I love music - I often play music that matches my mood. I have playlists of songs that suit me at any particular time. Most people like music, and music is often a lens into a society - we reflect how we feel and react to life through music. Videos are cool too, especially of stuff that happened a long time ago.
Music can reveal how we felt in the past and how we feel today. You hear it often: “This country is more divided now than it’s been since the late 60s and early 70s.” And, I suppose it is very divided these days.
There are some similarities between the two eras: the 1960s saw the rise of modern day feminism, a war figured huge back then, many people had a poor opinion of the government and politicians, the counterculture of drugs began in the 60s, the civil rights movement was a major part of life, and the earlier era had a controversial president.
Today there is the #MeToo movement, political feelings run very high, we have an opioid crisis, and there is the Black Lives Matter movement. Comparisons are often made between President Trump and Richard Nixon.
A lot of good music came out that bygone era, born of our deep divisions.
There are some differences too: there is no military draft today, and though we still have troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, the numbers - and the casualties - are much lower than at the height of the war in Vietnam. Dropping acid and smoking pot were cool back then - most decidedly, there is nothing “cool” about today’s opioid crisis. Nor was there a 24 hour news cycle back then - or even social media. All we had was good ol’ Walter Cronkite on the CBS Evening News, along with newspapers.
Being an old man, I remember the turbulent times of the late 60s and early 70s. Hells bells, I lived it, just as I am living the present days. Just for the fun of it, I’m going to be posting some thoughts - and links to music and videos from yesteryear - that reflect how things were “back in the day.”
I don’t think things are as bad today as we often think they are. The earlier time was pretty scary. More often, things seem about the same today as they were then.
Here’s an example: today’s “Make America Great Again” was “America: Love It or Leave It” back then. The song was recorded in 1965 by country music legend Ernest Tubb. Listen here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsCTrQIX_OM The lyrics express what many people think today. In 1969, country music singer Merle Haggard reacted to the anti-war sentiment and the budding drug culture with “Okie from Muskogee”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5K5l89mpV8
See what I mean? Things are same same, but different.
Drugs - In the 60s, we loved to watch (and laugh at) an old retreaded movie titled “Reefer Madness.” Here’s the trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYHDzrdXHEA There’s been a bit of a change since we watched “Reefer Madness” in the 60s. Thirty three states have now legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use. More are contemplating it. http://www.governing.com/gov-data/safety-justice/state-marijuana-laws-map-medical-recreational.html
Very different. No same same here.