Retroflections

An offensive fad or just dumb?

I was reviewing the comments on my last article. I try not to be too attached to them as the Buddhist say attachments are not healthy. Still, I do try to respond when I get a chance to the comments. This last week I loved a comment sent to me stating that that they did not have to blare loud offensive music to have car independence. Now we are talking the Stones and The Who and Heart, not that I noticed that any of their music could be offensive let alone even when blared, crack a windshield, but I can appreciate the comment and it got me thinking…

 Back in the 1950’s when rock and roll music was probably very offensive to many people. Bill Haley & The Comets I am sure without a doubt offended many people. How dare he rock around the clock, why that is absurd don’t you know. And what is with Elvis? What was he really dong with his pelvis and the music… my goodness I think Hound dog was evil. What was it doing to our innocent generation of young kids?

Besides I am sure people who listened to that music would soon be sporting a duck tail wearing a leather coat and who knows even skipping Sunday school!  

 Danny & The Juniors sang At The Hop and it probably lured young innocent teens into malt shops creating conflict and havoc at home.  Little Richard sang Good Golly Miss Molly and it was loud and offensive besides, look at Little Richard; he was a black man that wore women’s make-up. Parents would make their children do 50 Hail Mary’s for even thinking about listening to that.

 Jerry Lee Lewis with his hits Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin On and Great Balls Of Fire was what some would call trash rock.  What does great balls of fire mean anyhow? And listen, when those old 50’s cars with their AM radios cruised down the streets with the music playing, it was just outrageous, why those darn teens! Next thing you know those girls will start wearing poodle skirts or something and start dancing.

 Then comes’ the 70’s. How dare we play the Beatles, The Stones, and The Who. How dare we grow our hair long, tune in and tune out, and play our 8 tracks or cassette players so loud, why if we rolled down our windows the car next to us might be able to hear The Who say ”Why don’t you all just f-f-f-f-f-f-ade away”. I am sure that was very offensive indeed because fade away must have meant something insulting to somebody somewhere.

 Speaking of offensive, platform shoes and please excuse the word, disco and disco fads was just horribly offensive. For so many of us raised in the 60’s, disco was a joke to music and musicianship, however nothing was more offensive than the clothing of the disco fad. Those clothes and that dancing, why, what was happening to our kids?

 Well I suppose nothing is as offensive then what is happening today. If someone thinks listening to The Who is offensive you have to wonder what they think about gangster rap, loud music you can her two blocks away and guys who wear their pants down to their hips so low, that they can’t even get in their car unless they pull their pants up.

Well I suspect in 20 years this gangster rap generation will be saying, “that’s offensive” to the next wave of fads and music. Personally I can’t imagine anything worse than it is now, and am almost afraid to imagine what could be more offensive then my windshield being cracked over thumping music telling me to go kill someone, nor a fad worse than showing off my underwear and walking so funny that people like me have to take their blackberry and film it so we can laugh at it on youtube… but I am sure the next craze will be offensive so someone, somewhere,  somehow.