I have to admit it, I've become that guy. The older dude that can't understand today's music and seems to think things were just better back in the day.
Yes, the guy that every chance he gets, reminds everyone how much better it was when Van Halen, Guns n Roses and Metallica ruled the world.
The funny thing is: I know exactly who I've become, because when I was a kid, it was my parents telling me they didn't understand my music at all. I vividly remember my mother freaking out when I started listening to Metallica. She had the whole "satan" talk with me and everything.
This is all to say it's just a shame that I'm no better than my closed minded parents in the end. I still rather listen to SRV, Motorhead or Judas Priest over anything new, but my wife has been trying to fight back lately.
The story is short, but it goes like this: She asked me If I could listen to this "new band" that is making big waves these days. She prepped the "presentation" (please note the ""s I'm using all over the place) by showing me what they used to do, the older stuff they released.
I could barely get passed a minute. To say I hated it, would be an understatement.
I submit to you the evidence, knowing full well most of you will find this as fascinating as glitter on a strip club hot dog. You won't be able to finish it, it's just not within the realm of possibilities for most humans, I think.
Fearing for my emotional well being, I clicked off the video reaching for the mouse against her will, only to see her laugh and lay back. It seemed her planned was working to perfection (the plan to hurt me).
She proceeds to tell me that their new stuff is very different and very good, and I have to listen. After the bitter taste wore off a couple of points in the Richter scale, I decided to indulge her a little more and allow her to "show me" the new stuff.
A new caveat had to be presented, and a very important one. If I could endure the rap (can't stand it 90% of the time), I would enjoy the song a lot.
You see, this caveat was important, required I'd say. I would have clicked away ten seconds into the song, as soon as the gangstah flavor would've kicked in.
I honestly had to hold my breath, pucker and squint as the song progressed, when all of the sudden real vocals kicked in. Symphonic metal? I asked myself, as the guitars began to carry the tune forward.
A little later it became not only familiar to me, but as good as beer on the sunniest of days.
After the first listen, full listen, I was sold....
All of the sudden I know I'm old... but maybe It's OK in the end.
MenO