Neil Diamond. The Eagles. Creedence Clearwater Revival. The Beatles. The Beach Boys. Sounds like the music library of a Baby Boomer, doesn't it?
It's also my library, and I'm darn proud to say it. I just turned 33, but I love music that is as old as I am ... or older.
I don't know why, either.
My parents never really listened to the music of their generation while I was growing up. They were more into Kenny Rogers and other country music (their affection for Rogers' music has rubbed off on me).
My wife owns a dance studio, and has hundreds of CDs at her disposal. Most of them, however, are of two varieties of music I rarely take a liking to - hip-hop/rap and children's songs.
Some of my co-workers make fun of me for having an interest in classic hits. They don't hesitate to speak up when I talk fondly of Simon & Garfunkel, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles or AC/DC. One co-worker said many of my favorite musicians are dead. True, Johnny Cash, half the Beatles and others are gone, but many are still alive.
When my co-workers talk about the latest mainstream and indie music, I feel like a young teenager trying to understand the lyrics to La Bamba. I know they're talking music, but I can't quite make out the conversation. The names of the artists whiz over my head faster than a Hannah Montana concert sells out.
Fed up with all the teasing, and my ignorance of most modern-day music, I am going on a music exploration. With the impending purchase of an mp3 player that will hold almost 200 times more songs than my old device, I need music, and I need new music. I want to be exposed.
Sure, my old standbys are going to be on there. There's more than 30 Neil Diamond songs loaded for me to rock out to. Johnny Cash takes up more than 20 spots. I even went to the library yesterday and picked up the Essential Bob Dylan, 30 songs from the mush-mouthed musician.
But that's old music, stuff I've heard before. I want to experience music I never have before.
That's where you come in. I need your help.
There are many readers of the Monroe Times, and with that comes many musical tastes. Do you have something in your collection you think I should hear? Burn it to a CD and send it to me at the Times, P.O. Box 230, Monroe, WI 53589.
I'll tell you what I think through our Mixed Media blog on our Web site, www.themonroetimes.com.
So, come on readers; help a journalist stuck in his musical ways on his journey of audible discovery. It's up to you to stop the teasing. It's up to you to be the translator for our co-worker conversations on music.
I want to break free.
- Jim Winter is news editor of The Monroe Times. He can be reached at newseditor@themonroetimes.com.
It's also my library, and I'm darn proud to say it. I just turned 33, but I love music that is as old as I am ... or older.
I don't know why, either.
My parents never really listened to the music of their generation while I was growing up. They were more into Kenny Rogers and other country music (their affection for Rogers' music has rubbed off on me).
My wife owns a dance studio, and has hundreds of CDs at her disposal. Most of them, however, are of two varieties of music I rarely take a liking to - hip-hop/rap and children's songs.
Some of my co-workers make fun of me for having an interest in classic hits. They don't hesitate to speak up when I talk fondly of Simon & Garfunkel, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles or AC/DC. One co-worker said many of my favorite musicians are dead. True, Johnny Cash, half the Beatles and others are gone, but many are still alive.
When my co-workers talk about the latest mainstream and indie music, I feel like a young teenager trying to understand the lyrics to La Bamba. I know they're talking music, but I can't quite make out the conversation. The names of the artists whiz over my head faster than a Hannah Montana concert sells out.
Fed up with all the teasing, and my ignorance of most modern-day music, I am going on a music exploration. With the impending purchase of an mp3 player that will hold almost 200 times more songs than my old device, I need music, and I need new music. I want to be exposed.
Sure, my old standbys are going to be on there. There's more than 30 Neil Diamond songs loaded for me to rock out to. Johnny Cash takes up more than 20 spots. I even went to the library yesterday and picked up the Essential Bob Dylan, 30 songs from the mush-mouthed musician.
But that's old music, stuff I've heard before. I want to experience music I never have before.
That's where you come in. I need your help.
There are many readers of the Monroe Times, and with that comes many musical tastes. Do you have something in your collection you think I should hear? Burn it to a CD and send it to me at the Times, P.O. Box 230, Monroe, WI 53589.
I'll tell you what I think through our Mixed Media blog on our Web site, www.themonroetimes.com.
So, come on readers; help a journalist stuck in his musical ways on his journey of audible discovery. It's up to you to stop the teasing. It's up to you to be the translator for our co-worker conversations on music.
I want to break free.
- Jim Winter is news editor of The Monroe Times. He can be reached at newseditor@themonroetimes.com.
