# 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:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/21 "2010-02-28T00:37:04Z")
I am 56, and I still listen to, well, damn near everything and anything. We had good music and crap music. Just like now there is good music and crap music, and the generations before me had good music and crap music. My tastes haven’t change, they just keep expanding. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/22 "2010-02-28T02:48:11Z")
I’m 51, and I hear lots of good new music. Not on the radio, of course; I listen to up-to-date stuff on Pandora. That way you don’t have to hear the screamin’ DJs or the obnoxious commercials, and you DO get to learn the name of the song and the artist. (God forbid they should actually TELL you on the radio!) It’s out there; it’s just the distribution channels that have changed since us old-farts had our hey-day in the 60s and 70s…TRM ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/23 "2010-02-28T02:56:13Z")
I dare someone to not like this song Lay Me Down by The Frames Not sure if that qualifies as current music, though. I think this song’s about 9 years old, but even my dad likes this one, ffs. And he’s 73! [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4d5ZwrkLtiE/hqdefault.jpg "The Frames - Lay Me Down") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d5ZwrkLtiE) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/24 "2010-02-28T03:48:22Z")
Thanks for that long list up there. I know a lot of the names and have heard many of the songs… I’m an old fogie, and it’s not that I don’t WANT to hear new music, but I don’t know where it IS. … Back in my day, we had things like Don Kirschner’s Rock Concert. When MTV videos came along, my god, we were in Heaven! MTV was on our TVs 24/7 and gave countless bands exposure . And they used to play songs on the radio. Then videos disappeared and I kind of gave up on the radio except the oldies station, cause that’s all I recognized!.. I honestly have no idea of what new music I might enjoy is out there, or even where it is. I’m embarrassed to admit my only real exposure is songs played at the end of ‘House’ or ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, or car commercials! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/25 "2010-02-28T04:09:30Z")
Age 51. I was brought by the blues driven rock of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Santana bu I love most anything. My taste is for music that can be reproduced live. It’s not that I have anything against to layered tracks (God bless Les Paul) I just appreciate watching people go all out on stage. There’s a level of music energy that can only come from the feedback of an appreciative audience. Diverging from the past: Dalbello - [Tango](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHzCbjNmgYs) female vocal Michael Hedges (RIP) - [Because It’s There](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k035v_7dClE) - piano student turned Harp guitar assault artist Staind - [Outside (Live on Rrhof)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-UIENPam98) Michael Kelsey - [Midnight Voices](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIRQj8PR5rQ)- samples as he plays live Johnny Cash - cover - [Hurt](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO9dbmJ_2zU) My rule for musicians is that they hit the stage with 3 words in mind: “tear it up”. Music is meant to be felt and the best musicians can do that with the softest note. ---
**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 28, 2010, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/26 "2010-02-28T05:46:08Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > 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 Ah, “Linger” - thanks for the reminder - I need that song still. I’ll check out the others, too. > [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I’m 51, and I hear lots of good new music. Not on the radio, of course; I listen to up-to-date stuff on Pandora. That way you don’t have to hear the screamin’ DJs or the obnoxious commercials, and you DO get to learn the name of the song and the artist. (God forbid they should actually TELL you on the radio!) > > It’s out there; it’s just the distribution channels that have changed since us old-farts had our hey-day in the 60s and 70s…TRM That’s the critical thing, I think - you really can’t just turn on the radio and have a wide variety piped right into your house any longer. I’m finding that David Letterman and Craig Ferguson are actually not a bad resource, too - they have new bands on, and if I like what I hear, I go hunt it up online. ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/27 "2010-03-01T00:26:10Z")
Age 53 here. My tastes are pretty eclectic, and my iPod has everything from Bach to Basie to the Beach Boys to Beyonce. However, I do tend to get in a musical rut and often need a little nudge to get out of the 60s and 70s radio hits that are my wheelhouse. Enter my 25-year old daughter. Every so often she will offer a suggestion, and she hasn’t steered me wrong yet. "Mom, I think you would like Black Eyed Peas. Here, listen to this . . . " She was right. “Mom, download **Say Hey** by Michael Franti and Spearhead – you will like it.” Right again. Which brings us to Lady Gaga. Much to my surprise, I have developed an obsession with **Bad Romance**. As in, I listen to it on high volume at least a couple of times a day. In two weeks, I will surely be done with it, as will the rest of the world. But for now, I am singing along and feeling like a poseur middle-aged mom. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2010, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/28 "2010-03-01T00:43:55Z")
Ah, how could I forget R&B for adults, John Legend. In keeping with my old new traditions, I still play Get Lifted at least once a month. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/29 "2010-03-01T04:37:04Z")
> [@Proudest\_Monkey](#): > > Age 53 here. My tastes are pretty eclectic, and my iPod has everything from Bach to Basie to the Beach Boys to Beyonce. However, I do tend to get in a musical rut and often need a little nudge to get out of the 60s and 70s radio hits that are my wheelhouse. > > Enter my 25-year old daughter. Every so often she will offer a suggestion, and she hasn’t steered me wrong yet. "Mom, I think you would like Black Eyed Peas. Here, listen to this . . . " She was right. “Mom, download **Say Hey** by Michael Franti and Spearhead – you will like it.” Right again. > > Which brings us to Lady Gaga. Much to my surprise, I have developed an obsession with **Bad Romance**. As in, I listen to it on high volume at least a couple of times a day. In two weeks, I will surely be done with it, as will the rest of the world. But for now, I am singing along and feeling like a poseur middle-aged mom. :eek: Are you my long-lost identical twin sister? Me, too! My daughter and I share many weird tastes. The Electric Six, anyone? [http://youtube.com/watch?v=HTN6Du3MCgl](http://youtube.com/watch?v=HTN6Du3MCgl). And we are all Bad Romance junkies at Casa Sali, nothing wrong with that… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/30 "2010-03-01T15:48:05Z")
I was a rock fan until the late 80s, when it all went south for me. I’ve pretty much given up on that genre. Groups like DMB just annoy the hell out of me, and whiny, nasal female vocals send me into a blind rage. So I just stick with jazz and old Motown and drool in my oatmeal. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/31 "2010-03-01T17:04:12Z")
I’m also finding too much stuff from the '70s and '80s (and even the odd '90s-'00s selection) that I never knew existed, to worry about the possibility that “there’s no good music anymore” (which I suspect is the same crapola that every generation has been handing down as it enters old fart-dom). A lot of their stuff is pre-1999, but devotees of the Beatles should like the Spongetones. Many of their songs are evocative of the Fab Four, but they’re generally just great songwriters and musicians. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/32 "2010-03-01T17:20:20Z")
::making notes of stuff to go listen to:: A current fave of mine is [Julian Casablancas (lead singer of The Strokes) - “Out of the Blue.”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=849PNCwCqKA) Nothing too fancy going on there - I just really like it. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/33 "2010-03-01T18:04:54Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Bedroom Toys / Astronaut / Duran Duran > Nice / Astronaut / Duran Duran I’d suggest the following DD songs instead: [Box Full o’ Honey](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8IBhCxKevk&feature=related) / Red Carpet massacre / Duran Duran [Chains](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9siazz7aqhE&feature=related)/ Astronaut / Duran Duran Unfortunately, DD failed to release a couple of post-2000 tunes that are better than much of the stuff they did release: [Beautiful Colours](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Yvpit6q46Y) / Astronaut Sessions / Duran Duran [Salt in the Rainbow](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSyNy7Sd_eM) / Astronaut Session / Duran Duran ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178/34 "2010-03-01T18:23:16Z")
Great list. Thanks for going to all the trouble to post it. I am a musician (somewhat middle aged) and I am very eclectic in my tastes. Embarrassing as it is, I can’t get that damned song ‘Fireflies’ by Owl City out of my head. I am a Napster subscriber (best $15/month I spend) and will often turn on the ‘radio’ feature to hear new stuff that I would never have it I had just looked on my own. Like High on Fire who sounds like they are a lost thrash speed metal band from last century. Also, I would add Chemical Brothers’ Push the Button to that list even though it is 5 years old. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/current-ish-songs-for-old-ish-farts/528178.md?page=1)