Herkie the Dog's World Musings
Long Ago and Far Away
Okay, it's official. The 80's were a long time ago.
I didn't want to believe that. I've had a hard time swallowing it. But it's apparently true. The time that I mainly grew up is to today's kids what the 60's were to me: a period that occurred two decades ago.
It still doesn't seem that long ago, apart from the thin leather ties and parachute pants. I guess that's because it's so well preserved. See, when I was growing up, the 60's media looked old. Any film or TV from that time was either black and white or overcompensated in its color mix. Music recorded in the 60's was in mono or somewhat primitive stereo. When you look at the quality of media from the 80's, it hasn't changed that much in terms of quality. For instance, music recorded in the 80's involves digital technology (CDs) or synthesized instruments, all of which are still in use today.
However, the true length of time really hit me when I tuned into VH-1's "Bands Reunited." This show is the latest "reality TV" entry in which a VH-1 crew uses "ambush journalism" to track down the members of a popular 80's band, get them to reunite in a room, and possibly even perform a reunion show together. Bands such as Berlin, A Flock of Seagulls, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Squeeze have been featured on this show.
So what's the big deal? Well, it's this. All of these New Wave bands, preserved and immortalized in music videos showing off mass quantities of hair products, have members that look more like middle managers at Ford Motor Company than they do musicians on the then cutting edge of popular music. Time has not been very kind to some of these people. Those with copious volumes of hair no longer have any of it. Serious weight has been gained.
Thankfully though, neither of these has happened to Terri Nunn of Berlin. However, her writing partner John Crawford looks like an accountant. The members of The Alarm also look much older than one in their mid 40's should look. And frankly, when these bands actually do reunite, it looks a little bit like an AARP convention with synthesizers and guitars.
Seeing the effect of time combined with the nostalgia of remembering listening to this music and seeing the videos while growing up has really driven home the point. It really was a long time ago, even though it continues to feel like it was just a few steps behind me.
I didn't want to believe that. I've had a hard time swallowing it. But it's apparently true. The time that I mainly grew up is to today's kids what the 60's were to me: a period that occurred two decades ago.
It still doesn't seem that long ago, apart from the thin leather ties and parachute pants. I guess that's because it's so well preserved. See, when I was growing up, the 60's media looked old. Any film or TV from that time was either black and white or overcompensated in its color mix. Music recorded in the 60's was in mono or somewhat primitive stereo. When you look at the quality of media from the 80's, it hasn't changed that much in terms of quality. For instance, music recorded in the 80's involves digital technology (CDs) or synthesized instruments, all of which are still in use today.
However, the true length of time really hit me when I tuned into VH-1's "Bands Reunited." This show is the latest "reality TV" entry in which a VH-1 crew uses "ambush journalism" to track down the members of a popular 80's band, get them to reunite in a room, and possibly even perform a reunion show together. Bands such as Berlin, A Flock of Seagulls, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Squeeze have been featured on this show.
So what's the big deal? Well, it's this. All of these New Wave bands, preserved and immortalized in music videos showing off mass quantities of hair products, have members that look more like middle managers at Ford Motor Company than they do musicians on the then cutting edge of popular music. Time has not been very kind to some of these people. Those with copious volumes of hair no longer have any of it. Serious weight has been gained.
Thankfully though, neither of these has happened to Terri Nunn of Berlin. However, her writing partner John Crawford looks like an accountant. The members of The Alarm also look much older than one in their mid 40's should look. And frankly, when these bands actually do reunite, it looks a little bit like an AARP convention with synthesizers and guitars.
Seeing the effect of time combined with the nostalgia of remembering listening to this music and seeing the videos while growing up has really driven home the point. It really was a long time ago, even though it continues to feel like it was just a few steps behind me.
posted by Jon at
12:08 AM
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