As gas prices soar, war in Ukraine rages on, I’m reminded music can be very helpful
It’s funny how the parameters on our memory keep expanding.
The other day, as I pumped a tank of gas at $4.60 a gallon I thought way back to my youth and pictured gas prices going up over $1 a gallon and how outraged people were at the time
Seems we have lost some capacity for rage these days as incredible things seem to keep occurring. How upset can we be over high gas prices when people are dying in Ukraine in a senseless war? Or, maybe there are so many outrageous things, it is difficult to focus on one.
Recently I began listening to a classic radio station that streams on my computer for free. Once upon a time I listened to AM radio stations that played the top 10 hits again and again on a little transistor radio that took all the money I had. Now I listen on a computer that took all the money I had.
But at least the music is better. I’m in the FM era of longer songs and deeper cuts from albums. As always, when you don’t program your own music, there will be clinkers but there are also a lot of really good songs that don’t get played on commercial radio.
The older flashbacks are fun. It makes me wonder if the Little Old Lady from Pasadena would be able to be the “ ... terror of Colorado Boulevard,” with these gas prices.
Sorry if I lose you with some of these references but at least Baby Boomers should catch them.
Some of the songs from years ago still resonate. “Rocket Launcher” was from the 1980s when the former Soviet Union was occupying Afghanistan. The singer yearned for a rocket launcher so he could even the odds. “If I had a rocket launcher I would not hesitate,” he sang. It could easily translate to Ukraine.
Cat Stephens was sure the “Peace Train,” was coming closer. Well that was a spectacular derailment wasn’t it?
It’s just music. “I know it’s only rock and roll, but I like it,” Mick Jagger reminded us. So when bands were singing about dancing in the moonlight, I don’t think anyone really did. Nor did I ever see anyone in high heel sneakers or anyone hanging their feet in the wishing well.
Music can be helpful
Probably few of us made love in the green grass behind the stadium but we wished we could. And even though Frank Zappa warned us (for 10 long minutes) “... don’t you eat that yellow snow,” I doubt anyone did. Great imagery, all of it.
But music can be helpful in so many ways. Back when I had pretensions of being cool, I was brought back to Earth by the Stray Cats. “Well, there’s a real square cat like a 1974,” they sang and I realized they were talking about me. The guy in the video even looked a bit the same.
And so, unable to be cool, I retreat to the past where the rock legends are all still active and our bubbles have not all burst.
This story was originally published March 12, 2022 at 9:00 AM.
