Courtesy of AC/DC

These timeless songs never get old

My dad likes to tell me every now and then that I have an “old soul.” My brother, on the other hand, says it like it’s an insult. 

Yet I don’t take any offense to the characterization because I don’t think there is anything wrong with being an “old soul.” These comments come from my love for music from the ‘80s, especially rock. I have entire playlists that are full of music from the ‘80s or earlier.

Modern rock music doesn’t sound the same; it is softer and slower, but it’s a lot more electronic than the natural beats of the earlier era. When I go back and listen to old albums that came out before I was born, I can feel all the excitement and passion of the rock stars from that era.

Something I love about the rock music in the ‘80s are the raspy vocals. The rasp in “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC and “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister is a vital part of rock music and makes me feel like I’m in the music itself. It brings up the image of band members in T-shirts and mullets shredding the electric guitar onstage as they sing at the top of their lungs to an eager crowd.

Additionally, many of the songs from the ‘80s have an upbeat energy that encapsulates the era. Songs like “What I Like About You” by The Romantics and “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John always have me singing along to them and wanting to dance. 

The songs from the era focus on not just love but also social and political commentary. Now, I obviously wasn’t alive in the ‘80s, but there’s some amount of nostalgia for the era. 

When I listen to the music, I think about the colorful outfits and the freedom of the teenagers back then. I can only imagine being able to run around town all day without supervision and only coming home when it was time for dinner. There’s something desirable about living in an era where technology isn’t the main focus. It’s not just a love for the music, but also the era itself I love.