In my own car can I indulge in my guilty pleasure. And I do.
Listening to the radio station playing Golden Oldies. My ears and memories become enriched with the nostalgic music of youthful times. I know I should be listening to Bach, Brahms and Beethoven but am transported to a happy place where I listen to Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Rosemary Clooney.
While my friends discuss timely celebrity interviews on the Public Radio station, I am replaying “Rock Around the Clock.” As they discuss the Presidential debates I think of Fats Domino and “Blueberry Hill.” As they ponder world politics I ponder “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?”
The Four Aces. The Crew Cuts. The Big Bopper. As my father said about the music of the 40’s, “They don’t write’em the way they used to.” He meant HIS music and I mean Mine.
From the generation of Big Bands and crooners to the bopping rhythms of Rock ‘n Roll to the noisy beats of heavy metal, every generation has its style and its sound.
I fondly remember attending a concert at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Some of the greatest names in Rock ‘n Roll music appeared during those two glorious hours. To see “The Temptations”, “The Penguins,” and the “Dell-Vikings” all at one time on one stage was the thrill of a lifetime.
Every group in the 50’s had a soloist with a voice lower and deeper than “Ol’ Man River”. The lyrics usually explored the pain, thrill and angst of a sixteen year old’s love woes.
And the current youth’s views?
No matter how “cool” any member of any generation thinks they are, the teenagers of the next generation laugh at the silly way they dressed, looked and sounded.
The current styles of tattoos and body piercings, will be sneered at by the two year olds right now having temper tantrums in supermarkets.
Everyone is entitled to his own taste and style, and I love my secret rendezvous in my car with its AM radio.
MorristownMemos 
Comments on: "GUILTY PLEASURES" (22)
Good taste! You and your father are right – they DON”T make ’em like they used to!!
Although I usually listen to my own thoughts or something like Bach to books on disc, when my youngest daughter is with me in the car, on go the oldies and up goes the volume of our vocal cords as we sing and bop away! For music of my generation, somehow it’s best shared with she who loves it so 😉
By the way, I’ve mentioned you in my latest post. Appreciate your musings 😉
Thank you,Bela. I appreciate the mention.
Music keeps us wonderful company, no matter what anyone’s tastes are.
Ronnie
Great post, Ronnie. I’m counting down the days when I can listen to music of my choice in the car and am not outnumbered by three kids screaming rap and hip hop lyrics!
Are you telling me that hip hop and rap music have words? And that your children can understand them? They must be audibly superior.
Ronnie
I find we have more and more in common. AM 1250 is almost always on in my car.
No wonder you’re always “bopping'” along.
Ronnie
I have over 6,000 songs on my iPod that I play through my car radio all hand picked by me. Tons of 50s, lots of 60s, many 40s & 70s & more. NO RAP< NO CRAP. From Al Jolson to ZZ Top with some Eddie Fisher & Joni James & Led Zeppelin thrown in. Includes my latest addition, Beyonce doing a fabulous rendition of Etta James "At Last"
How terrific! You could copy and package that CD and sell it. Consider me as a customer.
Ronnie
Probably run into copyright laws. But I can tell you how to get almost any song you want
Just noticed that the send receive time is off by 5 hours
Really a nice piece, but tell me, why do fools fall in love? Must be his blue suede shoes and her yellow polka dot bikini.1
Or maybe, as the Big Bopper suggested, it’s the Chantilly Lace.
(was that a 50’s perfume?)
Ronnie
Big Bopper died Feb 3 59 along with Buddy Holly & Ritchie Valens so yes it was 50s
I like to sing the theme song to The Backyardigans on my way to work. Shhhh. Don’t tell anyone.
Will you hum a few bars on your blog radio appearance this Thursday night at 8:30?
Ronnie
My guilty pleasure is that I LOVE to sing in my car – sometimes to the tunes you mentioned. The invention of Blue Tooth has done a lot to keep people from looking at me like I’m crazy. Now, when they look over into my car, they can’t tell if I’m animatedly talking on my phone or if I’m singing my heart out.
Perhaps I could join you in singing: I’ll do the shoo-bop she na na nana. Gosh: if only I could remember the words!
Ronnie
You don’t live that far away. I’ll pick you up and we can drive around taking turns singing back up for each other 🙂
Yes, as the Dell-Vikings said, “Come Go With Me,.”
Ronnie
Well said, Ronnie. And it’s really difficult to slow-dance to Lady Gaga.
Good Point. That’s why I prefer The Teddy Bears’ “To Know Him is to Love Him.”
Ronnie