# Current(ish) Songs for Old(ish) Farts **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 8, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178 "2010-02-08T19:10:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/1 "2010-02-08T19:10:10Z")
Over the last couple of years, I keep hearing people in their forties and fifties (and sixties) decrying how there is no good music anymore, there hasn’t been any good music made since the seventies, and at first it sounded a little wrong to me, but as I thought about it more, I realized they were not just a little wrong, but quite spectacularly wrong. In some ways it’s harder to find the good stuff, but in other ways it’s never been easier to get access to all the music you can stand. I’m not sure what exactly Boomers and Gen Xers are talking about when they say things like that; that radio stations aren’t playing good music? Well, yeah, I’ll give them that one. I haven’t listened to the radio in years. But if you think there’s no good music available, you really aren’t looking very hard. Here’s my list of recommendations for old(ish) farts for music from 1999 to present. I had a hell of a time reducing the list to these 200 or so songs. There’s a little bit of everything in the list; hip hop, rap, R & B, jazz, instrumental, soul, salsa, ska, rock, easy listening, country, metal, and, of course, pop - I skew strongly towards pop, since it’s what I enjoy. I tried to keep it as accessible as possible (leaving out the stranger stuff) - if you can’t find anything on this list worth listening to, I guess you’re doomed to just keep on listening to your old “The Who” albums for the rest of your life. 🙂 Most of these songs can be Youtubed. I’ll leave it up to anyone interested to do any links; I’m not _that_ keen. ps - I tried to get the dates and albums correct; if there are errors, please feel free to point them out. **Name / Album / Artist** Karma / Diary Of Alicia Keys / Alicia Keys Heartburn / Diary Of Alicia Keys / Alicia Keys When You Really Love Someone / Diary Of Alicia Keys / Alicia Keys & Lellow Love Is My Witness / Everybody’s Got A Story / Amanda Marshall Marry Me / Everybody’s Got A Story / Amanda Marshall Rehab / Back To Black / Amy Winehouse Back To Black / Back To Black / Amy Winehouse Hey Ya! / The Love Below / Andre 3000 Make It Last / The Art Of Love And War / Angie Stone Frantic / Power Ballads / Aqueduct Keep the Car Running / Neon Bible / Arcade Fire White Knuckles / White Knuckles / The Bacon Brothers Peace Dance / White Knuckles / The Bacon Brothers Back To The Matter / Root Fire / Bedouin Soundclash When the Night Feels My Song / Sounding A Mosaic / Bedouin Soundclash If I Was A Boy / I Am…Sasha Fierce / Beyoncé Hip Hop Star / Dangerously In Love / Beyoncé Feat. Big Boi and Sleepy Brown Crazy In Love / Dangerously In Love / Beyoncé Feat. Jay-z Spaceman / I Bificus / Bif Naked I Love Myself Today / Purge / Bif Naked Way You Move / Speakerboxxx / Big Boi Feat. Sleepy Brown Pump It / Monkey Business / Black Eyed Peas They Don’t Want Music / Monkey Business / Black Eyed Peas Union / Monkey Business / Black Eyed Peas One Month Off / Intimacy / Bloc Party Equus / Misery Is a Butterfly / Blonde Redhead Swingin’ / So Blu / Blu Cantrell So Blu / So Blu / Blu Cantrell Bulletproof / Palace of Gold / Blue Rodeo (You Want To) Make A Memory / Lost Highway / Bon Jovi Astounded / Discosis / Bran Van 3000 Feat. Curtis Mayfield The Shame Of Life / Weird Revolution / Butthole Surfers Dracula From Houston / Weird Revolution / Butthole Surfers I’m A Jerk / Buzzcocks /The Buzzcocks Song For The Day / Tapes, Breaks and Out-Takes / The Cat Empire In This Life / What If It All Means Something / Chantal Kreviazuk Julia / What If It All Means Something / Chantal Kreviazuk Worked It Out Wrong / Always Got Tonight / Chris Isaak Notice The Ring / Always Got Tonight / Chris Isaak I See You Everywhere / Always Got Tonight / Chris Isaak Hurt / Back To Basics / Christina Aguilera Candyman / Back To Basics [Disc 2] / Christina Aguilera Save Me From Myself / Back To Basics [Disc 2] / Christina Aguilera Oh / BLaZn Sykwitit Vol 27 / Ciara with Ludacris Clocks / A Rush Of Blood To The Head / Coldplay Watchin’ The River Flow / Limelight / Colin James Far Away Like A Radio / Limelight / Colin James Misplaced Heart / Limelight / Colin James Speakeasy / Limelight / Colin James Give Me A Reason / In Blue / The Corrs Seven Days / Born To Do It / Craig David Insatiable / Spin / Darren Hayes Bar-Ba-Sol / David Cook / David Cook Dangerously In Love / Survivor / Destiny’s Child Tell Me (feat. Christina Aguilera) / Press Play / Diddy Old School Love / Divine Brown / Divine Brown Hanging On Too Long / Rockferry / Duffy Mercy / Rockferry / Duffy Bedroom Toys / Astronaut / Duran Duran Nice / Astronaut / Duran Duran Latin Soul / Masterpiece Theatre / En Vogue Call Me When You’re Sober / The Open Door / Evanescence Dance, Dance / From Under The Cork Tree / Fallout Boy Paralyzer / Them vs. Me vs. You / Finger Eleven Low / Mail on Sunday / Flo-Rida Take Me Out / Franz Ferdinand / Franz Ferdinand Flathead / Costello Music / The Fratellis Jump In The Pool / Friendly Fires / Friendly Fires Crazy / St. Elsewhere / Gnarls Barkley Life Styles Of The Rich And Famous / The Young And The Hopeless / Good Charlotte American Idiot / American Idiot / Green Day Holiday / American Idiot / Green Day Long Way To Go / Love. Angel. Music. Baby / Gwen Stefani & André 3000 Talk to Me, Dance With Me / Make Up the Breakdown / Hot Hot Heat Summertime In Void / Blue Green Orange / I Mother Earth Too Deep / Brown / Ivana Santilli If Ever I Fall (Part2) {The Heavy Hand Remix} / Brown / Ivana Santilli Drink the water / Brushfire Fairytales / Jack Johnson Still Believe In Love / Resurrected / Jacksoul All Nite (Don’t Stop) / Damita Jo / Janet Jackson Spotlight / Jennifer Hudson / Jennifer Hudson Can’t Stop The Rain / Jennifer Hudson / Jennifer Hudson Are you Gonna Be My Girl / Get Born / Jet Gravity / Continuum / John Mayer Sweat of your Brow / This is Me / Jully Black ft. Demarco SexyBack / FutureSex / LoveSounds / Justin Timberlake & Timbaland Black Ice - Hymn 4 Disco / Atlantis (Hymns For Disco) / k-os Man I Used To Be / Joyful Rebellion / k-os Crabbuckit / Joyful Rebellion / k-os Empire / The Four Seasons / Kaddisfly Fire / New Musical Express / Kasabian Underdog / West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum / Kasabian You’ll Think Of Me / Golden Road / Keith Urban All I Ever Wanted / All I Ever Wanted / Kelly Clarkson Already Gone / All I Ever Wanted / Kelly Clarkson Let It Rock / In the City / Kevin Rudolf ft. Lil’ Wayne Picture / Cocky / Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow Joy Ride / Day & Age / The Killers Somebody Told Me / Hot Fuss / The Killers Shadowplay / Sawdust / The Killers Taper Jean Girl / Aha Shake Heartbreak / Kings Of Leon Black Horse & The Cherry Tree / Eye to the Telescope / KT Tunstall Suddenly I See / Eye to the Telescope / KT Tunstall Smile / Alright, Still / Lily Allen In The End / Hybrid Theory / Linkin Park This Love / Songs About Jane / Maroon 5 She Will Be Loved / Songs About Jane / Maroon 5 Blame It On the Girls / The Boy Who Knew Too Much / Mika Out Of My Head / Tomorrow Starts Today / Mobile Southside / Play / Moby Feat. Gwen Stefani Float On / Float On / Modest Mouse Closer / Year of the Gentleman / Ne-Yo Powerless (Say What You Want) / Folklore / Nelly Furtado Showtime / Loose / Nelly Furtado Somebody To Love / Loose / Nelly Furtado I’m Like A Bird / Whoa Nelly! / Nelly Furtado Turn O The Light / Whoa Nelly! / Nelly Furtado Promiscuous / Loose / Nelly Furtado Feat. Timbaland Waiting Room / Rock Steady / No Doubt Don’t Know Why / Come Away With Me / Norah Jones & Michael Bublé Supersexworld / Abnormal Pleasures / One Ton I Write Sins Not Tragedies / A Fever You Cant Sweat Out / Panic! At The Disco Most Girls / Can’t Take Me Home / Pink Love is Such a Crazy Thing / Can’t Take Me Home / Pink Gone To California / Missundaztood / Pink Misery / Missundaztood / Pink Feat. Steven Tyler Hey There Delilah / All That We Needed / Plain White T’s Colonized Mind / LOtUSFLOW3R / Prince $ / LOtUSFLOW3R / Prince (There’ll Never B) Another Like Me / MPLSoUND / Prince A Million Days / Musicology / Prince Cinnamon Girl / Musicology / Prince Planet Earth / Planet Earth / Prince Mr. Goodnight / Planet Earth / Prince Chelsea Rodgers / Planet Earth / Prince Rainbow Children / The Rainbow Children / Prince Mellow / The Rainbow Children / Prince The Everlasting Now / The Rainbow Children / Prince The Greatest Romance Ever Sold / Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic / Prince So Far, So Pleased / Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic / Prince With Gwen Stefani The Sun, The Moon And Stars / Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic / Prince It’s About That Walk / The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale / Prince She Spoke 2 Me / The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale / Prince 5 Women + / The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale / Prince When The Lights Go Down / The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale / Prince There Is Lonely / The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale / Prince Erotic City (unedited!) / The Work Vol. 1 / Prince Te Amo Corazón / 3121 / Prince Incense And Candles / 3121 / Prince The Dance / 3121 / Prince Hot Show / Hot Show / Prozzak Lonely American Nights / Saturday People / Prozzäk Rev 22:20 / Underworld Sountrack / Puscifer Halo / Doll Domination / The Pussycat Dolls Right Now / PCD / The Pussycat Dolls No One Knows / Songs For The Deaf / Queens Of The Stone Age Moskau / Reise, Reise / Rammstein & Tatu The Zephyr Song / By The Way / Red Hot Chili Peppers Throw Away Your Television / By The Way / Red Hot Chili Peppers Can’t Stop / By The Way / Red Hot Chilli Peppers The Way I Feel / The Way I Feel / Remy Shand I Met Your Mercy / The Way I Feel / Remy Shand Nobody Wants To Be Lonely / / Ricky Martin & Christina Aguilera Private Emotion / Ricky Martin / Ricky Martin Feat. Meja Kisses Don’t Lie / A Girl Like Me / Rihanna Disturbia / Good Girl Gone Bad / Rihanna Don’t Stop The Music / Good Girl Gone Bad / Rihanna Russian Roulette / Rated R / Rihanna Pon De Replay / Rihanna / Rihanna Umbrella / Good Girl Gone Bad / Rihanna ft. Jay-Z Lonely No More / …Something To Be / Rob Thomas Brother Down / Brother Down / Sam Roberts Maria, Maria / Supernatural / Santana Migra / Supernatural / Santana El Farol / Supernatural / Santana Love Of My Life / Supernatural / Santana & Dave Matthews Winter In July / La Luna / Sarah Brightman He Doesn’t See Me / La Luna / Sarah Brightman Take Your Mama Out / Scissor Sisters / Scissor Sisters I Don’t Feel Like Dancing / Ta Dah / Scissor Sisters Whenever, Wherever / Laundry Service / Shakira Timor / Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 / Shakira Hips Don’t Lie / Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 / Shakira Feat. Wyclef Jean Juicebox / First Impressions Of Earth / The Strokes Last Night / Is This It / The Strokes All The Things She Said / 200Kmh In The WrongLane / Tatu Hey Boy / Fresh / Teddybears Yours to Keep / Rock’n’Roll Highschool / Teddybears New Fang / Them Crooked Vultures / Them Crooked Vultures Beautiful Day / All That You Can’t Leave Behind / U2 Wild Honey / All That You Can’t Leave Behind / U2 Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own / How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb / U2 Love And Peace Or Else / How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb / U2 A Man And A Woman / How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb / U2 Caught Up / Confessions [Special Edition] / Usher Don’t Listen To The Radio / Vision Valley / The Vines Take Me Back / Vision Valley / The Vines Seven Nation Army / Elephant / The White Stripes Switch / Lost and Found / Will Smith Woman / Wolfmother EP / Wolfmother ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/2 "2010-02-08T19:25:27Z")
As one of those old farts, I agree that they don’t make music like they used to. There are too many artists and too many genres, and some of the stuff played has no chord progression, rhythm, melody, or meter. In our day, there were no synths, samplers, synclaviers, backing tracks, or auto tunes. You sang/played, or you got your butt off the stage. End of story. I do like some of your choices, but I hate to point out that two of them are MINE. **Santana** is an OLD FART (and I mean that will the highest respect). But he is an example of what I’m talking about. He was making hits before many of the artists you named were reproductive cells in their male parental unit’s pants. **Prince:** He is an OLD FART as well (and has a pantsload of unreleased music in the vault). When the artists you mention can continue to write music that moves with the times, I will listen. But very few of the artists you mention have more than five albums (CDs) to their name. As a test, young whippersnapper (:)), go get a copy of “The Jam” by Larry Graham. If you’re not tapping your feet by the time it’s over, you don’t know music. -One of the OFs ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/3 "2010-02-09T01:33:02Z")
I forgot to post my credentials - I’m 43 years old, and have been listening to pop music for almost 40 years now - this is music for old(ish) farts BY an old(ish) fart. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/4 "2010-02-09T01:50:26Z")
> [@ministryman](#): > > some of the stuff played has no chord progression, rhythm, melody, or meter. I’m struggling to figure out what this could be. Lou Reeds _Metal Machine Music_? Certainly nothing on the radio fits this description. Nice list overall. I’d also suggest stuff by Wilco, Neko Case, The New Pornographers, The Arcade Fire, and the like for good modern music with mainstream appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/5 "2010-02-09T02:15:58Z")
I’m 39. There’s no Cake. Too much Rihanna and Beyonce. Only one White Stripes (what about _Icky Thump_?) and no Raconteurs. Way too much U2 (they are old farts too btw), but no Foo Fighters, who won one more Best Rock Album Grammy than U2 in the 2000s. No Nine Inch Nails (my husband loves _Only_). Oh, yeah and what about Johnny Cash’s version of _Hurt_–but yeah old fart? Still, it’s a contemporary song. Anyway, there’s quite a bit of good stuff out there and some of it is on your list. There’s really too much for one 200-song list and it’s going to vary by taste. I think my tastes generally lean a little differently than yours. Only this year I discovered Nitin Sawhney (sp?) and wondered how I missed it. I was also surprised to discover I like M.I.A. (she’s missing from your list, too). I have a 19 year old son, who turns me on to newer music and I share stuff I like with him, too. That helps. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/6 "2010-02-09T02:20:14Z")
Oh yeah, and Muse! I forgot them. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/7 "2010-02-09T02:36:04Z")
I perused the list and did not recognize a single song. Yep, I am officially an old fart. (51). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/8 "2010-02-09T02:48:30Z")
I’m 64, and I’ve reached the point where I just don’t care anymore. There’s too much \*\*\*really old \*\*\*stuff that I still haven’t discovered. Too much classical, opera, broadway, standards that I still haven’t heard and loved. Life is too short to waste it searching for the odd rap or hip-hop song that I can barely stand. My chorus did an “80s” concert last spring, and most of the music was very forgettable. And just today, I had to escape from a store, because the loudspeaker was blaring: \*Why can’t we be friends, Why can’t we be friends, Why can’t we be friends Why can’t we be friends, Why can’t we be friends, Why can’t we be friends Why can’t we be friends . . . \*Like I said, life is too short. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/9 "2010-02-09T03:02:35Z")
I didn’t say it was a complete list. 🙂 U2 and Prince are indeed old farts but they’re still putting out new albums. Good new albums, I might add. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/10 "2010-02-09T03:14:25Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’m 64, and I’ve reached the point where I just don’t care anymore. There’s too much \*\*\*really old \*\*\*stuff that I still haven’t discovered. Too much classical, opera, broadway, standards that I still haven’t heard and loved. Life is too short to waste it searching for the odd rap or hip-hop song that I can barely stand. I agree, to a great extent, but “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” once you get past the chorus and get into the verse and the groove, is great. Not “The World is a Ghetto” great, but pretty good. But I’m nine years younger than you. 😃 A host of local “old time radio” program recently apologized before broadcasting what had been #1 that week in 1049 and for six more weeks, [A Little Bird Told Me,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Little_Bird_Told_Me) noting that the previous week’s #1 of 1939 had been “Deep Purple.” I need to preface my description by stating that I love crappy music, but that song was the worst shit I have ever heard in my life, and I’ve heard [The Shaggs.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR9d4ESlpHY). Before it was “Buttons and Bows,” which, thanks to my mother, still turns up as an earworm to drive me crazy until I can drive it out with “Linus and Lucy.” ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/11 "2010-02-09T03:34:14Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > I perused the list and did not recognize a single song. Yep, I am officially an old fart. (51). Me too, except I’m 57. It’s not that I think there’s no good modern music. It just doesn’t speak to ME. I don’t really care for over-processed sound/auto-tune music. I can’t pull a lot of the words out of music any more, so songs that depend on words instead of tunes (I’m kinda thinking of rap here, but my experience is small) is pretty much a total loss for me. Thumping bass is not enough music for me. But I almost never listen to music anyway, and what I listen to is more folky style than anything. Yup, old fart. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/12 "2010-02-09T03:52:01Z")
My kids forced on me videos by a Korean boy band that has hit in Japan (Japan?!?) and the US. I think it’s name is four initials. Doesn’t really matter but I noted the first video stole from not only Korean pop (have I mentioned that the TV in my bedroom doesn’t have a digital converter and I’m stuck watching the low-def shit that was grandfathered in?) but also from Bollywood? “Keep watching. They also steal from the Backstreet Boys, circa 1994.” Then it was one in which the same boys abused furbies. Youtube is a wonderful invention. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![meanoldman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@meanoldman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meanoldman)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/13 "2010-02-09T04:30:26Z")
I’m 52. Heard of most of these. Own many. Think you missed a few by some of the same artists listed, but you had to draw the line somewhere, I guess. Still, Angie Stone’s “Wish I didn’t miss you” from Mahogany Soul is deserving of a place on my list. And I prefer K.T. Tunstall’s “Heal Over” to “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” I’m a sucker for “Hometown Glory” , from 19, by Adele. But a noble effort, and I will endeavor to learn of those artists I had not previously known. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/14 "2010-02-09T04:34:52Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And just today, I had to escape from a store, because the loudspeaker was blaring: > > \*Why can’t we be friends, > Why can’t we be friends, > Why can’t we be friends > Why can’t we be friends, > Why can’t we be friends, > Why can’t we be friends > Why can’t we be friends . . . > > \*Like I said, life is too short. That song is over 35 years old, so I’m guessing you didn’t care for pop music when you were under 30 either. Fine pop song tho. Black group selling across racial lines, with a funny song about making friends outside your own social group. It contains the excellent rhyme: _I know you’re working for the CIA, They wouldn’t have you in Ma-fie-A._ ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/15 "2010-02-09T05:18:47Z")
Some indie bands that might not scare old people too badly: Arcade Fire The Bravery Cat Power The Decemberists Fleet Foxes Franz Ferdinand Iron & Wine The Killers Kings of Leon Modest Mouse The National Owl City Phoenix Regina Spektor Rodrigo y Gabriela The Shins The Strokes Wilco Yeah Yeah Yeahs ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/16 "2010-02-09T06:15:01Z")
> [@ministryman](#): > > In our day, there were no synths, samplers, synclaviers, backing tracks, or auto tunes. That’s a shame. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/17 "2010-02-09T19:45:51Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > That’s a shame. I know - I hear people complaining that modern music has no creativity, and I think, “What! The good stuff is nothing but creativity!” ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/18 "2010-02-27T20:44:52Z")
If I can add to the list, here are some nice things that have come out since I turned 40… “Amber”, by 311 Lots of things by Camera Obscura, for example “I Love How You Love Me” “Chasing Pavements”, by ADELE “Shenandoa”, by Merrie Amsterberg “Linger”, by the Cranberries ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/19 "2010-02-27T20:49:49Z")
Try this album: Never Hear The End Of It/Sloan Terrific “classic” sounding rock. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/20 "2010-02-27T21:01:40Z")
See, I was gonna mention some too but the ones I was going to mention are now old too. Pop music goes too fast these days. Here’s a few examples: Jet’s Are You Gonna Be My Girl D’Angelo’s Untitled (How Does It Feel) Anything off of Maroon 5 and Jamiroquai’s first albums These all feel very old school to me and now they’re all old by pop music standards anyway. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178.md?page=2)