Sunday Listen
NYTimes The Daily podcast: Is Manekskin the Last Rock Band?
If you’re above a certain age, you can remember the changing shifts in rock music. The music changes we Gen X’ers experienced between the ages of 12 and 25 were huge, and in many ways, for many of us, life-changing.
Dan Brooks, the author of the article “Is Manekskin the Last Rock Band”, compares how millennials and Gen Z experience rock music to how Gen X’ers understand jazz. For many of us, myself very much included, we know it as “jazz.” The subtle striations that separate the types of jazz weren’t really something we could grasp. I probably still can’t.
Of course, I knew Charlie Parker and John Coltrane were different, but I didn't know how. I probably still don't.
Similarly, I might argue that for many millennials, or Gen Z, REO Speedwagon is the same as R.E.M. - for them, it’s rock. Oh sure, the bands pop up on different Spotify playlists, but I gotta imagine there’s a playlist out there that has “Time For Me To Fly” and “The One I Love” on it.
Of course, we know the differences.
And I don’t know if Maneskin is the last rock band. Hell, I don’t even know if they’re any good. The four Italians are HUGE in Europe but have gotten a bit of a rough time here on this side of the pond.
Now, I don’t think rock and roll is dead. It may be having a bit of a nap, but come on, you gotta expect that from a 70-year-old.
I thought it was a good episode that I wanted to share with my music-loving brethren.
Check it out:
