# Is Old Music Killing New Music? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 24, 2022, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-old-music-killing-new-music/958320 "2022-01-24T18:04:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-old-music-killing-new-music/958320/141 "2022-01-29T13:45:57Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Another generation stylized itself as the “Greatest Generation”, not the most modest moniker, methinks. I’m pretty sure the Boomers invented the term out of guilt when their parents started dying. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-old-music-killing-new-music/958320/142 "2022-01-29T13:52:36Z")
This seems to be the case. I withdraw my comments about “The Greatest Generation”. OK, Boomer? ---
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-old-music-killing-new-music/958320/143 "2022-01-29T17:09:43Z")
The biggest pusher of the “greatest generation” bullshit was Tom Brokaw, who was at the tail end of that generation or a pre-boomer at least, being born in 1940. Plus, there was no real pushback. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-old-music-killing-new-music/958320/144 "2022-01-29T17:17:37Z")
> [@lum\_s\_husband](#): > > The biggest pusher of the “greatest generation” bullshit was Tom Brokaw Did Brokaw originate the term? I know he at least popularized it, with his [book by that title](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Greatest_Generation_(book)). > [@](#): > > In the book, Brokaw wrote that “it is, I believe, the greatest generation any society has ever produced.” > [@lum\_s\_husband](#): > > who was at the tail end of that generation or a pre-boomer at least, being born in 1940. Nah, 1940 is way too late. The defining characteristic of that generation is that they fought in World War II (and maybe also that they lived through the Great Depression), which someone born in 1940 would have been too young to do. ---
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-old-music-killing-new-music/958320/145 "2022-01-29T17:22:35Z")
But definitely not a boomer. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-old-music-killing-new-music/958320/146 "2022-01-29T18:31:34Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Nah, 1940 is way too late. The defining characteristic of that generation is that they fought in World War II (and maybe also that they lived through the Great Depression), which someone born in 1940 would have been too young to do. I think the '27-'45 generation is called the “Silent Generation”. (Just checked Wikipedia, and they call it '28-'45.) Interestingly enough for a generation dubbed “silent”, they were the main group leading those activities that are associated with Boomers, such as the civil rights movement, the rise of rock & roll, and women’s and gay liberation. Boomers grew up with them, so the turmoil associated with with them was around in their formative years, but they were too young to be the pioneers of those movements. Is there a tendency to lionize the previous generation? Brokaw was a Silent. Though I don’t know of many Xers that extol the Boomers. ETA: sorry for the hijack. ---
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-old-music-killing-new-music/958320/147 "2022-01-29T18:33:51Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > Is there a tendency to lionize the previous generation? Brokaw was a Silent. There is if there’s money to be made. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-old-music-killing-new-music/958320/148 "2022-01-29T18:56:19Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > I think the '27-'45 generation is called the “Silent Generation”. Trivia question: Which U.S. president is the only one born as part of the “Silent Generation”? Joe Biden ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-old-music-killing-new-music/958320/149 "2022-01-29T19:36:24Z")
While now completely off-track, I’m amused that this thread is running neck and neck with the 162-post thread about all the new music that older listeners have discovered and want to share. “New music is DEAD! Dead, I say!” “Hey, check out these three new songs from last year I just discovered and really like!” ---
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2022, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-old-music-killing-new-music/958320/150 "2022-01-29T19:44:14Z")
Unless it is bringing in phat staxx, it doesn’t count. Seriously. each Top 40 song should generate generational wealth for the artists. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-old-music-killing-new-music/958320.md?page=7)