Music Memories #2

Interviewing my grandmother, Jacque Young, who was born in the 1930’s vividly gave me insight to the culture and transformations of music up to the 21st century, through her music memories. Her reflections answered my questions based upon her life growing up as a teenager listening to a variety of popular, country, contemporary and big band types of music within the early 40’s. As a child, my grandmother listened to Elvis Presley and Kathy Klein. Popular for most of the 1950s, one of her favorite artists was The Platters who sang “ My Prayer”. Later on in the 60’s, famous for her hit single “ I’m Sorry”, singer and song writer Brenda Lee was one another one of my grandmothers favorite artists. It was not until later that she began listening to Ray Charles, “ I Can’t Stop Loving You” and Billy Ray Cyrus : Achey Breaky Heart”. As well the transformation of genres and music devices such as records, recorders, and then CD’s played a significant role within music’s history while she was growing up. Later on as the big band genre became very popular, she would go out dancing to songs and do the jitterbug and swing with her friends. As she stated, “ The 1940s musical styles helped pave way to the rock ‘n’ roll styles of the decades that were to come”. Agreeing with her statement, I feel as if these hit songs really did change the way society viewed and listened to certain types of music. Also stating, “Today it is difficult to even understand the meaning of some of the rap or pop rock songs,” my grandmother chooses to still listen to the songs of the era in which she grew up in. Interviewing my grandmother, made me realize how her music tastes within the 30’s are much different than interests of teens and the rest of our society today within the 21st century. Some, like my grandmother, might say music has become difficult to analyze or comprehend, however I believe it has shaped and brought an eclectic style to our generation for others to see in years to come.