I’ve been in a few oldies bands as lead singer and bass player. I’m currently in an “classic rock and ‘new country’” band as well as a 50’s classic rock band. I hate doing some of the songs but love others. I also hate doing some of the modern songs and love others.
A few years ago I “discovered” country music and now love to do songs by Josh Turner like “What was I thinkn’”. But I also just discovered a lot of the later music by a band called Renaissance. And Enya does some great stuff.
And when I put together a female fronted pop band with my daughters a few years ago I discovered great artists like Pink and KT Tunstall (I love “white bird). I also listen to a lot of classical music.
Thing about “new” music, though, is the lion’s share of it is ephemeral. Little of it survives its short time on the charts other than in the hearts of the young people that used it to cement their teen years into their permanent memories or that first heavy petting in the back seat of a car - hence the popularity of “oldies” with us boomers.
What this means is that most of the “New” music being produced today has as its single redeeming quality its newness. Once that is gone, it’s gone.
But a fraction will be memorable for generations. Walking on Sunshine would be an example. The song is just fun. Rum and Coca Cola by the Andrews Sisters would be another. And I REALLY like Vertigo by U2 and Holiday by Green Day, though I like nothing else by those groups, and they are certainly not a part of my teen memories (I’m 60).
Are you familiar with Dan Hicks? My favorite artist of all time.
The album, “Turn of the Cards” is one of my favorite Renaissance albums. Annie Haslem has a wonderful voice. Their album, “Novella” also has some hauntingly sweet sounds.