# More Evidence I'm Getting Older: I Have No Clue About the Top 40 Artists **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 19, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741 "2004-07-19T00:20:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/1 "2004-07-19T00:20:25Z")
I stopped following the Top 40 around 15 years ago. I’ve noticed my Yahoo! homepage refers to certain artists and bands, and sometimes I’ve heard of the name, but I have no idea what his/her/their music sounds like. The other day I picked up a cast-aside USA Today at lunch and saw the listings for the Top 10 songs, and realized I recognized only one name (Usher). Whether Usher is a guy or a band, I haven’t a clue. So here are the names from the Billboard Top 20 Singles chart (how many can you recognize?): Hoobastank Usher JoJo Nina Sky featuring Jabba Kevin Lyttle featuring Spragga Benz Usher (again) Britney Spears (Okay, I know who _she_ is.) Christina Milian Maroon5 Juvenile featuring Soulja Slim Switchfoot Petey Pablo (sounds like a restaurant) Usher (again) featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris Los Lonely Boys Beyonce (Knowles? She was in the third _Austin Powers_ movie) Alicia Keys (I’ve heard this name somewhere) Mario Winans featuring Enya & P. Diddy (Okay, I know those last two.) Ashlee Simpson (Is she the next Britney? I’ve heard this name too.) D12 (You sank my battleship!) OutKast FYI: I mostly listen to movie soundtracks nowadays, and the only band I really listen to is Great Big Sea. Darn you kids, with your crazy rock and roll music! Stop making me feel old and out of touch! ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/2 "2004-07-19T00:30:46Z")
Something else to make you feel even older: JoJo is _thirteen years old_. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/3 "2004-07-19T00:41:38Z")
The real sign you’re old is when you don’t listen to the music AND you say it’s crap. So it’s good you haven’t reached that point yet. For the record: Ashlee Simpson is Jessica Simpson’s sister. D12 is Eminem plus some other guys. OutKast you should’ve heard of. “Hey Ya”? Most of the Top 40 artists are future one-hit wonders. This is true at almost any point in the past or present. So it’s OK if you don’t recognize their names; most of the people listening don’t really know the names either. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/4 "2004-07-19T01:03:26Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Hoobastank > Usher > Usher (again) > Britney Spears (Okay, I know who _she_ is.) > Maroon5 > Los Lonely Boys > Beyonce (Knowles? She was in the third _Austin Powers_ movie) > Alicia Keys (I’ve heard this name somewhere) > OutKast I recognize the above, and could sing songs by, lessee, Hoobastank (“I’m not a perrrfect perrrrrson…”), Maroon5 (“this love is taking its toll on me, she said goodbye so many times before…”), Los Lonely Boys (something about heaven), and OutKast (if OutKast is the group that did “The Whole World” which I think is right). I feel kinda special now. ---
**Author:** ![Sutremaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Sutremaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sutremaine)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/5 "2004-07-19T01:19:36Z")
I had a post all ready but Something Happened (not the hamsters. It never even got that far). Short version: I’m nineteen and this list is the first I’ve heard of many of these people. Britney, Usher and Beyonce are the only people I know of. Hoobastank and OutKast I’ve come across only in the context of ‘bands I like’, so I had no idea how obscure/ mainstream they are. D12 is the only group I can put a song to (I know Eminem’s voice, and the song is supremely annoying). Enya and P. Diddy? The heck? For those of you who are interested, my musical tastes are centred firmly on prog metal, with early Dream Theater stuck even more firmly in the centre of that. ---
**Author:** ![emekthian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecae2f/32.png) [@emekthian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emekthian)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/6 "2004-07-19T01:46:10Z")
I’ve never heard of any of these people (except Usher, who is apparantly a really hot black rapper, and Brittany Spears), and I’m 14. :eek: Of course, I don’t listen to much music, and what little music I do listen to is mostly classic rock. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/7 "2004-07-19T02:14:18Z")
I’m more into indie, but I’ll have a go: **People I’ve never heard of** : Nina Sky Jabba Kevin Lyttle Spragga Benz Soulja Slim Mario Winans **People I’ve heard of but don’t know any songs by** : JoJo Christina Milian Petey Pablo Los Lonely Boys Ashlee Simpson **People I had to look up to see if I knew a song by them** : Juvenile [I do] Switchfoot [I don’t] Lil Jon [I don’t] **People I know songs by** : Hoobastank Usher Britney Spears Maroon5 Ludacris Beyonce Alicia Keys P. Diddy Enya D12 Outkast ---
**Author:** ![Zap\_Rowsdower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3da27b/32.png) [@Zap\_Rowsdower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zap_Rowsdower)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/8 "2004-07-19T02:29:24Z")
The large majority of those folks, I have no idea who they are or what any of there songs are. I listen almost exclusively to NPR and classical music. Dagnabbit!! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/9 "2004-07-19T02:35:46Z")
Last time I knew all the top 40 hits was back in dickety-three. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/10 "2004-07-19T02:50:24Z")
Artists whose names I’ve heard: Hoobastank, Usher, JoJo, Britney Spears, Maroon5, Little John, Ludacris, Los Lonely Boys, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Enya, P. Diddy, D12, OutKast. How many of those have I actually heard? Three, maybe four. I’m 22. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/11 "2004-07-19T03:28:02Z")
> [@SmackFu](#): > > The real sign you’re old is when you don’t listen to the music AND you say it’s crap. So it’s good you haven’t reached that point yet. Oh no! I reached that point when I was 10 and have steadfastly remained at that point all these years. Couldn’t be more content about it, either . . . 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Lando\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f17d59/32.png) [@Lando\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lando_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/12 "2004-07-19T03:34:04Z")
> [@SmackFu](#): > > The real sign you’re old is when you don’t listen to the music AND you say it’s crap. So it’s good you haven’t reached that point yet. I’m 16, and I’ve heard most of those songs, and you know what? They ARE crap. Seriously, I find most of today’s cookie-cutter career artist laughable. Zeppelin rules!! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Lando\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f17d59/32.png) [@Lando\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lando_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/13 "2004-07-19T03:34:05Z")
> [@SmackFu](#): > > The real sign you’re old is when you don’t listen to the music AND you say it’s crap. So it’s good you haven’t reached that point yet. I’m 16, and I’ve heard most of those songs, and you know what? They ARE crap. Seriously, I find most of today’s cookie-cutter career artists laughable. Zeppelin rules!! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/14 "2004-07-19T05:00:47Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Hoobastank > Usher > Nina Sky featuring Jabba > Britney Spears (Okay, I know who _she_ is.) > Christina Milian > Maroon5 > Beyonce (Knowles? She was in the third _Austin Powers_ movie) > Alicia Keys (I’ve heard this name somewhere) > Mario Winans featuring Enya & P. Diddy (Okay, I know those last two.) > Ashlee Simpson (Is she the next Britney? I’ve heard this name too.) > D12 (You sank my battleship!) > OutKast Know all of them, can sing at least a piece of the song that’s currently on the charts. I’m 44, but I watch a scandalous amount of VH1, MTV Hits (on digital cable) and occasionally listen to Top 40 on XM when I have to be in the car early in the mornings. (I need something to pep me up.) Outkast did do “The Whole World” and “Hey Ya” and “Miss Jackson” and a host of others. Their songs are darned catchy. The D12 song is funny but Eminem is the most annoying thing on the planet. The Mario Winans (whose family is reknowned for gospel) track with Enya and P. Diddy is a P. Diddy production, which means that he has stuck his fat face into things with an out of place rap break, and the Eyna comes in because she’s whose music Diddy has ripped off this time around for some lesser talent (sorry, Mario, but that’s you) to whine over. Alicia Keys and Beyonce actually deserve notice, of that list they’re the ones with talent. Also Maroon 5, but I’ve mentioned on the boards before that I really like them. I’d add Usher to that list, but the remix of his latest single promotes violence against pregnant women so as far as I’m concerned, Usher can go to hell. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/15 "2004-07-19T05:14:55Z")
I like **Lisa-go-Blind’s** idea **People/bands I know music by:** Hoobastank (I have their first cd. Don’t like the softer stuff on the new CD. “The reason.” Belch) Usher (does “you make me wanna” get stuck in anyone’s head?) Britney Spears Maroon5 (this love makes it harder to breath) Juvenile featuring Soulja Slim (well, 50-50. I don’t know Soulja Slim) Switchfoot (we were meant to live, you know) Los Lonely Boys (thanks to a really annoying commerical) Beyonce Alicia Keys Mario Winans featuring Enya & P. Diddy (2/3rds. Who’s Mario?) D12 OutKast **People I’ve heard _of_** Ashlee Simpson JoJo Petey Pablo (Isn’t this a character in a Pixies song?) **Huh?** Nina Sky featuring Jabba Kevin Lyttle featuring Spragga Benz Christina Milian ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/16 "2004-07-19T05:35:12Z")
> [@TeaElle](#): > > I’d add Usher to that list, but the remix of his latest single promotes violence against pregnant women so as far as I’m concerned, Usher can go to hell. What we really need is a song promoting violence against Usher. Heck, forget the song. We just need some violence against Usher. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/17 "2004-07-19T05:56:33Z")
No clue about the following: Hoobastank (Seriously? _Hoobastank_? WTF?) JoJo Nina Sky Jabba Kevin Lyttle Spragga Benz Christina Milian Maroon5 Switchfoot Petey Pablo Los Lonely Boys Alicia Keys Mario Winans Ashlee Simpson D12 Soulja Slim Great Big Sea Vaguely heard of: Usher Juvenile Lil Jon Ludacris Beyonce Knowles (whose name always makes me think of [Harry Knowles](http://www.deuceofclubs.com/celebs/cel32.htm). Which considerably reduce the impact of her sexiness, let me tell you) OutKast Heard enough to know I don’t like them: P. Diddy Britney Spears Heard enough to know that I do like them: Eminem (never heard of D12, though) Actually own an album by: Enya (although I don’t much like them, either) And I’m 28. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/18 "2004-07-19T05:57:34Z")
Er, “her” not “them,” Enya being a person, not a band. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/19 "2004-07-19T06:28:32Z")
My list of those I recognize would be pretty close to the one in th OP. That’s probably because I gave up on pop radio about 1975. Now I listen to just about everything else. Too bad rock-and-roll _wasn’t_ here to stay! ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2004, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741/20 "2004-07-19T06:42:28Z")
Most of the Top 40 is aimed at wee teens, right? I knew a few names listed. I know songs by Britney and Beyonce, but that’s about it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-evidence-im-getting-older-i-have-no-clue-about-the-top-40-artists/255741.md?page=2)