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Interesting Question: At What Point Do People Have Their “Musical Midlife Crisis”?
A Journal of Musical Things ^ | April 24, 2015 | Alan Cross

Posted on 04/24/2015 7:16:06 PM PDT by Squawk 8888

For all of us, we have a musical sweet spot in our lives. It happens roughly between the ages of 14 and 24, from the time we enter high school to the time life begins to intrude with its demands of jobs, mortgages and families. During that period, almost nothing is more important to us than music. It not only becomes a personal obsession but something we use to proclaim our identity to the rest of the world.

But after about 24, we just don’t have the time (and often the interest) to indulge in our musical passions as much as we used to. Instead of spending hours seeking out what’s new and cool, we begin to fall back on the music of our youth for enjoyment, relaxation and comfort. New music just doesn’t do it for us anymore. We might even find ourselves saying “Music today isn’t anywhere as good as it used to be when I was young!” Then you go and yell at some kids on your lawn.

This is totally natural. Every generation has the biological right to believe that the music of their youth is the greatest music of all time. We also have a biological right (or at least a predilection) to have a musical mid-life crisis. The Guardian reports:

Some encouragement for all the 42-year-olds suddenly getting into Rihanna or Rudimental: at least your midlife crisis is less dangerous than buying an unsuitably-powerful motorbike.

Streaming music service Spotify has identified 42 as the age when many of its users rediscover the joys of current pop music, as part of research into how their tastes mature over time.

“During the teenage years, we embrace music at the top of the charts more than at any other time in our lives. As we grow older, our taste in music diverges sharply from the mainstream up to age 25, and a bit less sharply after that,” explained the company on its Insights blog.

“We’re starting to listen to ‘our’ music, not ‘the’ music. Music taste reaches maturity at age 35. Around age 42, music taste briefly curves back to the popular charts — a musical midlife crisis and attempt to harken back to our youth, perhaps?”



TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
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To: Cowman

“Music used to be good until that snot nosed upstart Hayden ruined it!”

LOL! I see what you did there... :)


21 posted on 04/24/2015 7:41:41 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: Squawk 8888

I was about 25 was when I started with Brasilian pagode and samba, and entirely alien style of music and never came back. To this day I still love it, it’s like having hundreds of bands as talented as the Beatles releasing hits for more than 25 years. I can say I was able to appreciate the golden era of pagode. May not mean anything to non Brasilians but again, music is a very personal thing And mine represents a celebration of life, love and my hot morena, who’s reaction is to dance to it... Can I get a culturally confused Yeehaw! ; D


22 posted on 04/24/2015 7:42:38 PM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: dfwgator

You’ll have to explain that one.


23 posted on 04/24/2015 7:43:04 PM PDT by driftless2
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Rock n Roll’s been going downhill ever since Buddy Holly died.


24 posted on 04/24/2015 7:43:17 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator; driftless2
There's always Turbo Polka.
25 posted on 04/24/2015 7:43:22 PM PDT by Squawk 8888 (Will steal your comments & post them on Twitter)
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To: Squawk 8888
Creedence, man.


26 posted on 04/24/2015 7:44:00 PM PDT by Flag_This (You can't spell "treason" without the "O".)
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To: driftless2

It’s a form of music popular in Poland it’s kind of an upbeat electronic form of music, I find myself listening to it occasionally.


27 posted on 04/24/2015 7:44:17 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Squawk 8888

All I can say is, “Thank You, God,” for giving us Music! My tastes range from Sinatra to Chicago to Jean Pierre Rampal to Tibetan Singing Bowls.

I love it ALL! :)


28 posted on 04/24/2015 7:45:50 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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Wait! None of that Rap crap, LOL! Ain’t nobody got time fo dat chit!


29 posted on 04/24/2015 7:46:52 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: wardaddy

“Threads that scream out for Wardaddy.”


30 posted on 04/24/2015 7:47:35 PM PDT by Bodleian_Girl (I still think Lindsey loves Stevie)
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To: doc1019

When the irritating music of your youth brings feelings of nostalgia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ6fjGS1lRg


31 posted on 04/24/2015 7:51:16 PM PDT by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
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To: Squawk 8888
Around age 42, music taste briefly curves back to the popular charts — a musical midlife crisis and attempt to harken back to our youth, perhaps?”

I don't think that's the reason.

The real reason (imho) is that, by age 42, (1) people are so busy working and raising families that they don't have much time to look into other kinds of music, (2) they become more interested in other things, and (3) their friends aren't talking as much about music either.

So, they listen to whatever is on their radio station as they're driving to and from work. (At least, that was always my excuse.)

32 posted on 04/24/2015 7:52:05 PM PDT by Tired of Taxes
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

You know, I used to think if you didn’t write and play your own stuff you were a sellout of sorts. It dawned on me finally that classical music was really cover groups playing the “ oldies” before there was any other way to replicate music...

Fast forward 400 years, we still have a fond spot for what we grew up with.


33 posted on 04/24/2015 7:52:46 PM PDT by One Name (Ultimately, the TRUTH is a razor's edge and no man can sit astride it.)
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To: One Name

Funny that today the only acts that can play to arenas are the old farts like The Who and The Stones.


34 posted on 04/24/2015 7:53:51 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

We can thank MTV for killing the rock band.


35 posted on 04/24/2015 7:55:34 PM PDT by henkster (Do I really need a sarcasm tag?)
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To: henkster

Video killed the radio star.


36 posted on 04/24/2015 8:01:17 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Squawk 8888
"Rihanna or Rudimental"

W...T...F..?

I thought this was about musical tastes...........I am confused.

37 posted on 04/24/2015 8:01:36 PM PDT by doorgunner69
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To: One Name

Top of the billboard charts the day I was born. It was written in the 1600s or so. (I’m not quite that old)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A-4VGfx5lU


38 posted on 04/24/2015 8:03:12 PM PDT by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
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To: Squawk 8888
Interesting book on the subject...

This is Your Brain on Music.

39 posted on 04/24/2015 8:03:18 PM PDT by MV=PY (The Magic Question: Who's paying for it?)
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To: cripplecreek

In 1980 I had recently discovered this guy from a bit north of you

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EAnqi54Ax4E


40 posted on 04/24/2015 8:05:54 PM PDT by One Name (Ultimately, the TRUTH is a razor's edge and no man can sit astride it.)
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