Fifty years from now, all of us geezers (myself included) will be dead. The geezers of 2066 are in high school and college now. I substitute teach for a few schools. When I overhear what is playing through a student's earbuds, most of the time it sounds like hip-hop. I don't hear Beatle music, or The Rolling Stones, or Pink Floyd or anything that I recognize.
In deference to the guitar teacher, who knows two young girls who want to learn Beatles songs, there are a gazillion high schoolers out there who have no idea who The Beatles are. Do you really think fifty years from now the current crop of high schoolers are going to be playing albums from our generation? No, they'll be hanging on to the music of their youth. Just like we're hanging on to the music of our youth
My guess is, fifty years from now albums will be a thing of the past. The only thing left from the "classic rock" era will be about 50 individual songs that receive very, very sporadic attention. It may end up that the only music that lasts will be, "White Christmas", "Jingle Bells" and " Have a holly, jolly Christmas.
Think of it this way. How many Bennie Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, or Frank Sinatra bobbie-sox songs have YOU listened to lately?
I don't know about the rest of you, but when I die, I'm taking my music with me.
(Editorial note: I wrote this when I was in a GOOD mood.)
