Compare and Contrast -- Yesterday (Music)

Phasing through the early nineties into eighteen years later, I could probably sum up what I’ve been through – music wise. My parents, the lovers of the love seventies music and the groovy eighties tunes of yesterday totally got me into the beat of a few ABBA songs as well as Michael Jackson, Leo Dan, Julio Iglesias, and the Beatles among others. Still, that was a long time ago, and I was in the infancy that parents love so much. It was pretty obvious that the epoch of childhood is loved because we listen to our parents more at that time of our lives than later on when we can make our own decisions. Anywho, I grew up listening to the oldies, and as I grew older, the new era opened its arms and caressed me through my ears.1

The preteen era of my life was primarily led with the idea that I really wanted to fit in with my peers. Being a four foot, barely touching the sky, child of age nine, I wanted friends. Of course, this made me tune into our radio more than was necessary. My Dad often made speeches in the mornings that he drove us off to school. Usually it would be around the time that the radio station blurred with static. A pop single by Pink was obscured by my Dad’s suddenly criticizing mood, and his upraised tone that had no mercy for anything that was wrong, “This music isn’t really that good – I mean, the music sounds good… but the lyrics are just… rude and ignorant.” I didn’t bother to peep a single word. Instead, I let it go and listened to Selena’s dulcet voice at home after school.2

The years rushed by like the ever changing winds that bring on unfortunate rain and scary, crackling thunder storms. Pop sensations were in the past. Regeatton, R&B, and Rap became more common among my teenage and pre-adult life. Up until now I have noticed how addicted I am to music. There was always something new that jumped out of the radio and grabbed my attention, be it through sweet love songs to rough punk rock songs that touched my soul. Still, the old tunes of yesterday caught my mind like the Saturday cartoon reruns that they do every now and then on Cartoon Network.3

Classical music, always attentive since my seventh grade year, stuck into the creative ridges of my mind. It wasn’t because of my Mother’s constant saying that I was addicted to that bit because she used to hear it when she was pregnant with me, but it was because it was something different. I soon began to see that I hated being a follower of the crowds who was always wailing to a new song, who only hung around people that started a dressing fad for the singers, and who only listened to a specific type of music. I have two siblings that are currently in the drag of the music wave of today, but I am still stuck in the tunes of yesterday.4

Yesterday, it was filled with the old tumble of guitar tones and the chorus repeating what the singer said in an angelic tone. Yesterday was filled with the ballads of true personal toned reality in sweet lyrics that touched the listener like silk running over skin. Yesterday made me fall in love with songs that made a difference – songs that made a stand for peace over war. Yesterday was not about dressing up just like a singer through pricey big tees or hanging pants. Yesterday was definitely not about cursing in every word of a song. Yesterday was about creating a change for tomorrow.