How difficult for youngster to get the classics?

I didn't listen to any classical until I saw the movie Amadeus in the early eighties because Mozart looked cool.

Most of what I like is way before my time. I have said the Beatles' accomplishments are "exaggerated," but I'm using music by other contemporary bands like the Kinks, The Beach Boys, and Procol Harum as reference. The fab four still have some undeniably brilliant stuff, though, but I'm not going dub something classic just cause everyone says it is. The internet allows the younger crowd to really research and examine what made bands special back then in a way people with rose-colored glasses back then couldn't accurately see. Of course there's that one kid who doesn't like the sound of any band before the 90s. That guy is the butt of my jokes. My somewhat pretentious goal as a progressive fan is to be able to enjoy music that pushes boundaries from all periods. Gimme some 1500s Renaissance Period pieces and let me get back to you if they're proggy or not!

As a "youngster," I find that some classic albums instantly appeal to me and others leave me dry. I also find that the more musical context I gain from that era, the easier it is for me to appreciate artists I formerly did not like. I'm pretty open that I don't love ELP or Genesis, but I still hold out for the hope that I may someday "get" them as I dig into other prog artists. This also applies to older generations getting into newer artists. Many of them aren't as up to date on the musical and artistic context of today and thus may miss some great music today as well. But just as I dig into the classics, there are plenty that dig into new bands.

That said, our opinions shouldn't be blindly led by "canon" considerations. As listeners, we can't control what we like or dislike, so I don't cover up any of my dislike for any "classic" artist. They are in the same boat with every other musician. It's a very crowded boat, and some of its passengers will get thrown overboard. That's just the way it is.

I'm still a teenager, but anyone I've met (that's my age) who likes prog is into Porcupine Tree and Mars Volta, not ELP and Yes. In the end, we usually seem to meet halfway with Rush, or sometimes King Crimson, but what I always get when bringing up Genesis is "Oh, my dad listens to them."  No idea where my taste comes from though, because I used to like heavier and heavier bands and my parents both despise prog...

I grew into liking the classic prog period between age 17 and age 20 and liked it eversince. I'll be 26 next thursday. To be honest, I have way more difficulty getting into the modern classics, I prefer the sound of the seventies.

Who gives a damn what these young hooligans listen to? Now get off my lawn!

I think it is down to the individual - just like everything around here. To generalise, I'd say about as hard as old timers trying to get the modern classics.

One thing that I often find missing with (some) young music fans is their inability to count in the historical factor of X band. That's why you sometimes get the ridiculous 'The Beatles are waaaaay overrated! The Mars Volta are a thousand times more progressive!!!'



Edited by Guldbamsen - December 14 2014 at 12:01