accept or deny the validity of the artist's vision.
Music, in its purest sense, transcends just about any experience we mere mortals can have. Allowing yourself to fully embrace that transcendence makes decisions about what's right and what's wrong much easier to make. Those decisions are deeply personal and need no justification, just a clear and open mind.
Peace & good music,
Gene
But now appears a growing number of Millennials and Gen X people look at the state of our world and our country and their own lives and say: You Boomers are in charge and have been for a while. Why the hell did you let things get to where they are now? How did all your altruism that you were so proud of morph into complacency? Is it simply a case of something like - "I've got mine and I worked hard for it. That's what you need to do! Get your eyes off your f'n phone and do something constructive!"
OK, all that is a grossly inadequate and simplistic way to explain our present reality from a Boomer's point of view and that of some younger people. Beyond that, to a person of color who grew up in the 1950s and 60s all the above could very well have zero relevance. In a very roundabout way this leads me to where I should be in this blog - talking about music.
A local musician I know posted a very interesting question on social media: Should a performer's political persuasion factor into whether or not he or she gets a gig? And the follow-up question: Should a bar or restaurant owner's political beliefs factor into whether or not a performer will even want to play at their establishment? As you might imagine, there were some very strong opinions expressed on BOTH questions. Without getting into the politics that caused those questions to be asked in the first place, I have been trying to figure out what I would do if there was no way to avoid them.
I consider myself to be part of a subset of the Boomers. In my formative teenage years many of my peers began questioning the validity of the values our parents hoped to instill in us. Injustice, lies from those in charge and the "America - Love It or Leave It!" doctrine seemed to be engulfing us. A foreign war in a place most of us had never heard of was claiming lives at an ever-increasing rate. That war was being fought in large part by young Americans whose socioeconomic reality didn't offer a way to avoid it, thanks to the draft. Some went willingly, in the beginning anyway.
At the same time, as has always been the case the arts were one of the first places where questions were raised as the harsh light of the reality began to shine. Famous rock and folk musicians began writing, recording and performing songs that addressed the inequality and injustice. Many of those songs were soon learned and covered by local musicians performing in small and large venues. I would venture that the majority of my peers who took up the guitar in the 1960s learned to play Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" as one of their very first songs.
This was not the case everywhere. In parts of America where country music was overwhelmingly popular, just the opposite was happening. Almost without exception the voices in country music viewed any questioning of national policy as unpatriotic at the very least and their music reflected that view. More importantly, their fans agreed with their message.
Both sides made passionate and increasingly angry music to make their points and their music was learned and played by both recreational musicians and those who played in local establishments. The reactions of listeners were equally passionate, both for and against what they heard.
What I'm saying is this: What musicians face these days is not new. But things have changed. Regardless of one's political persuasion there is one thing on which I think we can all agree: Our country and our Constitutional democracy are being tested as never before. The rest of the world is watching with either fear or hope that what happens here will have a direct effect on them, too.
Musicians are just like everyone else. They have deeply-held beliefs but they also have the power to express those beliefs that most non-musicians do not have. Should they use that power in a way that leaves little doubt which side of the divide they inhabit?
In my view, no. I know some will vehemently disagree. But in the end, you will most likely find yourself in one of two places, either despised by those who do not share your views or "preaching to the converted." Both places are a waste of your time and effort. The idea that being preached at via a song will force the listener to have some kind of epiphany and change their point of view in any substantive manner speaks more to the performer's ego than anything else.
Artists have always felt the need to express themselves though their chosen medium and sometimes to comment to a greater or lesser degree on what they see around them. I hope this is always the case. It's up to the viewer or listener to decide whether or not they want to pay attention and accept or deny the validity of the artist's vision.
Music, in its purest sense, transcends just about any experience we mere mortals can have. Allowing yourself to fully embrace that transcendence makes decisions about what's right and what's wrong much easier to make. Those decisions are deeply personal and need no justification, just a clear and open mind.
Peace & good music,
Gene
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