When and where I grew up, kids didn’t listen to radio. In fact not many people did. Besides the radio used electricity, which was expensive, not like the almost free unlimited electricity of today. Some people had battery powered radios, which were only used to listen to the news.Batteries were expensive, and about the size of a shoebox. We usually listened to shows on Saturday night. Some few people had “record players.” The only radio music I ever heard was western. Mom had the radio on while she cooked breakfast. It was a long way from what passes for country today.I remember when anyone first heard about Elvis. Preachers went nuts about his lewd dancing and singing.If anyone of you have heard the song “Big John”, about a coal miner. The last line was once.“..at the bottom of this worthless pit lies one helluva man!” The radio stations had to pull the song until a new version came out with "at the bottom of this worthless pit lies a big, big man.!And whats up with singers sticking the microphone almost in their mouths to sing? I guess there were better microphones in the old days.
I honestly wonder what bands from the 90s and 00s are going to be considered "classic’ in 20-3 years. There’s some good music out there today, but everyone seems to disagree on which of it will actually last.
I listen to Sirius, 50s, 60s, sometimes 70s, Classic Rock and Margaritaville (that’s because I live in Florida!). But what’s interesting, is that my 4 KIDS, aged 25-33 all love 60s music. There is no good music today. Oldies rock!
had a transistor radio like that…would have it in bed with me listening either to the baseball game or music while I fell asleep. also took it to the beach. those days are gone…but not forgotten!!!!
Is there anyone left who still listens to radio for music? I don’t understand why anyone would. There wasn’t much choice when I was a kid, but I stopped listening to radio for music decades ago after portable cassette players (“Walkman”, etc.) became common and affordable. And of course improving technology and the internet has further improved the situation since then. Anyone complaining now about not being able to find the type of music or video entertainment they want just likes to complain or isn’t looking very hard.
I consider this one of the lesser Watterson efforts. This style of humor, with painfully honest advertising, is more “Dilbert” or “Non Sequitur” than C&H.
They still play the radio at work, and I’m particularly sensitive to ear worms so I hate every minute of it. I swore I wouldn’t lose touch with current music, but current music is turning me into a hypocrite.
If you want to contemplate whether music today is better or worse than music of 20 or 50 years ago, think about this. When I was young, many people spent many, many hours a day, practicing singing, guitar, piano, or whatever. My roommate in college spent 4-5 hours a day practicing the piano growing up, for example. Today the kids seem to me to spend that time playing video games, or online, rather than practicing. To enhance their singing, they use autotune to adjust their voices and shift it to being on key, with the result that their voices no longer really sound human (and imperfect), and the voices blend into the instruments. They use synthesizers to produce many of the sounds they want, instead of instruments that require more skill. There are still some modern groups that don’t use autotune, and who actually can play the instruments, but they seem to grow fewer in number all the time.
What escapes notice is that the 50’s produced actual music to accompany lyrics. Not necessarily deep lyrics, mostly teen love songs and cutesy jingles, but, easy to recall years later due to their slick composition. It wasn’t until Dylan and his friends came in power against the war and inhumanity that songs became messages of inspiration to the new generation wanting freedom from crony domination in all aspects of their life. After that, most songs became dance music or non-directed attitude based drivel, with notable exceptions mentioned in previous postings.
LeadingEdge said, about 12 hours ago@neverenoughgoldIt sounds like someone got under your skin. Not such a slippery skin today, eh? I ignore that person’s under or over-medicated rantings now.
When I listed to the radio, I am usually in one of my cars. Two have CD players, and my favorite, the STS, has a 6 disc changer built in; however, unless I am on a road trip out of town, I rarely use the CD system!
I purchased a new audio system for our home a few years ago. It is fairly high end, and as I was wandering around the showroom, I noticed there were no turntables on display! I turned to the salesman, who was now piling the cartons of equipment I was accumulating on the counter and asked, “Where are the turntables?”
He replied, “Oh, do you have some records?” as if I was from prehistoric times.
I said, “Yes, about 500 or so.”
He said, “Oh yeah, I guess we could special order something for you.”
When Rock and Roll died in the 70’s, I started listening to Country music. Surprise, most of the 50’s and 60’s rock stars were then Country artists. Now Country music has breathed its final note and I am now relegated to classical music. Even Jazz, which I always found entertaining, has gone to the hip-hop edge. Don’t know what I will do when they bring hip-hop to Mozart. God help us.
I did the survey earlier on. I must admit that I am used to the Edit feature not being there now.But if it does come back, I’ll know who to thank and I’ll send you a big kiss.
You must be from the Denver area. Years ago, while staying in Denver, we found a wonderful pancake restaurant that served a fabulous apple pancake! Actually, it was more like an apple pie without the top crust, and when it was served, the cake draped over the edges of the plate while piled high with baked apples.
As I recall, the place was below a freeway overpass. One of these days, when we return to Denver, we’re going see if we can find the joint. The food was to die for; of course, we didn’t die and had a terrific breakfast…
legaleagle48 over 8 years ago
Yeah, what IS up with that side-eye, Calvin?
Adiraiju over 8 years ago
“It means that this nostalgia-banking is an unnerving trend, and it’s gonna be over SOON, right??”
Bilan over 8 years ago
Don’t blame the 60s and 70s just because there’s been no good art since then.
rentier over 8 years ago
EEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRR!!!
rentier over 8 years ago
It was Beatles and Hippies time, my youth!!
orinoco womble over 8 years ago
Cracks me up when someone refers to “classic rock”—and they’re talking about the 80s.
Kristiaan over 8 years ago
Guess I’m to blame. I still listen to New Wave. And early U2. And early Simple Minds. And Therapy? And Depeche Mode. And Manic Street Preachers…
comiks2read over 8 years ago
yeah, wat is it supposed to mean?
Old Texan75 over 8 years ago
When and where I grew up, kids didn’t listen to radio. In fact not many people did. Besides the radio used electricity, which was expensive, not like the almost free unlimited electricity of today. Some people had battery powered radios, which were only used to listen to the news.Batteries were expensive, and about the size of a shoebox. We usually listened to shows on Saturday night. Some few people had “record players.” The only radio music I ever heard was western. Mom had the radio on while she cooked breakfast. It was a long way from what passes for country today.I remember when anyone first heard about Elvis. Preachers went nuts about his lewd dancing and singing.If anyone of you have heard the song “Big John”, about a coal miner. The last line was once.“..at the bottom of this worthless pit lies one helluva man!” The radio stations had to pull the song until a new version came out with "at the bottom of this worthless pit lies a big, big man.!And whats up with singers sticking the microphone almost in their mouths to sing? I guess there were better microphones in the old days.
milordrevan over 8 years ago
I honestly wonder what bands from the 90s and 00s are going to be considered "classic’ in 20-3 years. There’s some good music out there today, but everyone seems to disagree on which of it will actually last.
dlkrueger33 over 8 years ago
I listen to Sirius, 50s, 60s, sometimes 70s, Classic Rock and Margaritaville (that’s because I live in Florida!). But what’s interesting, is that my 4 KIDS, aged 25-33 all love 60s music. There is no good music today. Oldies rock!
Lomax9er7 over 8 years ago
And the funny is, we are reading this in a “Classic Oldies” comic strip… From the 80’s…
richjmage over 8 years ago
had a transistor radio like that…would have it in bed with me listening either to the baseball game or music while I fell asleep. also took it to the beach. those days are gone…but not forgotten!!!!
Dour Scotsman over 8 years ago
Its hilarious that what was the cutting edge, dangerous to civilisation pro sex drugs etc music is now easy listening……
Pteranodon over 8 years ago
What’s even more disturbing is that this strip was published more than 20 years ago.
matzam Premium Member over 8 years ago
60 & 70’s is the most creative music era , except for that disco fiasco
Sham_Poser over 8 years ago
Is there anyone left who still listens to radio for music? I don’t understand why anyone would. There wasn’t much choice when I was a kid, but I stopped listening to radio for music decades ago after portable cassette players (“Walkman”, etc.) became common and affordable. And of course improving technology and the internet has further improved the situation since then. Anyone complaining now about not being able to find the type of music or video entertainment they want just likes to complain or isn’t looking very hard.
dwdl21 over 8 years ago
Umm, nope…lol
cubswin2016 over 8 years ago
Calvin’s face is going to freeze that way.
Stephen Gilberg over 8 years ago
I consider this one of the lesser Watterson efforts. This style of humor, with painfully honest advertising, is more “Dilbert” or “Non Sequitur” than C&H.
Ermine Notyours over 8 years ago
They still play the radio at work, and I’m particularly sensitive to ear worms so I hate every minute of it. I swore I wouldn’t lose touch with current music, but current music is turning me into a hypocrite.
josh_bisbee over 8 years ago
My favorite era of music is the 90’s
Carl R over 8 years ago
If you want to contemplate whether music today is better or worse than music of 20 or 50 years ago, think about this. When I was young, many people spent many, many hours a day, practicing singing, guitar, piano, or whatever. My roommate in college spent 4-5 hours a day practicing the piano growing up, for example. Today the kids seem to me to spend that time playing video games, or online, rather than practicing. To enhance their singing, they use autotune to adjust their voices and shift it to being on key, with the result that their voices no longer really sound human (and imperfect), and the voices blend into the instruments. They use synthesizers to produce many of the sounds they want, instead of instruments that require more skill. There are still some modern groups that don’t use autotune, and who actually can play the instruments, but they seem to grow fewer in number all the time.
Not the Smartest Man On the Planet -- Maybe Close Premium Member over 8 years ago
But doesn’t that copyright date read "1995"…?
markmoss1 over 8 years ago
I’m a Boomer myself, and I get tired of 100% moldie oldies.
bmonk over 8 years ago
[SIGH] Even us near-baby-boomers get tired of the dominance of those boomers.
Number Three over 8 years ago
I don’t listen to much radio but whenever The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel or any other singer I love comes on then it has my full attention.
xxx
chrismireya over 8 years ago
“Disco” was God’s punishment on America for Watergate, Vietnam and hippies.
Get fuzzy 4527 over 8 years ago
What escapes notice is that the 50’s produced actual music to accompany lyrics. Not necessarily deep lyrics, mostly teen love songs and cutesy jingles, but, easy to recall years later due to their slick composition. It wasn’t until Dylan and his friends came in power against the war and inhumanity that songs became messages of inspiration to the new generation wanting freedom from crony domination in all aspects of their life. After that, most songs became dance music or non-directed attitude based drivel, with notable exceptions mentioned in previous postings.
neverenoughgold over 8 years ago
LeadingEdge said, about 12 hours ago@neverenoughgoldIt sounds like someone got under your skin. Not such a slippery skin today, eh? I ignore that person’s under or over-medicated rantings now.
Yeah, I know, I know, don’t feed the trolls!
As you know, Some Fools Never Learn…
neverenoughgold over 8 years ago
When I listed to the radio, I am usually in one of my cars. Two have CD players, and my favorite, the STS, has a 6 disc changer built in; however, unless I am on a road trip out of town, I rarely use the CD system!
I purchased a new audio system for our home a few years ago. It is fairly high end, and as I was wandering around the showroom, I noticed there were no turntables on display! I turned to the salesman, who was now piling the cartons of equipment I was accumulating on the counter and asked, “Where are the turntables?”
He replied, “Oh, do you have some records?” as if I was from prehistoric times.
I said, “Yes, about 500 or so.”
He said, “Oh yeah, I guess we could special order something for you.”
Yeah, I guess you will…
Pthhht! over 8 years ago
When Rock and Roll died in the 70’s, I started listening to Country music. Surprise, most of the 50’s and 60’s rock stars were then Country artists. Now Country music has breathed its final note and I am now relegated to classical music. Even Jazz, which I always found entertaining, has gone to the hip-hop edge. Don’t know what I will do when they bring hip-hop to Mozart. God help us.
dflak over 8 years ago
The two best decades for music:1935-19451964-1974
Number Three over 8 years ago
I did the survey earlier on. I must admit that I am used to the Edit feature not being there now.But if it does come back, I’ll know who to thank and I’ll send you a big kiss.
That’s OK isn’t it? Wink Wink.
Slowly, he turned... over 8 years ago
As Dr Johnny Fever said, “Rock and Roll died after ’73.”
Susie Derkins :D over 8 years ago
The face is real.
neverenoughgold over 8 years ago
You heard of Sota? It’s pretty nice…
neverenoughgold over 8 years ago
You must be from the Denver area. Years ago, while staying in Denver, we found a wonderful pancake restaurant that served a fabulous apple pancake! Actually, it was more like an apple pie without the top crust, and when it was served, the cake draped over the edges of the plate while piled high with baked apples.
As I recall, the place was below a freeway overpass. One of these days, when we return to Denver, we’re going see if we can find the joint. The food was to die for; of course, we didn’t die and had a terrific breakfast…