Music tastes as I get older

[UserRequested]

I was very much a Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Bad Company and heavy metal fan in additional to liking the less "metallic" bands like Fleetwood Macs, Boston, REO Speedwagon etc.
As I get older though, I find myself enjoying the easy listening and more laid back music over the louder more energetic music of my youth.

Reading some of the other posts here, it looks like many still enjoy the music of their youth.

I still enjoy the pop bands of the 60's - 80's, but heavy metal is something I only put on once in a blue moon, and usually when I've had one glass of red too many

 

[Nodak]

I don't think my taste in music has changed that much. I've never been a heavy metal fan but have always liked folk, blues, jazz, classic rock, and classical music. It's been many years since I've heard a newer band that I really like but recently I've been enjoying Mumford and Sons. They call themselves an indie folk group.

 

[rbmrtn]

I don't think mine has changed. Looking forward to listening to the new Jimi Hendrix album. But I listen to whatever I like, 50s rockabilly to baroque classical.

 

[tinlizzy]

For a split second I thought the thread title was that you could taste music as you got older -ha! The medical posts have hijacked my train of thought!

 

[ER Eddie]

I've changed a lot, too. I was deeply into music when I was young (The Clash, REM, Echo and the Bunnymen, Dire Straits). I was passionate about it. Now, at age 51, I listen mostly to ambient music that provides a relaxing backdrop. I occasionally listen to the old stuff for short periods of time, but I just don't have the interest anymore.

 

[Nemo2]

For a split second I thought the thread title was that you could taste music as you got older -ha!

Likewise.

 

[jollystomper]

My music tastes haven't changed. My older siblings had a lot of 60s music in the house when growing up. I was an on air DJ at my college radio station, which had an eclectic mix of jazz, r&b, rock, disco and gospel, so did shows in every format. My digital music collection has a crazy mix of all of those genres.

I will say that I don't listen to music with what I call "anxiety/angst" lyrics or themes very much anyone. I favor songs with optimistic, upbeat, funny, and "positive love"/sexy lyrics. Perhaps as I get closer to the end I want to be reminded of happy times as much as possible.

 

[braumeister]

I don't think my taste in music has changed that much. I've never been a heavy metal fan but have always liked folk, blues, jazz, classic rock, and classical music.

+1
I also appreciate quiet in the car more these days. In the past, I always had something playing while driving.

 

[timeasterday]

As I get into my mid-40's I find myself less interested in the music of my younger days and even less interested in most new music out there. Country music annoys me, classic rock stations are too repetitive with the same old songs, and anything slow puts me to sleep. I guess I need to go back to listening to language-learning courses on my commute.

 

[Htown Harry]

..classic rock stations are too repetitive with the same old songs...

This is an issue for me, too.

The two classic rock stations here are basically oldies stations with a limited play list, and are essentially mirrors of one another.

You'd think one of them would at least differentiate themselves a little bit by mixing in a live cut, an acoustic version or a new release by an older artist.

"Rocky Mountain Way" and "Tiny Dancer" were OK songs, but they don't need to be played twice a day.

 

[Sarah in SC]

My music tastes haven't changed.

I will say that I don't listen to music with what I call "anxiety/angst" lyrics or themes very much anyone. I favor songs with optimistic, upbeat, funny, and "positive love"/sexy lyrics. Perhaps as I get closer to the end I want to be reminded of happy times as much as possible.

+1. This is why I still have bouts of listening to just Jimmy Buffett for a week! Sometimes I just like happy, uncomplicated songs.

I listened to pop music in my teens and try very hard not to be nostalgic for it, because, well, a lot of it sucked (in the 80s).

I love Americana music and we go see a good many small venue shows. I tend toward what I call Angry Country in this, with songwriting from folks like James McMurtry, Chris Knight, BJ Barham of American Aquarium, and older stuff of Robert Earl Keen. That sort of angst is ok, 'cause the body count is high.

 

[Payin-the-Toll]

I was raised on Rock'n'Roll, but the Blues kept getting in the way!

 

[Dawg52]

I was raised on Rock'n'Roll, but the Blues kept getting in the way!

Pretty much the same here. Although I have branched out a little over the years. I wouldn't have listened to this kind of music 30 years ago.....

Andrea Bocelli Live - Cuando Me Enamoro (2006) - YouTube

Who knows, I may move from lite med's to dark before it's all over.

 

[Nodak]

+1
I also appreciate quiet in the car more these days. In the past, I always had something playing while driving.

I have to have music when I'm driving. I have Sirius/XM in my car but as someone else said the classic rock channels even there are too repetitive. The deep tracks channel and the underground garage channel aren't as bad because they play cuts that weren't hits so they had less air play. For home use I have an internet radio tuner; there are so many good stations that I can always find something worth listening to.

 

[eytonxav]

My music tastes remain stuck in the 50s, 60s and 70s, although there are some newer pop hits that I like as well.

 

[CoolChange]

I still like most of the music from my younger days (including all of the bands mentioned in the OP); but, my tastes seem to have broadened quite a lot as I have aged. Now, I enjoy a much more varied array of musicians.

However, like a few other posters here, I actually listen to music much less now than in years past even though I am more likely to enjoy whatever is playing now.

 

[golfnut]

I still rather listen to blues, rock and soul that was recorded in mid sixties to mid seventies (prior to disco).

That being said, there are artists that I like since then - Stevie Ray Vaughn, Dire Straits, Pearl Jam, U2, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

 

[JoeWras]

XM used to be less repetitive. When Sirius bought them, they tightened the playlists.

That said, my music choices have changed. Growing up in the 70's, peer pressure demanded that I like the rock of that era. I was a boy, after all. It was OK, but you can only take so much Journey. And don't you dare like disco or anything upbeat.

As I've aged, I've come to appreciate some of that other stuff, including some of the better produced dance music and pop.

But I've really come to appreciate the dawn of harder/progressive rock. With a few decades perspective, I've come to know just how incredible the musicianship of Led Zep and Pink Floyd were/are. John Bonham's drumming blows me away... he was one of a kind and influenced scores of those who followed. What a loss. I could on and on.

But then there's this odd little habit I have. I also like to listen to 40's music. Ironically, I skip the 50s. Early Rock and Roll isn't my thing. 60s are OK. But when I want oldies, I go right to the source. Big band.

 

[Midpack]

My taste in music has always slowly evolved/expanded, I wouldn't say changed. I still like the old stuff, but I enjoy some of the new stuff too (still). I haven't found myself gravitating to easy listening yet, but maybe some day.

A lesser known Radiohead song came on the music system at our favorite coffee shop yesterday, and the "young-uns" were surprised that I even knew who it was, much less liked it. Some of them didn't know who it was, too young for Radiohead (sad).

We have over 5,000 songs on CD (about 80% rock/pop/alternative, some jazz, classical, musical theatre, other), about half of them are on our iOS devices. We have 175 artist/one-hit wonders in our catalog (1 song each).

Though # of songs isn't exactly favorites, it's in the ballpark:

Artist|# of Songs The Beatles| 139 Billy Joel| 95 Sheryl Crow| 84 Sting (DW)| 63 Radiohead| 61 James Taylor| 56 The Who| 52 Jimmy Buffett| 40 Green Day| 35 The Rolling Stones| 35 Led Zeppelin| 30 The Police|3 0 Elton John| 27 Jason Mraz| 24 Sarah McLachlan| 23 Queen| 22 Van Halen| 22 Fleetwood Mac| 21 Foo Fighters| 21
Total Catalog|2542

 

[ejman]

My taste in music changed significantly since ER back in 2002. Prior to ER I heard music (mostly soft rock, folk, classical) as sort of a de-stressor. I.E. home from work, put some nice tunes on the stereo, get a drink, catch up on reading and use the music as a pleasant background to get my mind off the work day. After ER, I discovered Jazz and it's multiple varieties and really had the opportunity to dig into music and listen intently to it. I started collecting LP's (have a couple thousand now) and also in the last couple of years discovered MOG (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOG_(online_music)) and its amazing music catalog and quality sound. It's been an incredibly enjoyable journey.

 

[imoldernu]

Coincidence- That this thread started at the same time as the announcement of Sarah Brightman's new World Tour "One Day Like This".

Yes, tastes change. My personal love affair with Sarah Brightman began about 15 years ago. Probably the only album I'll ever buy!.

 

[Midpack]

Pretty much the same here. Although I have branched out a little over the years. I wouldn't have listened to this kind of music 30 years ago.....[Andrea Bocelli]

Good stuff. It's subjective of course, but I've heard a few people claim this is the most beautiful song ever (without Sarah B). Certainly not everyone's cup of tea...

Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli - Time to Say Goodbye 1997 Video stereo widescreen - YouTube

 

[David1961]

My music tastes have evolved a bit. I still love rock /pop from the 50s through early 80s. But as I've gotten older, I'm developing more of an appreciation of classical music and also vocalists like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Doris Day, and Perry Como.

 

[Keim]

When I was younger I (too paraphrase fans of a different genre) liked both kinds of music: Rock AND Roll.

My taste has expanded. I now have a collection of 1000 albums, none on my computer, that includes just about everything but classical and modern country. I was even listening to a Cee-Lo Green rap album as I took my Muscle Boat for a cruise with my daughter yesterday. "Dad, you like weird music."

I'm with Sarah. Only like Angry Country, as she put it. I call it punkry.

I will always be a rocker. Was listening to Bad Co on the drive to work today.

"But I'm a man, I've got my pride, don't need no woman to hurt me innsssiiiide."

 

[Sarah in SC]

Cool chart, Midpack. I'll have to do that sometime. I have around 8,000 songs on my computer, more than I'll ever listen to, at that.

I think if I had to pick a favorite artist, period, though, it would be James Taylor. While he still was on heroin. His songwriting sucked once he went clean.

Same can be said about the "punkry" (love that, Keim)--when they get to middle age, as Chris Knight once said in an interview "just not as angry as I used to be". So my favorite artists age out as they get closer to 40 and write songs about boring stuff.