Hatin' on the '80s

Kansas City Star ^ | 3/3/05 | Jeff Leeds

[qam1]

Xer Ping

Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.

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[tallhappy]

his band still has a certain timeless aspect.

Yeah. Timelessly pathetic.

[qam1]

Xer Ping

Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.

Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.  

[qam1]

Sorry for the double PING

[rdb3]

I am a child of the '80s. Looking back, things were okay.

[Caipirabob]

I loved the 80's. The music was great in the early 80's in particular. College years and all, too.

[silent_jonny]

I've been nostalgic for the 80s since January 1, 1990.

Please add me to the Xer Ping list.

[adaven]

Got my Crüe tix for the 3/25 show here in Reno. \''/

[Petronski]

Even U2 was good in the 80s.

[Mr. Mojo]

...now acts like New Edition, Duran Duran, George Michael, the Cure, New Order, Billy Idol, Heavy D and the Crue have been encouraged to shake off the dust and get back on the road.

Gold help us.

(Although The Cure is good).

[xsmommy]

my 16 yo daughter was born in 1988 and LOVES the 80's, music, movies, tv shows. she wishes she were a teenager back then.

[SoDak]

I loved the 80's too. I was in college, no mortgage, no job, no bills, great music, great President.

[RepoGirl]

I'm one of those dinosaurs who can't get over the 80s. Yeah, my teen years left a lot to be desired, BUT, the music was awesome and how can you go wrong with 8 years of Reagan? There seemed to be a lot more optimism then, but maybe I'm just a little biased.

Then the 90s came along, with its cynicism and irony and everything just seemed to go all to suck, you know?

[discostu]

Of course re-union albums are usually not too popular. There's something inherently synthetic about them, especially if none of the members were doing anything musically in the interim. It's one thing to break up but continue to grow musically then get back together, it's another thing to break up leave the industry all together then decide your having trouble making the mortgage and get back together.

[One Proud Son]

I think the 80s genre is more nostalgic for people who weren't there. The young generation sees how things used to be and become facsinated with it. I am the same way about the 70s and other eras I wish I could have seen. I get so caught up sometimes just wondering, "what would it have been like to grow up back then?" The next generation will be the same way about the 90s and 00s, but since we were actually around, it will be no big deal to us.

[Dr. Frank fan]

I'm not sure what they expect. It's mostly teenagers who have the combination of disposable income, obsessiveness and free time that leads them to buy album after album. But a nostalgia movement for the music of 20 years ago by definition is not occurring among teenagers but among 30+ year olds. Sure, such people like to chuckle about Billy Idol and Motley Crue but what fraction of them will seek out and buy the CD of Girls Girls Girls or Rebel Yell? Therefore, smaller sales.

And that's doubly so when it comes to new material from these bands. Nostalgia for Duran Duran's Rio doesn't translate into wanting to buy and listen to a new album created by the members of Duran Duran at age 50. That's not how nostalgia works.

So, yes there's nostalgia, but no, you wouldn't expect it to translate to huge album sales. It's a niche phenomenon. What's the big mystery?

[MplsSteve]

Exactly.

I graduated in '82 and I recall the music was great during that time.

It's not just nostalgia. I recall feeling that way back then.

Even up 'til 88 or so, the music was great.

But the prime years had to have been 1980-1985.

[ThreeYearLurker]

80's music rocks dude!

[One Proud Son]

Despite my post I still believe times were better back then.