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[liptonrm]

I have a theory. I think that by listening to two songs you can come to a pretty good conclusion about the psychology that shapes the Baby Boom generation.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Ohio

and

Don McLean - American PieYou'll have to let me know what you think. I'm still working on GenX (probably because we're still working on ourselves), but

Comments

[bellatemple]

I'm not sure that Green Day quite works for Gen X . . . I think they might be a bit too young for the whole span of the generation.

And I think my mom would be HIGHLY offended to hear that American Pie defines her generation . . . but then, she still hates it from being overplayed when it first came out.

[liptonrm]

You make a very good point. This illustrates how one should not choose generational anthems based what one is feeling at a particular moment, especially when one is only barely in a generation to begin with. ;-)

I think your mom and my mom would have to disagree, but then, my mom comes from the Detroit area and hates all things Motown which probably means she suffers from a similar ailment.

[shirebound]

Speaking as an aging Boomer, I'd offer these songs as our "anthems":

"Blowin' in the Wind" by Bob Dylan for its confusion
"It's About Time" by John Denver for its soaring hope

[liptonrm]

Oooo, those are excellent. I'm definitely going to have to add them to the list.

love both those songs

[bookgrl]

But OHIO is definitely the one most representative of some of the social changes that occurred, that's for sure.

Re: love both those songs

[liptonrm]

Oh, yeah, 'Ohio' is definitely a keeper. I think it encapsulates the emotions of young people during during the late 60's in a pretty terrific manner.

And I appreciate how 'American Pie' speaks to the naivete a lot of Boomers grew up with in the 50s and the way adolescence/adulthood and the 60s shattered so many of their perceptions about life. My mom still talks about the 50s and Leave it to Beaver as some sort of halcyon, perfect era.